SAG -Chapter 69 Brothers Reunited

During dinner that evening, Zhang Ran told Zhang Sicheng and the others that he would be leaving the following afternoon.

“How about I go with you?” Zhang Sicheng said worriedly. “A lot of places have changed over the years.”

Lately, he hadn’t been very busy.

At work, he was mostly coasting since the company was on its last legs. Aside from looking for a new job, all his attention was focused on renovating the new house.

The renovation company Meng Mingxuan had arranged was astonishingly efficient. Construction had already begun, so there was no need to supervise it constantly. He and Liu Lu only stopped by after work each day to take a look.

Zhang Ran shook his head.

“No need. Focus on your own work. I still know the roads, and besides, there’s GPS now. Don’t worry.”

Since Zhang Ran put it that way, Zhang Sicheng didn’t insist.

Neither he nor Liu Lu found it surprising that Zhang Ran had learned to use GPS so quickly.

His ability to adapt to modern technology far exceeded their expectations.

That night before bed, Taotao and Susu insisted that Zhang Ran tell them stories.

He kept telling stories until both children had fallen asleep before quietly closing the bedroom door.

The next morning, Zhang Ran reminded them again, “Don’t forget to pick up Taotao and Susu from school this afternoon.”

He had been the one taking them to and from school recently, and he was afraid Zhang Sicheng and Liu Lu had gotten used to it and might accidentally forget.

“Don’t worry,” Zhang Sicheng replied. “I won’t forget.”

“Drive carefully,” Liu Lu added. “Give us a call when you arrive.”

Zhang Ran nodded.

He first took the two children to school.

When it was time to say goodbye, each child kissed him on the cheek.

Neither tried to hide how reluctant they were to part with him.

After dropping them off, Zhang Ran wasted no time and drove straight toward Shaanxi Province.

He Yong’s hometown was there.

The drive would take about 13.4 hours.

He could have flown there, but ever since the accident, Zhang Ran had developed a psychological aversion to airplanes and ships.

Even though the journey was long, he preferred driving himself.

At the same time, aboard a long-distance bus traveling from Shanghai to Shaanxi, a young woman sat staring blankly out the window.

Her name was He Qing.

Nineteen years old, she was a freshman at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Tomorrow was the day her father would be released from prison.

Her grandparents had asked her to come home and pick him up.

As for this father…

He Qing herself didn’t know how she felt.

Her father had been imprisoned not long after she was born.

When she was little, her grandparents would often take her to visit him.

But once she grew older—whether out of pride or something else—she rarely went with them anymore.

Over all these years, the last time she’d seen him had been after she was admitted to university.

Only because her grandparents had pleaded with her did she agree to visit.

The main reason she’d agreed to pick him up this time…was simply because she didn’t want her elderly grandparents traveling such a long distance.

Along the way, Zhang Ran only stopped briefly at service areas—to refuel, eat something, and rest for a bit before continuing.

It wasn’t until midnight that he finally arrived.

He checked into a hotel.

The moment he entered his room, he immediately took out his phone and started a video call.

“Grandpa…”

Taotao no longer had his usual boundless energy.

“Grandpa…”

Susu’s sleepy eyes were barely open.

She was exhausted.

Earlier, while Zhang Ran was still on the road, Zhang Sicheng had texted him saying the children wanted a video call.

Zhang Ran had originally wanted to stop at a service area and call them.

But Zhang Sicheng refused.

He insisted Zhang Ran wait until he’d safely reached his destination.

No matter how much Zhang Sicheng tried persuading them, the two children refused to sleep.

They insisted on talking to Grandpa first.

Seeing how sleepy they were, Zhang Ran’s heart ached.

He gently chatted with them for a few moments before softly coaxing them to bed.

Perhaps simply seeing Zhang Ran reassured them.

Very soon, both children fell asleep.

Zhang Sicheng didn’t chat long either.

It was late, and he didn’t want to disturb Zhang Ran’s rest.

At eight o’clock the next morning, Zhang Ran freshened up and drove toward the prison.

When he arrived, he found several scattered groups already waiting outside.

He didn’t recognize any of them.

They were probably family and friends waiting for other inmates being released that day.

Zhang Ran did know He Yong’s parents.

However, he stayed inside his car.

Lighting a cigarette, he quietly watched the prison gate.

Around ten o’clock, he finally saw a face.

It had aged considerably.

But it was still unmistakably familiar.

By then, only one young woman remained outside.

Everyone else had already picked up the people they were waiting for.

Just as Zhang Ran was about to get out of the car, he noticed He Yong standing frozen, staring blankly at the young woman.

So Zhang Ran paused.

He Yong looked at his daughter, feeling completely awkward.

He wanted to walk over and hug He Qing…but he was afraid she’d reject him.

“Xiaoqing…”

He walked over to her and softly called her name.

His voice was filled with cautious hesitation.

Looking at the man before her—

Though already fifty years old, his build remained powerfully sturdy.

Seeing how carefully he spoke to her…

For some reason, He Qing suddenly felt a pang of sympathy.

She didn’t know much about her father’s past.

But her grandparents had told her countless times that back then, He Yong had been framed.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally said, “Let’s go. Grandpa and Grandma are waiting at home.”

“Right… let’s go. Let’s go.”

He Yong immediately picked up his duffel bag and followed beside her.

But he deliberately kept a small distance, as though afraid the bad luck attached to him might somehow taint her.

They had barely taken a few steps when the door of a nearby car opened.

A man stepped out and blocked their path.

He Qing frowned, preparing to walk around him.

But then she saw He Yong suddenly freeze in place.

The duffel bag slipped from his hand and hit the ground.

Her heart sank.

Could this be one of Father’s old enemies?

Has he come looking for trouble?

But when she looked at her father’s face…

There was no hatred.

No anger.

Only disbelief…and overwhelming joy.

“Brother… Brother Zhang?”

He Yong seemed unable to believe what he was seeing.

The man in front of him spread his arms and smiled.

“What? Don’t recognize me anymore?”

Hearing Zhang Ran’s voice, He Yong finally became certain.

He strode forward and embraced Zhang Ran tightly.

He Qing could clearly see it—

Her father’s excitement…

And his happiness.