The issue between the husband and wife persisted for another six months until Li Meili finally won and got what she wanted from her husband. Zhang Jiren was really worried that it would make her feel horrible and sick again, but he wouldn't dare voice out his fears this time, knowing that he would lose in the end.

  "I can't believe you tricked me into this." Zhang Jiren ran both of his hands on his face and sighed while Li Meili laughed triumphantly throwing the pregnancy test to her timid husband.

  "Do you really think I would waste such a good chance, Jiren?" Li Meili sauntered towards him on the bed, sat on his l.a.p before wrapping her arms on his neck.

  "Admit it. You also want this." She patted the tip of his nose with her forefinger.

  Zhang Jiren held her waist to steady her and raised a slender brow.

  "How can I not like my own flesh and blood? It's just the mother was quite persistent to get what she wanted regardless of the method."

  Despite his shock, he couldn't help but reach out his hand and touch Li Meili's still flat stomach. When she was pregnant with Leyan, the times he was able to hold her baby bump could be counted with his fingers. Now, as he held her tummy, his heart was brimming with such happiness he never knew before knowing that she was with his child.

  Five years later.

  Light golden rays slipped through the dr.a.p.es and onto the couple lying on their bed. Zhang Jiren's arm was wrapped around the slim waist of his wife while her head lay on his upper arm using it as a pillow. Her midnight locks splayed across her n.a.k.e.d back and shoulders. Her eyes squinted a little as she raised an arm to cover the light that hit her face.

  It was only when the ringing of her alarm pierced the silence of the room did she stir, groaning softly as she rolled over to shut the beeping sound coming from the alarm clock on their bedside table.

  Li Meili chose to bury her face on her pillow in an attempt to get extra sleep.

  "It's already seven in the morning," she heard her husband murmuring next to her ear as he pushed her hair away from her face.

  "Five more minutes, Jiren," Li Meili w.h.i.n.ed before snuggling deeper to hide her face. "You kept me up late last night."

  "Why is it my fault now? Weren't you the one who purposely seduced me last night? Is it wrong for me to find you irresistible?" Zhang Jiren said in defense, as he lowered his lips to kiss her b.a.r.e shoulder.

  "Hmm, be that as it may but—" Li Meili wasn't able to finish her words as a voice coming from the door, coupled with the knocking sound, caught her and her husband's attention.

  "Mommy! Daddy! It's already morning! You promised we would visit Yu Gege and Xiu Jie today!"

  "There goes my morning," Zhang Jiren sighed, feigning exasperation as he pulled away from his wife while Li Meili slapped his arm before picking up the nightdress and satin robe she shed last night.

  She dressed quickly and tied the knot at her waist. She glanced at her husband to make sure that he also dressed appropriately before she opened the door of their room.

  Two pairs of round eyes looked up at her with wide smiles on their faces. Two young girls came running in and grabbed her legs and hugged her.

  "Morning, Mommy!" The younger girl smiled at Li Meili bashfully while her elder sister chose to pounce on Zhang Jiren who was still lying on the bed.

  "Daddy! Daddy! Wake up! We are going out today!" Tang Leyan tried to pull her father's arm but failed. Instead, she was pulled into a hug by Zhang Jiren and a loud squeal resonated within the room.

  "Okay! Okay! I'm up." Zhang Jiren laughed as he tickled the girl's sides before taking her into his arms and left the bed with her.

  At seven years old, Tang Leyan's hair grew past her waist. Her pale, smooth skin was like her mother and the familiar grin on her face was just like Tang Beixuan's. By now, she was aware that Zhang Jiren wasn't her real father but regardless of it, she loved him very much.

  "Mommy, should we bring something for our cousins?" Tang Leyan asked once they were seated on the dining table, waiting for their father to finish cooking their breakfast.

  The Fengs had just returned from their long stay in Beijing as the twins officially started their training as the successors of the Song family. The two little buns were now using the Song family name, while their younger sibling assumed their father's surname to succeed the Feng family.

  "You can bring the puddings you made yesterday. I'm sure they would like it," Li Meili suggested. She smiled at her daughters, watching as her eldest helped her sister pour the milk in her cup. Even though Leyan and Xiaoyue had different fathers, they were close to each other.

  "Leyan, don't forget what I told you yesterday. Don't fight with Yuan anymore," Zhang Jiren said as he placed down the plates, gesturing to his daughters to have their breakfast.

  "But Daddy, Yuan is the one who keeps pulling my hair." Tang Leyan pouted. Feng Tianyi and Zhang Jiren thought that the two cousins would get along since they were close in age.

  Who would have thought that the two would be at each other's throats even before Feng Yuan started talking?

  "That's not a good reason why you should punch him, dear," Li Meili interjected. "Yuan told me that you accidentally placed a chewing gum on your hair and he was just trying to help you."

  "He's still your cousin, Leyan." Zhang Jiren gave his wife a knowing look. This kind of temper Leyan had surely come from her mother. "Regardless of your reason, you should never hurt your sister or your cousins."

  "Sorry, Daddy," Tang Leyan said in a low voice as she lowered her head.

  "Leyan, come here, darling," Li Meili called her eldest daughter and gave her a good look.

  "Daddy is not mad at you, darling. He was just a little upset when he heard that you hurt Yuan," she said, trying to placate her daughter's mood.

  "But I didn't mean to hurt him, Mommy. I just…" Tang Leyan choked a sob and wiped her tears.

  "It's okay. Your daddy and I understand but you must promise never to hurt anyone unless you need to protect those who're weaker than you," Li Meili said softly, her hand rubbing the girl's head tenderly.

  Leyan's eyes looked up at her mother and nodded in agreement. The last thing she wanted was for her Daddy to be mad at her.

  "I promise, Mommy." She sniffed and hugged her mother.

  Li Meili patted her daughter's small back before pulling away gently, showing the velvet box in her hand to the child.

  "I've been meaning to give this to you, Leyan. Would you please take care of it for me from now on?" she asked her daughter.

  "What is it, Mommy?" Tang Leyan blinked her round eyes before it widened in amazement upon seeing the beautiful ring inside the box.

  "Your Papa wanted to give this to me, but he never had the chance to. I wanted to give it to you when you are a little older, but I think you can have it now. Do you promise to take care of it?" She explained as she clipped the necklace around her daughter's neck, careful not to tangle it with her hair.

  The girl reached out her hand and touched the ring hanging from her necklace. It was the most beautiful ring she'd seen in her life.

  "Papa wanted to give it to you?" she asked curiously.

  "En," Li Meili smiled weakly. "I know how much he wanted to give it to me but he died in the accident before he could do it. So it's yours now. Promise me you won't lose it, Leyan."

  Tang Leyan furrowed her brows in confusion. If Li Meili didn't know Leyan was Tang Beixuan's daughter, she would mistake the child as Zhang Jiren's given how Leyan's facial expression perfectly mimicked Zhang Jiren's.

  "But why, Mommy? Don't you like it anymore?"

  "I love it very much, darling." Li Meili sighed. "But you see, I already have a ring with me."

  She showed her daughter the wedding ring on her ring finger.

  "Your Daddy gave this to me. If I don't wear this ring and wear your Papa's ring, I know Daddy would be sad even if he denies it."

  Tang Leyan remained silent for a moment before nodding her head in understanding. It wasn't like she didn't like the idea that she wasn't her Daddy's child but Xiaoyue, but Leyan only heard stories about her real father and didn't know what to feel for him.

  Her Mommy said that her Papa died before she was born so he never knew she existed. However, her Mommy was sure that he would be very happy and would love her so much if he knew about her.

  "Alright, Mommy. I will keep Papa's ring from now on. I won't lose it!" Tang Leyan smiled widely to her mother, her worries completely dispelled from her young mind. The fact that she was alive also meant that her Papa loved her mommy. If he didn't, he wouldn't try his best finding such a beautiful ring to give her.

  "Are you ready?"

  Zhang Jiren chose to appear at that moment. He went down the stairs, holding his car keys. His eyes caught the familiar ring on Leyan's necklace and smiled. Li Meili gave him a flirty wink before leading their eldest daughter out of their home, leaving their youngest with her husband.

  "Come on, dear. Your Mommy and your jiejie would leave us if you don't hurry."

  Tang Xiaoyue immediately abandoned her toys and ran towards her father.

  "Mommy! Yan Jie! Wait for me and Daddy!"