Noon.
Outside a hotel in Yantai County, Dong Xuebin was on the phone with Liu Chenglong.
"Dong, I booked a private room, 306 on the third floor."
"Okay, I'm already downstairs. I'll head up now. Oh, right, I brought two friends with me..."
"Heh, then bring them up together. I'll order a few more dishes."
"Sorry about that. I happened to run into them outside."
"It's fine. Your friends are my friends. No need to stand on ceremony."
After hanging up, Dong Xuebin put away his phone and turned back. Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian had gotten out of the car, each looking more hesitant than the other.
Qianqian clutched her mother's hand tightly. "I-I'm scared."
Yu Meixia bit her lower lip and looked at Dong Xuebin. "Bin, we... we shouldn't go. Let's not go."
Dong Xuebin gave a wry smile. "Changing your mind when we're already at the door? Haven't you always wanted to find your biological parents?"
"But... maybe it isn't them."
"So what if it isn't? Looking at them won't cost you a piece of flesh, will it?"
"Let's not. We're going back." Yu Meixia took her daughter's hand and started to leave.
They had been separated for so many years, and Dong Xuebin knew Yu Meixia's feelings had to be incredibly complicated. He could only say, "If that's what you want, I won't force you. But Sister Yu, you need to understand something. You were young back then and don't remember, but your parents wouldn't have forgotten you. Put yourself in their shoes. If Qianqian had gotten lost, how would you feel? You're a mother too. You can't possibly fail to understand how parents feel. That's all I have to say. Whether you go or not is up to you."
"Then how about..."
"How about what?"