Jiang Zhida laughed, “Lu Lu, I feel the same way. But some people believe in these things, and the entertainment center doesn’t belong to me alone, so the opening date can’t be changed.”

He ruffled Zhang Lu’s hair, also feeling a bit of regret.

Chu Xia had contributed many ideas for the entertainment center, including the design, specific projects, and safety features.

Without her input, the center wouldn’t be as complete as it was.

Jiang Zhida had even wanted to invite Chu Xia to do the ribbon-cutting.

Chu Xia, however, took it in stride. “The opening will be so busy. You won’t have time for us, Dazi. It’s better to wait until An An and I are back. You and Lu Lu can then take us to enjoy the whole place.”

Jiang Weixi, who was nearby, raised her hand. “I want to play too!”

Zhang Lu tugged at her little ponytail. “We’ll play together.”

After the reunion dinner, Chu Xia checked Grandpa Jiang’s pulse again.

Grandpa Jiang was getting older and had a few chronic conditions.

Chu Xia checked his pulse every month to make sure he was still in good health.

“Grandpa, you need to continue controlling your intake of oil, salt, and sugar. Compared to last time, your conditions haven’t improved.”

Fortunately, they hadn’t worsened either, indicating that Grandpa Jiang wasn’t being strict enough with his diet.

Hearing this, Grandpa Jiang was unhappy, acting like a child. “If I can’t eat anything, what’s the point of living?”

Chu Xia coaxed him with a few kind words, and he eventually cheered up.

However, knowing his lack of self-control, Chu Xia reminded Aunt Li once again to watch his diet.

Luo Peng also asked Chu Xia to check her pulse and see how her health was.

Before her pregnancy, Luo Peng had been a bit weak and suffered from coldness in the uterus, but after some treatments, she was able to conceive.

However, childbirth had taken a toll on her body, and taking care of the baby had been draining.

After giving birth, she continued to nurture her health.

Back then, Chu Xia hadn’t yet graduated, so it was another traditional doctor that Jiang Zhishu had found for Luo Peng who handled her care.

As Luo Peng’s health improved, she stopped seeing that doctor but occasionally asked Chu Xia to check in on her.

“Cousin, your body is fine,” Chu Xia said after checking her pulse. “You recovered well after giving birth to Xi Xi, and now you’re healthier than before.”

Luo Peng smiled gently and took Chu Xia’s hand. “Thank you, Chu Xia.”

The next day, Chu Xia and Cen Huaian set off for the airport.

There wasn’t a direct flight from the capital to Ganzhou, but they could fly to nearby Jiacheng, and from there, it was just a ten-minute drive to Ganzhou.

After their plane landed, they wouldn’t need to take a car, as Jiang Shengnan would pick them up at Jiacheng Airport.

In the past, Chu Xia had been nervous about taking Cen Huaian on long train journeys alone.

Now, flying was much more convenient, so she didn’t hesitate to choose it.

Although this wasn’t Cen Huaian’s first time flying, he was still filled with curiosity.

However, their seats weren’t by the window, so they couldn’t gaze out at the clouds.

As the plane took off, Cen Huaian tightly held Chu Xia’s hand.

Once the discomfort passed, he relaxed.

“Mom, how about we play Go?”

From Cen Huaian’s seat, he could only see the outside view if he leaned diagonally. After a brief glance, he pulled out his Go set, hoping to play with Chu Xia.

Chu Xia wasn’t skilled at Go, so they planned to play Gobang instead.

Sitting next to Cen Huaian was a scholarly-looking young man who noticed the Go pieces and board and asked, “Are you going to play Go?”

The Go set was made of high-quality materials, the kind only serious players would own.

Cen Huaian shook his head. “I’m playing Gobang with my mom.”

The man looked surprised. “But your pieces and board are for Go.”

Cen Huaian nodded. “We can still use them for Gobang.”

The man opened his mouth but had no response, choosing not to say more.

Chu Xia and Cen Huaian began playing, but Chu Xia was no match for him.

Cen Huaian, however, always made sure not to win too quickly so that the game would be more fun.

Chu Xia couldn’t tell which moves Huaian held back on, but she sensed that he was giving her an advantage.

Rather than feeling embarrassed, she enjoyed the game with Cen Huai’an.

She even asked the flight attendant for some hot tea, while Huaian drank hot milk.

The young man sitting next to Huaian watched the two of them play, lost in thought.

After less than an hour, Chu Xia put down her pieces and said, “Let’s stop here. I know you could’ve won a long time ago. I admit defeat.”

Cen Huai’an pursed his lips and said, “Mom, you could’ve won. Look, if you place your piece like this…”

He took Chu Xia’s piece and moved it, quickly forming a line of five.

He smiled, his eyes twinkling. “Mom, you won.”

Chu Xia couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She reached out to pat Huaian’s head. “Cen Huaian, you’re too good to me.”

Huaian replied, “You’re my mom.”

To him, it was only natural to be good to his mother.

He and his father would spoil and protect her together.

The man sitting next to them, still observing the game, suddenly spoke to Cen Huaian: “…”

“You play Go, don’t you?”

Cen Huai’an glanced at him, nodded, and started packing up the chess pieces and board.

Next, he planned to read a book.

The refined man watched his actions with a conflicted look, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Cen Huai’an paid no attention to the stranger’s thoughts.

After tidying up the chess pieces and board, he took out a classic foreign novel to read.

His English was taught by Chuxia from a young age, so he could now understand some of the less complex English texts.

The man looked at Cen Huai’an’s book with surprise.

He wanted to say something but decided not to interrupt since Crn Huai’an was already engrossed in his reading.

Chuxia leaned back, preparing to sleep. She reminded Cen Huai’an, “Remember to rest your eyes while reading. Don’t keep staring at the book.”

After Cen Huai’an agreed, she closed her eyes.

The flight from Beijing to Jiāchéng took more than three hours, which was far quicker than taking the train.

As the plane was about to land, Cen Huai’an woke Chuxia, who was still groggy.

Holding her hand tightly, Cen Huai’an eased her nerves during the landing, filling her with warmth and reassurance.

When they exited the airport, they saw Jiang Shengnan and Xiao Zhu waiting for them.

Jiang Shengnan’s face was lit up with an uncontrollable smile, and she waved excitedly, “Chuxia, An An! Over here!”

She quickly walked over with Xiao Zhu and took their luggage.

“It’s still faster by plane, and the discomfort is much less,” Jiang Shengnan remarked.

She had mentioned coming today a few days ago, and now they had arrived in just a few hours.

“Next time you come to Gansu, take the plane again.”

Chuxia nodded, agreeing with the plan.

“By the way, we’re also picking someone up—Xiao He’s uncle, who is on the same flight today.”

As Jiang Shengnan finished speaking, she saw the man coming out and immediately smiled, saying, “There he is!”

She pointed him out to Chuxia and Cen Huai’an.

To their surprise, Xiao He’s uncle was the refined man who had been sitting next to them on the plane.

The man walked over, greeted Jiang Shengnan with “Aunt Jiang,” and then looked at Chuxia and Cen Huai’an with surprise and curiosity.

Jiang Shengnan introduced him as Xu Lishu.

Chuxia and Cen Huai’an greeted him, and Jiang Shengnan remarked with a smile, “What a coincidence that you were on the same flight!”

It was still cold outside, and Chuxia and Cen Huai’an’s faces were already red from the chill.

Jiang Shengnan ushered everyone into the car quickly.

Jiang Shengnan had a lot to catch up on with Chuxia and Cen Huai’an.

She asked about Chuxia’s graduation and internship, Cen Huai’an’s schooling, and his math competition.

For the past two years, Chuxia and Cen Huai’an had been busy with studies and competitions, and their contact with Jiang Shengnan and Cen’s father was limited to letters and phone calls.

Even though they had updated Jiang Shengnan about major events, there was little room for details in their correspondence.

So, Jiang Shengnan seized the opportunity to ask more now.

Chuxia had slept through most of the flight, so she wasn’t very tired.

She cuddled Cen Huai’an and talked to Jiang Shengnan about these matters.

Listening to his mother and grandmother talk, Cen Huai’an fell asleep in the steadily moving car.

Xu Lishu, sitting in the front passenger seat, spoke little and did not interrupt the conversation between Jiang Shengnan and Chuxia.

He was very considerate.

Jiang Shengnan asked him questions about his studies and the international exchange competition he had just returned from.

Xu Lishu answered clearly, though briefly.

Chuxia compared Xu Lishu to Cen Zhengnian.

Both had a gentle demeanor, but Cen Zhengnian’s gentleness was tempered with firmness and distance, unlike Xu Lishu’s approachable warmth.

Xu Lishu appeared harmless to everyone, while Cen Zhengnian was more approachable only with Chuxia and Cen Huai’an.

Chuxia preferred Cen Zhengnian’s personality as it avoided many irrelevant people and situations.

Excessive politeness could sometimes lead to complications, especially with persistent and troublesome individuals.

Upon arriving at the family residence, Chuxia and Cen Huai’an understood Xu Lishu’s reaction on the plane.

Xu Lishu was a Go player, and Xiao He had learned Go from him.

Xu Lishu had just returned from an international Go competition abroad.

Xu Lishu smiled at Cen Huai’an, saying, “So the unbeatable opponent Xiao He has been talking about is actually An An.”

Xiao He responded with a hint of disappointment, “Uncle, do I lack talent in Go?”

Xu Lishu reassured him, “No, Xiao He, you have talent. You’re just young. As you grow and improve your skills, you’ll find many opponents can’t beat you.”

Xiao He regained his confidence and told Cen Huai’an, “An An, I’ll come find you for a game tomorrow.”

“Sure!”

After Xu Lishu and Xiao He’s family left, Jiang Shengnan led Chuxia and Cen Huai’an into their two-story house.

The interior was familiar, with only the black-and-white TV replaced by a color one.

“Mom, wasn’t there a different TV last time we visited?” Chuxia asked.

“Not this one,” Jiang Shengnan replied, “This TV was recently bought for you and An An to watch comfortably.”

Chuxia and Cen Huai’an went upstairs to unpack their luggage.

The bedrooms upstairs were also thoroughly cleaned and prepared by Jiang Shengnan.

The bedding was freshly washed and dried, and everything was meticulously arranged to ensure they felt completely comfortable.

After Chuxia and Cen Huai’an unpacked and came downstairs, they saw Jiang Shengnan coming out of the study with a mixed expression of joy and concern.

Chuxia approached her and asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?”

Jiang Shengnan looked at Chuxia with an even more troubled expression.

She licked her lips and said with a complex look, “This year, your elder brother’s family is also coming to the Northwest for the New Year.”

Jiang Shengnan was worried because she knew the children from the elder brother’s family had difficult personalities.

She was concerned that living together during the New Year might cause tensions between her and Chuxia.

Chuxia, after a moment of surprise, quickly responded, “That’s actually a good thing, Mom. You and Dad can have a family reunion this year.”

Jiang Shengnan could only nod and smile, “Yes.”

She turned her thoughts to how to reasonably arrange accommodations for her elder brother’s family, ensuring separate spaces and supplies for them.

Despite her concerns, Jiang Shengnan was still happy that the entire Cen family was gathered together, except for Cen Zhengnian.