Chapter 172

August 8, 2008, the capital, a sea of joy and celebration.0

The Olympic Opening Ceremony is imminent.0

Chen Meilan and Yuanyuan both have tickets, which Yuanyuan painstakingly obtained after standing in line for a long time. However, they can't attend because Yuanyuan, much to everyone's expectation, became pregnant at the end of last year, and it turned out to be twins.0

The hospital had estimated the due date to be August 1st, but Yuanyuan didn't go into labor until the 4th. She was admitted to the hospital on that day.0

On the same day, at the nearby 301 Hospital, she gave birth to two baby girls through natural childbirth.0

Two fair and tender little girls, exquisitely sculpted, looking exactly like Yuanyuan when she was a child.0

Now, ultrasounds are strictly regulated, and the gender can't be checked before birth. However, Chen Meilan had always wanted two daughters. She had a daughter herself, and her daughter was the source of her lifelong happiness. This outcome made her happier than anyone else.0

Today, the 8th, the two little babies have been born for four days. Yuanyuan will be discharged from the hospital after one more day of observation. As for their Olympic tickets, since they can't attend, they have been transferred to Yan Wei and his wife.0

This delighted Yan Wei and his wife so much that they specially returned from Xiping City to watch the opening ceremony.0

The whole family arrived in the capital, walking to the hospital through the sea of traffic jams and restricted areas.0

When entering the ward, Yan Wei saw a man in the corridor, facing the wall, slapping himself in the face.0

He thought this might be a madman, but upon closer inspection, it was none other than Yan Xishan, the boss of Qi Songlu.0

With his wavy hair and dashing appearance, he occasionally slapped himself.0

Inside the ward, Little Wang was there, Chen Meilan was there, and so was Yan Peiheng.0

"Dad, Little Wang, Meilan," Yan Wei said with a smile.0

Yan Peiheng nodded, indicating to Yan Wei, "Go wash your hands first. You can't see the babies without washing your hands."0

"Alright, alright," Yan Wei replied, putting down his luggage and heading to the bathroom to wash his hands. When he came out, he saw that Yan Peiheng had already left the room, as if he was going home.0

"Dad, I just arrived. Why are you leaving so soon?" Yan Wei asked.0

"Newborn babies are delicate. Having too many people around isn't good. You can stay for a while and then go home. I'll head back first," Yan Peiheng said with a smile.0

Yan Wei said, "Let's go back together later. We can take a taxi."0

"I'll take the subway. You should take the subway too. Today is a big day for the capital. Let's try not to add to the country's troubles," Yan Peiheng said, watching the elevator open and stepping inside.0

At over seventy years old, he moved with a brisk pace, his steps steady, and his body still robust.0

Yan Wei watched his father enter the elevator, the door closed, and then turned to go see the babies.0

Qi Songlu and Bei Bei were already watching the little babies. Yan Wei walked up to Chen Meilan and whispered, "What's wrong with Yuanyuan's biological father? I just saw him outside, slapping himself in the face."0

Chen Meilan glanced at Yuanyuan on the bed, let out a cold laugh, but didn't speak.0

Yuanyuan calmly said, "Because I gave birth to girls. My dad is disappointed, that's all."0

Yan Wei was stunned for a moment and suddenly became angry: "Yan Xishan's bad temper, how can he not change? His thinking is problematic. I need to criticize him a bit. There's no difference between boys and girls..."0

"No, no," Yuanyuan quickly said, "Uncle, my dad is just venting his emotions. During these days when I was in the hospital, he washed all the baby's diapers. Please don't scold him. He almost wore himself out, really."0

Poor Yan Xishan. After Yuanyuan got pregnant, he highly praised Little Wang. When he heard it was twins, he proclaimed that Little Wang was superior to his predecessors, "each generation is stronger than the last." At that time, he didn't even care about having two sons; one son would be enough, after all, sons are the ones who carry on the family line.0

Girls are better, they are well-behaved.0

So he didn't want two sons, he wanted twins, just waiting for it to happen.0

Who would have thought that the heavens struck with a thunderbolt, and Yuanyuan gave birth to two girls.0

Recently, with the Olympics about to begin, Yan Zhao, who deals with public security, has been busy and hasn't been able to come back. As the grandfather, Yan Xishan took it upon himself to step up. He had agreed with Chen Meilan beforehand that they wouldn't use disposable diapers, as they made the babies uncomfortable. Instead, they would use cloth diapers, and he would wash them himself, washing the diapers for his grandchild.0

Of course, the person who saw the babies the most after their birth was Yan Xishan. At night, when everyone slept, he didn't. He was on edge because of the incident where Hu Xiaomei once stole a child. He was afraid the babies would be stolen, so he stayed awake all night, watching over them.0

But he also occasionally slapped himself twice and glared at Little Wang: twins, and both are girls.0

Yan Wangqi, you're hopeless!0

Of course, at this moment, he wouldn't think about how when Chen Meilan gave birth to a girl, he had despised Chen Meilan.0

Back then, he had never considered that the gender of the child also had a part to play from the man.0

But now, he believed it was Little Wang's fault. Yes, he was a person who was so biased.0

Let's not talk about him.0

Yan Wei had one more thing to say: "By the way, Meilan, a few days ago, a nest of swallows came to the beam in the old house's main hall, wanting to build a nest there. We couldn't drive them away, and we didn't have time to clean up, so they kept dirtying my mother's memorial tablet. So I brought my mother's memorial tablet back to the capital. While moving the tablet, guess what I found behind it?"0

"What? Gold and silver treasures?" Chen Meilan asked.0

Yan Wei handed Chen Meilan an envelope, saying, "Take a look, there's a file here, is it yours?"0

A file?0

Since graduating from high school, Chen Meilan had become a vagrant. Where would she have a file?0

She took a yellow, unsealed envelope and opened it, pulling out a yellowed file from it. This must be decades old. The file had her age, birthplace, education, and a black-and-white photo.0

In the black-and-white photo was a smiling teenage girl, her eyes curved into crescents, with two braids and a floral blouse. Who else could it be but her?0

"Where did you find this?" Chen Meilan asked.0

This was indeed her file, the one she had submitted to the woolen mill when she was 18.0

"It was stuck behind my mother's memorial tablet," Yan Wei said, looking at his watch and continuing, "Alright, we should head home now. I still have my mother's memorial tablet with me. I'll take it back and let my dad keep it."0

Qi Songlu also said, "You take care of the babies first. I guess today the traffic is terrible, we'll have to take the subway to watch the opening ceremony. We need to leave early; otherwise, we won't make it in time."0

Little Wang got up to see them off.0

Yuanyuan, seeing that there was no one in the ward, needed to get up to feed the babies.0

Chen Meilan took the envelope to the balcony and suddenly realized what had happened.0

This file was originally sent to Xiong Dapao, but since Chen Meilan and Xiong Dapao didn't end up together, the file returned to Yan Zhao's hands. Normally, since the marriage was canceled, the file should have been destroyed, but Yan Zhao didn't destroy it. He kept it, probably placing it in the new house of the first team during the construction.0

He probably had long forgotten about it.0

Otherwise, he should have given it to her.0

Back then, taking a photo was so precious. Chen Meilan's family was poor, and she hadn't taken a photo before she was 18.0

This was the first photo of her life.0

It was truly unexpected that nearly thirty years later, after going around in circles, the photo would return to her hands.0

Chen Meilan took out her phone, ready to call Yan Zhao, but then thought better of it.0

During a major event like the Olympics, the public security system bears the most pressure. From auxiliary police to traffic police to community police, up to bureau directors, department-level, and ministerial-level leaders, everyone is under a boiling pot of pressure, working non-stop.0

And Yan Zhao, though already in his forties, is still considered a young man in his unit.0

Moreover, he has always been in charge of investigations. During such times, he needs to coordinate all parties and run around, making him even busier.0

Recently, Yan Zhao hasn't been home for a long time. Chen Meilan has also been very understanding, only calling him to report the good news of Yuanyuan's childbirth on the day she gave birth, and hasn't disturbed him with calls since.0

Forget it, don't disturb him. Wait until he's done with his work, then tell him.0

Chen Meilan picked up the file again, put it back in the envelope, and was about to help Yuanyuan with the babies when her phone rang. It was Yan Zhao calling, so she picked up.0

On the phone, Yan Zhao said, "Meilan, the opening ceremony is about to start. I just went to the Special Forces and I'm really tired. The minister came to take over, so he let me go home to rest for a bit. You should hurry home too and make me some food. I need to eat and then get some sleep."0

Even though it was just another checkpoint in their mission, the opening ceremony was a particularly crucial part of the Olympics.0

Tonight, the opening ceremony would officially begin, and Yan Zhao's work would, for the time being, allow them to catch their breath.0

Chen Meilan had originally wanted to ask why Yan Zhao didn't come to see the baby.0

But after hesitating for a moment, she decided not to.0

Nowadays, people's phones all had MMS capabilities, and sending a message cost two yuan. As soon as the baby was born, Chen Meilan took two MMS photos and sent them to Yan Zhao. He replied with a message: "Remember to send a few more every day. I want to see them."0

So every day, Chen Meilan would take two color photos and send them to Yan Zhao.0

He must have also wanted to come to the hospital to see the baby as soon as possible. After all, he had a special fondness for little girls, let alone that these two babies were his grandsons.0

But he didn't even mention coming to the hospital, only wanting to sleep. It wasn't that he had any bad intentions at his age; it was simply that he was exhausted and needed a good rest.0

Yan Zhao had a habit; without Chen Meilan by his side, he couldn't sleep soundly.0

When they were abroad, he often complained that even though he slept at night, he didn't rest well.0

But after returning home, after sleeping in a hotel for a night, as he put it himself, although he had tossed and turned for half the night, it was probably because he was holding Chen Meilan that he felt refreshed and energetic.0

From then on, whenever Yan Zhao was tired from work, he would need to hold Chen Meilan to sleep.0

In the hospital, there were Little Wang and Yan Xishan. Especially Yan Xishan, being the father of the child, he was much better than Little Wang at everything from making formula to washing diapers and patting the baby to burp. Even the nurses praised him, saying they had never seen such an excellent grandfather.0

With them taking care of Yuanyuan, Chen Meilan could feel at ease. Hearing the fatigue in Yan Zhao's voice, she quickly headed home.0

The distance from the 301 Hospital to home wasn't far, and she could walk back.0

While waiting for the elevator, two women joined Chen Meilan. One of them, taller, was wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a large mask. In the middle of summer, she was dressed in a long, oversized coat and had deliberately turned up the collar.0

She had several scratches on her forehead and obvious bruises on her face. She kept glancing at Chen Meilan from the corner of her eye, looking like a thief watching her target, full of suspicion.0

When the elevator arrived, Chen Meilan stepped in, and the two women followed.0

The girl hid behind the other woman, wearing sunglasses, and kept secretly observing Chen Meilan.0

When the elevator reached their floor, she rushed out first, clutching her stomach and lowering her head, quickly walking away.0

It was a coincidence, but not entirely unexpected.0

The girl with sunglasses and facial injuries, Chen Meilan recognized her. She was Lv Erniu, Chen Meilan's stepdaughter from her previous life, and also Lu Fei, a well-known actress in Hua Country who had been struggling in the industry for many years.0

Unlike her previous life, where she had a wealthy father paving the way, Lu Fei's star path was not as smooth this time. Although she had undergone plastic surgery and briefly gained some attention by stepping on and defaming Yuanyuan, her career didn't take off as she hoped.0

Perhaps it was a kind of backlash. As Yuanyuan was admitted to Tsinghua University and became a model of the new generation, the media praised her extensively. Later, when Yuanyuan joined the Life Research Institute and the public's attention turned to the importance of biotechnology and vaccine development during the SARS outbreak, media coverage of Yuanyuan was always full of praise. In contrast, Lu Fei was rarely mentioned, and her popularity gradually faded.0

After that, Lu Fei starred in a few movies and TV dramas, but none of them gained much traction.0

However, a while ago, at a film festival, she stunned the audience with a revealing dress that barely covered her modesty. Combined with her previous fame, she slowly started to regain her popularity.0

The reason she came to the 301 Hospital was that Chen Meilan had been there recently and recognized her. Although Lu Fei tried to keep it a secret, Chen Meilan had seen the reason from her medical records.0

She was there to have an abortion.0

Military hospitals and popular celebrities usually didn't have much to do with each other.0

But in Chen Meilan's opinion, Lu Fei's choice to have an abortion at the 301 Hospital was a wise one.0

In other hospitals, Lu Fei, as a celebrity, would be easily recognized. But the 301 Hospital had strict management, and most of the patients were military personnel and their families, who were disciplined and wouldn't take random photos or spread rumors.0

As for who Lu Fei's child belonged to and why she had to abort it, it so happened that Chen Meilan had overheard some details yesterday while using the restroom.0

It turned out that Lu Fei had recently hooked up with a well-known director and became pregnant with his child. Initially, she had planned to use the pregnancy to force her way into becoming the official wife.0

However, the director's wife had underworld connections and was extremely cunning. Without making a sound, she had managed to obtain not only photos of Lu Fei wearing a Japanese kimono, which was considered disrespectful to China, but also some nude photos Lu Fei had taken while being tricked in Japan.0

Then the wife showed up at Lu Fei's place, beat her up, and ordered her to have the abortion. She also threatened Lu Fei that if she dared to make any further moves, she would expose her nude photos and the disrespectful images.0

Poor Lu Fei, who had been struggling in the entertainment industry, always seemed to encounter setbacks just as she was about to gain some success.0

Those nude photos, even if they weren't exposed now, could they be guaranteed to remain hidden forever?0

And with the abortion, she had lost her bargaining chip. The director's wife might not know what else she had in store for her.0

Lu Fei probably feared that Chen Meilan would recognize her and spread the news, which was why she had been so evasive earlier.0

But Chen Meilan just smiled and left.0

On her way home, she couldn't help but feel a sense of wistfulness.0

At the same time, the two girls who had once been sisters in their previous lives—Yuanyuan was giving birth, surrounded by her parents and husband, and although she hadn't achieved the kind of wealth and fame that Lv Erniu had in the entertainment industry, she possessed the simplest and most genuine happiness.0

In contrast, Lv Erniu, who had become famous and undoubtedly earned a lot of money, was still desperately striving for fame, even having to sneak around to have an abortion. How much happiness could she really have?0

It seemed that people pursued different things, and the rewards they received were also different.0

When Chen Meilan got home, Yan Zhao's car had just arrived.0

Now that their status had been elevated, their official car was an Audi.0

But their workload had also increased.0

After getting out of the car, Yan Zhao looked haggard, with a scruffy beard and a pale face.0

He had been so busy lately that, at over forty, while everyone else was gaining weight, he couldn't seem to put on any. His eyes were sunken, and he looked worn out.0

There ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‍was food at home—pig trotter soup and beef soup that had been prepared for Yuanyuan. In the fridge, there was dough that had been kneaded and was ready to be left to rest. While washing vegetables and heating the pot, the dough would rise, and once the pot was hot, it could be stretched and tossed in. A bowl of oil-splashed noodles, a plate of tender beef, and a side of onion and wood ear salad—nothing could compare to this simple yet delicious meal.0

While Chen Meilan was cooking, Yan Zhao had already taken a shower.0

When she brought the food out, Yan Zhao grabbed a bowl and started eating ravenously.0

Chen Meilan ate while asking, "You had a seat at the opening ceremony today, right? I heard your seats were very close to the big leaders. Why didn't you go? Did you give your ticket to someone else?"0

Yan Zhao didn't even lift his head, wolfing down his food. "Qi Zheng has been doing a great job at the Chaoyang Branch. The young man is at the right age to be promoted. Since there was an opportunity, I let him take my seat so he could meet the leaders."0

Many big leaders were attending the opening ceremony today.0

The public security system personnel were among those the leaders would meet and talk to.0

Such an opportunity was usually something people would do anything to get.0

But Yan Zhao gave his seat to Qi Zheng, the younger and more talented one.0

"What about you? Don't you want to get promoted?" Chen Meilan asked.0

Yan Zhao had finished eating a bowl of noodles, yet still felt unsatisfied. However, he was about to go to sleep, and eating too much wouldn't be good either. With an indifferent expression, he took the bowl into the kitchen, washing and rinsing it as he said, "I've achieved success in my career, have a complete family, and the most important thing now isn't about getting promoted, but about coming home more often to spend time with you."0

Currently, Yan Zhao held a position at the departmental level. He was only in his forties, and in terms of age and potential, there was still a lot of room for advancement.0

But Yan Zhao himself had no desire for it.0

As he put it, he could see both his strengths and his weaknesses.0

He was a person with exceptionally strong execution skills, but at the same time, he was someone who couldn't tolerate any imperfections.0

Such a personality made him unwilling to take on a higher leadership role, because the higher the position, the more considerations and hesitations would come into play. He wouldn't be able to act as decisively as he did now, being the uncompromising "King Yan" without mercy.0

So for him, his work was going smoothly, and whether he got promoted or not was a matter of fate. If there was an opportunity, he would rather let it go to the younger generation.0

After brushing his teeth, Yan Zhao said, "Let's sleep. I have to get up at three in the morning for a meeting."0

Isn't this guy too rigid? At three in the morning, everyone else would have finished meeting with their superiors and gone home.0

Yet he was heading back to work again.0

Chen Meilan merely shot Yan Zhao a glare. She had been busy at the hospital for several days and was exhausted. Tonight was the opening ceremony of the Olympics, and in theory, all the viewers across the country were watching together.0

But, forget it, rest was more important. The couple lay down together on the bed.0

As soon as Chen Meilan lay down, she suddenly remembered something. Yan Wei had brought back her file from Xiping City, and she wanted to take it out to show it to Yan Zhao.0

But just as she was about to turn over and get up, Yan Zhao reached out and pulled her close, his breathing already even.0

This man, in the blink of an eye, had already fallen asleep?0

Seeing Yan Zhao's sallow complexion, Chen Meilan suddenly had a thought. Could it be that he had been so tired lately that his body was breaking down?0

Chen Meilan had heard of a term in her previous life called "death from overwork." It was said that after working continuously for too long, if one became too exhausted, even if there were no underlying health issues, one could still die suddenly from excessive fatigue.0

Yan Zhao was disciplined and had never slackened in his exercise. Every year, his physical examinations showed no problems.0

But what if this period of time had been too exhausting for him?0

Chen Meilan was worried, but since her husband was deeply asleep, she was afraid that waking him up would make him even more tired, so she didn't dare disturb him. Instead, she sat up, listening to the noisy sounds outside the window, holding Yan Zhao's hand, and quietly sitting there, guarding him.0

It was almost eight o'clock.0

Suddenly, the sound of fireworks exploded in the sky. A huge firework burst in midair, resembling a human foot.0

The light from the firework reflected on Yan Zhao's face. In his dream, he suddenly murmured softly, "Mother!"0

Yan Zhao had once told Chen Meilan that since Su Wen's passing, although he missed her deeply, he had never dreamed of her appearance, not even once.0

Was it possible that in his dream, Yan Zhao had seen Su Wen?0

Chen Meilan tightened her grip on her husband's hand, leaned against his shoulder, and gently patted him, saying, "I'm here."0

"Mother!" Yan Zhao's voice was low, and he called out again.0

Yes, since Su Wen's death in 1984, it had been exactly 24 years.0

Not only had Yan Zhao never dreamed of his mother's appearance, but Yan Wei often lamented that perhaps their mother was angry with him, as she had never appeared in his dreams. Even Yan Peiheng had never dreamed of his wife.0

But tonight, amidst the fireworks, in a state of half-sleep and half-wakefulness, Yan Zhao suddenly saw Su Wen wearing her usual floral jacket with a high collar, her hair tied in a bun, smiling as she stood by the window, beckoning to him, as if calling, "Xiao Zhao, my dear child!"0

For every person, their mother is the most important figure in their life, and for Yan Zhao, it was even more so.0

Without hesitation, he got up and jumped out of the window, running to his mother's side.0

He looked closely at his mother, surprised to find that she looked so young and beautiful. Her hair was as neat as ever, and her clothes had faint stains, which were the result of her not having enough strength to wash them properly in his absence.0

The scent of his mother was like that of a mountain spring and fresh grass, moist and exceptionally refreshing. It was always that scent.0

Yan Zhao knew this was a dream and that he hadn't seen his mother for many years.0

He looked at his mother, wanting to speak but unable to find the words, and called out again, "Mother!"0

At that moment, another huge footprint-shaped firework exploded in the sky, illuminating the night with a riot of colors.0

That was one of the themes of the Olympic opening ceremony.0

The director of the opening ceremony had once elaborated on this concept to Yan Zhao, and there had been a small-scale rehearsal, so Yan Zhao knew that the ceremony was about to begin. Those giant footprints were moving towards the Olympic stadium.0

As the huge footprints moved across the sky, Su Wen turned and walked away.0

Yan Zhao followed her, walking as well.0

He hadn't seen his mother for many years, and he was walking a bit hurriedly, wanting to catch up with her, to hug her tightly, just like that time when he returned from the train station after bidding farewell to Gu Xiao. Even though he knew it was wrong to keep her, he still didn't want to let go.0

"Mother," he called out again.0

The scene changed in an instant. This seemed to be a recording studio. A man in his thirties stood outside a glass wall, wearing headphones, his eyes closed, listening intently, one hand slowly tapping to the rhythm.0

After watching for a long time, Yan Zhao recognized that it was their eldest grandson, Mike.0

Su Wen's high-collared floral jacket and her hair bun seemed so out of place in this setting.0

She smiled, watching for a while, then turned back to look at Yan Zhao, as if saying, "He's a good child."0

SARS had destroyed Mike's lungs, making it impossible for him to sing anymore. However, the SARS outbreak, along with the blow from Little Lang during that time, not only crippled Mike but also awakened him. He no longer clung to singing and instead transitioned to composing, writing lyrics, and producing music.0

In terms of music production, his talent was even greater than in singing. So now, he was a moderately famous rock music producer in Hong Kong.0

However, he didn't have a good relationship with his other brothers and rarely contacted John and Jim, or Little Wang.0

But being able to stand on his own, having a job and income, and not having too many bad habits made him a good child.0

Yan Zhao thought the same.0

Suddenly, the scene changed again.0

This was the doorway of an operating room in a hospital. A man in sterile surgical attire, wearing a white mask, pushed his glasses up with the back of his hand and walked quickly over. Yan Zhao was afraid he would collide with Su Wen and stepped forward to block him, but saw the tall young man pass right through Su Wen's body and enter the operating room.0

This was John. Since graduating from medical school, he had been working at Xiehe Hospital.0

He was the youngest but most skilled specialist doctor in the oncology department.0

It must be midnight now, but he still had surgeries to perform and had to enter the operating room to continue working.0

Su Wen turned back, still smiling faintly, as if saying, "He's a good child too."0

Yes, young, handsome, and highly skilled in medicine, who could say John wasn't a good child?0

Su Wen continued to walk forward, and Yan Zhao followed closely behind.0

Still in the hospital, in the maternity ward, suddenly, a soft, milky coo from a baby melted Yan Zhao's heart. This was Yuanyuan's ward; she had given birth and was in the hospital.0

In the ward, Yan Xishan and Little Wang were feeding the two babies, while Yuanyuan lay quietly on the bed.0

From the technique, it was clear that Little Wang was still inexperienced, but he was already a father, and the love for his child was evident in his eyes.0

When Yan Xishan wasn't looking, he kissed the baby, but when Yan Xishan wanted to kiss the baby, he had to kick him to stop it. Yan Xishan was indignant, holding the baby gently and walking around the ward, patting its back to burp.0

Su Wen watched for a long time, probably reminiscing about her own experiences of raising children when she was young.0

Turning her head, she smiled at Yan Zhao again, her eyes seeming to say, "Your father was like this when he was young, holding you like this."0

She took a few steps forward, then turned back, her eyes filled with nostalgia and reluctance, looking at him one last time.0

Finally, she turned around and left again.0

This time, it was at the Olympic Opening Ceremony. On the stage, Jim was playing the violin. It was a piano and violin duet, and the entire venue was packed with people, the sound like a roaring wave.0

Su Wen could see and hear everything, but she wasn't there to witness the grandeur and excitement of this era. Her eyes were searching, and once she found Jim, she just quietly watched. Of course, she didn't have any special admiration for him just because he was standing on a glamorous stage as a successful artist.0

Her gaze was the same as when she looked at John or Little Wang. In her eyes, there was only the love of a grandmother for her grandchildren. And during the most intense, breath-taking climax moment of the music, she quietly turned and left.0

Outside the stadium, Little Lang stood among rows of tall, straight special forces soldiers.0

His skin was still so dark that it reflected the dazzling lights of the sky. His two bright eyes were fixed on the night sky, where the colorful, ever-changing lights were mirrored in his pupils.0

It was August in the capital, a time when you could sweat just by standing naked. But like all the soldiers, he wore thick special forces uniforms and carried live ammunition, fully armed from head to toe.0

He was a human being of flesh and blood, and August was so hot. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but he didn't blink, still staring at a certain direction in the night sky.0

In that direction, there was an alarm light. When it was green, they would stay in position. When it turned yellow, he would prepare. If it turned red, it would be an emergency action.0

Of course, the best outcome was for the light to remain green all night, meaning no mission. That would ensure a safe night for the entire capital.0

Su Wen had stood there for a long, long time, gazing at her only grandson in a green military uniform.0

He stood among the crowd, his nose so straight, like a pine tree, unmoving.0

Time passed bit by bit. Yan Zhao stood beside his mother, always watching her.0

He thought his mother's love for her grandson was without prejudice, but clearly, there was.0

Because when she looked at Little Lang, her eyes were filled with satisfaction and love. If possible, she would have wanted to reach out, wipe the sweat from his forehead, and hug him.0

But she couldn't, she couldn't do it.0

So she just stood there for a long time, standing there, smiling gently at him.0

Time ticked away, minute by minute, second by second. Life has its end, let alone a dream.0

Finally, Su Wen turned and left.0

This time, she returned to the first-level family compound, heading for the high-rise.0

Yan Zhao wanted to follow, but Su Wen turned around, her eyes seeming to ask, "Good boy, do you want to follow your mother?"0

For each person, a mother is the most important, unique role in their life.0

When a mother asks if you want to go with her, no child would choose to refuse.0

Yan Zhao took a step forward, but then saw his mother's eyes suddenly become extremely compassionate.0

She looked at him with a face full of pity, her eyes still asking, "Good boy, do you want to follow your mother?"0

Yan Zhao suddenly stopped.0

He suddenly realized he was in a dream, and his soul was separated from his body.0

His mother had already passed away. She and he, one in the realm of the dead, one in the realm of the living. If he followed Su Wen, wouldn't he be leaving the world?0

At this moment, Yan Zhao couldn't remember his father, his children, or anything in the world. But in his confusion, he suddenly thought of his wife, Chen Meilan.0

In his life, he didn't love money, didn't love luxurious food, didn't love any pleasures. In terms of clothing, food, shelter, and transportation, simplicity was enough. He had never been greedy or obsessed with anything.0

That was because he had grown up listening to Su Wen reading scriptures and telling Buddhist stories, seeing the world clearly.0

But there was one obsession he couldn't change in this life.0

It was during his time in the army. One day, Xiong Dapao came to him with a file, shouting and waving it, pointing at his face and saying, "Captain, look! This female comrade rejected me because she thinks I'm too dark. I'm not convinced! Give me leave, I need to go back and ask her clearly, let her see up close, see if I'm really that dark!"0

That was the first time Yan Zhao saw Chen Meilan's photo.0

Since the girl had rejected him on her own, he couldn't let Xiong Dapao go back to harass her. So, he took the file, kicked Xiong Dapao into the detention room, and locked him up for three days.0

After that, the file should have been destroyed.0

But every time Yan Zhao wanted to tear it up, he hesitated when he saw the smiling girl in the photo.0

So, he kept the file.0

When it was time for him to marry, he took the file home and placed it in the box where Su Wen kept money. He never touched it again.0

After Su Wen passed away, when sorting through her belongings, he should have burned or destroyed the file, since he was already married to Zhou Xueqin.0

But Yan Zhao couldn't bear to do it. He looked at the smiling girl in the photo and hesitated for a long time, eventually placing it behind Su Wen's memorial tablet.0

And then came the meeting in Chen Village.0Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Chen Meilan always thought Yan Zhao married her because of Yan Xing.0

But she didn't know that if it weren't for her, he wouldn't have married.0

Yan Zhao had grown up listening to Buddhist scriptures and could see through everything. If there was one thing he couldn't let go of in this life, it was her, Chen Meilan. He could let go of his children, his power, his job, everything, but he couldn't let go of Chen Meilan.0

Even if it meant dying, he couldn't bear to leave her first.0

Because without his care, he wouldn't feel at ease leaving her alone in this world.0

From the blind date in 1988 to now, it had been twenty years, but for Yan Zhao, it felt like just a moment.0

Recently, he had been too busy, and he hadn't spent a good night talking with Chen Meilan in at least half a month. He missed his mother, he wanted to see her, he wanted to stay with his mother forever.0

But even if he forgot everything, as long as he remembered his mother, he would remember Chen Meilan.0

A thousand miles of sending, there is always a farewell. A child must eventually leave his mother.0

Yan Zhao suddenly realized in his confusion that he should go home, go back to Chen Meilan.0

But at this moment, his feet seemed stuck in the mud, and he couldn't move.0

And just then, Su Wen suddenly reached out and pushed him. Yan Zhao woke up with a start in his dream.0

It was a sleepless night in the capital.0

When Yan Zhao woke up, the first thing he felt was Chen Meilan's hand, tightly holding his.0

Opening his eyes, Chen Meilan was sitting beside him. Moonlight from the window shone on her face, her two eyes as gentle and bright as the moonlight, quietly watching him without blinking.0

Since Yuanyuan gave birth, she had been in the hospital and hadn't slept for two or three days, yet she hadn't slept, just guarding him like this?0

"Tired, aren't you? Why didn't you sleep?" Yan Zhao asked.0

Chen Meilan slowly leaned down, let out a long sigh, and climbed onto Yan Zhao's chest, not saying a word.0

From eight o'clock until two in the morning, Yan Zhao had slept for six hours.0

During these six hours, he hadn't slept peacefully, muttering in his sleep, occasionally calling out "Mother."0

Su Wen had been gone for over twenty years, and Yan Zhao was a man in his forties. Repeatedly calling out "Mother" made Chen Meilan very worried.0

Because she suddenly thought of the term "death from overwork," she scared herself and didn't dare to close her eyes.0

Every household outside was playing the Olympic Opening Ceremony, and the sounds from the neighbors' TVs kept coming in. Chen Meilan held Yan Zhao's hand, afraid that he didn't get enough rest, not daring to wake him up, but also afraid that he might have an accident in his dream. She didn't listen to the outside commotion at all and almost scared herself to death.0

She even thought, what if Yan Zhao died, what would she do?0

Little Wang was married and had his own family, Little Lang could live independently.0

She had a career and money, but if she lost Yan Zhao, wouldn't she be alone again, just like in her previous life?0

No matter how delicious the food is, eating alone makes it taste bland.0

No matter how many places you visit or how beautiful the scenery is, if she's the only one appreciating it, what's the point?0

In her previous life, Chen Meilan had grown accustomed to loneliness and preferred being alone.0

But after twenty years of companionship in this life, even seeing a cute child on the street would make her instinctively tug at Yan Zhao's hand, wanting him to look and share the moment. If she heard or saw something funny, she always felt the need to go home and talk to Yan Zhao about it to make it truly enjoyable.0

They always cooked together, washed the dishes together, bathed together, and eventually lay down in bed together.0

Yan Zhao would meticulously arrange her eye cream, night cream, and all her bottles and jars in the exact order she needed, even more precisely than she could herself.0

She had always been busy, with work and life demanding her attention, but thanks to Yan Zhao's thoughtfulness and care, these twenty years had been filled with activity yet never felt exhausting.0

The thought of suddenly being alone terrified Chen Meilan; she feared she might go mad.0

Earlier, for a moment, Yan Zhao had stopped breathing.0

During that time, Chen Meilan held his hand, holding her breath as well. He held his breath for how long, and she did the same.0

It wasn't until he suddenly inhaled sharply that Chen Meilan finally took a deep breath herself.0

Those six hours were a feast for the eyes and ears for everyone in the city, a beautiful night that would be remembered fondly.0

For her, however, it had been a matter of life and death.0

She dared not speak of it.0

She was still trembling with fear, utterly exhausted, and all she wanted at that moment was to hold her husband and lie quietly together.0

"Thirsty, aren't you? I'll get you some water," Yan Zhao said, sitting up. Seeing the bedroom window open, he closed it and turned on the air conditioner. "Go to sleep."0

"Okay," Chen Meilan replied, slipping under the covers.0

Yan Zhao brought the water in and said, "I just dreamed of my mother. I couldn't wake up, but she pushed me, and that's how I woke." He then recounted the dream to Chen Meilan in detail.0

As she drank, Chen Meilan listened, and after finishing, she slid back under the covers, patting the bed. "You're just too tired. That's why you had that dream. Don't go to work tonight. Get some rest."0

He had been overworked lately, possibly on the verge of exhaustion.0

Did Su Wen's push in the dream mean she was bringing her son back to her side?0

As if surviving a near-death experience.0

Chen Meilan felt that at this moment, Little Wang, Little Lang, Yuanyuan, Chen Degong, and all her dearest loved ones combined, were not as important as Yan Zhao.0

What is love? It's not the dramatic life-and-death scenarios on TV. For Chen Meilan, having this man alive and by her side was the best love in the world.0

Just as the couple lay in bed, suddenly, Yan Zhao's phone rang.0

Chen Meilan quickly grabbed it. "Probably your office calling. I'll answer for you and take the day off. Keep sleeping."0

Yan Zhao glanced at the screen and saw it was Yan Wei's number, immediately realizing something was wrong.0

He sat up abruptly. "No, something's happened to Father."0

"Impossible! Father's in good health. How could anything happen?" Chen Meilan responded instinctively.0

Earlier that day, Yan Peiheng had visited the hospital, checking on his two great-granddaughters.0

He had also shared some parenting tips with Little Wang, reminiscing about the funny stories of raising Yan Zhao and his brothers when they were young.0

Then, to avoid adding to the traffic congestion in the capital, he had taken the subway home.0

He was in great shape, with a straight back and no stooped posture. His medical check-up revealed only minor heart issues, nothing serious. How could he have passed away so suddenly?0

Chen Meilan couldn't believe it and wanted Yan Zhao to rest more.0

But Yan Zhao got up and rushed to the high-rise building.0

In his heart, he already had a vague sense of what had happened.0

When they arrived at the high-rise, the door was open, and the house was brightly lit. Yan Wei and Qi Songlu were in the bedroom. Seeing Yan Zhao and Chen Meilan enter, Yan Wei was inconsolable, sobbing for a long time before managing to say, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have brought Mother's memorial tablet to the capital."0

Qi Songlu also stammered, "It's mainly because a swarm of swallows kept fluttering around Mother's memorial tablet. Since we don't live in the First Brigade anymore, we had no choice but to bring it here. Who knew that the tablet would upset Father so much?"0

Yan Zhao and Chen Meilan entered the bedroom to see Yan Peiheng dressed in his oldest, faded 1950s military uniform, wearing the cap he had as a company commander, lying in bed with his hands resting on his chest, a gentle smile on his lips.0

He indeed looked as if he had passed away.0

On the other pillow was Su Wen's memorial tablet.0

"It's not your fault. Call the funeral home to prepare for the funeral," Yan Zhao said, patting his brother's shoulder.0

In Yan Zhao's view, this was indeed not Yan Wei's fault.0

For over twenty years, Su Wen's memorial tablet had been peacefully placed in the main hall of the First Brigade, untouched by wind or rain.0

It was only recently that swallows had started fluttering around it, as if she herself wanted to come to the capital, to find Yan Peiheng.0

Perhaps after more than forty years, she had finally forgiven her husband.0

Or maybe she had never blamed him.0

Once, she had silently shouldered all the blame for their daughter's death. Now, as her husband's time on earth had come to an end, the memorial tablet was her token, her way of coming to the world one last time to see her grandchildren.0

Most importantly, to take her husband with her.0

In truth, Yan Peiheng had probably been waiting for this moment for a long time.0

Born in tumultuous times, he had been a guerrilla fighter at the age of seven or eight. After liberation, he had heeded the nation's call, dedicating his life to the construction of the new Hua Country. Last night, as the entire capital was enveloped in joyous celebrations, he had stood by the window, watching the fireworks and the glorious lights of the prosperous era, then bathed, placed his wife's memorial tablet by his pillow, and smiled as he fell asleep, waiting for her to come and take him.0

That promise had been made when they were young.0

When the country was prosperous and everything was stable, they would live happily together forever, never to be separated.0

Now, they could finally be together, and they would never be apart again.0

That was why Yan Peiheng had smiled so serenely, leaving the world with such composure.0

With Yan Wei handling the funeral arrangements, Yan Zhao didn't need to worry too much.0

He went to the living room, where the TV was still on. Chen Meilan was sitting on the sofa, probably too tired, she had fallen asleep.0

He picked her up, carried her to another bedroom, laid her on the bed, and held her hand, sitting quietly.0

When he had been on the brink of exhaustion and almost died, it was his wife who had not let go of his hand.0

It was because she had held his hand that he had struggled to survive.0

For the rest of their lives, he would never let go of her hand.0