The king-sized bed was big enough for two people to sleep comfortably. However, the next morning, they were still squeezed on the right half of the bed.

The company didn’t work on Sundays, and Xie Dongcheng didn’t need to drive. He woke up a little earlier than Yu Zi and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

After finishing everything, he walked back to the master bedroom. Yu Zi was still asleep, his chest rising and falling with his breath.

Only when he sat down on the bed did Yu Zi, who was still half asleep, open his eyes.

Yu Zi instinctively reached out his hands towards him, as if asking for a hug. Xie Dongcheng couldn’t help but smile, bending down to embrace him.

“Getting up?” he asked.

Yu Zi rubbed his eyes and shook his head, “Just a little more sleep.”

He then tried to pull Xie Dongcheng onto the bed. However, Xie Dongcheng resisted and remained seated.

Yu Zi was a bit puzzled, so he let go of his hands.

Then, he saw Xie Dongcheng take out a transparent folder from the bedside table and hand it to him.

“What’s this?” Yu Zi asked, puzzled, as his gaze gradually focused.

“The new project plan for Bai Cheng. Take a look,” Xie Dongcheng replied.

“Are you serious? Are you talking about work at this time?” Yu Zi was a bit displeased.

Xie Dongcheng thought about it and realized the timing wasn’t right. He reached out to take back the folder.

But Yu Zi snatched it away and opened it. “Go on, what project?”

Xie Dongcheng sat up straight. “The Bai Cheng Resort Hotel.”

Yu Zi flipped open the first page of the document, which boldly stated: Bai Cheng Resort Hotel Development Plan.

The thick document indicated that Xie Dongcheng had done a lot of homework in advance.

“You’re going to build a hotel in Bai Cheng?!” Yu Zi exclaimed.

“Yes, didn’t you mention it to Sheng Chuan before?” Xie Dongcheng asked.

“Yeah, but I was just talking nonsense.” Yu Zi looked at him. “You don’t have to make such big plans based on my random words, do you?”

Xie Dongcheng shook his head. “No, it’s just that you were right.”

He continued to explain, “When I was in Lingang this time, I met many bosses from the northwest area and heard some latest news. Bai Cheng is planning to build an airport in the future. The high-speed rail station will also be renovated and expanded.”

“Bai Cheng is going to build an airport?!” Yu Zi sat up straight.

“Yeah,” Xie Dongcheng nodded, “I had Wei Yunli inquire about it. Currently, there are no investors planning to build a resort on Bai Cheng. Moreover, tourism development in that area is not strong, so land prices there are very cheap. We can take advantage of this opportunity.”

“You mean, we’ll establish a resort near the vineyard?” Yu Zi asked.

“Yes. Baiyun Wanli Vineyard has expanded its scale now, and Wei Yunli has also renovated it, making it open to visitors. We can even collaborate with the cultural and tourism bureau to create a wine estate tour route. The resort will provide dining and accommodation. Many wineries abroad operate in this way.”

Yu Zi nodded, but still hesitated, “But Bai Cheng doesn’t have a successful precedent.”

“That’s true. But precisely because of this, if we are the first to do it, we’ll have the power to set prices,” Xie Dongcheng explained.

Yu Zi looked at him again, “You’ve learned a lot these past two years.”

Xie Dongcheng smiled and then said something very enticing, “Do you want to earn back the hotel that you lost to Paul?”

Yu Zi’s heart skipped a beat. Half a minute later, he looked at Xie Dongcheng with determination and patted his arm, “That sounds interesting.”

After the end of the first month, spring came. Xiao Liu sent a message saying that he was about to set off for the south with an indefinite return date. He wanted to meet them one more time before leaving.

Yu Zi didn’t hesitate and agreed directly.

Soon, Xiao Liu sent an address, which Yu Zi forwarded to Xie Dongcheng. But Xie Dongcheng remained silent for a long time after seeing it.

In the afternoon of the next day, the three of them arrived at the address. Only then did Yu Zi understand why Xie Dongcheng had been silent.

They arrived at the orphanage where they spent their childhood. The old orphanage had long ceased operations, leaving only a dilapidated building standing alone. The vertical signboard at the entrance had also faded, with the words barely visible.

“Dongy.” Xiao Liu walked to the empty space in front of the building and pointed to a rusty basketball hoop, “We used to play here a lot.”

For Xiao Liu, the orphanage was like home, but for Xie Dongcheng, there were no particularly good memories.

Xie Dongcheng could only nod, “Yes.”

Yu Zi felt the fluctuation of his emotions and gently touched his back. Xie Dongcheng stiffened for a moment before gradually relaxing.

Xiao Liu enthusiastically wandered around with his camera, leaving the two of them standing in the orphanage yard.

The cold wind blew sand grains on the ground, somewhat blurring their vision. Xie Dongcheng waved away the wind and turned to Yu Zi, saying, “When I was a child, I thought this place was huge, and I couldn’t see the end of it.”

Yu Zi looked around. Although the orphanage occupied only half an acre, the activity area was pitifully small.

Xie Dongcheng pointed to a small path at the end of the open space, “I used to stand there often.”

Yu Zi turned his head and asked, “Why?”

Xie Dongcheng smiled first and then explained in a low voice, “That’s where I was abandoned. I thought if I stood there and waited, my parents would come to pick me up.”

Yu Zi originally wanted to say something, but swallowed his words upon hearing this.

Early spring was still chilly, and the cold air had not yet dissipated. Xie Dongcheng stood on the rough concrete ground, his eyes fixed on an unnamed high point.

Yu Zi stood beside him, gently reaching out to touch his cheek.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Dongcheng was startled and asked.

“But now you have a home,” he said softly.

Xie Dongcheng was stunned for a few seconds before smiling, “Yes, I have a home.”

After Xiao Liu finished exploring inside and took several photos, they came out.

“I don’t know when I’ll come back next time,” Xiao Liu said, holding up his camera. “Take more photos for memories.”

“Do you know what you’re going to do there?” Yu Zi asked.

Xiao Liu nodded, “I plan to open a shop. Right in the university town.”

Yu Zi didn’t intend to give him any life advice, just saying, “If you don’t have enough money, contact me anytime.”

The wind blew across the barren land, and Xiao Liu faced the wind, his eyes a little red, nodding slightly towards him.

They didn’t stay long at the orphanage. It was already evening, and the dense sunset enveloped the horizon. Xiao Liu had to go home to pack his bags.

“Shall I take you home?” Xie Dongcheng unlocked the car and asked Xiao Liu.

“No need,” Xiao Liu tied his scarf again and shook his head. “I’ll be home after a few subway stops.”

Xie Dongcheng didn’t insist. The two bid farewell to Xiao Liu.

They got back in the car. The weather was dry, and Yu Zi felt a bit thirsty as soon as he got in.

“Is there a supermarket nearby? I’ll go buy a bottle of water,” Yu Zi asked.

Xie Dongcheng remembered for a moment, “I remember there’s a convenience store nearby. But I don’t know if it’s still there.”

“Let’s go check it out,” Yu Zi told him to start the car.

After driving for seven or eight minutes, Xie Dongcheng found the convenience store. He turned to Yu Zi and joked, “This convenience store has been open for many years. It’s been here since my second year in the orphanage. I didn’t expect it to still be open.”

Yu Zi unbuckled his seatbelt and looked at the dilapidated storefront, “You used to come here often?”

Xie Dongcheng shook his head, “I’ve never been inside. I didn’t have money.”

Yu Zi paused for a moment before getting out of the car.

Xie Dongcheng parked the car by the roadside and waited for him to come back after buying water.

Yu Zi opened the army-green heavy door curtain and glanced inside. The shop was indeed very dilapidated.

There was a refrigerator inside, displaying rows of mineral water and drinks.

Yu Zi opened the refrigerator door and picked up a bottle of mineral water. Then he shouted into the room, “Is anyone here?”

After about half a minute, a male voice answered, sounding quite old.

“Here!”

Soon, a middle-aged man pushed aside the curtain from the inner room and walked into the shop. “Three yuan fifty.”

Yu Zi opened his phone to prepare for mobile payment, but the next moment, he suddenly stopped his movement.

Because he saw the man’s face. Yu Zi felt like something exploded in the depths of his heart.

The middle-aged man in front of him had some gray hair, but his face was so familiar. The curve of the eyebrows and eyes, the lines of the nose, Yu Zi could almost see the shadow of another person.

“Just scan mine.” The man pushed the payment code on the table in front of Yu Zi, urging him to make the payment.

“Oh, okay.” Yu Zi guessed it might just be a coincidence, so he calmed himself and scanned the payment code.

However, when he saw the name on the payment page, he couldn’t help but look up at the man’s face again.

On the payment page, the real name of the payee was displayed: Xie X Hua.