After speaking, Chen Cheng hummed along for a few bars until the song ended.

He turned his head to look at her and found that she was much more relaxed, not as tense as when he had first seen her at Ode to Joy.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, "What are your plans once you see your brother? Will you just pick him up and leave?"

Andy considered Chen Cheng's words and nodded. "Yes, pick him up and leave."

Chen Cheng frowned, wondering whether to leave Xiaoming in Daishan or take him back to the Magic City.

After some thought, he decided to respect Andy's wishes; besides, bringing Xiaoming back to the Magic City would be more convenient for Andy.

He just didn't know if Xiaoming, who suffered from intellectual disabilities, would be able to adapt.

Chen Cheng took out his phone and sent a message, preparing for both possibilities.

Chen Cheng looked at her with a smile. "Taking him back is also a good idea."

"However, I need to prepare you for something."

"What?"

"If you see that your brother shares some similarities with you, you mustn't let your imagination run wild."

"He is your brother; having similar physical features is a perfectly normal genetic trait."

"I don't want you to fall into self-doubt. Do you understand what I mean?"

Andy was stunned for a moment, then after a long while, she nodded. "Yes, I understand."

The corners of Chen Cheng's mouth lifted slightly. "Let me take over driving at the service area ahead."

"Okay."

Looking at Chen Cheng beside her, Andy suddenly felt as if she had someone to rely on, and her heart felt much more at ease.

Ahead lay her long-lost hometown, an unknown brother, and the sudden situation that had emerged.

But with Chen Cheng there, it was as if she had the courage to face it all.

When they reached the service area, Chen Cheng bought some food for Andy. She had been so tense all morning that she had no appetite and hadn't eaten lunch.

Chen Cheng hadn't actually eaten either, having only had a brunch before leaving the resort.

After getting off the highway, Chen Cheng drove with one hand, reaching out with his right to take hold of Andy's hand. She began to feel tense again.

Andy did not resist; instead, being held by Chen Cheng made her feel somewhat at peace.

Chen Cheng drove all the way into the nursing home.

He parked the car and turned off the engine.

Chen Cheng turned to look at Andy and said with a smile, "Take a deep breath."

Andy returned the smile, not feeling nervous. "I'm fine."

Chen Cheng shrugged; it seemed he had been a bit too worried about her.

As soon as they got out of the car, Old Yan, who had been waiting there, came over.

"You're here!"

Hearing the voice, Andy turned around. "Oh, Old Yan, thank you for your hard work."

Old Yan waved his hand. "It's nothing, it's nothing, it's my duty." He then looked at Chen Cheng. "Chairman Chen is here too."

Chen Cheng smiled and shook hands with Old Yan. "Old Yan, long time no see."

Old Yan also smiled and nodded. "Long time no see."

Chen Cheng, Tan Zongming, and Old Yan used to be motorcycle travel buddies who had ridden across America.

Starting from New York, they passed through Washington D.C., Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Houston... finally arriving in Angel City, and then traveled north along Highway 1 to Canada.

After exchanging greetings, Old Yan ushered the two inside; there would be plenty of time for small talk, but the important matter took precedence.

"Come on, they are waiting upstairs."

Old Yan led them upstairs and knocked on the door of an office.

"Director Yang."

A middle-aged woman who looked somewhat like Da Niangzi slowly stood up when she saw them. "Yes."

Old Yan introduced them to the others, "This is Andy and her friend."

Andy stared at the back of the person sitting at the desk, doodling and drawing, her eyes widening as memories of her brother came flooding back like a tide.

Yang Xiuyuan walked over to Xiaoming and gently patted him. "Xiaoming, Xiaoming."

"Your sister has come to pick you up."

Upon hearing this, Xiaoming paused for two seconds and turned his head, looking somewhat dazed.

Andy looked at Xiaoming's face, and images of her brother as a child kept flashing through her mind.

Xiaoming looked for a moment, realized he didn't know the people at the door, and without saying a word, turned back to continue his doodling.

Yang Xiuyuan smiled and said to Andy, "Come over here."

Seeing that Andy hesitated to step forward, Yang Xiuyuan encouraged her again, "You're his sister, why are you afraid of him?"

Chen Cheng glanced at Andy, who was trembling with nervousness, and reached out to hold her hand, which was clenched into a fist.

He said in a gentle, soft voice, "Don't be afraid."

Andy took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and took a step forward.

Yang Xiuyuan also encouraged Xiaoming, "Xiaoming, don't be afraid, don't be afraid, this is your sister."

Chen Cheng stepped forward and called out, "Director Yang."

Yang Xiuyuan looked at Chen Cheng in confusion, and Chen Cheng waved his hand at her, signaling her not to rush.

Chen Cheng took Andy's hand and whispered in her ear, "Andy, you need to treat your brother as the Xiaoming from back then."

"In his memory, you are still that young girl from years ago."

"He doesn't recognize the person you are now."

"I'll take Director Yang away in a moment, and you can spend some time alone with him."

"Don't rush to tell him you're his sister. Go see what he's drawing and try to find a way to draw with him."

"Let him get used to you."

Andy looked at Chen Cheng with wide eyes.

Chen Cheng nodded encouragingly. "You need to stay calm!"

Andy exhaled, thought about Chen Cheng's words, and nodded in agreement.

Chen Cheng looked at Yang Xiuyuan. "Director Yang, let's go outside and talk, and let Andy spend some time alone with Xiaoming."

"This?" Yang Xiuyuan was somewhat emotional and not very willing to leave Xiaoming alone with a stranger.

A smile appeared on Chen Cheng's face as he nodded firmly. "We'll just go to the hallway outside."

Yang Xiuyuan took a breath and finally nodded.

It wasn't that she didn't want what was best for Xiaoming, she just had some resentment that it had taken Andy so many years to come and find him.

Yang Xiuyuan stroked Xiaoming's head. "Xiaoming, Auntie is going outside to talk to the big brother for a moment; I'll be just outside the door. If you feel uncomfortable, just call out."

Xiaoming nodded blankly. "Mm!"

The corners of Chen Cheng's mouth lifted; it seemed Xiaoming could still understand people.

This was at least half a piece of good news for Andy.

Chen Cheng patted Andy's back. "Go on, just treat it like interacting with a quiet child in kindergarten."

"Sit in the director's chair so he can observe you, and you can try to mirror his actions, doodling and drawing."

Andy didn't speak; she understood Chen Cheng's intention completely and took a few steps forward.

This was like a symbiotic relationship in the biological world; the weaker party would only be able to accept the other if they felt there was no threat.

Having Andy sit in a position where Xiaoming could easily observe her was a way to slowly let Xiaoming adapt to the strange new element in his environment, making him feel that Andy posed no threat.

Chen Cheng smiled and exited the office with Yang Xiuyuan.

Andy sat gently on Yang Xiuyuan's chair, and as Chen Cheng had instructed, she did not stare at Xiaoming.

Instead, she took a blank sheet of A4 paper from the desk.

While recalling the Xiaoming from her memories, she occasionally glanced at the Xiaoming in front of her, and then began sketching lines on the paper.

In the hallway, Yang Xiuyuan asked indignantly, "Looking at you two, you seem to be living quite well."

"But I really can't understand why you've only come to pick up Xiaoming now?"

"What's wrong with our Xiaoming? Where is he not good enough?"

"Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs; her parents are really something, throwing away their own son."

Chen Cheng raised an eyebrow but said nothing, letting Yang Xiuyuan vent.

She had raised Xiaoming for so long, so it was only natural for her to have some resentment.