Led in by the butler, Shen You’an walked into the living room. An elderly woman with graying hair, seated on the sofa and leaning on a cane, trembled as she stood up, her gaze toward the visitor brimming with emotion.

The fruit basket and health supplements in Shen You’an’s hand were taken by a maid. Shen You’an walked forward with a smile.

"Madam Gu, hello, I’m Shen You’an. You can just call me An’an."

Madam Gu stared dazedly at the face before her. "Like, far too like..."

Watching on TV, she hadn’t felt it, but with the real person standing in front of her, she was startled to see in that face traces of Shen Qiunong and the charm of Sang Ziming.

Yet on the basis of those two, the girl before her had grown a bearing entirely her own.

"Good child." Madam Gu instinctively took Shen You’an’s hand, patting the tender skin on the back of it. The appreciation and affection in her clouded eyes were utterly undisguised.

Na Amo walked over with a smile. "There will be plenty of time to spend together in the future. An’an, hurry and sit."

"Aunt Mo."

Shen You’an called out politely and helped Madam Gu sit on the sofa.

Gu Chengzhao, wearing an apron and waving a big ladle in one hand, came out of the kitchen dripping with sweat.

"An’an is here."

Shen You’an stood up. "Uncle Gu, you’re the one cooking today? Looks like I’m in for a treat."

The words that came from Shen You’an’s mouth were always pleasant to hear. Gu Chengzhao let out a hearty laugh. "Just wait, watch your uncle show off a bit for you."

Gu Bichen, who had been silent all this time, raised his hand and gave Shen You’an a somewhat awkward wave. "An’an."

He glanced at Shen You’an, then quickly shifted his gaze away. "You look very pretty today."

Shen You’an smiled faintly. "Thank you."

Polite yet distant.

Na Amo sighed inwardly. She poured tea and set out fruit for Shen You’an, trying to break the slightly awkward atmosphere.

"An’an, it’s wonderful. Your family has finally had its injustice redressed. It’s just a pity your father and your grandparents can’t see this day." Madam Gu held Shen You’an’s hand and spoke with feeling.

"My father sacrificed his life to save people. He will always be my pride. As for my grandparents..."

Shen You’an curved her lips in a gentle smile. "They’re recuperating in Siland. They’ll be back by the end of this month."

The three present were all stunned.

Madam Gu said in disbelief, "Really? Your grandparents are still alive?"

A flicker of coldness flashed across Shen You’an’s expression. "The Yu family imprisoned my grandparents for over twenty years. Once I found out, I rescued them at the first possible moment. Their bodies had been brutally tormented and ravaged, so I sent them to Siland for treatment and convalescence. Fortunately, they’ve recovered quite well. They’re pining for home and can’t wait to return."

Shen You’an made it sound simple, but just how hair-raising that investigation and rescue had been was easy enough to imagine. After all, she had been facing the ruthless and vicious Yu family.

Madam Gu exclaimed in righteous anger, "The Yu family is simply atrocious. Fortunately, heaven has eyes and has made them reap what they sowed."

Then tears flowed from her clouded old eyes. "Your grandparents have had such a bitter life. Luckily, the bitterness is finally over, and they have such a filial and capable granddaughter as you."

So young, yet Shen You’an had such abilities. She’d quietly rescued the two from right under the Yu family’s nose, brought the Yu family down, and even sent her grandparents abroad to recuperate. None of this was something a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl could ordinarily accomplish.

Looking at the poised and beautiful girl before her, Madam Gu did not ask further.

Who is without secrets? What’s more, bearing such immense hatred, the girl before them was far more mysterious and formidable than one would imagine.

"When the time comes, us old friends will be reunited again. That’s truly wonderful." Madam Gu dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief.

Na Amo said, "Siland’s medical technology is advanced. It really is a great place to rest and recuperate."

There was no need to ask; it had to be Amos pulling strings in the middle. After all, Siland was Amos’s turf.

With Amos as Shen You’an’s backing, Na Amo felt much more at ease.

Gu Bichen had been unable to get a word in, silently playing the role of listener.

Before long, Gu Chengzhao called them to eat.

They moved to the dining table. The table was covered with an array of dishes, all looking, smelling, and no doubt tasting excellent, in no way inferior to what high-end restaurants outside could offer.

Na Amo kept putting meat into Shen You’an’s bowl. "You’re too thin, eat more. Whatever else your uncle may be, his braised pork is absolutely unbeatable."

Shen You’an took a bite and froze, then her eyes lit up in an instant. "Uncle’s cooking is in no way inferior to the chef’s at Dechang Building."

Gu Chengzhao smiled in satisfaction. "As long as you like it. From now on, come to the house every weekend. Your uncle will cook for you and make sure you get nice and plump."

"Then I’ll be imposing on you, Uncle."

Getting such an enthusiastic response from Shen You’an made both Gu Chengzhao and Na Amo very happy.

For the first time in so many years, Shen You’an tasted a meal that felt like "home." In a daze, it pulled her back to distant childhood days. Everything had been blurred by time, except for that flavor belonging only to her father and to "home," preserved in the deepest recesses of her memory.

In truth, she had been able to remember things from very early on. When she was three, her mother died in childbirth. After that, her father raised her alone, being both father and mother to her. But his workload at the fire station was too heavy, and he was a man with a profound sense of responsibility. It was hard to balance his career and his family. Many times, he brought Shen You’an to the fire brigade; when he was out on a mission, the uncles and aunties in the logistics department would look after her.

And when her father wasn’t busy, he would stay home and keep her company. In fact, her father was also quite the cook. His braised pork, for instance, was his signature dish. She loved it, but ever since he passed away, she had never eaten it again.

Shen You’an hadn’t expected to eat that familiar flavor again at the Gu family’s house.

A faint sourness welled up in her chest.

She knew she was missing her father again.

After silently finishing the meal, Shen You’an sat with Elder Mrs. Gu for a while and watched TV.

Gu Bichen sat on the other sofa, glancing at Shen You’an, then staring blankly at the TV, then lowering his head again, looking completely absent-minded.

Shen You’an glanced toward the kitchen and said softly, "I’ll go help Aunt Mo wash the fruit."

With that, she rose and walked toward the kitchen.

"Aunt Mo, let me help you."

Na Amo smiled helplessly. "You wash the strawberries and cherries, I’ll slice the oranges."

Shen You’an carefully and patiently washed the fruit, and then, as if casually, asked, "Aunt Mo, about the question I asked you last time—do you have an answer now?"

The phrase "sample confusion" instantly popped into Na Amo’s mind. Her hand holding the knife to the orange stiffened for a moment, and then she let out a soft "ah."

It turned out she had accidentally cut her hand, and fresh blood instantly flowed onto the cutting board.

Shen You’an immediately grabbed a tissue and pressed it to the wound, then went to look for disinfectant and band-aids.

She carefully disinfected Na Amo’s wound and then put on a band-aid.

Na Amo turned her head to look at the young man in the living room. Her lips pressed together, then pressed again.

"There’s also a term in biology called gene mutation."