Little Orange took photos with many friends to keep as mementos and distributed farewell gifts. She had so many friends—from neighborhood playmates to kindergarten classmates, and even children from her parents' social circle. For each of them, Little Orange wrote handwritten cards in wobbly handwriting: "Friends forever."
Little Orange had her own aesthetic preferences—she particularly liked very handsome little boys. There was the blue-eyed, fair-skinned European boy, the Brazilian boy who always knew how to make her laugh, the slim Thai boy who ran exceptionally fast, and her good friend from Colombia who gave her big hugs every time they met.
She liked every single one of them and couldn't bear to part with any. Blinking her big eyes, she would say: "You're my best male friend."
The boys would respond in unison: "Orange, you're my best female friend too."
"We'll always be best friends. I'll think of you in China. You can't betray me—you can't play with Nana/Lucy/Sarah... or any other girls. You have to remember me forever."
"Of course, you'll always be my very best friend."
The boys and girls would link pinkies and swear: "My dad says we're still too young, we can only be friends... When we grow up, maybe we'll see each other again. You can come find me, or I'll come find you. Maybe then we can date and go watch movies together."
Miao Jing listened to the children's innocent chatter and exchanged glances with Chen Yi, both feeling somewhat bewildered.
Little Orange returned home carrying a pile of exchanged gifts.
"Orange, you can't do this," Miao Jing said, massaging her temples. "You can't say these things to every boy. You're just friends."
"Dad said we're friends now, but when I turn sixteen I can have a boyfriend. I'm just identifying potential targets first."
"Chen Yi—" Miao Jing roared, "What are you teaching our child?"
"What's wrong?" He lazily walked over, scratching his head. "I just taught Orange to identify a boy she likes and keep him interested. I didn't know she'd say the same thing to everyone—it's like she's keeping multiple options open."
"Can you stop corrupting her? She's just a child!"
"Okay, okay, I was wrong." He raised his hands in surrender. "You teach her then—you have experience."
Little Orange chimed in: "What experience does Mom have? Did Mom used to be like this too?"
"Dad used to be like this, until your mom straightened me out." Chen Yi grinned cheekily. "Without Mom, there would be no Dad, and no Little Orange either."
Miao Jing shot him a fierce glare.
When they finally left Bogotá, Miao Jing and Chen Yi shipped many things back to China. They didn't sell their house, instead leaving the keys with an agent. The company remained operational, entrusted to Gino's management. The family of three packed their luggage and prepared for their journey back home.
After more than thirty hours of travel, Chen Yi carried the sleeping Little Orange as he stepped once again onto the land he had left behind.
Teng City.
Having grown accustomed to Bogotá's cool highland climate, the overwhelming heat and humidity that greeted them upon returning to their hometown, mixed with the bitter scent of plants, suddenly brought back distant memories.
Chen Yi held Miao Jing's hand as they stepped out of the station.
Bo Zai was there to welcome them. Several years had passed since they last met—back when Bo Zai was still a slender young man during their hospital days. Now he returned with a slightly protruding belly.
"Yi Ge!" Bo Zai chuckled heartily, then pressed his lips together when he saw Miao Jing: "Sis-in-law."
Chen Yi patted his shoulder steadily: "You've worked hard these past few years."He was no longer the careless young ruffian from back then, nor the listless and dissolute billiards hall owner—he now carried a steady demeanor and complex life experiences.
There wasn't really any compelling reason to return, but both knew their roots were here. As long as those roots hadn't completely rotted, as long as the stems and leaves still transported nourishment, even if the taste was bitter, they still relied on it to survive. Perhaps one day they could flourish and carve out a place for themselves, bearing sweet flowers and fruits.
Xiao Chengzi suddenly woke up in the car, saw the scenery outside the window, and burst into loud sobs. She didn't recognize those ever-changing skyscrapers and streets outside, didn't recognize the words and faces on the billboards, didn't even recognize the climate and temperature here.
Miao Jing pointed out to her: that was the road her parents used to walk, the shopping mall they visited, the school they attended. It turned out she still remembered these things after all these years, never having forgotten.
They didn't return to their original home. Bo Zai took them to another upscale residential compound. A few years earlier, Chen Yi had already entrusted Bo Zai to purchase property, buying a large flat for them to live in. The decoration closely resembled their house in Bogotá—at least to help Xiao Chengzi adapt to her new life.
On their first day after arrival, the family of three stayed home organizing their belongings. Miao Jing simply cooked three bowls of noodles for a makeshift meal.
After Xiao Chengzi fell asleep, Miao Jing was still busy organizing in the living room. Chen Yi pulled two cans of beer from the refrigerator to help her fight jet lag and stay alert. They sat cross-legged on the floor, sorting through various documents and materials they had brought back.
"When should we go back to take a look? I wonder what it's like now? Should we dispose of those old furniture pieces? They're probably all ruined by now."
"No rush. Let's focus on immediate matters first. You need to start at your company, and we have to find a school for Xiao Chengzi. I also have some things to attend to." Chen Yi suddenly remembered something. "By the way, is that Lu Zhengsi still in Tengcheng?"
"He changed jobs and left two years ago." Miao Jing kept her head down. "Returned to Z Province, already married with children."
He raised an eyebrow: "Are you two still in contact?"
Miao Jing pursed her lips in a faint smile, not answering him, then also recalled: "My mother's side... knows we've returned to the country. She probably wants to see us, to see Xiao Chengzi, and... to see you too. It's just that she also can't quite overcome that barrier in her heart."
"Let her come. Who can truly overcome such barriers?" Chen Yi shrugged indifferently. "If she's willing to come, it's not like I can shut the door on her. Stepmother turning into mother-in-law, what do old grudges matter? I'd still have to reluctantly call her 'Mom'."
"Chen Yi."
"Hmm?"
She smiled radiantly: "Maybe Tengcheng is my city of luck. I never thought I'd return here again and again. But when I first took the train at eight years old, I had expectations for Tengcheng in my heart—if only I wouldn't have to endure snowy winters anymore. No matter what the future holds, this is a very, very good place."
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