Cui Yiru pointed at a child in the photograph:

“This is you.”

Her finger moved across the photo, “This is your grandmother, this is your grandfather – he was so happy when you were born. This is me, this is your biological father… Changle, do you have no memories of the past?”

Fern frowned, strongly resisting Cui Yiru calling him that:

“I don’t remember. Although I know Daddy isn’t my biological father, he’s been good to both Tina and me all these years. Tina doesn’t even know about her background. Can’t we just continue like this? Why must you bring up the past? Xia Xiaolan’s appearance will destroy our family’s peace!”

Cui Yiru gripped the photograph tightly.

“Now that she’s appeared, I can’t pretend she doesn’t exist. I need to understand why she’s here, and why she has this photograph. I must go see her.”

“Have you asked Daddy’s opinion… I’m afraid she’s a calculating con artist who happened to learn about this and wants to scam money from you.”

Fern disapproved.

But Cui Yiru was resolute: “I don’t need anyone’s permission. Your daddy has always respected my decisions.”

This wasn’t untrue.

If he hadn’t loved her mother, he wouldn’t have raised him and his sister Tina as his children.

When his mother remarried Zhang Jiandong, he was old enough to remember, but Tina was just one year old, barely learning to talk. She quickly learned to call him “Daddy,” and his mother never corrected her. Tina had no memories of that time and grew up carefree, never imagining she wasn’t Zhang Jiandong’s biological child.

Cui Yiru was determined to meet Xia Xiaolan, despite Fern’s complete opposition.

Seeing her son’s anger didn’t change her mind.

Her fingernails, coated with clear polish and beautifully manicured, traced over the old family photo, lingering on Xu Zhongyi:

“…Are you still alive? He says you are, but I think you’re dead. If you were alive, how could you bear me marrying another man, and your children taking another surname?”

Only one lamp remained lit in the room.

Cui Yiru’s expression was hidden in the shadows.

Was it joy?

Worry?

Or fear?

Even she couldn’t tell.

But Fern was right about one thing – now that Xia Xiaolan had delivered this family photo to her, their peaceful, happy life might soon slip away.

Cui Yiru decided to meet Xia Xiaolan.

Though Fern opposed it, he didn’t want her to face this alone and chose to accompany her to Ithaca.

As for Tina, since Cui Yiru had learned about her feelings for Harold, and Fern strongly opposed it, they had a big argument with their mother and brother before the party began. She was still upset these past few days and knew nothing about this situation.

Cui Yiru and Fern arrived in Ithaca on Thursday afternoon.

Xia Xiaolan had many classes that day and only met them in the evening.

Several people accompanied Cui Yiru as she stepped out of the car, dressed more simply than at the party.

“I’d like to talk with you, if I may, Miss Xia.”

Xia Xiaolan glanced at those behind her, and Cui Yiru managed a smile, “Don’t worry about them. They’re just bodyguards my husband hired. Since the Fern siblings were kidnapped as children, my husband is especially concerned about family safety. If you’re uncomfortable with others present, we can talk privately.”

“No, Madam, what I have to say isn’t that serious – others can hear it.”

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t read Cui Yiru.

Cui Yiru’s thoughts were important, yet not crucial.

Cui Yiru had remarried and was no longer family with the Xu family or Grandmother Yu.

But Xu Changle was Xu Zhongyi’s son, Grandmother Yu’s grandson. Xia Xiaolan wanted Fern to hear this too.

For seeking the truth, Cui Yiru’s thoughts and position were important.

But for finding Grandmother Yu’s family, Fern’s thoughts mattered more than Cui Yiru’s!

After Xia Xiaolan said this, Cui Yiru still had the bodyguards wait outside. She brought Fern to speak with Xia Xiaolan in the café, while Pan Bohua sat at a moderate distance – with him there, no one could eavesdrop.

“I’ve been commissioned by Yu Shu to find her son’s family who never returned from America… Yu Shu doesn’t know you’ve remarried, Madam. The situation is delicate – how should I tell her?”

Cui Yiru’s face turned white as paper:

“Yu Shu was my mother-in-law’s name. Impossible – my parents-in-law didn’t survive the struggle sessions.”

Xia Xiaolan frowned, “Clearly Yu Shu – well, let me call her Grandmother Yu – is still alive. Otherwise, why would I, a stranger, seek you out? I don’t know where you got your information, but Grandmother Yu visited America this year. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the San Francisco TV station for their records – they should still have the tape of her interview.”

Cui Yiru repeatedly said, “Impossible.”

“I had people look in China-“

“Then why didn’t you go back to China yourself to visit Grandmother Yu? The old lady has kept living in the same house all these years, never moving. If you truly wanted to find her, it wouldn’t have been impossible.”

Cui Yiru struggled to answer.

Fern frowned: “Miss Xia, are you interrogating my mother? She must have her reasons for not returning to China herself.”

Xia Xiaolan smiled slightly, “Then let me make a bold guess – is it because you have a new life now, Madam, and don’t want any connections to your past life, so you couldn’t verify the truth yourself?”

“You-“

“Changle, let me speak for myself.”

Cui Yiru held back her son, showing a bitter smile:

“You’re right. I chose not to return to China, and after hearing about my in-laws’ deaths, I wanted to return even less. Since you know our family history, you must know I had no relatives in China. When I married into the Xu family, they became my family. With the Xu family gone, I had no reason to return… I truly didn’t know Changle’s grandmother was still alive. There must have been some mistake.”

“Oh…”

Xia Xiaolan drew out the sound: “Now that you know, Madam, that Grandmother Yu has been waiting for news of you all these years, searching for your whereabouts, what do you plan to do?”

Cui Yiru became emotional.

“Of course I should take Changle and Xiaona back to China, to let her know we’re alive!”

“Mother-“

Fern interrupted Cui Yiru, “How will you explain this to Tina? Can she accept this truth? I don’t think this is a good idea!”

Mother and son began arguing in front of Xia Xiaolan.

Pan Bohua grew impatient and stood up, “What’s wrong with you, kid? You’re acting like whoever feeds you is your mother. You’ve had the Zhang surname so long that you really think you’re their child? You’ve forgotten your father and don’t plan to acknowledge your real grandmother?”