SAG -Chapter 16 So He Wasn’t Lying to Us Back Then?

Outside Shanghai Stadium, a massive crowd had already gathered. There were reporters, family members of those from the cruise ship, their friends, and countless curious onlookers.

This was major news, and such a lively scene was something anyone with free time didn’t want to miss.

When Zhang Sicheng and his family arrived, this was the spectacle that greeted them. Before they could even take it in, a reporter hurried over.

“Excuse me, are you here to pick someone up?”

It was Zhang Sicheng’s first time being interviewed by a reporter, and for a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

The reporter had sharp eyes. Seeing three generations of the family arriving together, he guessed they weren’t merely there to watch the excitement.

“Sorry, we’re not accepting interviews. Please excuse us.”

Liu Lu stepped forward at just the right moment.

Having worked in a hospital, she’d witnessed her fair share of chaotic scenes—medical disputes, fights, reporters swarming for interviews—and had enough experience to handle situations like this.

She gestured for everyone to keep moving.

Fortunately, security was maintaining order, and the spectators were behaving themselves by staying behind the barriers, so the scene wasn’t overly chaotic. Before long, the family made their way inside.

Checking the time, Zhang Sicheng took a deep breath and pulled out the welcome sign he had prepared.

On it was written only one name:

Zhang Ran.

Then the entire family quietly waited for him.

…

Meng He’s family had arrived very early, among the first groups to do so.

Since Meng He was a somewhat well-known entrepreneur, however, he deliberately kept a low profile at first.

Only when the appointed time drew near did he put on a face mask and head inside with his family.

He wasn’t a celebrity, so with just a mask on, no one recognized him.

“Dad, I think someone else is here to pick up Uncle Zhang.”

Meng Mingxuan suddenly pointed ahead.

Meng He froze for a moment before turning to look.

He spotted the welcome sign bearing Zhang Ran’s name, along with Zhang Sicheng’s profile.

“Hm?”

He was momentarily stunned.

Looking more carefully, he noticed the differences. Although there was some resemblance in appearance, their temperaments were worlds apart.

Even so, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

He nudged Lin Meizhi and pointed toward Zhang Sicheng.

“Honey… doesn’t that young man look like Brother Zhang when he was younger?”

“What do you mean ‘when he was younger’? Brother Zhang still hasn’t changed.”

Lin Meizhi instinctively teased him before following his gaze.

Just then, Zhang Sicheng happened to turn around.

She froze.

His face bore at least a fifty to sixty percent resemblance to Zhang Ran’s.

Ordinarily she might not have paid much attention, but he was holding a sign with Zhang Ran’s name on it.

That made it impossible not to draw connections.

Meng He clearly had the same thought.

“You don’t think… Brother Zhang was actually telling us the truth back then? He really did have a girlfriend?”

Lin Meizhi looked at him before saying,

“Stop guessing. If we want to know, let’s just ask.”

Meng He nodded.

“You’re right.”

The family of four walked over to Zhang Sicheng.

Noticing them heading straight toward him, Zhang Sicheng looked at them curiously.

Meng He removed his mask and extended his hand.

“Hello, young man. My name is Meng He. May I ask your name?”

Zhang Sicheng shook his hand politely.

“I’m Zhang Sicheng. Is there something you need?”

The moment he introduced himself, Meng He and Lin Meizhi exchanged another glance.

Instead of answering, Meng He pointed at the welcome sign in Zhang Sicheng’s hand.

“May I ask… what is Zhang Ran to you?”

Zhang Sicheng frowned slightly but likewise didn’t answer immediately.

Seeing his hesitation, Meng He helplessly took out an old photograph of himself with Zhang Ran.

“Zhang Ran and I are close friends. We’ve come to pick him up today as well. I’m just wondering whether we’re waiting for the same person.”

Seeing the photograph, Zhang Sicheng was briefly surprised before understanding.

It didn’t shock him much.

After all, it wasn’t hard to believe that his father still had one or two friends who remembered him after all these years.

Without hiding anything, he said directly,

“If nothing unexpected has happened… then he should be my father. At least, that’s what my mother always told me.”

Zhang Siyan and Liu Lu also turned to look at Meng He’s family.

Hearing that, Meng He immediately broke into a delighted laugh.

“Haha! Then there’s no mistake! Just look at how much you resemble Brother Zhang! By the way, where’s your mother? Back then I thought Brother Zhang was just joking. I never imagined he really had found someone.”

At the mention of his mother, Zhang Sicheng’s expression dimmed.

“My mother passed away.”

“I’m… sorry.”

Meng He apologized sincerely.

“It’s alright.”

Zhang Sicheng forced a smile.

Trying to change the subject, Meng He asked, “And these are…?”

Zhang Sicheng introduced them one by one.

“This is my wife, Liu Lu. This is my younger sister, Zhang Siyan. We’re twins. This is my son, Zhang Xiaotao, and this is my niece, Susu.”

Meng He greeted each of them warmly.

Zhang Siyan and the others returned his greeting with smiles.

After all, judging from what Meng He had said, he was one of their father’s old friends—an elder.

Meng He then introduced his own family.

Meng Zixuan and Meng Mingxuan also greeted Zhang Sicheng’s family.

“I came in such a hurry that I didn’t prepare any gifts…”

Meng He scratched his head awkwardly.

“If you don’t mind… how about I give you this watch?”

It was customary to bring a gift when meeting a younger generation for the first time.

Lin Meizhi immediately realized the same thing and hurriedly reached to remove the necklace she was wearing.

But Zhang Sicheng and the others quickly stopped them.

“No, no, please don’t. You’re being far too generous. We can’t accept something like that.”

Zhang Sicheng refused repeatedly.

Even without knowing their exact value, he could tell at a glance that Meng He’s watch and Lin Meizhi’s necklace were extremely expensive—far beyond what he could afford.

Meng He thought for a moment before nodding.

“Alright then. I’ll owe you this first meeting gift. In a couple of days, Uncle Meng will prepare something proper for all of you.”

He had already begun referring to himself as “Uncle Meng.”

Given his age, Zhang Sicheng didn’t find that strange.

Whether he was his father’s close friend or just an ordinary elder, he would have addressed him as “Uncle” anyway.

“They should be coming out soon.”

After chatting for a while, Meng He glanced at his watch.

“It’ll be ten o’clock any minute now.”

Just as he finished speaking, a group of officials walked in first.

Behind them came another large group, all dressed in identical clothing.

Their faces were filled with anxiety…and bewilderment.