Xiao Xiao’s eyes widened. “Have you thought about this? If you get caught, you’ll be facing jail time.”

Wen Bin waved dismissively. “That’s never going to happen. But smuggling isn’t something a person can do more than once. Luckily, Liang and I are pretty good at what we do—otherwise, those snakeheads would’ve screwed us over for sure.” He patted his pocket. “But I did bring back some real cash—about two hundred thousand yuan in total.”

Xiao Xiao stared, eyes round with shock. Glancing around the room, she realized it was just the two of them. She lowered her voice. “Brother, are you sure you didn’t rob a bank? How did you come up with so much money? How did you even get it back here?”

He ruffled her hair with a grin. “Don’t worry, I’ve got my ways. Look at how frightened you are—there’s no need to panic. Trust me, everything’s fine. That money is enough to fund our big plans next year.”

Xiao Xiao suddenly felt her perspective was too narrow. Since crossing over, she’d only thought about making a little money, buying a couple of houses in Beijing early on, and saving enough from future development to keep her living like a wealthy heiress. She’d never considered risking everything to earn more.

Twenty thousand yuan—how many people today wouldn’t even dare to imagine that number? With Zhou Huai’an’s current salary, it would take a lifetime to save that much.

Seeing her naive expression, Wen Bin reached out and patted her shoulder. “Look at you, already scared by twenty thousand. Before, you’d ask me for cars and jewelry all the time—those are worth way more than this.”

Xiao Xiao waved her hand. “No, no, brother. I realize now that our worlds are just too different. I’m content with marriage, having kids, and earning a little bit of money. You’re on a different level—you always go big. Truly, you’re a Wall Street genius. I admire that.”

He scoffed, a cold smile on his face. “Stop flattering me. I’ve got more responsibilities now—not only do I have to support you and Mom and Dad, but I also have a younger brother. But tell me—do you think our parents might have come into this world again? When I earn more, I want them to be able to live like wealthy parents, too.”

Xiao Xiao loved that idea. It was her greatest wish—to see her family together, no matter what time or space they were in.

Wen Bin suddenly remembered something and pushed her gently. “Has Zhou Huai’an come back yet?”

She shook her head. “No.”

He was about to curse, but then he sighed deeply, considering the current border situation. “Honestly, why do you keep choosing such a man? You’re just setting yourself up for suffering.”

She glared at him. “What are you talking about? Zhou Huai’an sent a letter—he even gave the kids names. That’s enough. As long as he’s safe, I’m happy.”

He scoffed coldly. “You’re surprisingly easy to please. Just one letter? It’s thanks to the Zhou family—they’re decent people. If it had been Zhou Huai’an’s stepmother from before, I doubt you and the kids would be eating anything right now. People like him—he’s a good man, but he’s also a man who’s let down his wife and children.”

Her eyes reddened. “Brother, what are you saying?”

He quickly raised his hands. “Alright, I won’t say any more. Don’t start crying again.”

He reached out to wipe her tears, shaking his head. “You’re already grown, and yet you still cry so easily. But I have to admit, your face is starting to look more and more like hers—much prettier now.”

Xiao Xiao pushed him away in frustration and wiped her own tears.

Just then, Zhou Xiaoling returned and was surprised to see Wen Bin still there. “When did you get back? I thought you’d made a fortune in the south and didn’t want to come home.”

Wen Bin smiled. “Not quite. Things didn’t go well down south, so I didn’t have the face to contact you. Honestly, I only came back because I was starving and needed a place to stay.”

Zhou Xiaoling eyed him suspiciously, then pointed at his coat. “That leather jacket you’re wearing—wasn’t it over three hundred yuan in the mall? I remember my sister-in-law and I were shocked. What kind of family can afford such expensive clothes?”

He raised an eyebrow, tugging at his jacket. “Well, looks like you’re pretty sharp.”

She chuckled, then pointed to her own eyes. “My eyes—I've seen through a lot.”

Because Wen Bin’s return brought Xiao Xiao so much happiness, Li Yunlan also paid close attention. To her, Wen Bin was like her own child.

She couldn’t help but think he must’ve suffered quite a bit during his time away. She had the maid prepare chicken soup, made red-braised pork, and cooked a big pot of plain rice.

Watching Wen Bin happily devour his meal, she felt a strange mixture of joy and unease. She wondered whether Zhou Huai’an had managed to eat today, too.

And then there was her daughter, Zhou Xiaohong. Though she was furious with her, she also worried about her safety outside.

After tucking Qian Qian into bed that night, she sat by her children’s old photos, lost in thought. A twinge of regret struck her—among all those pictures, only Zhou Huai’an’s was missing.

Zhou Zhenan knew she was thinking about Huai’an and Xiaohong. He sat beside her and gently comforted her. “Don’t worry. Huai’an will be fine. He’ll be back in a few months.”

Li Yunlan sighed. “In such a dangerous place, how can I not worry? And Xiaohong—where do you think she is now? What is she doing?”

Zhou Zhenan was silent for a moment. “Xiaohong went south. I had someone watching her because I was afraid she’d do something foolish. But then she moved further south, and now I have no idea where she is.”

He looked disappointed but also guilty. “It’s our fault—our lack of concern for her. That’s why she’s so stubborn now.”

Li Yunlan nodded, feeling she hadn’t done enough. “I’ve always thought I wasn’t biased against them. When Zhou Xiaoming was here, I saw him as the eldest—he should’ve acted like one. And with Xiaoling, I was a bit more lenient because she’s not in good health.”

It wasn’t just because her mother had saved her that she cared. She genuinely believed the girl needed extra attention because of her health.

Zhou Zhenan sighed, patting her shoulder. “Get some rest. Don’t overthink. Xiaohong’s future is her own choice. We can only guide her for the first twenty years. After that, she’s on her own.”

Li Yunlan closed the album with a soft sigh. “I just can’t let go. I hope she’ll grow up to be more sensible.”

Zhou Zhenan suddenly remembered that the Lin family in Shanghai had called today. “They want Xiaoling to visit during the New Year, to reconnect with relatives. Even if she stays in Beijing later, she shouldn’t lose contact with her family.”