Xia Xiaolan hadn’t expected Cui Yiru to be so decisive.

Just as she hadn’t expected Zhang Jiadong’s scheme to run so deep.

He had openly admitted his relationship with Mouse Qiang early on, portraying Mouse Qiang as someone who fell into corruption upon reaching America, while he remained untainted by his relative’s misdeeds.

If Pan Baohua hadn’t personally investigated and sent people to verify again, Xia Xiaolan would have believed everything Cui Yiru said… Had she and Third Brother wrongly accused Zhang Jiadong?

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t distinguish truth from fiction. She had only heard Cui Yiru’s version and hadn’t met Xu Zhongyi, so she didn’t completely trust everything Cui Yiru said.

Even if everything Cui Yiru said was true, it could still be the “truth” that Zhang Jiadong wanted her to know.

No wonder Zhang Jiadong didn’t mind her contact with Tina and Faan – it seemed this mother and children trusted him completely.

“You’re planning to return to China?”

Cui Yiru was resolute, “Yes, I’ll return to China as soon as possible. I didn’t know Changle’s grandmother was still alive. Now that I know, I naturally can’t let the elderly lady have any regrets.”

“Mother!”

Faan wanted to object, but Cui Yiru scolded him loudly: “You may have forgotten your childhood, but you’re a child of the Xu family. You must return with me to see your grandmother – this isn’t negotiable. The same goes for Tina. She’s already 18 and should know about her background. Just because you’re not his biological children, should you and Tina forget all these years of his care? The feelings between people aren’t fake. If Tina can’t understand this, I’ll be very disappointed!”

Faan fell silent, but his expression darkened, and he looked at Xia Xiaolan with hostility.

Pan Baohua sneered, “You can argue about your family matters at home. If you’re going back to see the elderly, you should do it willingly. With this attitude, you’d better not go back at all.”

Cui Yiru’s face alternated between pale and flushed at Pan Baohua’s rebuke.

“I’m sorry for the embarrassing display. Change is just worried about his sister… Anyway, thank you for all your efforts regarding the Xu family matters, and thank you for bringing us news from home!”

Xia Xiaolan responded modestly, “No need for thanks, madam. I simply accepted Grandmother Yu’s payment. Since she couldn’t travel abroad herself, she gifted me a building at Er Qi Square in Shangdu in exchange for searching for her relatives in America. I consider this a fair transaction. However, to avoid giving Grandmother Yu false hope, I’ll wait until you’ve decided against returning before informing her of this good news.”

Xia Xiaolan checked her watch.

“It’s getting late. You know how to contact me once you’ve made your decision, so let’s end here for today. Have a pleasant evening.”

Without waiting for Cui Yiru and Faan’s reaction, Xia Xiaolan left the café.

The night wind tousled her hair. Cui Yiru’s bodyguards had waited outside for two or three hours without moving – quite impressive.

Pan Baohua watched the bodyguards, and they watched him back.

Pan Baohua turned away and slowly walked back with Xia Xiaolan.

Once they were far from the café, Pan Baohua spoke to Xia Xiaolan:

“Do you believe what Cui Yiru said?”

“I have no choice but to believe it; at least there are no obvious holes in her story. More than Cui Yiru, I’m more curious about Faan… I mean Xu Changle. How convenient that he doesn’t remember anything from his childhood!”

Yes, it’s possible that childhood trauma could cause selective amnesia.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t a psychologist; she couldn’t deny such possibilities.

But to forget everything completely… after so many years, hadn’t he remembered anything at all?

“Maybe that kid isn’t despising poverty and loving wealth, but has been bought over by Zhang Jiadong’s kindness, accepting a thief as his father?”

Pan Baohua disliked Faan.

Xia Xiaolan remained skeptical:

“Either way, I’ve fulfilled Grandmother Yu’s request. Cui Yiru wants to bring Faan and Tina back to China. We don’t know Zhang Jiadong’s thoughts yet. If Xu Zhongyi has been hiding from Zhang Jiadong’s pursuit all this time, can he continue hiding when Cui Yiru brings the children back to China?”

He should reveal himself then, surely.

If Xu Zhongyi didn’t want her to contact Cui Yiru, he’d have plenty of time to stop it. Since Xia Xiaolan hadn’t received any message from him, she could only proceed with her plan.

If Cui Yiru returns to China, would Zhang Jiadong, the councilman who dotes on his wife, follow?

It would be better if they all went to China – much more convenient than dealing with things in America.

Xia Xiaolan felt vulnerable in America. Encountering someone like Zhang Jiadong, a deeply hidden gang boss, made her feel chills down her spine, lacking any sense of security.

That’s why she emphasized to Cui Yiru that she only agreed to help search for relatives because of Grandmother Yu’s building gift.

Whether Zhang Jiadong believed this or not, Xia Xiaolan wasn’t sure. Even if he believed it partially, that would be good enough – any grudges with Xu Zhongyi should be settled with him directly, not involving her.

“I’m just a helper, a runner, a fool who got myself into big trouble for a small profit.”

Xia Xiaolan muttered to herself.

Pan Baohua knew she was joking.

If Xia Xiaolan were helping for money, this business would be a huge loss.

She’d spent plenty of money and put herself in danger.

Was this really about money?

She valued relationships deeply but wouldn’t admit it.

…

Xia Xiaolan had thrown a big problem at Cui Yiru and her son.

In front of her son, Cui Yiru told Zhang Jiadong about what happened in New York.

Zhang Jiadong was a man who handled matters steadily, first asking Cui Yiru and Faan to calm down, and indicating he would come to New York immediately:

“If we’re going to tell Tina, I think it’s better if I’m present, don’t you? Tina and Faan are both my children – that won’t ever change. We’re family; we should face everything together. Calm down first, and wait for me to come to New York to handle this. Can you put Faan on the phone now?”

Cui Yiru wiped her tears and handed the phone to her son.

“Dad.”

“Yes, I heard from your mother that you and she disagree about telling Tina about her background. Faan, you don’t need to be like this. Just as we never hid your background from you, we always meant to tell Tina about this. Your mother and I always intended to, we just worried she was too young and might overthink things… But now we must tell her. Do you think you and Tina aren’t my children just because we’re not blood-related? No, Faan, you’re wrong. My love for you isn’t any less than your biological father’s.”

Zhang Jiadong was comforting Faan.

“You ARE our biological father!”

Faan blurted out, naturally pleasing Zhang Jiadong on the other end:

“I know, of course I know… Faan, you’re the eldest son. Your mother and I have always been strict with you and more indulgent with Tina because we hoped you would become a responsible man. For instance, in this situation, you should think about the best way to handle it rather than resist accepting reality. Promise me, before I come to New York, you’ll help keep your mother calm and take care of Tina, okay?”