Evelyn Allen gave a sweet smile: “No need, when Mr. Carter was alive, he donated a large sum to the hospital every year. All of this was specially arranged by the director!” William Carter nodded; it seemed that money really could easily earn others’ respect. But he said, “You’re all wonderful. One of these days, I’ll embroider a banner and bring it to you!”

Evelyn Allen didn’t quite understand what William Carter meant: “Sir, you mean…” William Carter smiled and said, “In Beijing hospitals, when people meet good comrades like you who serve the people without expecting anything in return, they often present a banner or write a thank-you letter to show their respect!”

The chubby little nurse was amused by William Carter’s tone: “So you’re from the mainland, no wonder you speak a bit differently from us!”

William Carter chuckled: “Miss, do you think my way of speaking sounds better, or theirs?” He secretly pointed at the old gentleman on the left.

The chubby nurse smiled and whispered, “You speak differently from them; it sounds magnetic and full of masculine charm!”

“Flattering me!” William Carter laughed.

He whispered to Evelyn Allen, “I just don’t get it—does Taiwan’s water and soil only nurture girls? A lot of the men here look like tough guys, but when they talk, it’s so coy it makes me uncomfortable!”

Evelyn Allen giggled sweetly: “Maybe it’s just the difference in local accents. Taipei is in southern China, and our accent is a bit like the soft Wu dialect. Girls sound pleasant, and the boys come across as gentle!”

William Carter tried to get closer to Evelyn Allen: “Miss An, where is your ancestral home?”

“Nanjing!”

“What a coincidence, so am I!” William Carter put on an excited look.

“Really?”

“I never lie to girls!” William Carter cursed himself inwardly—damn, I’ve only been here a short while and I’m already starting to sound as coy as a Taiwanese man.

Evelyn Allen was about to say something when the chubby little nurse suddenly said, “Time’s up! If we don’t go, the head nurse will punish us again!” They pushed the food cart and hurriedly said goodbye. William Carter smiled and said, “I’ll come visit you another day. I haven’t told you my name yet—my name is William Carter…” Evelyn Allen turned back and gave William Carter a charming smile.

William Carter returned to the boring wait. The test results didn’t come out until 10:30 that night. Through DNA verification, it was confirmed that William Carter and Charles Carter were indeed biological father and son. Everyone stood up as if a weight had been lifted.

William Carter still couldn’t rest; he had to fulfill the duty of a filial son keeping vigil. Although he didn’t know this father very well, there was some indescribable feeling deep down. As soon as he entered the mourning hall, his mood became heavy and sorrowful.

William Carter changed into mourning robes. It was the first time he had seen his father’s image. In the portrait, he looked extremely cold. William Carter felt a sense of déjà vu—he realized his own eyes and nose resembled his father’s, though he was less cold and a bit more easygoing.

William Carter wasn’t the only one keeping vigil; there were also three adopted sons of Charles Carter. Judging by their tearful grief, it was as if their own father had died, while William Carter felt like an outsider.

William Carter learned from Henry Bennett that his father’s three adopted sons were named Thomas Carter, Stephen Ward, and Matthew Reed.

From the moment he entered the mourning hall, William Carter had barely rested. Like a puppet, he kowtowed and gave thanks over and over, his knees swollen from kneeling, his limbs stiff. When the three adopted sons had no more tears left to cry, he was still able to shed tears smoothly.

By the time he was crying, it was already the day of the funeral. When William Carter saw his father’s body at the funeral home, he suddenly remembered something. He quietly asked Henry Bennett, “How did my father die?” “Lung cancer!” Henry Bennett replied simply and directly.

William Carter didn’t ask further, numbly following the procedures one by one. Everything was arranged for him; he didn’t have to worry about a thing. It seemed his father had many friends—William Carter couldn’t even remember how many hands he had shaken. Other than himself, his father had no other relatives. William Carter had secretly asked Henry Bennett about this, and Henry Bennett answered bluntly, “All dead!” Ever since coming to Taiwan, he had become extremely terse.

After the funeral, the rain still hadn’t stopped. William Carter sat in the Rolls-Royce, gazing at the misty scenery outside the window, and suddenly thought of a familiar song, “Come to Taipei in Winter to See the Rain.” In the days since he arrived in Taipei, aside from being busy with his father’s funeral, he hadn’t had time to pay attention to anything else.

Since William Carter arrived in Taipei, Henry Bennett had rarely left his side, practically becoming his personal secretary and tour guide. “Your apartment is in Xinyi District. Oh, and up ahead is the Danshui Bridge!”

In the misty rain, William Carter could barely see the bridge’s railings. Henry Bennett smiled and said, “I’ll take you here to have some fun another day. Right now, the most important thing is to take care of the will!” William Carter smiled, “Doesn’t matter to me—I’ve seen the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers. This Danshui probably isn’t even as big as the Haihe!” Henry Bennett laughed too: “You’re mistaken. The Yellow River is majestic, Danshui is beautiful—like comparing men and women, there’s no point!” William Carter shook his head disdainfully: “No matter how pretty a girl is, she still takes after her dad!” Henry Bennett said nothing; he could hear the meaning behind William Carter’s words.