Weekend couples, ah.

Every weekend was precious, wasn’t it?

The bed where Liu Fen had slept carried her scent – not body odor, not perfume, but the mixed fragrance of her soap and shampoo.

The pillow still held Liu Fen’s scent, and Tang Hongen gradually fell asleep surrounded by it.

The next morning, Grandmother Yu woke up late. She had been too excited and talked with Liu Fen for half the night. As an elderly person with limited energy, she was still sleeping when Liu Fen woke up.

Liu Fen got up quietly.

Tang Hongen was also awake but lying lazily in bed. Seeing Liu Fen open the door, he stretched and said, “Wait for me, I’ll get up now.”

But Liu Fen wasn’t there to scold him for sleeping in. After thinking all night, she just wanted to ask Tang Hongen, “Can I go abroad with Aunt Yu?”

Tang Hongen pretended to be serious, “You want to go together?”

Liu Fen nodded, “Aunt Yu is so old now. Xiaolan took a full day’s flight to America – how can Aunt Yu manage without someone to care for her during the journey? She got excited just hearing the news, that she has diabetes… I’m just worried.”

Besides his Afen, who else would take in an elderly lady halfway and treat her like their own mother with such sincerity?

Speaking of wealth, Grandmother Yu wasn’t even as wealthy as Liu Fen currently was, let alone compared to Xia Xiaolan’s real estate company.

Tang Hongen didn’t mock Liu Fen for being foolish. There were many shrewd people in officialdom, but Liu Fen wasn’t foolish – she was kind and generous. Being married to such a woman, Tang Hongen could sleep soundly, without fear of schemes from his bedmate!

“You just don’t trust me. Do you think I wouldn’t arrange everything properly when sending Grandmother Yu to America? Don’t worry, I’ve already planned it – arranging for both of you to go abroad. And Min Xiaoju too – take her along. I’ll feel at ease if she’s helping you with things in America.”

Min Xiaoju wasn’t living in the Shichahai courtyard anymore, but she still worked for Liu Fen, learning how to manage the business.

Tang Hongen pretended to complain, making Liu Fen embarrassed.

Tang Hongen wanted to tell her the truth, but considering Liu Fen’s personality, if she heard about Xu Zhongyi’s possible death, she would certainly show signs that the sharp-eyed Grandmother Yu would notice.

So Tang Hongen decided not to say anything.

“Afen, don’t stay too long in America. Come back as soon as you’ve finished what needs to be done.”

“Of course, the business in Beijing depends on me, and I can also visit Xiaolan while I’m there.”

Liu Fen spoke seriously, but Tang Hongen accused her of being heartless: “What about me? I depend on you too.”

Liu Fen held back her embarrassment and annoyance.

Tang Hongen had a point – a round trip to America would take at least half a month.

Since she and Tang Hongen got their marriage certificate, they had never been apart for more than half a month. It would be quite a long separation – without someone watching over him, would his stomach problems act up?

Liu Fen was instantly torn again.

She had to go together, but leaving Tang Hongen alone in China would also worry her.

Tang Hongen watched her internal struggle with secret pleasure.

It had taken so much time, but he had finally warmed up this cold stone.

Thinking about it, Tang Hongen felt quite accomplished.

A remarried woman with a college-age daughter, bearing the reputation of being a divorced mother – how much could she know about matters between men and women? He had taught her everything, bit by bit, like a patient teacher.

“Alright, I know you won’t feel at ease unless you accompany Grandmother Yu to America. Just go – I can take care of myself.”

He had said both the good and hard words himself – what could Liu Fen say?

…

In the end, Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng didn’t make it to Washington.

If Grandmother Yu was coming to America, they might as well bring Jiang Yan over too.

Zhou Cheng made the call in front of Xia Xiaolan.

On the other end, Jiang Yan listened carefully – staying in America alone for a year? Jiang Yan wasn’t afraid at all:

“I’ll follow the doctor’s orders.”

No woman wouldn’t care about scars, and even Jiang Yan cared about the scar on her back.

Not only was it unsightly, but it also affected her arm movement.

Of course, it would be best if it could be treated!

Jiang Yan considered herself unsentimental, not need special care.

Whether her parents came to America or not didn’t matter.

When Zhou Cheng suggested she wait to come with Grandmother Yu and Liu Fen, just thinking about being on the same flight as Xia Xiaolan’s family made Jiang Yan’s hair stand on end: “No need, I want to come as soon as possible. I’ll be fine by myself.”

“About the surgery costs—”

“The unit leaders visited me and told me to actively seek treatment. Even for overseas treatment, they’ll reimburse part of it. Don’t worry about the rest – Third Brother Pan came to see me the other day and left me some money!”

Pan Baohua had even said he wanted to marry her, but Jiang Yan had refused with a bitter smile.

She felt brotherly affection for Pan Baohua – how could she marry someone she saw as a brother?

Pan Baohua had no choice; hearing she needed surgery abroad, he left her several ten thousand and hurriedly left.

Jiang Wu had been arrested, and Pan Baohua’s actions back then were somewhat justified, but he hadn’t mentioned returning to the unit. Zhou Cheng guessed Third Brother Pan’s “mission” wasn’t finished yet.

Jiang Yan wouldn’t travel with Liu Fen’s group, wouldn’t let Zhou Cheng pay for the surgery, and only thanked him for finding a reliable doctor.

“Dr. Bellman was contacted by Xiaolan.”

“Oh, thank her for me. We’ll talk when I get to America!”

Jiang Yan hung up abruptly.

Normally, following regular approval procedures, by the time Jiang Yan got her American documents, Zhou Cheng and the research group would have returned home.

Of course, since Jiang Yan was coming for medical treatment, she could get expedited approval.

As soon as Zhou Cheng hung up, Xia Xiaolan smiled.

Comrade Jiang Yan was interesting.

Everyone knew Jiang Yan’s feelings, but she wasn’t trying to cling to Zhou Cheng, wouldn’t stay at his home, and wouldn’t let him pay for treatment – she seemed straightforward enough.

Yet there was still an inexplicable awkwardness.

Like a fishbone stuck in the throat, neither able to spit it out nor swallow it, making Xia Xiaolan uncomfortable and uneasy.

She could only adjust her mindset and treat Jiang Yan like those American girls who slipped notes to Zhou Cheng asking for dates. Zhou Cheng was so innocent, he hadn’t accepted any of those dates, so she didn’t need to worry about Jiang Yan either.

Moreover, Zhou Cheng wouldn’t stay in America forever.

Dr. Bellman was introduced by Klaus, so Comrade Jiang Yan would still end up in her hands. Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help but smile:

“You can go back to China without worry – I’ll help look after Jiang Yan.”

Zhou Cheng nodded with a rather serious expression, secretly glancing at his wife’s smile that didn’t reach her eyes – it was quite scary.

“Wife, your studies should come first – how would you have time to take care of her? Klaus said American hospitals have nurses.”

Whether there were traps in the question or not, Zhou Cheng didn’t care – having strong survival instincts was never wrong.

Just as Zhou Cheng was about to spend no more than two days in Ithaca, Captain Fang called from New York:

“Zhou Cheng, come back quickly. Someone’s looking for you in New York. From the looks of it, I can’t hold them off anymore!”