Sitting next to Father Hu, who was reading a book in the bedroom, Mother Hu grew increasingly suspicious about her son's behavior earlier. The more she thought about it, the less she believed things were as Hu Li had said.

She wanted to go back and ask for clarification but knew she had missed the perfect opportunity by not seizing the moment. Frustrated, Mother Hu pulled Father Hu away from his book. "People say daughters belong to others once they grow up, but now even our nearly thirty-five-year-old son has become someone else's…"

Disturbed, Father Hu put down his book, took off his glasses, and curiously asked, "What's going on? Did that boy Hu Li upset you again?"

Mother Hu, still angry, didn't give Father Hu a kind look. She rolled her eyes at him, then turned her gaze to him with tears of resentment. "I feel that ever since our son met that woman named Hua, he's become less steady than he used to be."

She then recounted Hu Li's unusual behavior. However, Father Hu didn't seem concerned and tried to comfort her. "You're linking everything to Hua Yan. You're being overly suspicious. It could really be confidential company documents. The company has been shutting down branches for months, you know that. Don't overthink it. Didn't you say you were bored at home and wanted to go out? I'll take you out today."

"It's rare for you to offer, so how can I refuse? But you can't complain about being tired or lazy," Mother Hu, though skeptical of Father Hu's analysis, wisely chose not to argue.

Still curious, Mother Hu found excuses over the next few days to search Hu Li's room for anything suspicious. Unfortunately, Hu Li had locked Hu Chen's drawings in the safe that very day. The safe contained the family's most confidential items. When Hu Da found out, he was stunned by his master's meticulous protection of the young master and his increasing wariness of the master and mistress.

After days of fruitless searching, Mother Hu began to doubt herself, thinking it might have been confidential documents and not something related to another woman. This realization eased her worry, and she smiled more, no longer suspicious when she saw Hu Li. Father Hu also breathed a sigh of relief, feeling less tense with her no longer on edge.

Seeing his mother's change, Hu Li could only sigh. While Hu Li lived a spy-like life, Hua Yan was enjoying herself. Hu Chen was growing stronger and could disappear in the blink of an eye. Hua Yan had made hotpot to reward everyone during the winter. In just two or three hours, Hu Chen, who should have been playing in the nursery, was nowhere to be found.

Nanny Chang, who was helping Hua Yan and watching Hu Chen, regretted her oversight. She had just seen Hu Chen playing with his toy train, but in just fifteen minutes, he had disappeared.

"Nanny Chang, don't worry. Check with my dad; that rascal Hu Chen is probably with him."

Nanny Chang quickly left. Watching her leave, Hua Yan couldn't help but feel both touched and helpless. Despite Hu Chen's frequent disappearances, Nanny Chang always panicked.

Vegetables like lettuce, bok choy, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and various meat slices of lamb, beef, and fish, along with washed shrimp, were neatly arranged on the table. The chicken broth was nearly boiling. Father Hu, holding Hu Chen, who was whispering in his ear, was being eavesdropped on by Old Yang, with Nanny Chang smiling behind them.

"Hu Chen, how could you disappear in an instant? Didn't I tell you to inform me if you went out to play?" Hu Chen had shown signs of being more sensible than other children his age since birth, so no one found Hua Yan's seemingly adult-like conversation with him odd.

Hu Chen, with his little ears drooping, looked up with tearful eyes and softly said, "Mommy..."

Before Hua Yan could respond, Father Hua, feeling sorry for his grandson, glared at Hua Yan. "Don't scare our Chen Chen. Besides, how could he get lost in the rest and recuperation base? Boys are supposed to be mischievous when young to be smart when they grow up."

Nanny Chang also chimed in. Hua Yan sighed, thinking she'd deal with the little rascal when they were alone.

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Seeing Hua Yan's face soften, Hu Chen perked up and eyed the colorful food on the table, drooling. Though he wouldn't get to eat it, his greedy expression amused everyone.

That evening, Hu Chen was unusually quiet and obedient. Even without Hua Yan telling him a story, he didn't make a fuss. After bathing him and putting him to bed, Hua Yan went to take a shower herself.

When she returned, Hu Chen was lying on his side with his eyes closed. Thinking he was asleep, she turned off the light and got into bed. As soon as she did, Hu Chen rolled into her arms.

Hua Yan tucked him in without speaking, but Hu Chen grew restless. After a while, he softly called, "Mommy..."

Hua Yan kept her eyes closed, not intending to respond. Hu Chen called again, "Mommy... I miss Daddy."

"Mm?" Since Hu Chen learned to talk, Hua Yan had been teaching him to call Hu Li "Daddy" using his photo, but he would just glance at the photo and then continue playing with his toys, expressionless.

This was the first time Hu Chen had called out "Daddy." Originally intending to ignore him tonight, Hua Yan felt a pang of sadness, remembering how she hadn't seen Hu Li in months. She pulled Hu Chen close and softly said, "Daddy will come to pick us up soon."

"I miss Daddy." The moonlight illuminated Hu Chen's tear-filled eyes. Hua Yan fought back her own tears and forced a smile. "Yes, Daddy must miss Chen Chen too." At that moment, she chastised herself for her carelessness. She had always seen Hu Chen quietly playing by himself or chatting with Father Hua and others, never crying or fussing.

He never mentioned Hu Li, and she had overlooked the fact that even a small child could understand many things deeply. She suddenly recalled how Hu Chen would always lift his head from playing whenever she called Father Hua "Daddy." It turned out he had been thinking about Hu Li all along.

"Mm..." Hu Chen had spent the night anxious and scared, thinking that his father had abandoned him and that his mother was angry with him for being disobedient during the day. Hua Yan's words, though not entirely comprehensible to him, reassured him that she still loved him. Within minutes, he fell asleep. However, Hua Yan lay awake for a long time...

Reflecting on Hu Chen's words that night, Hua Yan decided to take him out for a change of scenery. She informed Father Hua and the others of her plan. Although they had their reservations, Old Yang assured them he would arrange for protection from a distance, and Hua Yan said she would bring Hu Er along.

Upon hearing that Hua Yan planned to take Hu Chen out the next day, Hu Er was overjoyed. After hanging up the phone, he immediately made a series of calls to arrange security measures. He even informed Hu Li, who was far away in Germany.

Hu Li had been busy with work and hadn't had breakfast at home. After finishing his tasks and just as he was about to start eating, Hu Er's call came in. After that, Hu Da noticed that his master had lost interest in his favorite food.

"Master, if you don't like it, shall I get you something else?"

"No need." Hu Li had lost his appetite. Hearing that Hua Yan and Hu Chen were going out made him both worried and regretful. He was concerned for their safety and frustrated that his work kept delaying his return home.

"You can eat it." With that, Hu Li took his phone to the scenic balcony of the restaurant.

Watching the bustling pedestrians below, Hu Li made a decision and ordered Hu Er to protect Hua Yan and Hu Chen. Then, he and Hu Da returned to the Hu family estate.

Seeing Hu Li return so early, Mother Hu, who was sunbathing and doing a facial mask in the living room, asked in surprise, "Did you forget some documents?"

"No. Where's Father?"

"He's in the study." Mother Hu was puzzled about why Hu Li was looking for his father at this time, but she couldn't glean anything from his expressionless face. She turned back to pampering her skin.

In the study, Father Hu looked seriously at Hu Li, who appeared determined. After a long silence, he asked, "Are you sure about this? Now is not the best time."

"Father, I've made up my mind. In fact, everything was under control a month ago. I only delayed for extra caution."

Father Hu realized that the person facing him was not just his son but a mature and responsible man.

Feeling both proud and curious, he asked, "Why the sudden urgency to take over the position of head of the family?"

"You'll understand in due time." Hu Li certainly wouldn't tell his father that he could no longer endure the days without Hua Yan and Hu Chen by his side, which was why he had decided to take on the role of family head before the year ended. Although this decision meant he would face considerable hardship in the coming months, or even longer, he felt it was worth it.

"Very well. The ceremony for the new family head will take place in three days, and the day after tomorrow, we'll host a banquet for you."

"Alright. Thank you for your hard work, Father."

For the next three days, Hu Li was even busier. Those secondary heirs he had sent out received his orders and returned to the family one after another. The outside world was abuzz with this news, as many had expected Hu Li to take on the role of family head after the new year, especially since Father Hu was still vigorous and healthy, leaving Hu Li with little pressure.

Now, his eagerness to take on the family head position so quickly made many who were familiar with the Hu family's ways extremely anxious, to the point where some were nearly tearing their hair out in worry.

Ke Shao and Cai Cai were discussing Hu Li's sudden decision to assume the family head role. Cai Cai calmly said, "Perhaps you men are overthinking it. Hu Li might not be doing this to revive the Hu family's enterprises, but rather to reunite with Hua Yan as soon as possible."