"I remember Lu Chuanbai said it was Weishan Island. They're doing archaeological work there," Mrs. Xu recalled.
"Weishan Island?" Hearing his wife mention Weishan Island, Mr. Xu remembered a friend who recommended him to watch a live - stream about Weishan Island yesterday. But he forgot about it because he had to take care of the kids.
"I remember there was a Huaxia Mound on Weishan Island. There was a live - stream about it yesterday. Maybe we can see Qingqing in it," Mr. Xu said.
He searched for "Huaxia Mound" on his laptop and indeed found a video of Xu Qingqing's speech. He quickly started watching it.
After Xu Yan finished his meal, he walked over while stretching. His eyes just glanced at the computer screen, but he froze the moment he looked away. He would never forget that smiling face that was as bright as a blooming peach flower.
Xu Yan quickly rushed over, took the mouse from his father's hand, and paused the video at the exact moment. Although she only appeared for a second and the picture was extremely blurry, Xu Yan recognized it was Jing Zhen.
"What are you doing?" Mr. Xu pushed Xu Yan away and invited Mrs. Xu to watch Xu Qingqing's speech together.
"Our daughter has really made it! Giving a speech in front of so many people. This naughty girl didn't even call to tell me about it!" Mrs. Xu watched as Xu Qingqing on the stage was elegant and had a proper smile.
"Our girl takes after me. She's not stage - shy."
Mr. Xu gave his wife a sidelong glance and said confidently, "She takes after me. She has a clear mind."
"Isn't it more important not to be stage - shy during a speech?" Mrs. Xu argued with her husband unconvincingly.
"Sure, sure." Mr. Xu nodded in agreement. "Let's just watch the speech first."
Neither of them noticed the dejected Xu Yan. Xu Yan went back to his room.
The room was completely dark. Instead of turning on the light, Xu Yan closed the door tightly and logged onto his computer to watch the live - stream replay. He watched the whole thing from start to finish, but Jing Zhen only appeared for a second. There were no more shots of her in other parts of the video.
Xu Yan watched that one - second shot of Jing Zhen over and over again. She was wearing a red vest, just like the others. It should be something for volunteers.
Xu Yan slumped tiredly into his chair, covering his face with his hands. He was filled with exhaustion and longing. He thought he had forgotten Jing Zhen, but this one - second shot had completely disrupted his heart.
"Jing Zhen, you really have a way with me."
Xu Yan wasn't the only one suffering from emotional torment. The two kids sleeping in the bunk beds in the children's room also had this kind of trouble.
Xu An'an was tossing and turning on the lower bunk. Unable to fall asleep, she kicked off the quilt and carefully climbed the ladder to the upper bunk.
Xu An'an poked her little head out and asked, "Brother, are you asleep?"
Xu Yiyi was wide - awake with his big bright eyes open. He sat up and pulled his sister up from the ladder.
"I can't sleep."
"Me neither. Let's watch the stars."
Xu Yiyi picked up the star projector on the bedside table and switched the filter. A beam of light shone from the projector onto the ceiling, and a galaxy seemed to flow out of the light.
Looking at the star - filled sky on the ceiling, Xu An'an immediately felt relaxed.
"Wow! Brother, the stars are so beautiful!"
"By the way, I don't remember you having a star projector."
Hearing his sister's question, Xu Yiyi stopped turning the filter. Looking at the star projector, his face was full of entanglement.
"This star projector... Uncle Lu gave it to me..."
He liked stars. When he went to Lu Chuanbai's house to play, he saw Uncle Lu had a star projector and expressed his envy. So Uncle Lu gave it to him.
The two kids fell silent. Xu An'an watched the moving starry sky, and a shooting star flashed by.
Xu An'an couldn't help but ask Xu Yiyi with a troubled look, "Brother, will you admit that Uncle Lu is our dad?"
"I don't know," Xu Yiyi said honestly.
He used to think that if he ever met his biological father, he would definitely ask him why he had abandoned them. But Mom said Uncle Lu had his own difficulties. He was deceived. But this couldn't deny that Uncle Lu did abandon them back then. If Uncle Lu had trusted Mom a little more, he wouldn't have been deceived by that bad aunt.
Xu Yiyi avoided this question and found an excuse, "The result of the paternity test isn't out yet. Let's talk about it later."
The brother and sister snuggled under the star - filled ceiling and fell asleep at some point.
At eight o'clock the next morning, Xu Yan walked out of his room with two huge dark circles under his eyes. He had gotten Xu Qingqing's current address and was going to pick her up.
Seeing her haggard - looking son, Mrs. Xu thought he had stayed up late working again and said in disgust, "If you could stay up late to find a girlfriend, you wouldn't still be a single bachelor!"
"You might as well just spend the rest of your life with your work!"
Xu Yan pretended not to hear his mother's sarcasm and rushed out with his car keys. He was eager to find Xu Qingqing and ask if she had seen Jing Zhen yesterday.
In the hospital ward, the bright sunlight shone in through the window and landed on the blue - and - white striped hospital gown on the bed. Xu Qingqing folded the hospital gown and put it into a bag.
Lu Chuanbai was taking notes on a small notebook about the doctor's instructions.
"Don't be so nervous. I'm not a porcelain doll that will break at a touch," Xu Qingqing said with a smile, looking at Lu Chuanbai.
"You're careless, so of course I have to be more careful," Lu Chuanbai said. After finishing writing, he put the cap on his pen and helped Xu Qingqing carry her things.
"After we get home, let Xu Yiyi and Xu An'an stay at my place first. Your mom has to take care of you and won't be able to look after the two kids."
Lu Chuanbai naturally took Xu Qingqing's hand and reminded her. Actually, besides this reason, Lu Chuanbai also had his own selfish motives. He wanted to spend some time alone with the two kids and have a good talk with them.
"Okay. Then I'll have to trouble you," Xu Qingqing nodded in agreement. She just opened the door of the ward when she unexpectedly saw someone standing outside.
The woman outside was tall and beautiful, but she looked a bit frail because she was too thin. Her long, silky hair reached all the way to her waist. Although her facial features weren't extremely delicate, she looked very gentle and elegant. She was wearing a brown knitted coat and jeans, looking like the gentle school sister from their primary - school days.
Jing Zhen was standing outside with a colorful bouquet of flowers in her arms. She looked at Xu Qingqing somewhat awkwardly, and her feet involuntarily turned inwards.
"Hi, Qingqing. Long time no see. How's your health?" Jing Zhen probably also thought her sudden visit was a bit out of place, so she explained, "I went to the stadium for volunteer work yesterday. I heard someone say you fainted because of your injury, so I came to see you."
"Oh... Sister Jing Zhen, thank you for coming to see me," Xu Qingqing said awkwardly. "My wound is almost healed."
When Jing Zhen was with her brother before, she used to call Jing Zhen "sister - in - law". But now that they were no longer together, it wasn't appropriate to call her that.
Hearing the change in Xu Qingqing's address, a flash of sadness crossed Jing Zhen's eyes. She handed the flowers in her arms to Xu Qingqing.