The final stretch of a journey was always the hardest to endure.
After more than ten hours of flight, the direct flight from Shangjing to the West Coast of North America finally descended slowly onto the runway at Los Angeles International Airport.
As early as the day before, this international airport had been prepared in advance.
From the entrance of the VIP passage all the way to the runway, the flags of Hua Nation and the United States had been planted everywhere.
State legislators, representatives of civic groups, and White House and NASA officials from Washington stood in a dense row beside the boarding stairs, welcoming the astronauts who had returned from tens of millions of kilometers away beneath the cameras of the media reporters.
"Welcome home, our warrior..." Stepping forward with his arms open, the vice president embraced Jason as he came down the stairs. In a solemn voice, he said, "You have suffered these past six months."
"Thank you..." Releasing the vice president, Jason asked in a tired voice, "Where is my wife?"
"She is here, along with your children."
As he spoke, the vice president stepped half a pace aside.
The Little Guy with beautiful blonde hair ran forward on her tiny legs and threw herself into Jason's arms.
"Daddy!"
"Hey, my little girl... did you miss Daddy?" Rubbing his young daughter's head, Jason crouched down, and at last a faint smile spread across his weary face.
That angelic smile made the exhaustion throughout his body seem to vanish in an instant.
Watching his teary-eyed wife approach him with his two sons, he rose from his crouch and gave each of his sons, as well as that remarkable woman, a hug.
Leaning against her husband's chest, Julian choked out in a murmur.
"...You're finally back."
Burying his