HomeDream of Golden YearsChapter 1337: The Stopped Clock.

Chapter 1337: The Stopped Clock.

“Students, please line up in order. We’re about to go through customs, and I need to take attendance one final time to ensure everyone is present.”

Two officials from the Education Department were leading this group of students bound for America.

Those whose names were called had to stand behind the group leaders to pass through customs.

When Xia Xiaolan’s name was called, she picked up her suitcase and waved to her family and friends.

“Make sure to study hard at Cornell University!”

Mao Kangshan, who had been quiet until now, thinking farewell scenes were too sentimental, couldn’t help but call out.

“Yes, I know!”

“Xia Xiaolan, Xia Xiaolan from Huaqing’s Architecture Department?”

The group leader called her name again. Not daring to delay any longer, Xia Xiaolan hurried forward with her suitcase. The leader checked her student ID and school introduction letter, marking an √ on the form to confirm her presence.

Before entering customs, Xia Xiaolan took one final look behind her. She saw the reluctance on her family and friends’ faces, spotted Du Zhaohui lurking far away with his shifty eyes, and even noticed Tang Yuanyue, who had seriously wronged her before the New Year.

But Zhou Cheng wasn’t there.

Though Xia Xiaolan had expected this, knowing life wasn’t like a TV drama, she was still deeply disappointed.

What did it mean to be a military family member?

She had felt it before, but never as profoundly as now.

Being a military family member meant that privileges other women enjoyed were all denied to you.

Men couldn’t provide timely care – discipline and confidentiality regulations always took precedence over matters of the heart.

No seeing each other during New Year, no sendoffs for overseas departures.

Would it be the same when she and Zhou Cheng got married and had children? When her water broke and she went to the hospital to give birth, would Zhou Cheng even be able to show up?

Xia Xiaolan’s heart wasn’t made of glass but had the hardness of a diamond.

Yet, even so, she felt empty inside. If she truly had a glass heart, she didn’t know how she would endure such a life.

Not seeing each other wasn’t the worst part.

The worst was being completely cut off from communication like Zhou Cheng was now.

The inability to express her longing was secondary; what truly mattered was that Xia Xiaolan had to worry about what Zhou Cheng was doing and whether he was safe!

Having been to Hong Kong earlier that year, she was familiar with the customs procedures. With official escorts this time, the process was even simpler, and no one dared to demand any “crossing fees.”

They only needed to pay an entry fee of 18 Hong Kong dollars each, which the Education Department leaders covered for the students.

After entering Hong Kong, students weren’t allowed to leave the group. The schedule was very tight, with an immediate departure for the airport.

Xia Xiaolan and the other students would fly from Hong Kong to Tokyo, then transfer to a flight to America!

Rewinding the clock by two hours, a jeep could be seen speeding along the provincial road, racing to reach Pengcheng as quickly as possible.

Pan Baohua was driving.

Zhou Cheng should have been driving, but Pan Baohua, worried that his anxiety might lead to mistakes, strictly forbade him from touching the steering wheel and relegated him to the passenger seat.

There were three people in the jeep: Pan Baohua, Zhou Cheng, and Jiang Yan!

A woman’s intuition was indeed accurate – Jiang Yan wasn’t at the academy but was indeed with Zhou Cheng. Of course, they weren’t being intimate; all three were injured and looked quite disheveled.

Zhou Cheng’s watch had a cracked case but still worked enough for him to check it frequently.

“Look at you, don’t you trust my driving? We’ll make it in time to see your sweetheart off.”

Zhou Cheng was completely exhausted.

He knew he couldn’t rush Pan Baohua, whose condition wasn’t much better than his own.

Jiang Yan, who had been dozing in the back seat, woke up groggily when she heard Pan Baohua speaking: “Where are we now?”

“You’re awake? We’ll be in Pengcheng in half an hour!”

Jiang Yan’s face was injured, with bandages around her forehead, and she hadn’t even had time to change her clothes.

Everyone knew how difficult Jiang Wu was to handle, but catching him had cost Zhou Cheng and Pan Baohua tremendous effort! They had chased him from the Golden Triangle to the sea, then toward Fujian Province. At the critical moment, it was Jiang Yan who arrived with reinforcements, using herself as bait to successfully lure and capture Jiang Wu!

Even with a lame leg, Jiang Wu’s lethality remained formidable. While others valued their lives, he didn’t care about his own, constantly threatening mutual destruction in his madness, making him truly difficult to deal with.

After handing Jiang Wu over to Jiang Yan’s people for escort, Jiang Yan herself stepped forward to formally report him, leaving Jiang Wu’s fate to the court’s judgment.

With Jiang Wu captured, Zhou Cheng could breathe easier, Pan Baohua could find justice, but Jiang Yan would face enormous pressure.

While driving, Pan Baohua looked back worriedly:

“We told you not to get involved, that Chengzi and I would handle it. Now how will you face your family?”

Jiang Yan lowered her head: “The family helped cover up Jiang Wu’s crimes. Third Brother, do you think the Jiang family won’t be affected? Those who should be arrested will be arrested, those who should step down will step down. The Jiang family will pay the price for Jiang Wu’s actions.”

As for herself, having stolen the documents, she had already betrayed her family.

The Jiang family would never forgive her.

Including her parents.

Because of her alone, she had destroyed most of the Jiang family, leaving only the small fry behind. The Nanjing Jiang family would inevitably suffer a devastating blow!

Though Jiang Yan had long prepared herself for this outcome, when the day finally arrived, she still felt a sense of bewilderment.

Zhou Cheng could only respond with silence.

Perhaps Jiang Yan hoped he would say something, but Zhou Cheng’s promises had already been given to the woman he loved. At this moment, he couldn’t comfort Jiang Yan or give her unnecessary hope.

Zhou Cheng couldn’t help checking his watch again.

Pan Baohua also fell silent.

The atmosphere became intensely quiet.

In this extreme silence, Zhou Cheng seemed to hear the ticking of his watch’s hands.

Tick-tock, tick-tock… rhythmically, making his anxiety grow.

Ahead, they could already see the “Pengcheng” road sign. At Pan Baohua’s driving speed, he could make it before Xiaolan went through customs. No matter how long or short the time, even if just for a few minutes, he could at least hug his woman, and a kiss, letting her go abroad with peace of mind.

Zhou Cheng knew this “disconnection” had lasted too long.

First the trip to the Golden Triangle, then the vast sea, then the battle of wits with Jiang Wu – he had his reasons, but they weren’t sufficient excuse for completely losing contact.

Tick-tock, tick-tock—

Zhou Cheng felt a sudden panic, that animal instinct making him deeply uneasy.

“Something’s wrong! Third Brother, Jiang Yan, abandon the car now!”

Having fought together, their rapport was excellent. Without waiting for an explanation, Pan Baohua slammed on the brakes. Before the car could fully stop, all three had already opened their doors and rolled out.

Zhou Cheng jumped from the passenger side, and Jiang Yan from the back seat, both in the same direction, while Pan Baohua went the opposite way.

“Run!!!”

Zhou Cheng shouted, feeling Jiang Yan running behind him.

Maybe they ran seven or eight meters, maybe only five or six – Zhou Cheng couldn’t judge the distance. He only heard a tremendous boom, and a blast wave made it impossible to maintain balance. The explosion threw him forward, and it felt like hands were pushing him down.

Was it Jiang Yan?

Or was it his imagination?

The watch struck a rock, and its already cracked case finally shattered completely. The hands struggled to move a couple more times, then lost the strength to continue.

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