During the summer break of Ashan's sophomore year, a senior Air Force officer visited Ashan's home, claiming to be a colleague of Ma Yingding. Upon seeing Ashan's father, he performed a standard military salute. Ashan's father invited him to sit down, but he insisted on standing upright, respectfully handing over a package. Ashan's father, with a puzzled expression, asked what it was. The officer only said it was entrusted by Ma Yingding. Ashan's father began to worry: "Has something happened to Ma Yingding?"
Upon opening the package, he found a letter and a wool vest adorned with the "Thunder Tiger Team" flight emblem. As Ashan's father read the letter, tears streamed down his face. Ashan's mom hurried over, also shedding tears, pressing the officer for details about what happened to Ma Yingding. The officer solemnly replied that Ma Yingding had died on duty in mainland China.
Ashan couldn't believe it and rushed to read the letter himself. The gist of the letter was this: "By the time you read this letter, I will have sacrificed myself for our country. I was mentally prepared for this as a soldier, knowing the risks involved in my profession. Please don't be too saddened. I know your love for your daughter surpasses anything I could provide. Since I met her, I have always considered you both as my parents because I have no family or home in Taiwan. Please forgive any disrespect I've shown in the past, and I retract any hurtful words. She brought me so much happiness and warmth in my lonely moments and gave me strength in times of weakness. I truly love her. Please convey my final love to her and assure her that you made the right choice for her."
Ashan's mom held the wool vest knitted by their eldest daughter for Ma Yingding, crying uncontrollably, unable to believe their worst fears had come true.
Ashan's parents couldn't bring themselves to tell their daughter the tragic news. Instead, they wrote a letter, falsely claiming Ashan's father was unwell and desperately missed her, hoping she would return home for a visit.
It had been six years since their eldest daughter had left the country; it was time for her to come back to her homeland. When she learned of Ma Yingding's death, she remained remarkably strong. She didn't want her daughter to know, shedding tears only when she visited the New Taipei City Air Force Cemetery with Ashan.
在大二的暑假裏，阿三家中來了一位空軍軍官，自稱是馬英鼎的同僚。見到阿三爸行了個標準的軍禮，阿三爸請他坐下來，他堅持不肯坐下，身子站得畢直的，恭恭敬敬地雙手交給阿三爸一包東西。
阿三爸收下後滿面狐疑地問道這是什麼東西，那軍官只說是馬英鼎囑咐託交的。阿三爸心中起了不祥的念頭：「是不是馬英鼎出事了？」
打開包裹一看，有封信，還有一件毛背心，上面別著「雷虎小組」的飛行徽章。阿三爸打開了信，一邊看著，一邊掉下了眼淚。阿三媽急著湊過去看，也跟著嘆息流淚，直向那位軍官追問馬英鼎到底出了什麼事，軍官回答是去大陸出任務時殉職了！
阿三不敢相信，也搶著看這封信。信中的大意是這樣的：「當你們看到這封信時，我已經為國殉職了。其實我早就有心理上的準備，做為一個軍人隨時都可以為國犧牲，所以請你們不要太難過。我非常瞭解你們對丫頭的愛，你們對她的愛一定超過我所能給予的。我也知道我的職業非常危險，所以你們不敢把她託付給我。請原諒我曾對你們的不敬，我要在此收回我曾說過恨你們的話。其實自從我認識丫頭以後，我一直在心中把你們當做是我的父母。你們的家就是我的家一樣，因為我在台灣沒有家又沒有親人，我也很想要有家的溫暖。丫頭帶給我許多的快樂，她真正溫暖了我孤寂的心，在我懦弱的時候帶給我力量。我是真誠的愛她的，請為我轉達我最後的愛給她。同時也讓她知道你們為她作了正確的選擇。」
阿三媽拿著大姐為馬英鼎編織的毛背心，傷心的一直落淚，不敢相信這最擔心的事真的發生了。
阿三爸媽不敢把這件惡耗告訴大姐。只得去信，騙大姐現在爸爸身體不好，又非常想念大姐，希望她能回國一趟。
算算大姐去國也有六年了，也該回娘家省親了，於是大姐帶著女兒茵茵回國來。當大姐知道馬英鼎殉職之事，表現的非常堅強。她不想讓女兒知道這件事，直到阿三陪著大姐到新店空軍公墓去祭拜時，才落下淚來。
