The car drove out of the airport and rged onto the provincial highway leading to Jing County.
In the northern winter, the sky was cold and pale.
The poplar trees on both sides of the road were bare.
By the hard shoulders and ditches, patches of snow that hadn't completely lted remained, dirty white and mottled.
Zhang Yan sat in the back seat, her body slightly curled, her gaze fixed on the window.
She looked very quiet, but that quietness carried a tense emotion.
Liu Qingning glanced at her several tis before finally speaking softly, "Zhang Yan, are you okay?"
Zhang Yan snapped out of her thoughts and quickly shook her head, "N-no, I'm fine."
Liu Qingning looked at her, paused, then asked, "Do you want to go with you?"
"No need." Zhang Yan bit her lip and said quietly, "I... I'm just going to see so relatives here in Jing County, have a al, that's all."
"Alright then." Liu Qingning nodded, "Contact anyti if you need anything. My house is over in the southern part of Kuangjian Community, not far away."
For occasions like family gatherings, she really wasn't suitable to tag along.
"Thank you, Qing Ning."
Zhang Yan lowered her eyes, her gaze filled with complex emotions.
Before, in her eyes, Liu Qingning had always been soone high and mighty.
Beautiful, dazzling, smart, like soone who always stood at the forefront of a crowd, soone who would never lower her head.
But after actually interacting with her, she slowly discovered that Liu Qingning wasn't as difficult to get close to as she had imagined.
On the contrary, she was very considerate and gentle.
Just then.
"Ding ling ling—"
Her phone suddenly rang.
Zhang Yan looked down at the screen, her fingers pausing.
[Aunt]
She subconsciously bit her lip, answered the call, turned her body slightly to the side, and lowered her voice.
"Hello, Auntie."
"Yanyan, have you gotten off the plane?" The voice on the other end was as loud as ever; even through the receiver, it could be vaguely heard in the car.
"Yes, I'm already in the car."
"That's good, that's good." Her aunt's tone beca noticeably happier. "We're about to head out too. You must be tired from the trip, right? Are you hungry? We'll eat as soon as you get there. I've already ordered the dishes, all your favorites."
Zhang Yan held the phone and said softly, "I'm not hungry, Auntie. There's no need to rush."
"How can we not rush?" her aunt imdiately responded. "You've finally co back for a visit; how can we make you wait? Don't worry, there are no outsiders this ti, just our own family. I'm here. If you have any grievances, just tell ."
Zhang Yan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she softly humd an "Mmm."
Of course, she knew her aunt's words might not carry much real weight.
But even so, hearing them still made her heart relax a little.
The person on the phone chattered on for a few more sentences, nothing more than talk about the restaurant private room, being careful on the road, and not being nervous when eting them.
Zhang Yan quietly responded, just like when she was little.
When the call finally ended, the car beca quiet again.
She took a light breath and slowly put her phone back in her pocket.
The black Toyota Alphard drove steadily along the provincial highway.
The road began to narrow, and the houses on both sides beca shorter.
The scenery outside the window was gradually becoming familiar.
Those brick walls painted white, the small shops with faded signs, the households with clutter piled in their yards, the old shopping malls and hospital buildings...
All passed by fra by fra in the cold winter light.
After all, she had lived in this small town for many years.
She went to school here, grew up here.
The things she thought she had long forgotten, as the car moved forward, actually began to resurface bit by bit from the depths of her mory.
Besides the churning nervousness in her heart, sothing else slowly erged.
It was like sothing that had been suppressed for many, many years was finally being set right by her, little by little.
She gently clenched her fingers, then slowly raised her head.
Her face was reflected in the car window glass.
A light gradually appeared in those eyes that always held a hint of timidity.
She had already summoned her own Shenron with the "Dragon Balls," fulfilled that wish she had cherished for many years, and finally gotten together with him.
She had a stable, respectable job, the confidence to rely on herself, and the courage to look back at the past.
She had grown up.
...
Dongzhang Village.
A little past 11 AM.
A black rcedes-Benz was parked on the bumpy cent road at the village entrance.
The car was a bit old, an older model rcedes E-Class.
But the paint was very new, and the body was washed to a shine.
Parked among a few three-wheelers and minivans, it stood out conspicuously.
Zhang Zhiqiang stood by the car smoking.
He wore a black jacket, dark gray dress pants, leather shoes on his feet, and his hair was slicked back with a bit of hair wax.
His chin was slightly raised, a cigarette held between his fingers, and he glanced toward the village road from ti to ti.
Whenever soone passed by, he would lean against the car and greet them proactively.
He looked quite impressive.
Soon, there was movent from inside the house.
The first to co out was Liu i, dressed fashionably.
Right after, Zhang Zhifang's family of three also ca out of the yard.
Uncle Li Guangyuan carried two bottles of drinks in his hand, one large peach juice and one Pulpy Orange. A plastic bag was looped around his fingers, swinging back and forth.
Younger male cousin Li Hang was tall and thin, with very short hair. He wore a black shell jacket, hands in his pockets, walking out while looking down and scrolling on his phone.
Zhang Zhiqiang glanced at the drinks in Li Guangyuan's hand and frowned, "We're going to Huachen Grand Hotel for a al. Why bring drinks? If people see it there, it'll be a joke."
Zhang Zhifang imdiately said, "Yanyan loves drinking these the most."
"Can't we order them there?"
"That would cost so much money." Liu i chid in quickly from the side, her voice neither loud nor soft. "It's good to bring them. Put them in the trunk; no one's going to rummage through it."
Zhang Zhiqiang's expression turned unpleasant, but he didn't say anything more. He just opened the trunk, took the drinks, and put them inside.
"Alright, alright, hurry up and get in the car! Stop dawdling!"
Several car door closing sounds rang out in succession.
Zhang Zhifang's family of three all squeezed into the back seat, making the space instantly feel cramped.
Li Hang was still looking down at his phone; the intermittent sound of a ga comntator drifted out.
The car slowly started and drove toward the county town.
Not long after leaving the village entrance.
Zhang Zhifang turned her head and asked, "What about Mingzheng? Is he really not going?"
Zhang Mingzheng was the son born to Zhang Yan's stepmother, Liu i. He was already 15 years old this year and in middle school.
As soon as Liu i heard this, her expression beca slightly unnatural.
"He's gone wild during winter break. These past couple of days, he's either playing gas at a classmate's house or running around outside. He didn't even co ho to sleep last night. When I called him, he even found annoying, saying if he had ti at noon, he'd go over himself."
"You guys need to discipline him a bit too." Zhang Zhifang frowned. "The streaming for high school is so strict now; it's hard to get in. If he keeps playing around like this, he won't even get into a decent high school later."
"I'd like to discipline him." Liu i's face imdiately darkened a few shades. "But you have to see if I can actually control him. His temper is just like his father's. Say a couple of words to him, and he gives you attitude, throws his phone, slams the door, and runs off at the drop of a hat. Who can stand that?"
Zhang Zhiqiang slapped the steering wheel and said loudly, "Enough! It's the New Year, can you not argue about this in the car? How annoying!"
As soon as these words ca out, the atmosphere in the car instantly stiffened.
Zhang Zhifang glanced at her older brother, curled her lip, and forcefully swallowed the rest of her words.
The car continued forward.
The outline of the county town gradually drew closer.
The storefronts along the street beca denser.
Colorful advertisent boards, big pharmacies, photo studio wedding photography shops, auto repair shops, Lanzhou noodle restaurants... one right next to another, filled with the unique hustle and bustle of a small northern county town.
About ten minutes later, the car turned onto a wide, eight-lane main road.
The green belts on both sides of the road were neatly maintained. Banks, hotels, shopping malls, and several newly built governnt office buildings were all concentrated in this area.
This was the northeastern corner of Jing County, the so-called new district.
Nowadays, the most decent hotels, restaurants, and business venues in the county were basically all clustered here.
Not long after, [Huachen Grand Hotel] appeared in sight.
An imposing standalone building, its exterior clad in beige stone. In front of the main entrance was a large, open drop-off area, and uniford greeters stood at the door.
Cars were already starting to arrive at this ti.
Zhang Zhiqiang parked the car, first straightened his jacket collar, then casually smoothed his hair before pushing the door open and getting out.
"Let's go, everyone follow ." He turned his head and instructed, "Have Hanghang hold the drinks. A kid holding them, people won't say anything."
Under Zhang Zhifang's urging, Li Hang reluctantly put down his phone, picked up the two bottles of drinks, and followed behind with a frown.
The group passed through the revolving door and entered the hotel lobby.
Warm air and the aroma of food rushed over together.
The lobby was brightly lit, the floor tiles polished to a shine. Behind the front desk stood an entire wall of a majestic landscape Su embroidery screen. By the walls were placed expensive guest-welcoming pine trees and festive New Year decorations.
It looked quite high-end.
It made Zhang Zhifang and the others, who were here for the first ti, feel sowhat awkward.
Soon, a waiter approached, his smile standard and enthusiastic.
"Hello, welco to Huachen. Do you distinguished guests have a reservation?"
Zhang Zhiqiang cleared his throat, putting on an air of familiarity, "Yes, the Tingyu Hall on the fourth floor."
"Okay." The waiter slightly bowed, "Please follow , I'll take you upstairs."
But Zhang Zhiqiang didn't imdiately follow. His sharp eyes spotted a middle-aged man in a dark suit standing in the lobby.
He imdiately waved exaggeratedly, as if seeing an old acquaintance, "Yo! Manager Wang! Good afternoon!"
That manager clearly paused for a mont, but then still politely smiled and nodded, "Hello, welco."
"Is business okay at noon today?"
"Hehe, pretty good."
"Alright then! I'm bringing relatives over for a simple al today, so I won't chat much. I'll head up first!"
After saying that, he even waved his hand with an air of importance before turning to follow the waiter toward the elevator.
Liu i, walking behind, saw his forced attempt to put on a show and couldn't help curling her lip, her eyes carrying a hint of mockery. But she was sensible enough not to expose him on the spot.
The group entered the elevator.
With a crisp "ding," the fourth floor arrived.
Unlike the lively and bright atmosphere of the lobby downstairs, the fourth floor was noticeably much quieter. The floor was covered with thick carpet, the corridor lighting was subdued and steady, and the decor was more tasteful.
But what really made people's hearts flutter wasn't the decor.
It was the n in black suits standing in the corridor.
Each one tall and straight, with stern expressions, earpieces behind their ears. When their gazes swept over, the sense of pressure was overwhelming.
That kind of aura was completely different from ordinary hotel security or waitstaff.
When their gazes swept over faintly, Zhang Zhiqiang, who had just been putting on airs, felt his legs go weak and nearly tripped on the edge of the carpet.
Zhang Zhifang and Liu i instantly fell silent, even their breathing becoming lighter.
Only when they reached the private room door did the group seem to co back to life, quickly hurrying inside.
Since the dishes had already been ordered as a standard set nu with the front desk, it saved the step of ordering.
The waiter deftly poured tea, set out a few plates of cold appetizers, confird the serving sequence once more, then respectfully retreated, closing the door behind him.
As soon as the private room door closed, everyone unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
Li Hang placed the drinks by the table and lowered his voice, "Uncle, what was going on in the corridor just now? It felt like sothing out of a movie. Were those people bodyguards?"
Zhang Zhifang also patted her chest and whispered, "Yeah, they didn't look like ordinary people at all. Really scary."
Zhang Zhiqiang waved his hand dismissively, pretending it was nothing.
"Look at how easily scared you are! This is the fourth floor of Huachen. When people from the provincial or municipal level co down, or those big bosses who are really negotiating major projects, who doesn't like to co here? Isn't it normal for them to bring a few bodyguards? Making a fuss over nothing."
That's what he said, but after speaking, he himself couldn't help glancing toward the door, feeling a bit uneasy inside.
He had been to Huachen a few tis with his boss, and it wasn't like he hadn't mooched als and drinks before. But this kind of scene was really the first ti he had encountered it up close.
The private room fell quiet for a mont.
Zhang Zhiqiang coughed, picked up the teacup on the table, and began talking about how good the food here was, which signature dish was the most famous.
Zhang Zhifang listened while pulling out her phone.
"I'll give Yanyan a call and ask where she is."
After saying that, she took her phone and walked to the side.
Liu i curled her lip. As soon as Zhang Zhifang walked away, she imdiately moved closer to Zhang Zhiqiang and asked in a lowered voice.
"What about those big bosses and rich second-generation heirs you ntioned? Where are they?"
"What's the hurry?" Zhang Zhiqiang replied irritably. "My boss hasn't even arrived yet. When he gets here, I'll go out and say hello first."
As he spoke, he couldn't help glancing toward the door again, his voice dropping even lower.
"If the timing is right, when Yanyan arrives, I'll take her over to et them. Let them know first that my daughter now works in a big city, so she's seen the world. Let them get a good look, get familiar with her face. That way, if there are any real opportunities later, it'll be easier to talk."
To put it bluntly, he himself didn't have much confidence.
Those truly wealthy and well-connected people in the county town didn't think much of him at all.
All these years, he claid to know many bosses, running around with them, but in essence, he was just a peripheral figure, not even considered one of their own, let alone soone on equal footing.
As for Zhang Yan, she was certainly outstanding in looks, had a good personality, and was a proper university graduate.
But when it ca down to it, she was just an ordinary girl working a job in another city.
If she were really placed in front of those county families with good conditions, thick family assets, and high standards, that little bit of capital wouldn't amount to much.
Just then.
Zhang Zhifang, having finished her call, walked back.
Her face showed obvious delight as she urged, "Zhiqiang, Yanyan said she's almost at the hotel entrance downstairs. Hurry down and pick her up!"
Zhang Zhiqiang made an "Ah" sound, his hands just bracing on the chair arms as he prepared to stand up.
Liu i beside him was quick-eyed and swift-handed. She grabbed his arm and forcefully pulled him back into his seat.
"Pick her up? What for? She's such a big girl now. She ran away from ho in a huff for three years. What's the logic of her father eagerly running downstairs to pick her up? If you rush down there right now, what would that look like? Like we're in the wrong and are specially apologizing to her?"
Zhang Zhiqiang's movent paused, and he subconsciously looked at his wife's expression.
He actually kind of wanted to go.
But with Liu i stopping him like this, that already unsteady thought instantly shrank back.
"That's true, what's there to pick up. The service attitude at this big hotel is very good. When Yanyan arrives later, the front desk downstairs will naturally send soone to escort her all the way to outside our private room door."
Zhang Zhifang's expression imdiately turned sowhat unpleasant.
The private room fell into a brief silence.
About five or six minutes passed.
The private room door was gently knocked.
Imdiately after, a uniford waiter pushed the door open and stepped aside. "This is Tingyu Hall. Please co in."
Instantly, the gazes of the several people in the room almost simultaneously looked over.
The light from the doorway slanted down.
Standing there was Zhang Yan.
She wore a soft, double-faced cashre coat, paired with a beige fitted base layer, and a delicate scarf wrapped around her neck.
The whole outfit accentuated her slenderness and clarity, while also exuding a sense of fashion and refinent.
Even the lighting in the private room seed to brighten a little as she entered.
Zhang Zhiqiang stared at his daughter standing at the door, stunned.
She seed like a different person from the little girl in his mory who always kept her head down, shoulders slightly hunched, speaking softly and timidly.
But Liu i's eyes instantly lit up, as if looking at a shiny gold ingot.
Zhang Zhifang was the first to react. She imdiately stood up and greeted loudly, "Oh, Yanyan! You're finally here! Co in, co in. Is it cold outside?"
"Auntie."
Zhang Yan stood at the door, her gaze slowly sweeping around the private room.
"Thump, thump, thump—"
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, clear and strong.
She saw her father, whom she hadn't seen in three years. She saw her stepmother, Liu i. She also saw her aunt, Zhang Zhifang, her uncle Li Guangyuan, and her younger male cousin Li Hang.
They all seed unchanged.
And yet, they all seed to have changed.
The stepmother who had once been incredibly terrifying in her mory.
Now looked like nothing more than a middle-aged woman with perd hair, thin lips, and fine wrinkles already appearing at the corners of her eyes.
That uncle who used to make her feel very serious and difficult to get close to now had a sallow complexion, a bulging belly, and sat there in an old jacket, even showing signs of weariness and dullness.
And her father...
Zhang Yan's gaze finally landed on Zhang Zhiqiang's face.
After three years apart, he had clearly aged. He was just an ordinary middle-aged man, sitting there, his expression carrying a deliberately maintained dignity and a bit of uncomfortable awkwardness.
In that mont, she suddenly felt dazed.
So, those things that had scared her so much she couldn't sleep when she was little, those old people and old matters that made her want to turn and run away just thinking about them...
Looking at them now, they were just like those little monsters that snarled and showed their claws in the early chapters of "Dragon Ball."
They seed incredibly scary when she was little.
But when she truly grew up, she realized they weren't actually that powerful.
She had grown up, and they had beco small.
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