A young boy from the 1970s, separated from his family, fled famine and led his younger brother into

"Sister...you've become the top scholar now, so...are you going to forget about me?"

When Gu Wangbei's voice, filled with deep grievance and a slight nasal tone, came from the other end of the phone, Lu Nianci's heart instantly melted.

She quickly took the phone from her father, her voice gentler than ever before.

"Wang Bei, how could that be? How could your sister forget you?"

"Hmph, that's not necessarily true!" On the other end of the phone, Gu Wangbei snorted, like a proud little kitten.

"Grandpa said that the top scholar is an incredibly amazing person! Even more amazing than...even the great heroes on TV!"

"Now that you're so amazing, you'll definitely have lots and lots of people who like you and want to hang out with you."

"By then, you'll definitely have forgotten all about my silly little brother who only knows how to cry and can't even write his own name!"

The little guy spoke eloquently and logically. But the overpowering sourness in his voice was almost suffocating, even through the phone line.

Lu Nianci burst out laughing at his precocious manner.

"Nonsense. Who said you're stupid? Our Wangbei is the smartest and cutest little brother in the world."

"Besides, even if the whole world came looking for me, you'd still hold an irreplaceable place in my heart as number one!"

Lu Nianci's words were like a sweet candy, instantly soothing all the little guy's unease and grievances.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Then, a soft, silly chuckle came from behind.

"Well... alright then, I'll trust you this once for now." Gu Wangbei's voice became cheerful again.

"Sister! Sister! Did you hear that! Grandpa said you're coming to the capital!" His voice instantly rose eight octaves, filled with boundless excitement and anticipation.

"Yes, I heard you," Lu Nianci replied with a smile. "Are you happy?"

"I'm so happy! I'm so excited!" Gu Wangbei jumped up and down excitedly on the other end of the phone. "Sister! Let me tell you, our house is huge! It's... so many times bigger than the military compound!"

"I also have my own room! My room is full of fun toys you've never seen before! There's a toy train that runs, and a toy airplane that flies!"

"When you come, I'll let you play with everything!"

The little guy was like a little landlord showing off his treasures, bringing out all his "belongings" to share with his older sister.

"And there's more! Let me tell you, Beijing is so much fun! There's Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall! Grandpa said he'll take us there when you come! We can also eat Peking duck! The Peking duck in Beijing is so delicious! A hundred times better than...a hundred times better than Mom's braised pork!"

He chattered like a happy little sparrow, constantly sharing his blissful and novel life in the capital with Lu Nianci.

Lu Nianci listened patiently.

Her face was adorned with a gentle, indulgent smile throughout.

She could sense that Wangbei had changed.

He was no longer the taciturn "little mute" whose eyes were filled with fear and unease when he first came to the Lu family.

Under the love and care of the Gu family, he is gradually returning to the innocent and carefree nature of a child.

This made her genuinely happy and gratified.

"Sister, when are you coming?" Gu Wangbei asked excitedly. "Are you coming tomorrow?"

"Uh... well, it might take a while," Lu Nianci said after thinking for a moment. "My sister still needs to wait for the school's reopening notice and prepare some things."

"Huh? We have to wait?" The little guy's voice immediately fell, filled with disappointment.

"Well... okay then," he said reluctantly, pouting.

Then, his tone suddenly became extremely serious and solemn, as if he were announcing a momentous decision!

"Sister! Let me tell you something!"

"Now that you've come to the capital, you must come see me first!"

"If you dare to go to that place called... Beijing University first, or dare to go somewhere else to play first..."

He paused deliberately, as if he was preparing some incredible move.

"...I'm...I'm not going to school!"

"I cry at home every day! I roll around on the floor crying!"

「我还要告诉爷爷奶奶说你不喜欢我了、不爱我了，让他们揍我屁股！」

"snort!"

After saying that, he gave a heavy snort to show his firm and unwavering attitude!

This adorable yet fierce, almost shameless "threat" made Lu Zhenguo and Zhou Yayun, who were standing next to him, burst out laughing.

Lu Nianci was so charmed by him that her heart almost melted.

She suppressed a laugh and deliberately spoke in a very serious tone, "Okay, okay, my little darling!"

"I promise you, as soon as I get off the train, I won't go anywhere else; the first thing I'll do is rush to see you, okay?"

"Hmm...that's more like it!" Gu Wangbei nodded in satisfaction.

The siblings chatted sweetly for a while longer.

He reluctantly hung up the phone only when the Gu family's nanny urged him to take a nap.

After hanging up the phone, Lu Nianci's heart was filled with immense happiness and warmth.

She felt that all her efforts and sacrifices had been worthwhile at this moment.

Beijing.

It was a place that felt both familiar and distant to her.

That place holds her unfulfilled dreams, shining as brightly as the stars twinkling in the night sky;

There lie clues to the mystery of her origins, like a treasure buried by the dust of time waiting for her to discover and explore.

Most importantly, her beloved younger brother was also there.

A child who longs to reunite with his sister day and night, and a relative who silently prays for his sister's early return.

At this moment, an indescribable longing welled up in her heart, and she couldn't wait to embark on a journey to that mysterious place.

At this moment, the whole family is bathed in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere.

Everyone's face was beaming with happiness, and their eyes were glistening with tears of excitement.

They embraced and kissed each other, conveying their deep love and longing for one another with warm words.

This beautiful moment will forever be etched in their hearts, becoming one of the most precious memories of their lives.

"Knock knock knock—"

Suddenly, someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

Zhou Yayun wiped away the tears that came out of her laughter and went to open the door.

When she saw who was standing outside the door, the smile on her face froze instantly.

Outside the door stood two people they least expected.

It was Wu Xiuli and her son Wan Chao.

At this moment, Wu Xiuli was no longer the arrogant and domineering woman she once was. She was emaciated, her face was sallow, and she looked as if she had aged ten years in an instant.

Wan Chao, standing next to her, had his head down, looking dejected and exuding a lifeless and defeated aura.

How did they get here?

What are you here for?

The atmosphere in the living room instantly plummeted from the height of summer to the depths of winter with the arrival of these two uninvited guests.

Cold, and awkward.