The flood was nearly overwhelming, but Zhou Cheng’s words gave Grandmother Yu a final straw to grasp:

“Yes, an autopsy. We need an autopsy. That certainly isn’t my son Zhongyi.”

This thought now consumed Grandmother Yu’s mind.

When they couldn’t find him, she hoped to find him.

Now that they’d found a body, she was anxious to deny it.

As long as that body wasn’t Xu Zhongyi, Grandmother Yu firmly believed her son was still alive, just unable to reunite with his mother for certain reasons.

That would be fine too.

Why must they keep searching?

Wouldn’t it be better to just believe he was living peacefully somewhere in the world?

Grandmother Yu’s strength surpassed both Zhou Cheng and Liu Fen’s expectations.

Liu Fen couldn’t accept it herself and felt terrible for Grandmother Yu, crying secretly twice. Even Min Xiaoju, typically carefree, felt uncomfortable, though she wasn’t as close to Grandmother Yu as Liu Fen was.

Yet Grandmother Yu herself didn’t cry.

Having weathered various hardships in life, she had endured suffering that even her husband couldn’t survive. This old lady had skin of brass and bones of iron; her strength exceeded everyone’s imagination.

When Zhou Cheng told Xia Xiaolan about Grandmother Yu’s condition, Xia Xiaolan remained silent for a moment before commenting:

“Grandmother Yu has transformed her grief into strength now. She won’t break down until it’s truly confirmed that body is Xu Zhongyi – that’s the power of maternal love.”

“If it’s confirmed that it is…”

Xia Xiaolan’s response was decisive: “Even then, we can’t let Grandmother Yu fall. At that point, we’ll need to channel her hatred into the strength to carry on.”

Even if Xu Zhongyi was dead, they still needed to find Cui Yiru and Xu Changle.

“Yes, I know what to do.”

Though Xia Xiaolan knew Zhou Cheng would handle things well, she remained anxious: “Take them to San Francisco first. Jim is still there, and Wen Manni will help handle the legal procedures for requesting a new autopsy. I’ll arrive in San Francisco by the 12th at the latest.”

Zhou Cheng’s leave was only until the 12th, so he might need to leave for the Chinese delegation’s city just as Xia Xiaolan arrived.

These days, they clearly wouldn’t have time to be intimate, but considering Zhou Cheng had already stayed in New York for so long, even attending production line negotiations together, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t be too greedy.

Everyone had their responsibilities – how could they stay together every moment?

Xia Xiaolan was already overjoyed that Zhou Cheng could accompany her in America for this long.

All the problems that arise from long-distance relationships disappear when couples who still care for each other meet, leaving only the joy of reunion.

Xia Xiaolan felt she wasn’t so immature anymore, though evidence showed she wasn’t much more rational in romance than others.

Zhou Cheng also knew his priority now was to help ease Xia Xiaolan’s worries.

Even though they couldn’t meet these two days, they would still maintain frequent phone contact.

Exams started on the 8th and were supposed to last until the 12th. Xia Xiaolan was anxious, but Professor Wen helped arrange for her to take the exams early on the 10th, with two subjects in one day, after swearing not to leak the exam questions.

Xia Xiaolan had no intention of leaking them anyway!

Thus, she headed to San Francisco a day earlier than planned, having booked her flight by phone in advance. She took a red-eye flight departing at 1 AM right after finishing her exams.

Even direct flights from New York to San Francisco take 6-7 hours. Departing at this time meant arriving in San Francisco in the morning.

Just one day later than Zhou Cheng’s group!

Wen Manni had just helped arrange the application for a new autopsy, and Grandmother Yu had visited the police station herself.

When Zhou Cheng picked up Xia Xiaolan at the airport, he kept saying:

“Why did you rush over like this? Even with the application submitted, there’s still a process to follow.”

Jim couldn’t help with this kind of thing – his investigative methods couldn’t come to light.

Thankfully they had Wen Manni!

A good law firm and good lawyers do have influence.

Xia Xiaolan was extremely grateful she had chosen to live with the Wen family and built close relationships with them. The Wens had helped her so much!

“I know I might not be able to help much by coming, but I couldn’t stay comfortable alone in Ithaca. Professor Wen helped me arrange to take the exams early.”

When it came down to it, Xia Xiaolan realized her feelings for Grandmother Yu were deeper than she’d thought.

It had been almost three years since she’d rented a room in Shangdu in the winter of ’83. She’d only spent three years with Grandmother Yu. In her previous life, Xia Xiaolan was an orphan lacking family affection, extremely yearning for family warmth. With Liu Fen who always accommodated her, and Grandmother Yu who was tough-talking but soft-hearted, the three women of different generations living together had grown close – Liu Fen was like her mother, and Grandmother Yu was no different from her grandmother.

That’s why Xia Xiaolan was so worried about Grandmother Yu.

Zhou Cheng held her hand, his heart melting.

Xiaolan was the type to act tough on the surface, appearing shrewd and unwilling to be taken advantage of, always talking about “equivalent exchange,” but she wasn’t like that… Once someone became one of her own, she dropped her defenses completely. Not only could they take advantage of her, but she would also protect them fiercely and worry about them.

Was it difficult to gain Xiaolan’s acceptance?

Zhou Cheng didn’t think so.

Being straightforward, without too many calculations – whether it was love, family, or friendship, those who treated Xiaolan with sincerity would receive her sincerity in return.

“What are you doing?”

Xia Xiaolan felt Zhou Cheng’s grip on her hand tighten, holding her firmly as if afraid she might get lost in the airport.

Zhou Cheng bent down and kissed her, “I just realized how much I like you. What should I do?”

They’d been together for quite a while now, yet he was still saying such mushy things. Xia Xiaolan blushed.

Zhou Cheng didn’t explain further.

How wonderful his wife was – he could keep that knowledge to himself. Why should he announce it to the world with a loudspeaker, letting his romantic rivals know how he won Xiaolan’s affection?

He wasn’t some forcefully dumbed-down fool!

Zhou Cheng was immensely grateful for his luck that he had met Xiaolan early and entered her heart, rather than someone else.

No, perhaps that Wang fellow had his chance too, but gave it up himself.

Zhou Cheng hadn’t thought about Wang Jianhua for a long time. Now he suddenly wondered if he should anonymously send Wang Jianhua a banner of gratitude after returning to China.

At the hotel, Xia Xiaolan met Grandmother Yu.

Grandmother Yu appeared to be in good spirits.

Even after meeting Jim and personally going to the police station to apply for a new autopsy, Grandmother Yu remained calm:

“Xiaolan, I visited the cemetery at the church. I don’t believe that’s my son buried there.”

Xia Xiaolan nodded firmly, “Yes, I don’t think it’s him either. I invited you to America so we could find Uncle Xu together!”