He Han’s breath lingered near Ye Fan’s shoulder. Though it was undeniably warm, it carried a chill that was difficult to ignore.

The two stood so close that Ye Fan dared not move, her body frozen stiff in place.

Lowering his gaze, He Han’s cool, detached eyes softened slightly.

His lips hovered just above Ye Fan’s shoulder, a mere inch away, yet they never advanced any closer.

At that moment, the searchers arrived. Their watchful eyes scanned the alleyway with caution.

From their vantage point, they could clearly see He Han leaning against the wall, seemingly holding a woman in his arms.

The pair appeared incredibly intimate.

Exchanging a glance, the searchers quickly assumed they were just a couple. Without a second thought, they moved on.

As the tension of the scene lingered, a voice suddenly broke through.

“Cut! That was great.” The director beamed with satisfaction, clearly pleased with the duo’s performance. They had captured exactly the mood he envisioned.

He Han’s lips instantly withdrew from Ye Fan, and the dangerous aura he carried dissipated. Ye Fan let out a subtle sigh of relief.

At the same moment, Ye Fan took a few steps to the side, putting some distance between herself and He Han.

Her expression remained calm as she raised a hand, lightly tugging at her clothing to cover her exposed shoulder.

Neither He Han nor Ye Fan looked at each other, their gazes never intersecting.

Just moments ago, they had been locked in such an intimate state, yet now they stood like strangers.

Today, Ye Fan and He Han only had this one scene to film. With this scene completed, Ye Fan could finally leave.

Before departing, Ye Fan cast a glance in He Han’s direction.

He Han was still dressed in his military uniform, his tall, imposing figure standing straight and unyielding, his jaw taut, and his thin lips pressed into a reserved, noble line.

He Han was deeply professional. Regardless of the role, he always performed with dedication and focus.

There had been actresses who tried to use their scenes as an excuse to get closer to He Han. But his demeanor remained cold and distant, extinguishing any such thoughts they might have had.

Therefore, despite He Han having worked with numerous actresses, there was never a single scandal involving him outside of his roles.

Ye Fan’s thoughts grew complicated. The outside world would never guess that He Han actually had a son.

The book didn’t delve into the details of He Han’s relationship with the original owner, leaving Ye Fan in the dark. She only knew that after that fateful night, the original owner became pregnant with He Han’s child.

To Ye Fan, the relationship between the original owner and He Han was purely accidental. In truth, they were no different from strangers.

Having signed the contract, Ye Fan had no choice but to complete her scenes in this drama. Once her work here was done, she would leave the set and never cross paths with He Han again.

Yesterday, Ye Fan had stocked up on a variety of ingredients from the supermarket and neatly organized them in the fridge.

She had also looked up some basic recipes online, deciding to start with simple dishes and gradually improve her cooking skills.

With an apron tied around her waist, Ye Fan stepped into the kitchen. Little Dudu toddled in right behind her, his short legs wobbling adorably as he tried to keep up.

Since Ye Fan had transmigrated into this world, Dudu had been sticking to her like glue.

Wherever Ye Fan went, Dudu would follow as if terrified she might suddenly disappear.

Ye Fan tied the apron strings behind her back, only to realize, as she stopped moving that she had a little tail following her.

One that clung on and wouldn’t let go.

The moment Ye Fan came to a halt, Dudu wrapped his tiny arms tightly around her leg, clutching at her pant leg as if trying to fuse himself with the floor.

Ye Fan couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and heartache. She understood the little one’s insecurities, his need to cling to someone for comfort.

“Sweetheart, go wait outside for a bit. Mommy will be done soon.” Ye Fan coaxed him gently.

This time, Dudu refused to budge. Puffing out his cheeks like a little balloon, he spoke with surprising seriousness.

“No, Mommy might disappear.”

Ye Fan’s heart clenched at his words. She had read about Ye Duo’s life in the book.

From the very beginning, his birth was unwanted. He received little familial affection, which only deepened his longing for it. The original owner’s suicide in front of him left a scar that would never fully heal.

And yet, as Ye Duo grew up, he still felt compassion for the original owner’s struggles. Shaped by the traumas of his childhood, his personality turned dark and withdrawn. Without guidance, he eventually veered toward an extreme path.

Since Ye Fan was here now, she was determined to prevent the tragedy from repeating itself. She wouldn’t allow Ye Duo to grow into the person he was destined to become.

Putting down what she was holding, Ye Fan crouched down and poked the chubby, puffed-up cheeks of the little ball of anger in front of her.

“How about this—Mommy will bring a little stool into the kitchen, and you can sit nearby and watch me. Does that sound good?”

Hearing her promise, Ye Duo’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Titling his head back, he looked up at Ye Fan.

Softly he agreed. “Okay.”

He was so obedient it melted her heart.

Ye Fan fetched a small stool and placed it at kitchen doorway.

“Sweetheart, sit here and watch, alright?”

She was careful to keep him at a safe distance so he wouldn’t accidentally get burned.

As long as he could see Ye Fan, Ye Duo was completely content.

At this point, whatever she said to him, he would respond with an obedient “Okay.”

Ye Fan prepared a bottle of milk for the little chubby boy and handed it to him.

To get the right ratio for the formula, she had made numerous attempts before finally succeeding. Thankfully, Dudu wasn’t a picky eater.

With his small hands clutching the bottle, Dudu kept his gaze fixed on Ye Fan the entire time.

Once the little one was settled, Ye Fan began preparing lunch for the day.

She could make do for herself, but when it came to the child’s meals, she put in extra care and effort.

Ye Fan took out a small pot dedicated to cooking for Dudu. Once it was heated, she poured in some milk.

She added the pre-chopped ingredients to the pot and simmered them into a thick porridge. Finally, she tossed in some vegetables, blanching them lightly before removing the pot from the stove.

Pouring the porridge into a large bowl straight from the pot, she let it cool faster.

By this time, Dudu had finished his milk and was climbing obediently into his high chair. Ye Fan brought out a small bowl specially reserved for him and placed it in front of him.

Dudu kept his head down, quietly eating. Each time he finished the food in his small bowl, Ye Fan would scoop another portion from the large bowl and refill it for him.

Before she realized it, lunchtime was over.

Before he could finish eating, Dudu was already nodding off, his eyes half-closed and head bobbing as he fought off sleep. Yet even in his drowsy, he kept stuffing food into his mouth.

Ye Fan couldn’t help but laugh at his determination.

As the drowsiness overtook him, Dudu rubbed his eyes and reached out to Ye Fan, asking for a hug.

Even though his eyelids were already drooping, he insisted that Ye Fan tell him a story.

After tucking him, Ye fan lay down beside him.

Propping her head up with one while gently patting his round little belly with the other.

“Once upon a time…”

She had barely begun when the sound of soft, steady breathing reached her ears.

Ye Fan chuckled softly—Dudu who had been so insistent on hearing a story was already fast asleep.

She didn’t leave right away but carefully tucked the blanket around him.

In the past, Ye Fan lived alone and never gave it much thought.

Being independent and solitary felt easy and even comfortable.

But after spending time with the little one, she realized this life was better. Having someone else in her world, someone to keep her company and depend on her wholeheartedly, brought an unexpected warmth.

In the simplicity of daily life, there were surprises everywhere.

There were things Ye Fan didn’t care much about before. She might not have money now, but she would work hard to earn it. Her life wasn’t stable yet, but she would face it with determination.

She could remain calm in the face of most challenges, but the baby was her one and only weakness. If anyone dared to hurt him, she would never let it go.

=^_^=