Alex Zhang

After crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, Zhang Xuan and the other two arrived in Manhattan, New York's most prosperous district. The Stark Industries Expo would also be held here, in an industrial park built by Stark Industries.

Zhang Xuan had not eaten anything since dinner the night before. His stomach had long been growling with hunger, so he said to Steve and Bucky without ceremony, "Maybe we should get something to eat. Listen, even my stomach is growling."

Steve was thin, and he had been working hard to build himself up in order to meet the enlistment requirements. He had quite an appetite as well, and Zhang Xuan's words made him feel hungry too. He nodded and said, "How about Chinatown? We can try some Chinese food."

Bucky glanced at Steve and knew he was looking out for Zhang Xuan. He did not mind and said with a smile, "That sounds good. Come to think of it, I've never tried Chinese food before!"

Zhang Xuan was slightly dazed. Upon hearing the words "Chinatown," scenes surfaced in his mind again—fragmentary memories belonging to Alex, memories of Chinatown.

It turned out that when Alex had been very young, he and his mother had lived in Chinatown for a long time. They only moved out after something happened. For some reason, though, Alex seemed to have deliberately buried his memories of Chinatown deep within his mind. Had it not been brought up by chance, Zhang Xuan probably would never have known that such a story existed.

A trace of doubt arose in Zhang Xuan's heart as he followed Steve and Bucky toward Chinatown.

Entering Chinatown felt like returning to China during the Republican era. Long gowns and qipaos filled the streets, completely different from New York just a few meters away, creating a sense of discord.

Alex had perfectly inherited his mother's looks: the typical features of an East Asian, only more refined and handsome. Walking through a Chinatown full of East Asians, he did not stand out. Steve and Bucky in front of him, however, seemed a little unusual. Racial discrimination in America was still severe at this time, and East Asians in America were regarded as beneath even Black people. It was no wonder two white men in Chinatown drew attention.

Zhang Xuan noticed that the crowd's looks were off. He quickly stepped forward, moved ahead of Steve and Bucky, and deliberately chatted and joked with them a little, signaling to his fellow countrymen that they were his friends.

Sure enough, after seeing Zhang Xuan's actions, everyone stopped paying attention to them. Only a few elderly people fixed their cloudy eyes tightly on Zhang Xuan, making his scalp tingle.

After walking a few steps, an old woman emerged from a doorway by the street, hunched over and leaning on a cane. She stopped before Zhang Xuan, looked him up and down for a long while, then asked in a trembling voice, "Xuan, you're Xuan, aren't you?"

Hearing the familiar Chinese language, Zhang Xuan froze. Looking at the old woman before him, countless images suddenly flooded his mind again. After hesitating for a long moment, he finally called out uncertainly, "Grandma An!"

It turned out that besides his English name, Alex also had a Chinese name: Zhang Xuan. Recalling the memories in his mind, Zhang Xuan could not help marveling at fate's strange twists. He had actually transmigrated into the body of someone with the exact same name as himself. Even more ridiculous, he had eagerly given himself the name Alex Xuan Zhang before, an awkward mishmash.

"Yes!" Old Mrs. An answered loudly. She immediately straightened up and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Xuan is back! Xuan is back!"

That single cry seemed to shake all of Chinatown. Before long, Zhang Xuan and the other two were surrounded by a crowd of Chinese people, frightening Steve and Bucky into quickly taking up fighting stances, ready to strike at any moment.

Zhang Xuan stopped Steve and Bucky, who were on the verge of making a move, and whispered, "Don't worry. They know me."

Though he said that, Zhang Xuan was deeply frustrated. They knew him, but he did not know them. Alex seemed to have deliberately forgotten the memories related to Chinatown, leaving Zhang Xuan with no choice but to stand there foolishly and look at the enthusiastic compatriots surrounding him.

"Xuan, how is your mother?" After the commotion died down somewhat, Old Mrs. An asked again. Her trembling voice carried an indescribable undertone.

Zhang Xuan's face immediately darkened. In a low voice, he said, "Grandma An, my mother passed away three years ago."

Old Mrs. An was slightly stunned, then let out a long sigh. "Gone is good. Gone is good. At least she no longer has to suffer in this world." Then she lifted her head to look at Zhang Xuan and said sadly, "But you, child... you've suffered."

Zhang Xuan shook his head without speaking. From the unconscious sighs of relief around him, he felt that they seemed to be hiding some secret—a secret concerning his mother. He tried hard to recall it, but after searching through all of Alex's memories, he could not find a single clue.

"Xuan, what have you come back for this time?" A middle-aged man carrying a burlap sack asked with a simple, honest grin.

Zhang Xuan did not dwell on it any longer. Secrets would be exposed one day, and he could slowly investigate when he had the chance. Hearing the middle-aged man's question, he smiled and said, "Hello, Uncle Ye! Ever since my mother passed away, I haven't had authentic Chinese food in a long time. I came back to have some."

"Xuan, come on! I'll have Uncle An cook for you personally. Whatever you want to eat, just say the word!" Old Mrs. An declared energetically, tapping her cane against the ground.

Upon hearing Old Mrs. An's words, everyone who had intended to invite Zhang Xuan to eat gave up at once. After leaving behind a few customary polite phrases, they dispersed.

Zhang Xuan was initially stunned, then understood. Old Mrs. An's husband had once been an imperial chef. After the Xinhai Revolution, Old Mr. An crossed the ocean to America and opened a restaurant in Chinatown. Its food was excellent, and it was famous throughout Chinatown. Uncle An, Old Mrs. An's son, had inherited his father's trade and could cook excellent dishes as well. When Zhang Xuan was young, he had often freeloaded meals at Old Mrs. An's restaurant.

"You two are in for a treat!" Zhang Xuan said with a smile, supporting Old Mrs. An as they headed toward An Family Restaurant. He turned to look at the confused Steve and Bucky.

"Xuan, are they your friends?" Upon hearing Zhang Xuan's words, Old Mrs. An glanced back at Steve and Bucky. Her brows furrowed slightly as she said with concern, "That tall one looks strong enough, but this skinny one is like a bamboo pole. He needs more nourishment. I'll have Uncle An stew a pot of ginseng chicken soup for you all. It'll be very nourishing!"

"Then thank you, Grandma An!" Zhang Xuan was deeply moved and did not refuse, knowing that this was Grandma An's kindness. "I'll thank you on behalf of my friends!"

Old Mrs. An gently patted the back of Zhang Xuan's hand and chided him, "Why thank me? We're neighbors. It's only right." Then she sighed again. "It's just a pity about your mother. Such a fine girl, yet she came down with that strange illness!"

"A strange illness?" Zhang Xuan frowned in surprise. The woman in his memories did not seem to have been ill at all.

Zhang Xuan wanted to ask more, but Old Mrs. An suddenly stopped. Looking up, he saw that they had arrived at An Family Restaurant. "Xuan, take your friends inside and have a seat first. I'll go check in the back!" Without giving Zhang Xuan a chance to speak, she leaned on her cane, passed through the central courtyard and a small doorway, then disappeared into the backyard.

"Alex, what were you and that old lady talking about just now?" Steve pulled Zhang Xuan aside and asked curiously. "I saw her look at us too."

Zhang Xuan temporarily set aside his doubts and pointed at Steve with a smile. "Grandma An said you're too skinny. She's specially making a pot of ginseng chicken soup for you to build you up!"

"Ginseng chicken soup? What is that? Can it really strengthen your body?" Before Steve could speak, Bucky eagerly cut in. "If it can, then we should bring Steve here every day. Steve really is too skinny!"

Zhang Xuan could not help curling his lips. They really are a pair of best bros!