How could it be a surprise if they revealed it early?

These two couldn’t control themselves after drinking, but Xia Xiaolan didn’t discourage them, just clinked glasses with them.

After dinner, it was 11 PM. Thinking it would be morning in China, Xia Xiaolan called Zhou Cheng’s work unit… Her Cheng wasn’t a team leader anymore but had been promoted to deputy battalion commander, so he could take calls more frequently without issue.

The downside of international calls was the constant transferring – it took half an hour to get through.

Zhou Cheng was breathing heavily:

“Finally remembered your sweetheart, huh? I’ve been waiting for your call all day, wondering how your first day of internship went.”

Xia Xiaolan felt embarrassed, “Were you waiting long? The internship was fine, but I worked overtime on the first day so I got back late. Senior brothers Xu Jing and Ma Hai came over with Daisy to celebrate with me, which delayed things. Are you doing training at this hour?”

What training?

Zhou Cheng’s deputy battalion commander position was transitional. The unit assigned him mostly auxiliary work – he wasn’t specifically responsible for any particular area, just sent wherever help was needed, essentially assisting the leadership.

He had just been promoted when he went to America, originally just to see his wife, but ended up saving Harold and facilitating the inspection team’s purchase of the production line. The 8.4 million dollar production line import made Deng Changxing very pleased, and he wasn’t stingy with rewards.

While there was no opportunity to reward Xia Xiaolan, he could reward Zhou Cheng. Director Deng praised Zhou Cheng extensively upon returning home. The Foreign Trade Ministry leaders were impressed, hearing that Zhou Cheng’s English was decent and he understood some trade knowledge. If his organizational relationship hadn’t been with the classified unit, the Foreign Trade Ministry would have wanted to keep him!

They even called the unit specifically to express gratitude for cultivating Comrade Zhou Cheng.

Verbal thanks cost nothing, and ministry leaders could give as much as they wanted, but the unit’s reception of this feedback was different… They hadn’t expected Comrade Zhou Cheng to be so well-rounded in both civil and military matters – making him an example wasn’t wrong at all.

The unit felt honored. After Zhou Cheng returned from the front line, he stayed in the unit, advancing from squad leader to team leader, then to deputy battalion commander. His promotion path was clear, and without doubt, much of his excellence came from the unit’s training!

Zhou Cheng told Xiaolan about Director Deng’s gratitude. Xia Xiaolan laughed:

“Director Deng is so kind. Although I don’t seek rewards, he’s reliable. If similar situations arise in the future, I’d still be willing to translate for him.”

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t just saying this. Why did the Foreign Trade Ministry send Deng Changxing to lead the American inspection? Because he was originally in charge of the US foreign trade business. As long as Xia Xiaolan remained in America, she was happy to help him – she quite liked practical cadres like Deng Changxing.

Zhou Cheng smiled too: “On the way back home, Director Deng kept praising you to others. He likes you too. Oh, I received the watch you sent yesterday. It’s beautiful, exactly the style I like!”

Even if it were ugly, this unprincipled Zhou Cheng would probably find cuteness in its ugliness if Xia Xiaolan picked it.

But how could anything Xia Xiaolan chose be ugly?

Even Cornell’s picky architecture professors only said her designs lacked “spirit” and focused too much on practicality – they would never call Electronic Plaza ugly.

While she was still learning refined aesthetics, Xia Xiaolan never lacked basic aesthetic sense.

This straightforward woman’s choices perfectly matched straightforward male tastes – Zhou Cheng even loved every tiny screw on the watchband!

He still couldn’t be too flashy at work. Wearing it in winter was fine, but in summer meant fewer clothes. Zhou Cheng had slept with the watch under his pillow since receiving it yesterday, feeling like his wife was accompanying him, sleeping soundly all night.

Xia Xiaolan told him about the note Grandmother Yu received at the airport.

Zhou Cheng pondered: “If Grandmother Yu confirmed the note’s source, then Xu Zhongyi is alive. Grandmother Yu is right – put this matter aside for now. Don’t push too hard and drive people to desperate measures. Who would protect you when I’m not by your side? Let’s not do anything dangerous. Wait for Xu Zhongyi to come forward himself and see what he’s being so mysterious about.”

Someone could change a lot in 20 years, even if they were simple-minded before.

Like true lovers, Zhou Cheng’s thoughts matched Xia Xiaolan’s. Not contacting one’s mother for 20 years – Xu Zhongyi’s behavior was hard to understand.

Hopefully, Xu Zhongyi had an acceptable reason. Otherwise, Xu Zhongyi was Xu Zhongyi, and Grandmother Yu was Grandmother Yu – only Grandmother Yu had built an emotional connection with a Xiaolan like family… Zhou Cheng hoped Xiaolan would remain cautious about any moves Xu Zhongyi made.

“I know, I won’t easily trust someone I don’t understand.”

Zhou Cheng calculated the time difference, “Alright, you need to go to the firm tomorrow. Get some sleep, and call back when you’re free. I’m always here.”

I’m always here.

Zhou Cheng’s promise reassured Xia Xiaolan.

Sometimes it wasn’t about meeting, hugging, or kissing – just having someone listen when you needed to talk, such companionship brought comfort.

She couldn’t accept two months without any news – Comrade Zhou Cheng had improved now.

…

Pengcheng.

At Luohu Customs, a car waited tightly parked, expecting someone arriving from Hong Kong.

The American flight first transferred to Japan, then from Japan to Hong Kong, and still had to come from Hong Kong… If his position didn’t have restrictions, Tang Hongen would have gone to Hong Kong airport to pick her up.

Now, even as Pengcheng’s mayor, he had to wait patiently at Luohu Customs.

He finished reading one newspaper, but still no sign.

Read two more official documents.

There was movement at customs – but not her.

Little Wang didn’t dare speak. The leader had come too early, but could he say that?

He feared if he spoke up, Grandmother Yu would serve him bitter gourd salad again.

Working beside leaders meant doing more and expressing fewer opinions. Auntie Liu had been in America less than a month, but the leader had already lost several pounds. Little Wang thought their relationship must be really good!

Finally, there was movement at customs again. Tang Hongen rolled down the window and immediately spotted his wife among the queue of people crossing.

It had nothing to do with Liu Fen’s height – when you miss someone, you can recognize them from just a side view or silhouette. When you don’t care as much, you might miss them even face to face.

Tang Hongen opened the car door and got out. Liu Fen was going through customs when she looked up and saw him.

They hadn’t been apart this long since getting married. Liu Fen was happy to see Tang Hongen, with a bittersweet feeling – no matter how nice foreign lands were, they couldn’t compare to home. She and Tang Hongen had only been married half a year, and not seeing him had made her heartsick.

“Why have you gotten thinner?”

Those were Liu Fen’s first words. Tang Hongen felt a bit wronged – how could a man not lose weight without his wife around?