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A map, from the capital to He Teng’s hometown, and then from He Teng’s hometown to a transfer station, starkly outlines an ’L’ shape.

As He Teng and He Zhilan traveled that long ’I’, the Gu Family and the Lan Family were also following a straight line, except the Gu and Lan families were by plane, while He Teng and He Zhilan were by train.

On the plane, with the exception of Elder Lan and the father in the capital, the group was exceptionally silent.

Gu Hengyuan’s gaze stayed fixed on the map. On the national map, he naturally couldn’t find that small southern mountain village where He Teng’s home was, but he could see the journey from the capital to that city was over a thousand kilometers.

Indescribable feelings stirred in him, as Gu Hengyuan wondered if Gu Zhilan, just six years old at the time, really could have traveled to a city so far from the capital.

Even from C Province, that city was still hundreds of kilometers away.

"Grandma, the air is more humid in the south, if you feel uncomfortable, you must speak up," Lan Li reminded Gu Grandma gently. At her age, it was only natural to have some health issues, and Gu Grandma suffered from rheumatism.

"Yeah," Gu Grandma nodded her head and responded, then she didn’t speak any further, closing her eyes. However, it was clear that she was not resting, for her hands placed on her knees had been gently trembling ever since the plane took off.

The plane landed under the fierce southern sun, and in the city by the sea, even a gust of wind seemed to carry the moisture, making one feel the taste of the sea breeze on their face.

After alighting from the plane, the group grabbed a quick bite and then hurriedly headed to the train station, and only after half a day did they finally arrive at the county town near He Teng’s hometown.

By then, it was deep into the starry night, and standing on this land, everyone had mixed emotions.

"So this is the county town where He Zhilan spent her childhood, huh~" Lan’s mother uttered softly in reflection, then turning to the rest she suggested, "Let’s stay here for the night and head to the village in the morning."

Lan Li nodded, leading the group to a local inn. The county town was not very prosperous, for it had no high-end hotels, just a few hostels.

"Lan Li, tell us some of what you know, about He Zhilan," they requested.

After setting down their luggage, the group gathered in one of the rooms, none showing a hint of sleepiness, all eyes on Lan Li, eager to learn more about He Zhilan.

"I don’t know much," Lan Li said, "It’s all from what I’ve heard these past couple of days from old comrades, previously two of them visited He Teng’s hometown and saw He Zhilan when she was just a bit over ten years old."

But Lan Li dared not repeat his comrades’ words, as not a single one was commendable. Back then, many people pitied He Teng and even when Lan Li first set eyes on He Zhilan, he too looked at her through tinted glasses.

Because he heard too many negative things from comrades about He Zhilan, he preemptively believed she was a vain woman.

But Lan Li recalled the first time he saw He Zhilan, she was staring at his car; perhaps, all she cared about was the military plate on it.

If, as Gu En said, He Zhilan had really come to the capital also in search of her parents, then the memory that her father was a soldier could explain her keen interest in everything military, right? Even if it was just a car with a special plate.

When he began to believe Gu Zhilan was indeed He Zhilan, the past suddenly seemed explainable, including He Zhilan’s unusual behavior and her deliberate approach to enter Gu En’s circle.

All she did was in search of her family.

And he, how could he have been so presumptuous as to judge her, to mock her back then?