"Three years, are you still alive?"
Xu Yaoyao looked up at the snowflakes falling from the sky and said to herself, "If you are still alive, why don't you come back and see?"
Every year, she and Yu Mengzhi would go to that sea area, hoping to find Chen Jinzhao's whereabouts, but always in vain.
Three years have passed, and it is now the fourth year.
Everyone thought it was unlikely that Chen Jinzhao would return alive, but only a few people closest to Chen Jinzhao believed he was still alive.
Living in a corner they didn't know.
Just as Xu Yaoyao was lost in thought, another black figure appeared not far away. It was Xu Nianqing.
In the past three years, many things had happened at the Kunlun Research Institute.
For example, Wen Fulai passed away due to illness, and Xu Nianqing had taken on the main responsibility and made significant breakthroughs, being only one step away from fruitful results. Xu Nianqing had also gained high social status due to her research achievements, becoming the youngest academician of the Academy of Sciences, and was even named one of the most influential people of the 21st century by foreign media.
She was hailed as a pioneer who opened the era of biotechnology.
Xu Yaoyao hesitated for a moment, then walked forward and stood beside Xu Nianqing. "Sister Xu, you've come too."
"Mm, to see him," Xu Nianqing nodded.
Xu Yaoyao sighed inwardly, her nose feeling a little sore.
"Let's go see her first," Xu Nianqing said again.
Xu Yaoyao was stunned.
Seeing Xu Nianqing walking in another direction, Xu Yaoyao quickly followed.
The two came to another tomb. A black and white photo of a woman was on the tombstone. Xu Nianqing crouched down and wiped the snow from the tombstone, sighing, "A year has passed, are you doing well over there?"
Xu Yaoyao stared blankly at the woman in the photo.
This woman was none other than Shangguan Yu'an, Chen Jinzhao's former subordinate.
A year ago.
Shangguan Yu'an died from severe injuries sustained during an overseas combat mission. As agreed, Xu Nianqing buried her not far from Chen Jinzhao. In Shangguan Yu'an's own words – she wanted to be by Chen Jinzhao's side even in death.
"Sometimes I really envy you," Xu Nianqing said.
Xu Yaoyao also crouched down and said to Xu Nianqing beside her, "The current international situation is becoming increasingly dire. The day of the final battle should not be far off. What we need to do now is to pull ourselves together and fulfill Brother Jinzhao's last wish."
"One day, we will avenge Sister Shangguan as well."
Xu Nianqing's nose turned slightly red.
In the past few years, Shangguan Yu'an had been her best friend, and they regarded each other as confidantes.
Xu Yaoyao clenched her fists and added, "If Brother Jinzhao were still here, those people wouldn't dare to be so rampant."
As they were talking.
Yu Mengzhi, holding Little Sinian, came to Shangguan Yu'an's grave and said softly, "This is Aunt Shangguan. You should remember her face. She was one of your dad's best friends."
Little Sinian also sensed the solemn atmosphere and nodded her little head heavily.
"Sister Xu..."
The little girl looked at Xu Yaoyao and said sweetly.
Xu Yaoyao immediately corrected her, "Don't call me sister, call me Auntie."
Normally, Xu Yaoyao loved to be called sister by the younger generation, but in front of Little Sinian, she was happy to be called Auntie.
Yu Mengzhi's eyes flickered, and she gave Xu Yaoyao a meaningful look.
After paying their respects to Shangguan Yu'an, the three women returned to pay their respects to Chen Jinzhao, shedding tears in turns.
Sorrow was the theme of the moment.
"Come to my place for dinner tonight. It's rare for the three of us to get together," Yu Mengzhi suggested.
"Okay," Xu Nianqing said concisely.
Xu Yaoyao nodded, "I have no objections either."
"By the way."
"Have you seen Sister Qiyue?" Xu Yaoyao asked.
Yu Mengzhi and Xu Nianqing both shook their heads.
They knew Tao Qiyue's relationship with Chen Jinzhao. Yu Mengzhi had even intended to match them up at one point.
"I haven't seen her since the funeral three years ago. I tried to contact her, but found that she had changed all her numbers, quit her job, and seemed to not want us to contact her. She might have gone abroad," Yu Mengzhi sighed.
Three years had changed many things and many people.
Xu Yaoyao fell silent after hearing Yu Mengzhi's words.
In everyone's mind, Tao Qiyue was a cheerful woman who always dedicated herself to upholding justice, much like Chen Jinzhao.
Perhaps after that meeting three years ago, this person would no longer appear before them.
"It's getting cold, let's go back before Little Sinian catches a chill," Xu Nianqing suggested.
Yu Mengzhi hummed in agreement.
Xu Nianqing added, "Can I hold her for a bit?"
Before Yu Mengzhi could agree, Little Sinian opened her arms for Aunt Xu to hold her. Yu Mengzhi couldn't help but laugh softly, "It seems I have no choice but to agree."
Xu Nianqing took the child with a smile.
Although the child was only a little over two years old, one could already see Chen Jinzhao's shadow in her, especially her eyes, which were exactly the same.
Little Sinian was understanding and made Xu Nianqing laugh continuously.
Yu Mengzhi looked at Xu Yaoyao. "Yaoyao, how is Elder Xu's condition?"
Xu Yaoyao's body trembled, her gaze dimmed, and she shook her head. "It's still the same. His condition has been deteriorating since last year, with no progress."
More than a year ago, Xu Hanchen had retired from his position but contracted Alzheimer's disease, sometimes even forgetting his granddaughter Xu Yaoyao.
The four of them left the cemetery in silence.
Shortly after.
More people began to arrive at the cemetery to visit Chen Jinzhao's cenotaph.
There were people Chen Jinzhao knew, and people he didn't know. They had come to pay their respects to this former pillar of the nation.
Meanwhile.
On three islands south of Dongying, a young man sat by the sea, gazing at the horizon.
This was Chen Wuming's daily routine, which Yamanashi Chiho was already accustomed to.
Yamanashi Chiho sat beside Chen Wuming, resting her head on his shoulder, and asked softly in fluent Chinese, "Wuming, are you missing your homeland? I know, across the sea is your homeland, and this is not your homeland."
Chen Wuming withdrew his gaze and said faintly, "Homeland?"
"I can't remember what my homeland looked like, nor can I remember anything."
Yamanashi Chiho's eyes filled with more heartache. She said to Chen Wuming, "Why don't I find a way to send you back to your homeland? Perhaps only by returning to your homeland can you recall past events."
She knew she couldn't be so selfish as to keep Chen Wuming by her side.
While this outcome was very good for Yamanashi Chiho, it was unfair to Chen Wuming because he did not belong here in the first place.
Chen Wuming, however, shook his head upon hearing this.
"I can't go back to my homeland anymore. Some things have been permanently lost from my mind, and I can't abandon you."
"What will happen to you if I leave?"