Beside him was the plump boy he had clashed with once at summer camp, their arms draped over each other's shoulders as they strolled along, appearing like best friends.

While Melon seemed lost in thought, the boy was the first to notice Ariana and Holden and nudged Melon excitedly. “Look! Your dad's here to pick you up! And your mom, too. Wow, it's my first time seeing them together!"

As Melon lifted his gaze, he caught sight of Ariana and Holden side by side at the kindergarten's entrance. He couldn't hide his surprise, having not anticipated their joint appearance.

He dashed towards them, halting just a short distance away.

Just as Melon was on the verge of calling Holden by his name, Holden swiftly cut him off. Lifting Melon into the air, Holden asked with a grin, "Have you been missing Mom and me, Melon?"

"Yes!" Melon nodded with joy and leaned closer to whisper to Holden, “But what brings you here?"

Holden, with a smile, gently ruffled Melon's hair and replied, “Because I've missed you, too."

Ariana, watching this heartwarming scene, couldn't help but smile.

“What would you Like for dinner, Melon? Let's go get some groceries," she said.

“Fantastic! I'm ready for a big dinner tonight!" exclaimed Melon, his enthusiasm bubbling over.

The supermarket wasn't far off, so they made their way there, filling the air with their laughter and chatter. Holden carried Melon, who excitedly shared stories from his day at kindergarten. Ariana and Holden listened intently, offering comments here and there.

After picking up some groceries, they headed back home. To their surprise, as soon as they reached their doorstep, they spotted a figure stepping out of a car nearby. It was Mitchel.

Ariana, taken aback by Mitchel's sudden appearance, watched as Mitchel turned at the sound of Melon's voice.

"Mr. Chadwick!" Melon yelled, surprised and delighted. He wriggled out of Holden's grasp and into Mitchel's arms. Seizing the moment, Mitchel hugged him tight, and Melon clung to his neck, saying, "It's been ages since I've seen you."

Equally astonished, Ariana approached Mitchel and inquired, “What brings you here?"

Mitchel gently patted Melon's head and shared, "I just had a meeting in the neighboring province and brought some snacks for Melon."

Melon's face lit up with joy. He hugged Mitchel tightly, not wanting to let go, and kept talking. It was clear that Melon Liked Mitchel very much.

Holden, standing a step behind, felt a pang of jealousy. His expression darkened, though he tried hard to mask it and maintain his composure, especially in front of his rival in love.

With a forced smile, he moved closer and casually draped an arm around Ariana's shoulders. Then, he asked her, “Aren't you going to introduce him to me?"

Caught off guard by the question, Ariana offered an awkward smile.