“The elderly man you mentioned is Lao Zhang. He is thest abandoned baby my family adopted in Eastcliff, following the July 7th Incident, just before we relocated to the United States.” After pausing for a moment,


    Lin Wan’er (ni) continued, “In truth, most of these children, once they reach the age of 20, often establish their own businesses with support from the ve family. Some of the assets supposedly entrusted to them are really just gifts from the ve family. I can’t say how much wealth is actually given away;”<fn2455> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? FιndＮovel</fn2455>


    “Only a handful of children, like Lao Zhang, who maintain a strong bond with the ve family and choose to stay with them, will be cared for by the ve family. After all, the ve family consists of women whock self-defense capabilities, and when they’re on the run, they need someone to look after them;”


    “Apart from Lao Zhang, there was also an American girl born in 1942 who stayed with the ve family until she tragically passed away from cancer a few years back.”


    <h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    “Sun was also adopted by the Nu family prior to the July 7th Incident. He studied in the United States before returning in 1963 to help build our homnd, and he has achieved great sess since then.” As Lin Wan’er spoke, she took a moment to pause, then added, “The Nu family, upon arriving in the United States, also adopted several orphans. However, after World War II, as technology advanced and the Qing Dynasty grew stronger, the ve family became more cautious and relocated to various ind nations in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean. For decades, they refrained from adopting more children. Only a few years ago did I travel to Northern Europe and finally reunite with my son there…”


    Charlie Wade listened quietly to Lin Wan’er’s (ni) story, his heart in turmoil.


    Lin Wan’er (ni) spoke of over three hundred years of history so casually, yet within that understatementy countless journeys and hardships, along with monumental shifts in the world.


    Reflecting on her three centuries of existence, it must have been a tumultuous and challenging experience.


    When Lin Wan’er (ni) finished her tale, she noticed Charlie Wade remained silent for an extended period. She smiled and asked, “Master, knowing that my family has lived for so long, do you envy us?” Charlie Wade looked at her, shook his head gently, and sincerely replied, “I’m not envious; I actually feel a bit distressed…”


    “Distressed?” Lin Wan’er (ni) was taken aback and instinctively asked, “Do you feel sorry for my family?”


    “Yes…” Charlie Wade affirmed, nodding slightly as he looked at her.


    Lin Wan’er (ni)’s eyes began to well up with tears; she quickly turned away, forcing a smile as she said, “What’s so distressing about my family? If my family’s story were shared with outsiders, countless people would envy them to no end…” Despite her words, she looked up at the ceiling, but tears began to fall uncontrobly down her cheeks.


    Hurriedly wiping her tears away, Lin Wan’er (ni) smiled through her tears and asked Charlie Wade, “By the way, why do you feel sorry for my family?” Charlie Wade responded with emotion, “Though I haven’t lived forever, the thought of possibly living to be two hundred frightens me. Now, hearing that a young girl like you has navigated this ever-changing world for nearly four hundred years, during the most tumultuous period in human history, is heart-wrenching. Just imagining the pain and suffering you’ve endured truly saddens me…”</p“the>