A week later, Lin Xiaohai returned to France.
His family came to see him off at the airport, and Lu Feng made time to see them off as well.
Lin Jianbang and He Yumei held his hand and gave him instructions.
I've been repeating myself over and over for almost twenty minutes now.
Lin Wanwan took Lu Feng's arm and stepped forward, "Mom and Dad, please let us say something."
He Yumei turned her back to wipe her tears, "Alright, alright, you two talk."
Lin Jianbang supported her and gently comforted her.
Lu Feng patted him on the shoulder, "Your sister and I are here at home, so you don't need to worry."
"Thank you, brother-in-law. Be good to my sister. A woman as beautiful and capable as my sister is hard to find even if you search the whole world with a lantern."
Lu Feng nodded and put his arm around Lin Wanwan's shoulder.
"Don't worry about that. I won't acknowledge anyone else but your sister in this lifetime. No one else will do. Besides, it's me who can't live without your sister."
"Then I'm relieved. Please take good care of my parents."
Lin Xiaohai's eyes were a little red.
“Not only your parents, but also my parents, you don’t need to explain that.”
Lu Feng looked down at Lin Wanwan and said, "I'm going to check on Mom and Dad. I'll wait for you over there. You can chat with Xiao Hai for a bit."
Lin Wanwan nodded, turning to look at her younger brother. He used to be a little tagalong following her around, but now he's a mature young man.
I went up and gave him a hug.
"Take good care of yourself. You don't need to worry about things at home. I'm here for you."
"Thank you, sister."
"No matter what happens, remember that you still have your family and me, so don't be afraid, just do what you want to do."
Lin Xiaohai nodded, his eyes red, "I know, sister."
"Go say hello to your parents, it's almost time, go inside."
Lin Xiaohai nodded, greeted the others, and walked inside with red eyes.
He Yumei lay in her husband's arms, tears streaming down her face.
"Mom, don't be sad. It's not like he's never coming back. If you really miss him, I'll take you to see him, okay?"
In the period immediately following Lin Xiaohai's departure, Lin Wanwan would sometimes suddenly space out.
Seeing that she was holding the cup and lost in thought, Lu Feng reached out and took the cup from her hand.
"Thinking of Xiao Hai?"
Lin Wanwan snapped out of her daze and nodded at him.
"I've been gone for three months, and I only got one phone call to let them know I'm safe. I'm still a little worried."
"Should we go check on him? You've been so absent-minded lately, I don't even dare let you drive to work."
Lin Wanwan laughed and said, "I was wondering why you've been having Xiao Li drive me around so much lately."
"Should I go with you to see him?"
Lin Wanwan smiled and shook her head, "With our status, how could we dare to go abroad so casually?"
"We can still find a way."
"No need, don't make it so complicated."
Lu Feng thought for a moment, "How about we send my older brother over?"
Lin Wanwan hugged him and shook her head with a smile, "No need, it's okay. Big brother is so busy, don't bother. I'll call him in a few days."
Lu Feng nodded and leaned down to kiss her.
Lin Wanwan ultimately didn't make the call. She didn't want to put pressure on him or bother him. Lin Xiaohai was an adult, and it was better for him to handle his own affairs.
Lin Wanwan resumed her usual busy schedule, with her workplace bustling with activity.
Six months later, Lin Wanwan was promoted again.
Cheng Jinyan sat opposite her and made her tea.
“I still remember the first time I saw you. You were only 17 years old. When I saw you at the teacher’s place, you were still a little girl. You were chatting with us and you looked so confused. I still remember that expression on your face. Now you can stand on your own.”
Lin Wanwan recalled it and laughed too.
"You praised me, and everyone there teased you, saying it's really not easy for you to know how to praise people."
"Brother, thank you for everything all these years."
Upon hearing this address, Cheng Jinyan was visibly taken aback, not even noticing that his tea had overflowed.
Lin Wanwan took the small teapot and poured him tea.
Cheng Jinyan laughed for a while, "You haven't called me that in years."
"I'm getting old, and if I keep calling you that, I feel like I'm trying to act young, so I'm a little embarrassed to do it anymore."
Cheng Jinyan laughed again, "You actually have times when you're embarrassed?"
"The way you put it makes it sound like I have a thick skin."
Has Xiaohai called recently?
Lin Wanwan frowned when he was mentioned.
"What's wrong?"
Lin Wanwan sighed, "A few days ago, he called to say he got married. He married a French girl, sent photos, and wrote a letter saying he's been too busy lately to have a wedding, but he'll bring his wife back to see us when he's done."
Cheng Jinyan raised an eyebrow. "So sudden, you've only been back for less than a year, right?"
"Um."
Lin Wanwan thought for a moment, then looked up and asked him, "If I go abroad, are the procedures very complicated?"
Cheng Jinyan was amused by her words, "With your current position, even if it's not for official business, the approval procedures are incredibly troublesome. You want to go see Xiao Hai?"
"Yeah, I'm a little worried. When he came back to China before, he told me he had someone he liked, but it wasn't this girl. And now, less than a year later, he's changed partners and gotten married?"
"He's a grown man, he knows how to take responsibility for his own life, you don't need to worry so much, right?"
Lin Wanwan thought for a moment, "I understand the reasoning, but I'm still a little worried."
"By the time your paperwork is approved layer by layer, in the past, it would have been too late to do anything about it."
"Never mind then. He's a grown man; he should know how to take responsibility for his actions."
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