Grandpa Sang listened and fell into silence.

Over the years, both Grandpa Sang and Grandma Sang have deeply avoided talking about their daughter’s death, barely mentioning it.

At that moment, in the room, Gu Jia Ning and Sheng Zexi were also discussing the death of Grandma Sang Yuwan.

"...So, Grandma didn’t pass away in Beijing? She died at the border?" Gu Jia Ning was slightly surprised.

Because Sheng Zexi had never mentioned it, she had assumed Grandma died in Beijing.

"Yes, because she was infected with a highly contagious virus, at that time, her body couldn’t be brought back, so she was cremated at the border. What we brought back were her ashes."

Talking about his mother’s death still saddened Sheng Zexi.

Back then, a conflict broke out on the border between their country and Country F. Sheng Xinhao needed to lead a team there and possibly be stationed for a year or two.

Because it was a long duration, he was allowed to bring one person along with the army.

Initially, Sheng Xinhao didn’t want to take Sang Yuwan.

He was afraid Sang Yuwan might encounter danger.

But Sang Yuwan wanted to go, not only because she was Sheng Xinhao’s wife but also a war correspondent.

So, she wanted to follow and report.

In the end, Sheng Xinhao couldn’t argue with Sang Yuwan and took her.

At that time, Sheng Zexi, still a middle school student, naturally didn’t want his parents to leave.

But there was no choice; with their work, their family could never be together all the time.

So, Sheng Zexi was entrusted to Grandpa Sang and Grandma Sang.

Unexpectedly, Sang Yuwan never returned once she left.

"If I knew she wouldn’t come back, even if I had to hold onto her leg and cry, I wouldn’t have let her go."

During the first half-year following Sheng Xinhao to the border, Sang Yuwan would occasionally send messages back.

But then, half a year later, an infectious disease suddenly broke out at the border.

"A deadly infectious disease, in ancient times, it was almost like a plague."

"The news reported that countless people were infected."

It was during that time Sang Yuwan got infected, and her condition was very serious.

"...He said he sought out many people to save my mother, even finding the best doctor from Country A who was at the border, but they couldn’t save her."

So, when Sheng Xinhao returned to the country, he brought back both his honor and Sang Yuwan’s ashes.

Sheng Zexi clearly remembered how painful it was for Sheng Xinhao in the first six months after his wife’s death.

Yet, a year later, he seemed to forget about his mother and remarried.

Sheng Zexi didn’t object to him remarrying.

Especially since at that time Sheng Xinhao was still young and held a high position upon returning to the country.

Even if he didn’t want to remarry, his position required him to do so.

However, Sheng Zexi felt that a year was too soon.

Particularly, after Sheng Xinhao married Fang Wanrong, his attention completely shifted towards Wanrong, he was even biased and treated Sheng Zexi worse.

This was the reason Sheng Zexi resented him.

After all, life and death are fated, and you can’t force it.

But Sheng Zexi also witnessed Sheng Xinhao’s callousness in other aspects.

Even though Sheng Xinhao had long divorced Fang Wanrong.

Even though he already admitted his mistakes and was trying to make amends.

Even if this year, he invited the old man to spend the New Year in the courtyard,

It couldn’t erase the resentment in Sheng Zexi’s heart.

"For my resentment to disappear, my mother would have to come back to life, but..."

But how is that possible?

Gu Jia Ning understood his feelings and went up to embrace him, silently comforting him.

Sheng Zexi didn’t let his emotions linger for long, recovering quickly.

This year’s New Year’s Eve dinner was the most sumptuous meal in this courtyard all year.

While having dinner, last year’s purchased TV was broadcasting the Spring Festival Gala.

Accompanied by the chime of the clock on TV and fireworks blooming over Beijing, a new year had arrived.

The three children, Xingxing, Yueyue, and Tuantuan, had already fallen asleep due to their young age.

In the yard, Sheng Zexi held Gu Jia Ning, and the two looked at the brilliant fireworks in the sky, holding each other’s hands tightly, their hearts closely connected.

At this moment, without words, they silently promised to be together and to continue having many more New Years like this...

No one knew if it was because they spoke of his mother during the day, but that night Sheng Zexi rarely dreamed.

In his dream, he saw his mother.

His mother appeared young, beautiful, and gentle in the dream.

But as Sheng Zexi tried to approach, she dissipated like a wisp of smoke...

-

At the same time, in Country A.

In the manor, a beautiful middle-aged woman looked out of the window.

At this moment, a handsome middle-aged man walked over and embraced the woman.

"Darling Wan, what are you thinking about?"

"Henry, today seems to be New Year’s Eve in Hua Country, right?" The middle-aged woman called Wan spoke.

The handsome blond and blue-eyed man named Henry’s eyes flickered, seemingly flashing with something that quickly disappeared.

His voice was magnetic and gentle.

"Yes, today is the New Year’s Eve in Hua Country."

"It must be lively in Hua Country today. I remember, New Year’s Eve is a time for reunions."

"Yes, it is."

"Henry, do you think my family in Hua Country misses me and is thinking of me?"

Henry pursed his lips, holding his wife tightly as he said, "Darling, do you still want to return to Hua Country to find your family?"

"Yes. Henry, I must find an answer, or I always feel uneasy." Awang nestled in Henry’s embrace.

"Alright, I’ll go with you."

"Okay."

Awang’s eyes looked out the window as if trying to see through to the distant Hua Country across the ocean.

Awang had no memories of the past, only vaguely recalling someone calling her Awang.

As far as she remembered, she was critically ill and saved by Henry.

Henry said he met her by chance.

When he found her, she was gravely ill and alone. Even after Henry cured her illness, she inquired around but found no signs of her family nearby.

Later, she followed Henry back to Country A, fell in love with him, and got married.

Since then, they had always lived in Country A.

Years passed, and in the blink of an eye, over a decade had gone by.

All Awang knew was that she was from Hua Country.

Her distinctly Eastern features confirmed she was from Hua Country.

Though Henry and she had no children in these years, Henry had always treated her like a treasure.

But as time passed, Awang always felt an emptiness inside.

It’s as if something important had been forgotten by her.

To her, it was very crucial, something she couldn’t let go of.

Awang knew that important thing was in Hua Country, so even after so many years, she wanted to go find it.