In 1994, Yu Li returned from America after completing her studies.

Besides earning her degree, she had worked there for a year, which Xia Xiaolan strongly supported—gaining more worldly experience abroad was certainly beneficial.

At the “Young Eagles Scholarship Foundation,” Tang Youru was gradually learning to manage things. While a person’s body might be disabled, their spirit could remain mighty. Tang Youru had adapted to this work and performed excellently. Xia Xiaolan intended to let her take full responsibility for the scholarship foundation in the future.

Yu Li didn’t return alone—accompanying her was her American suitor, a young entrepreneur who had met her at an alumni cocktail party and had been persistently pursuing her ever since.

Yu Li had no time for romance—she still owed her cousin Xia Xiaolan so much money!

However, this American didn’t give up after being rejected. After pursuing Yu Li for two years without winning the Eastern beauty’s heart, when Yu Li decided to return to China, he directly followed her there—

“Gavin shows real sincerity,” Xia Xiaolan commented.

Yu Li couldn’t help but look up to where Gavin was receiving Uncle Tang Hong’en’s “care and attention.” She couldn’t deny Xia Xiaolan’s observation.

Sometimes she wondered if she had such great charm.

To make an American pursue her so persistently for two years, willing to learn Chinese culture—using chopsticks was just the basics. Now Gavin was communicating with Tang Hong’en in broken Chinese.

Gavin had typical American confidence, but now he was sweating profusely.

The Yu Li he knew had been just an ordinary Chinese international student, but after arriving in China, Gavin discovered his beloved was far from ordinary.

His beloved mother, though physically disabled, managed a foundation.

His beloved cousin was an outstanding Chinese architect and real estate company owner.

His beloved uncle was a high-ranking Chinese official… Poor Gavin had to be exceptionally careful, afraid of leaving a bad impression on Yu Li’s family.

He was just a small farmer’s son who had always been good at studying and successfully attended university.

He had started a business during college, received investment, and only then established his own company.

God, would they look down on him?!

Gavin threw Yu Li a pleading look, but she averted her gaze. Xia Xiaolan linked arms with her and went outside: “You like him, don’t you?”

If she didn’t, even if Gavin had persistently followed her to China, Yu Li wouldn’t have let him meet Xia Xiaolan, Tang Hong’en, and the others.

Yu Li was slow to warm up to people, but two years had been enough time for Gavin to gradually enter her heart.

She needed her family’s encouragement and approval to have the courage to embrace new feelings—her previous failed relationship with Shao Guangrong still affected her.

So this time, although she hadn’t agreed to formally date Gavin, Yu Li had never hidden her family circumstances.

Her uncle and cousin weren’t objects for boasting. She told Gavin she was from a single-parent family, could only study in America thanks to her cousin’s sponsorship, that her mother needed a wheelchair, and that she owed her cousin a large sum for her mother’s medical treatment.

Only if Gavin could accept all this would she consider dating him.

At first, Gavin was truly shocked.

Eastern and Western concepts differed. Yu Li grew up in China where, until recent years when attitudes began to open up, the belief was “dating without intention to marry is hooliganism.” Dating was for marriage, so of course she had to explain her real situation to Gavin beforehand.

However, by American standards, Gavin was thinking first about successful dating, becoming boyfriend and girlfriend, and only then considering marriage… Honestly, most Americans distinguished clearly between dating and marriage, with some couples even cohabiting for years and having several children without marrying.

Yu Li’s directness shocked Gavin. The young man disappeared for half a month, then reappeared to tell Yu Li he had thought it through:

“Chinese people have closer family ties. I’m willing to help you take care of your mother—isn’t that what I should do?”

Yu Li said his agreement alone wasn’t enough; he should seek her family’s opinion.

Gavin was puzzled:

“What kind of woman I like is my choice—what does it have to do with my family? They’ll only wish me happiness!”

This was another manifestation of East-West cultural differences.

For someone like Gavin, who had to take out loans for college tuition, parents truly wouldn’t interfere with their children’s marriage or career. As adults, they could do whatever they wanted.

Yu Li then said she would return to China and wouldn’t stay in America.

This time, Gavin didn’t agree immediately, becoming more cautious:

“I need to visit China with you and see.”

See what?

Whether China was suitable for settling down, and whether there was soil for his company to survive. He couldn’t carelessly promise things he couldn’t deliver. Falling in love with a Chinese girl and being willing to learn Chinese culture was one thing, but living in China long-term was another matter.

Then there was his career.

A man could chase love in a foreign country, but he couldn’t use love as an excuse to rely on a woman for support.

Gavin was just that kind of person—growing up on a farm left him without much cunning, and his successful college startup was more due to technology. If a comparison was needed, he was somewhat like an American version of Xu Jing.

Of course, Gavin didn’t have an ex like Xiang Li. His romantic history was simple, with only two previous girlfriends—one from high school who split up when they went to college, and another during university who dumped him because he was too busy with his startup… When he met Yu Li, he had been out of college for two years, his small company had barely gotten on track, and he could finally spare time for alumni gatherings. After such a long period of being single, Gavin had almost forgotten what love felt like. For him, meeting Yu Li came at the perfect time!

Everything was just right.

Gavin gradually calmed down when he noticed Tang Hong’en had switched to English to communicate with him.

God, his Chinese wasn’t good enough, making him sweat profusely!

Moreover, the more truthful he was, the more gentle Tang Hong’en’s attitude became. Gavin certainly knew what to do—don’t try to win Yu Li’s family’s favor with lies; he should tell the truth!

After talking with Gavin for two hours, Tang Hong’en couldn’t find any faults with this young American.

Except that he would occasionally use exaggerated language to praise Yu Li… Tang Hong’en accepted this calmly—of course, his niece was wonderful.

Tang Hong’en’s evaluation of Gavin was higher than that of Shao Guangrong.

If little Yu liked him, let her date this Gavin.

He quietly asked his sister:

“Do you like him?”

Gavin nervously watched the two, understanding this question.

Tang Youru nodded gently, “He likes Yu, and Yu likes him too—that’s what’s most important. Second Brother, I just want Yu to be happy.”

Tang Youru was very grateful she had insisted on working after returning from medical treatment in America.

Work had given her confidence, allowing her to meet this American young man who loved Yu Li with dignity!