Chapter 2197 - 301: Feint East, Strike West

But in the end, he still got separated from Xiaoxi.

Later, the armed police rescue unit arrived here and saved him, but they never found Xiaoxi.

It wasn’t until he met Xiaoxi again that he learned that when the helicopter came to rescue people, besides taking away the ones it was supposed to save, it took pity on Xiaoxi and brought her along to Hong Kong, where she was placed in an orphanage.

It was a private helicopter doing the rescue; saving Xiaoxi was just because she looked pitiful, they didn’t pay much attention to her.

So all these years, it was hard to trace, and they never found anything.

They didn’t even know who the person that saved Xiaoxi was, so now, even if they want to thank them in person, there’s simply no chance.

After packing their things, the three of them moved into the best hotel in town.

Worried something might happen, when Huo Bei went to get the rooms, he directly booked two, handed a key card to Jin Bo, picked up his own luggage and left.

Yan Xiaoxi stood there, her cheeks slightly flushing.

Jin Bo lowered his head to look at Yan Xiaoxi.

Yan Xiaoxi said, "What are you looking at?"

Jin Bo said, "Why are you so fierce?"

Yan Xiaoxi’s face grew even redder. Her brother, honestly!

Jin Bo laughed, pinched her hand, glanced at the key card, then held her hand and walked toward the elevators.

Once in the room, Jin Bo picked Yan Xiaoxi up and put her on the bed. "Lie down and rest for a bit. I’ll finish unpacking, then we’ll go out for a late-night snack together."

Yan Xiaoxi made a soft "mm," lay on her side, and watched Jin Bo.

Jin Bo carried their two big suitcases to the side and started unpacking.

Watching him, a quiet happiness rippled in Yan Xiaoxi’s eyes.

Half an hour later, Jin Bo finally finished, sat down at the head of the bed, and was just about to light a cigarette. He glanced at Yan Xiaoxi’s belly, then snuffed it out right after lighting it, and tossed the whole pack of cigarettes plus the lighter into the trash can.

Yan Xiaoxi watched him. "So you’re quitting again?"

Jin Bo said, "I can’t exactly let my family’s fertilized egg inhale secondhand smoke, can I?"

Yan Xiaoxi, "..."

She really didn’t know what to do with him!

Jin Bo called Huo Bei; after hearing that he was done unpacking, the three of them went downstairs together and headed into town for a late-night meal.

They picked a small local restaurant; the place was very clean.

They ordered a few dishes and a soup, and the food came quickly.

The familiar flavors from memory, now in their mouths, carried a special feeling—both comforting and heartbreaking.

...

After resting for a night, the next day the three of them went together to the memorial cemetery for the flood disaster that year, and looked at the mounds of graves.

They quickly found the two with headstones.

Yan Xiaoxi looked over, a bit curious, at Huo Bei.

Huo Bei said, "I came back later and found Dad and Mom, and had these tombstones put up for them."

Yan Xiaoxi nodded.

Huo Bei said, "When they buried people here at the public cemetery, they recorded physical features and names. It was easy to find them."

Yan Xiaoxi looked at the photos of her parents on the tombstone; they were still so young.

Thinking of their lives cut short, she felt a deep sadness.

She knelt there, gazing at them earnestly, and silently spoke in her heart, "Dad, Mom, are you doing well in the other world? My brother and I are doing very well now, so you can rest easy."

She turned her eyes slightly and glanced at Huo Jinnan beside her, then silently added, "This is Jin Bo. He’s nine years older than me, but he treats me very well. So Dad, Mom, don’t look down on him, okay? Even if he sounds old, he actually looks quite young, doesn’t he?"

A sudden breeze stirred the vines and grass; hearing the rustling sound, she smiled softly. "Dad, Mom, let’s take that as a sign you like him."

...

After paying respects to Father Yan and Mother Yan and resting for a night, the three of them returned to Hong Kong.

As soon as they got back to Hong Kong, Jin Bo received a call from Qin Shaojin. "His mouth is sealed tight. He still hasn’t said a single word."