SAG -Chapter 15 Preparing for the Reunion

At six o’clock on the morning of November 24, Zhang Sicheng and Liu Lu got up early to prepare breakfast.

The previous night, Zhang Siyan and little Susu had stayed over at their apartment.

Zhang Siyan slept on the sofa in the living room, while the two children shared the smaller bedroom. The apartment Zhang Sicheng rented was only a modest two-bedroom unit.

“Are Susu and Xiaotao awake yet?” Liu Lu asked as she carried the prepared breakfast to the table.

Today was an extraordinarily special day for their family.

From this day forward, their household would gain another member.

That person…

Was their father.

And Liu Lu’s father-in-law.

“Not yet,” Zhang Siyan replied.

“The two little ones stayed up playing pretty late last night. There’s no need to rush—let them sleep a little longer.”

“That’s fine,” Liu Lu nodded.

“But no later than seven.”

“It’ll take at least an hour to get from here to the Shanghai Stadium. If we hit the morning rush hour, who knows how long it’ll take? We’d better leave early.”

She understood exactly how complicated the siblings’ emotions were.

Neither Zhang Sicheng nor Zhang Siyan knew how to face the father who had suddenly returned from the dead.

Whenever the subject came up, both of them became awkward and uncertain, completely at a loss for what to do.

So this entire outing had been organized by Liu Lu.

Although Zhang Ran’s return also left her feeling somewhat overwhelmed, it wasn’t nearly as complicated for her.

After all…

He was her father-in-law, not her own father.

Breakfast was unusually quiet.

No one spoke.

Each person was lost in their own thoughts.

At exactly seven o’clock, Liu Lu marched into the children’s room and unceremoniously hauled both little ones out of bed.

She helped them get dressed.

Brush their teeth.

Wash their faces.

By the time the entire morning routine was finished, it was nearly seven-thirty.

After urging them to hurry and eat breakfast, the whole family left the apartment promptly at 7:45 a.m.

According to the official announcement, Zhang Ran and the others would officially return at ten o’clock.

They needed to arrive before then.

At that moment, Huo Zhiyuan was unusually restless.

She had already picked out an outfit.

Yet, for some reason, she suddenly wasn’t satisfied with it anymore.

She wanted to change into something else.

Zhao Jingyu had no better solution than simply indulging her.

A few days earlier, Meng He and his family had visited Huo Zhiyuan.

The two families got along well enough, but they hadn’t stayed overnight.

Only Meng Zixuan had remained for two extra days before returning home.

“Jingyu…”

“What do you think of this one?”

Huo Zhiyuan asked.

She wore an elegant white dress adorned with delicate cutout embroidery.

Its design accentuated her fair, flawless skin, making it appear even more radiant.

If she hadn’t revealed her actual age herself, no one would have guessed it.

Her graceful, curvaceous figure radiated the mature beauty of a sophisticated woman.

A pair of exquisitely crafted high heels made her appear even more noble and elegant.

Zhao Jingyu praised her sincerely.

“Big Sis…”

“You look absolutely stunning.”

“If I were a man, I’d fall head over heels for you.”

The compliment eased Huo Zhiyuan’s nerves a little.

Yet…

She still wasn’t completely satisfied.

“Big Sis.”

“It’s almost time.”

Seeing her continue to hesitate, Zhao Jingyu had no choice but to remind her.

Only then did Huo Zhiyuan snap back to reality.

She immediately rushed toward the door.

Watching her flustered state, Zhao Jingyu could only smile helplessly.

At the same time…

Her curiosity about Zhang Ran grew even stronger.

What kind of man could possibly make the normally composed Huo Zhiyuan become so flustered whenever he was involved?

The Meng family had also gotten up early.

Unlike everyone else, however, they were far more relaxed.

Or rather…

Their feelings were much simpler.

They were simply happy.

After breakfast, the entire family eagerly headed toward the Shanghai Stadium.

Meng He and Lin Meizhi wanted to see Zhang Ran.

As for Meng Zixuan and Meng Mingxuan…

They were simply curious.

That curiosity had lasted for more than twenty years.

Today…

They would finally see him in person.

The thought alone made them a little excited.

At that very moment, Zhang Ran himself was just as nervous and uneasy.

The grief over Yu Qingwan still lingered deep inside him.

He had merely buried it beneath the surface.

Today, he would finally meet…

His son.

His daughter-in-law.

His daughter.

His grandson.

And his granddaughter.

His own flesh and blood.

The continuation of the bloodline he and Yu Qingwan had created together.

He wore a clean, casual outfit provided by the authorities.

Underneath was a simple wool sweater.

The overall look was fresh and youthful.

Like a college student.

At least…

That was what Su Yitian thought.

Of course, she also knew that this “college student” already had both a grandson and a granddaughter.

The contrast gave her a rather strange feeling.

Everyone from the cruise ship had received a new set of clothes as a small welfare benefit.

However…

Zhang Ran hadn’t shaved.

At the moment, his greatest concern was making himself look older, not younger.

After all…

The son and daughter he was about to meet were, in terms of actual age, older than he was.

“What do you think?”

He held up an exquisitely crafted necklace.

At its center was an elegant hollow emblem, framed by sparkling diamonds that shimmered brilliantly around the edges.

The entire piece looked extraordinarily refined.

“It’s for my daughter-in-law.”

“It should make a decent first meeting gift, right?”

Originally, Zhang Ran had considered giving money.

Something symbolic like 11,000 yuan—representing “one in ten thousand.”

After thinking it over, however, he abandoned the idea.

Given his current wealth, such an amount felt rather stingy.

Yet giving too much money would also be inappropriate.

Both he and his children needed time to adjust to one another.

Jewelry, on the other hand, struck the perfect balance.

Elegant.

Meaningful.

And not awkward.

These pieces had all been brought back from Britain.

When Zhang Ran commissioned the artisans to create the unique “Star and Moon Together” jewelry collection for Yu Qingwan, he had also asked them to craft several other one-of-a-kind pieces.

His original plan had been simple.

Yu Qingwan would choose the ones she liked.

He would keep the rest as collectibles.

Now…

She would never have the chance to wear them.

But perhaps…

Giving them to his daughter-in-law would have made Yu Qingwan happy.

The thought caused his expression to dim.

For a brief moment, sadness clouded his eyes.

But he quickly composed himself.

Su Yitian wasn’t particularly surprised by the necklaces, rings, bracelets, and other jewelry.

After learning about Zhang Ran’s immense fortune, she had already adjusted her expectations.

Still…

As a woman, seeing such beautifully crafted pieces made her eyes light up.

Who could resist jewelry like this?

“They’re beautiful.”

She forced herself to look away before envy got the better of her.

“Alright.”

Zhang Ran nodded.

“Oh, right.”

“Have the robot model and the doll I asked you to buy arrived?”

He had prepared gifts for the two children.

A robot model for his grandson.

A doll for his granddaughter.

As for his son and daughter…

He still hadn’t decided what to give them.

So he would wait.

“They’re here.”

“Don’t worry.”

Su Yitian answered with a reassuring smile.