Xia Anran initially thought Wen Fangfang also had feelings for Huo Ruiyang and resolved that if asked about him, she would simply say they weren’t close.  

To her surprise, Wen Fangfang wasn’t asking about *him* at all. Instead, her eyes sparkled as she exclaimed:  

“Didn’t you know? Brother Ruifeng is also in the flight squadron! My dad said he became a squadron leader—he can even do aerial somersaults in a fighter jet! He’s amazing!”

Xia Anran chuckled knowingly. “Oh?”

Wen Fangfang’s face turned even redder. She tugged at Xia Anran’s arm playfully:  

“What does ‘oh’ mean?”

Xia Anran smiled.  

“‘Oh’ just means I understand. If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known Huo Ruifeng was in the flight squadron.”

Wen Fangfang’s eyes widened. “You didn’t know Brother Ruifeng was in the flight squadron?”

Xia Anran nodded. “No, I didn’t.”

Who would’ve thought her first performance would be at the military base of her former fiancé’s younger brother? In the original novel, Huo Ruifeng had only been mentioned once by name.  

From the moment the original host entered the Huo family until she was driven out, she had never even met this brother-in-law!  

Xia Anran recalled seeing a family portrait in Uncle Huo’s study.  

Uncle Huo and Aunt Liang sat in the front, while Huo Ruiyang and another handsome young man in an air force flight uniform stood behind them.  

Huo Ruiyang had looked stern, like an ascetic old cadre, while the other young man appeared sunny and cheerful, with a roguishly charming smile.  

So that young man must have been Huo Ruifeng—her (former) brother-in-law!  

Xia Anran glanced at Wen Fangfang. Now that she thought about it, the two actually had a striking couple’s aura!  

One was radiant and dashing, the other sweet and adorable—they’d surely have a happy marriage.  

But there was nothing she could do to help Wen Fangfang. If Huo Ruifeng found out who she was, wouldn’t he bolt in fright?  

Li Yanqiu’s loud voice interrupted her thoughts:  

“Anran, Fangfang likes Huo Ruifeng! Why don’t you play matchmaker?”

Xia Anran gave a wry smile.  

“He doesn’t even know me.”

Li Yanqiu looked puzzled. “Aren’t you relatives?”

Xia Anran answered truthfully:  

“My father and Uncle Huo were life-and-death comrades. Even though I call him ‘Uncle,’ we’re not blood-related. I’ve never met Huo Ruifeng—I can’t help with this.”

The light in Wen Fangfang’s eyes dimmed. She had liked Huo Ruifeng for six years, yet he only saw her as a little sister.  

But she wasn’t a child anymore—no longer the girl who used to chase him around the courtyard, calling him *”gege (Brother).”*  

Watching Wen Fangfang’s lovesick expression, Xia Anran felt helpless.  

…

Early the next morning, after breakfast, the troupe gathered without their usual drills. Regimental Commander Zhou gave a brief speech, and then the girls boarded the military trucks headed for the flight squadron’s performance.  

As the lead singer, Xia Anran was allowed to ride in the front cab.  

Chen Yu, harboring private intentions, had arranged for her to ride with him—until Teacher Yuan intervened.  

“Xiao Chen, you take the truck behind. I need to go over some details with Xiao Xia. It’s her first stage performance, and I don’t want any mistakes.” 

Chen Yu had no choice but to agree with a smile. Before leaving, he encouraged Xia Anran:  

“Xiao Xia, don’t be nervous. I… we’ll be backstage to support you.”

Xia Anran smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Instructor Chen.”

Zhou Yuxin hadn’t come along. After being stripped of her lead singer role, she had thrown a tantrum and taken sick leave.  

Regimental Commander Zhou didn’t force her, understanding his niece’s bruised pride. He had already decided: even if she wasn’t the lead singer anymore, the promotion quota would still go to her.  

The drive to the flight squadron took two hours. This was a fighter jet unit, a restricted military zone.  

It was Xia Anran’s first time performing at an air force base. As she stepped out of the truck, she gazed curiously at the fighter jets lined up on the runway, her heart swelling with excitement.  

Although today’s fighter jets cannot compare to modern ones, they are still the war eagles of our motherland. With them patrolling the skies and safeguarding our territorial airspace, people can live and work in peace.  

“Welcome, welcome! You’ve all had a long and tiring journey.”  

The flight squadron leader, along with his leadership team, came to greet them in person. After all, this was a great opportunity for the young men under his command to find potential partners.  

Flight training missions were demanding, and his young pilots had no time for romance. As their leader, wasn’t it his duty to worry about this for them?  

Regimental Commander Zhou was a master of diplomacy. He immediately shook hands with Flight Squadron Leader Wei:  

“Squadron Leader Wei and all the soldiers of the flight squadron have worked hard. We only had to travel a short distance—it’s nothing in comparison.”  

Squadron Leader Wei laughed heartily: “Haha, Regimental Commander Zhou, please come in! I’ve prepared tea and have been waiting for you to enjoy it!”  

Regimental Commander Zhou followed Squadron Leader Wei to his office, while Wei dispatched the young men of the flight squadron to help the song and dance troupe girls unload their luggage.  

Xia Anran noticed that Wen Fangfang seemed distracted after getting out of the car, her eyes darting around as if searching for someone. When she failed to find him, her gaze dimmed with disappointment.  

Li Yanqiu asked the young man helping her carry the accordion:  

“Comrade, is everyone in your squadron here?”  

The young man, Wang Bin, was twenty-four and still single. He had taken an immediate liking to Li Yanqiu’s spirited and heroic demeanor, which was why he had rushed over first to help her unload.  

Hearing her question, Wang Bin smiled and replied, “A few are out on a mission.”  

Li Yanqiu glanced at Wen Fangfang, noticing her ears perking up, and continued asking, “Did Huo Ruifeng go too?”  

“The squadron leader is out on a mission.”  

Wang Bin’s smile froze. Well, there went his barely budding romance—this girl was here for Huo Ruifeng.  

Who could compete with Huo Ruifeng?  

He was dashing and charming, with a witty tongue that could make anyone laugh. Girls adored him, and ever since he joined the flight squadron, love letters had never stopped coming.  

Xia Anran breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Huo Ruifeng was away on a mission. She really didn’t want to meet her former brother-in-law—what if he tried to avenge his brother and humiliated her?  

The only pity was for Wen Fangfang. The young girl had been so excited last night that she couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning all evening, eagerly hoping to see Huo Ruifeng. Unfortunately, she had missed him.  

Wen Fangfang lowered her head in disappointment. To surprise Huo Ruifeng, she had practiced hard all afternoon yesterday, wanting him to see how much the little girl from back then had grown up!  

Instructor Yuan clapped her hands to gather everyone’s attention and called out loudly:  

“Quick, quick, line up! We’ll enter the auditorium in formation shortly. Singers, review your lyrics one more time; dancers, warm up immediately. After an hour’s rest, the performance will begin!”  

With the interaction time with the air force boys over, the girls sprang into action, lining up nervously before marching into the auditorium.  

As Xia Anran followed the line toward the auditorium, the roar of fighter jets suddenly filled the sky, and all the girls looked up.  

A formation of three fighter jets, trailing white smoke, dove from high altitude in a V-formation—one leading, two following. They landed smoothly, taxied down the runway without breaking formation, maintaining perfect spacing as if measured with a ruler.  

Incredible!  

The procession halted as the girls watched the planes in excitement, Xia Anran included. This was her first time seeing fighter jets land up close.  

Once the jets came to a stop, their canopies opened simultaneously, and three pilots stepped out. The one leading the way was tall and straight-backed, his long legs carrying him with effortless confidence. A faint smirk played on his lips as he emerged from the sunlight, his smile wild and carefree!