Chapter 24

He Hongyuan’s face showed hints of anger, and his tone was even more impolite, laced with heavy sarcasm.

He was usually stern and rigid, but it was rare for him to speak to someone in such a blunt and disrespectful manner.

Zhou Shenghuai knew exactly who his nephew was talking to—it had to be his own elder brother, Zhou Shengqiang, who was about to turn forty-four.

With a loud bang, He Hongyuan slammed the phone down, hanging up forcefully. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he stopped in his tracks when he suddenly saw Zhou Shenghuai.

“Captain Zhou.” Even in his anger, he still raised his hand in a salute, maintaining perfect military discipline.

His expression, however, was dark, making it clear that he was in a foul mood.

“Hmm.” Zhou Shenghuai felt powerless when it came to the relationship between his brother and nephew. Over the years, he had tried to mediate, but every time, he found himself at a loss for words.

He Hongyuan had been a stubborn child from the very beginning, and now that he had grown into a capable man, no one could influence his decisions. Not only did he refuse to acknowledge his father, but he had even changed the way he addressed his relatives.

He no longer called him “Third Uncle” or his wife “Third Aunt.” Instead, he distantly referred to them as “Captain Zhou” and “Aunt Feng,” which was already him being polite.

And yet, Zhou Shenghuai couldn’t bring himself to scold him. After all, it was his own brother who had wronged the mother and son first.

“Your father, he…” Zhou Shenghuai felt he couldn’t just leave the topic unspoken. No matter what had happened, his brother still cared about his son.

But He Hongyuan’s response was firm and decisive: “Captain Zhou, I have no connection to any ‘father.’ And his son certainly isn’t here.”

Few people in the military had ever dared to speak to Zhou Shenghuai so directly, but he couldn’t reprimand his nephew for it. Looking at the young man, who was now even taller than himself, he could only sigh helplessly.

His older brother’s current son truly couldn’t compare to He Hongyuan in any way—perhaps it was karma.

There was no point in bringing up the past. His nephew had only recently started getting closer to their side of the family, so pushing too hard wouldn’t help. As they left the military base and walked toward the family quarters together, the conversation shifted to recent naval training exercises, making the atmosphere noticeably lighter.

At over forty years old, Zhou Shenghuai couldn’t help but be impressed—whenever his nephew talked about work and training, he kept all personal emotions completely out of it. In some ways, he was even more professional than Zhou himself.

The younger generation is truly remarkable.

---

As the military’s workday neared its end, soldiers began heading back to the family quarters, while the military families busied themselves cooking dinner.

Feng Li had initially been reluctant to let Lin Xiang into the kitchen—after all, she was a guest today.

But Lin Xiang was insistent on helping and even promised to let everyone taste her cooking.

Zhou Yuezhu had been spoiled by her parents growing up, rarely doing housework and having little cooking experience. Now, she followed her mother and Lin Xiang around the kitchen, peeling garlic and washing scallions, her almond-shaped eyes widening as she watched Lin Xiang cook.

She had always thought her mother was the best cook in the world. Who would’ve guessed that Lin Xiang, someone so young, was just as skilled? It was impressive!

On Langhua Island, the most commonly eaten fish were Spanish mackerel, yellow croaker, and ribbonfish. Unlike in inland cities, where fish was a luxury, on this island, seafood was abundant and cheap, making it a staple food.

Typically, yellow croaker weighed around one pound each, but the two fish the logistics officer had brought over were plumper, each about a pound and a half. As they simmered in the iron pot, soaking up the rich broth, the aroma filled the air. The cooking method Lin Xiang used was a refined version she had learned from her past experience filming food videos—incorporating the best techniques for a universally appealing and flavorful dish.

While the braised yellow croaker was cooking, the braised pork belly was also ready.

Braised pork was Feng Li’s specialty. She had grown up inland and had only started eating seafood regularly after marrying into a military family. She had learned how to cook it over the years, but her main focus was still on pork dishes.

Zhou Yuezhu inhaled the combined aromas of braised yellow croaker and braised pork, her mouth watering. She eagerly volunteered to bring the pork to the table and couldn’t resist sneaking a piece for herself.

After tasting it, she didn’t forget to share—feeding a piece to both her mother and Lin Xiang, cheerfully saying, “A chef who doesn’t sneak bites won’t bring prosperity to the harvest.”

Lin Xiang, rinsing out a soup pot, chuckled. “But you’re not a chef. Only Aunt Feng and I are allowed to sneak bites.”

Zhou Yuezhu wrinkled her nose in protest, determined to claim at least half the title of “assistant chef.”

The pre-soaked clams, along with small shrimp and tiny fish, were all tossed into boiling water for a seafood soup. The beauty of seafood was in its natural freshness—nothing else was needed to make a delicious broth.

The fragrant aroma drifted through the kitchen and out the door, catching the attention of Zhou Shenghuai and He Hongyuan as they approached.

Zhou Shenghuai took a deep breath and smiled. “Wow, that smells amazing!”

Walking side by side, the two men shared a resemblance—perhaps a family trait. Their features were sharp and angular, giving them both a tough, commanding presence.

Hearing the commotion, Zhou Yuezhu ran out to greet them. Lin Xiang glanced over, noticing the strong resemblance between uncle and nephew. However, while Captain Zhou had a much friendlier demeanor, He Hongyuan always seemed to wear a stern expression.

Dinner was served, and the four-person table was filled to the brim. The braised yellow croaker was tender and infused with rich, savory flavors. Like the braised pork belly, it paired perfectly with rice. Between bites of meat and fish, the diners could enjoy the simplicity of blanched shrimp and steamed sea snails, their natural sweetness shining through without the need for seasoning.

The table was filled with delicious dishes, as extravagant as a New Year’s feast. Zhou Lu raised his seafood soup in a toast, expressing his gratitude to Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan.

“Yuezhu’s situation was dangerous. Your Aunt Feng and I were deeply unsettled when we found out afterward. Luckily, you were both quick-witted and helped her out—otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Our family will always remember this…”

Seeing that Zhou Shenghuai was getting more sentimental as he spoke, He Hongyuan interrupted him while holding his soup bowl. “Zhou Lu, there’s no need to bring up unpleasant past events. Let’s consider this matter settled after this meal.”

“Alright!” Zhou Shenghuai, having spent most of his life in the military, wouldn’t normally get this emotional—except when it concerned his daughter. “Hongyuan, I won’t say much more to you. But as for Xiao Lin, since you’ve traveled so far to be here, just settle in and don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything. Your Aunt Feng, Yuezhu, and I will all do our best to help.”

“Zhou Lu, Aunt Feng, I’ll remember that. Besides, you’ve already taken such good care of me these past few days—I’ve never been shy about accepting it, have I?” Lin Xiang’s crisp voice carried a playful tone, drawing a round of laughter.

The four of them each had a bowl of seafood soup. The rich, sweet flavor seemed to rush straight to the top of their heads, leaving them savoring every sip.

The meal was satisfying. Lin Xiang hadn’t had such a seafood feast in a long time, and for a moment, she felt like she could see the vast blue ocean before her eyes. She was thoroughly enjoying herself but couldn’t help noticing the man sitting beside her seemed to be in a bad mood.

Although He Hongyuan was always serious, there was something different today. Even as he quietly ate, a faint sense of displeasure lingered around him—not directed at anyone present, but rather a deep-seated unhappiness emanating from within him, like a chill in the air.

While nibbling on a refreshing cucumber salad, Lin Xiang suddenly recalled hearing Yuezhu mention He Hongyuan’s father earlier in the kitchen. Could it really be related to that?

As the conversation continued, Feng Li brought up another topic. “Here we are eating and drinking, but I wonder when your sister-in-law will be able to visit and stay for a while,” she said, then turned to He Hongyuan with concern. “Hongyuan, how has your mother been lately? Is the farm work exhausting? The autumn harvest is coming up soon, isn’t it?”

The autumn harvest was the busiest time of the year for farmers. When the crops had to be gathered quickly, the exhaustion could be overwhelming.

Mentioning his mother softened He Hongyuan’s expression slightly. “She’s doing well. Last month, I suggested she come stay here for a while, but she just can’t bear to leave the land.”

Zhou Shenghuai understood—his former sister-in-law had always been a simple and earnest person, deeply attached to the land she worked.

After dinner, they chatted for a while. As the night deepened and darkness settled outside, Feng Li took note of the time and said, “Hongyuan, why don’t you escort Xiao Lin back to the guesthouse?”

Sensing that He Hongyuan was in a bad mood—not just today, but for several days now—Lin Xiang didn’t dare trouble him and quickly declined. “Aunt Feng, it’s alright. I can go by myself—”

“Let’s go,” He Hongyuan said flatly.

With that, he turned and left first.

Seeing that, Lin Xiang thought to herself that, despite his sour mood, He Hongyuan was still quite the gentleman. Maybe he really was a good person after all.

The summer night breeze rustled through the trees, their leaves whispering softly. The moon cast its cool light, stretching their shadows long on the ground, as if they were pressed together.

Lin Xiang suddenly remembered that she hadn’t yet explained to He Hongyuan’s mother about their broken engagement. She asked, “Did you tell your mother about our engagement being called off? I wrote a letter to send to her—Aunt He said she could have someone in the brigade read it to her.”

“There’s no need. Don’t send the letter,” He Hongyuan said, his voice as cool as the night. Then he added, “By the way, didn’t you say you needed my signature on the application form?”

“Oh, right, I almost forgot!” Lin Xiang quickly handed him the form and a pen. She watched as He Hongyuan took the pen and scrawled his name with bold, sweeping strokes in the section for military family confirmation.

Tonight, He Hongyuan was particularly quiet. Though he answered her questions, he didn’t say a single word more than necessary.

Lin Xiang took back the form and pen, gripping them in her hands. For some reason, she suddenly felt a little nervous. Maybe it was because she could tell he wasn’t just serious—he seemed to be hiding something beneath that rigid exterior. Not anger, but sadness.

Or maybe she was imagining it. After all, she didn’t really know him. She only knew that he was not someone to be easily provoked.

Still, despite his foul mood tonight, he had gone out of his way to sign her application form, allowing her to use his family status to apply for a job. That thought filled her with a bit of joy.

“He Hongyuan, thank you,” Lin Xiang said, stopping in her tracks and turning to face him. “Let me treat you to something.”

The moonlight poured down gently, illuminating He Hongyuan’s face as he turned. The usual sharpness of his features softened slightly under the glow, making him look momentarily less rigid and fearless. His gaze fell on the small object resting in Lin Xiang’s open palm—a single orange-flavored candy.

Lin Xiang had gotten it earlier when she ran into the neighbor’s wife at the guesthouse. The woman had been coaxing her child with candy, a tactic that never failed. Lin Xiang had helped cheer the child up, and in return, the little one had given her a piece.

Now, she held it out to him. “Here, have a candy. It’s sweet!”

He Hongyuan’s gaze slowly shifted from the candy to her face. Then she added with a smile, “The little boy next door throws a fit whenever he’s unhappy. His mother always gives him one of these to calm him down—it works every time.”

His deep-set eyes flickered with something unreadable, and for the first time that evening, a hint of a smile touched his lips. He reached out, his calloused fingers brushing lightly against her palm as he took the candy, leaving a faint ticklish sensation in its wake.

“Do you take me for a three-year-old?” He gripped the candy tightly in his palm. His tall figure cast a long shadow on the stone path, and he tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. The usual cold and stern exterior cracked for a moment, revealing a rare hint of roguish charm.

Lin Xiang glanced up and was momentarily taken aback by his carefree demeanor, her heart skipping a beat.

Blame it on the mesmerizing moonlight—it cast a different hue on this man, making him appear unlike his usual self.

“No,” she replied, turning back to walk forward. “You’re clearly a twenty-five-year-old grown man!”

Hearing that, He Hongyuan’s mood seemed to lighten, like dark clouds dispersing after a storm. He smirked in the quiet night—was that supposed to be a compliment?

After escorting Lin Xiang back to the guesthouse, He Hongyuan lingered outside, watching as the dim yellow light flickered on in room 201 on the second floor before he finally turned to leave.

The military district was silent at night, with only the occasional sight of sentries standing guard.

When He Hongyuan returned to the dormitory, he didn’t go straight to his room. Instead, he walked to the end of the corridor and stopped where the wind was strongest.

The cool breeze dispersed the lingering summer heat, but it couldn’t blow away the weight pressing on his heart.

His fingers itched. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette pack, and slid a cigarette between his fingers. As he stood there, a memory from fifteen years ago surfaced—him as a child, chasing a departing car on the village road with all his might. He had been the fastest runner among the village kids, proud and eager to prove himself.

He had once thought that when his father returned, he would show him how fast he could run, how high he could jump. He wanted his father to see that he was the son of a hero, just as strong and capable.

But when his father finally came back, there had been no time for words. He had only been given a single piece of candy before the man left again—this time, never to return.

All that remained was his mother, eyes red with unshed tears yet unwaveringly strong, leading him back home.

A sharp pain throbbed at his temples, spreading as if about to explode. He instinctively searched his pockets for a matchbox, only to realize he hadn’t brought one.

Instead, all he found was the smooth, round orange candy.

He unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth. A gentle press of his tongue against it revealed its sweetness.

Strangely, the pain dulled under the onslaught of that simple, sugary taste, eventually fading away.

The corridor was quiet in the dead of night. Zhang Huafeng, stepping out to use the latrine, caught sight of a familiar figure. He strode over and clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?”

The moment he got closer, he caught a whiff of something sweet—a faint coconut scent. Zhang Huafeng was dumbfounded. Was this guy… eating candy?

In all the ten years he had known He Hongyuan, he was certain—this man never ate sweets!

“Are you sick? Running a fever? Or did you hit your head?” Zhang Huafeng was so shocked he nearly reached out to feel He Hongyuan’s forehead.

Before he could, his hand was swatted away with no mercy. “If you’ve lost your mind, don’t assume I have too.”

Zhang Huafeng: “…”

“Fine, I won’t ask,” Zhang Huafeng muttered, but the moment He Hongyuan finished the candy, he couldn’t resist showing off. “Anyway, I’m officially off the market now! Yan Min and I are together. Jiang Weijun is in the middle of courting his girl too. If things go well, I might be married by the end of the year. What about you? What are you doing? Lin Xiang came all this way—she’s a great girl!”

He Hongyuan let out a quiet chuckle, a trace of self-mockery in it. “Lin Xiang is a great girl, but I’m not necessarily a great guy.”

Zhang Huafeng: “…”

How was he supposed to respond to that?

“Come on, don’t—” Zhang Huafeng racked his brain for the words he had learned in the cultural literacy classes the army provided. “Don’t belittle yourself! Sure, you have a bad temper, you’re not warm or friendly, and you’re so cold you make women avoid you. Actually, scratch that—you’re even harsher on the men! You push us to our limits in training… But you do have some good points. Like your face—how many girls have been drawn to it?”

“Get lost,” He Hongyuan said, but he was amused. The corners of his lips quirked up briefly before returning to their usual straight line. He tilted his head slightly toward Zhang Huafeng, silently asking for a match.

Zhang Huafeng had one in his pocket.

In the deep night, the flame flickered as he lit the cigarette. The glowing embers flared up before dimming again, the smoke curling away into the wind.

Then he heard He Hongyuan murmur, “Marriage isn’t always a good thing.”

He stared at the night sky, recalling the angry voice on the other end of that phone call—the man he barely acknowledged as his father, furious and exasperated.

“Your mother and I divorced because we had nothing in common, no real connection. That doesn’t change the fact that you’re my son! You might resent me now, but you carry my blood. And if you were in my position, you’d probably make the same choice!”

They always said sons took after their fathers.

Zhang Huafeng patted He Hongyuan on the shoulder, his tone solemn. “I still think you and Lin Xiang make a good match. If you miss this chance, she might marry someone else. When you get that wedding invitation, we’ll see if you can still laugh.”

He Hongyuan frowned, remembering the past few times he had heard similar news. He hadn’t been able to laugh then either.

And every time, he had found himself going anyway, unable to resist.

So maybe… he really did take after that man.

He let out a quiet laugh.

---

The next morning, Lin Xiang, having settled the application form the night before, woke up refreshed and headed straight to the recruitment site.

The five-day recruitment process officially began today. A designated area for submitting application forms was set up in the open space at the entrance of the food factory. Many people lined up to submit their applications, while numerous military wives who couldn’t read or write sought help filling out their forms.

Lin Xiang helped fill out several forms. She had attended university in her past life, and her current self had a high school education—making her stand out in an era where education was not widespread. Gradually, a crowd gathered around her, all seeking her help with their applications.

As she finished filling out the last form, a familiar voice suddenly reached her ears.

She handed the form back, received a word of thanks, and looked up toward the crowd. It turned out to be Meng Jing, the female protagonist of the novel, along with Shen Chunli, the girl who had been her seatmate on the train.

Shen Chunli and Meng Jing were cousins. Their parents worked at a state-owned factory in Qiulin City, and Shen Chunli had a younger sister who was physically weak. When the “educated youth going to the countryside” policy was implemented, both Shen Chunli and her sister qualified for job placements. However, their parents could only secure one position, so Shen Chunli, thinking of her sister’s health, let her take the job and decided to go to the countryside herself.

Unwilling to see their beloved daughter suffer in the countryside, Shen Chunli’s parents sent her to the island to live with relatives, hoping she could find a job there—solving the problem perfectly.

Today, Meng Jing had accompanied Shen Chunli to submit her job application. Shen Chunli had a clear goal: she was applying for the position of publicity officer at Food Factory No. 1. It was an office job with light duties, and she believed that with her high school education, she had a good chance of securing the role.

The recruitment site was bustling with activity, but even in the crowd, Meng Jing and Shen Chunli quickly spotted Lin Xiang at the center.

By now, both of them had figured out who Lin Xiang really was. They also realized they had been tricked by her the last time—they had asked her directly, but she had denied knowing He Hongyuan. Now that they knew the truth, Meng Jing observed Lin Xiang carefully, while Shen Chunli wasted no time rushing over.

“You really are Lin Xiang? Last time, you said you weren’t! You even claimed you didn’t know Captain He!” Shen Chunli was completely baffled. On the train, Lin Xiang hadn’t looked like this at all! “You… how did you change so much?”

The Lin Xiang standing before her now had fair skin, delicate features, and a refined appearance—nothing like the dark-skinned, freckled girl from before.

Lin Xiang felt a little guilty. Her transformation was nothing short of a miracle, and last time, she had outright misled them by refusing to admit her engagement to He Hongyuan.

Wait a minute—He had already torn up the engagement contract, so technically, she hadn’t lied. She wasn’t his fiancée anymore.

She smiled and said to Shen Chunli, “Maybe it’s just that girls change a lot as they grow up. You guys carry on—I need to get in line.”

“Hey!” Shen Chunli didn’t believe her nonsense for a second. She stomped her foot in frustration and glared at Lin Xiang’s back. This woman could say anything with a straight face! Still fuming, she joined Meng Jing in line.

The line moved slowly. When it was Lin Xiang’s turn, she handed in her neatly filled-out application form. The worker collecting forms was a military wife who also worked at the factory.

As she glanced down at Lin Xiang’s application, she suddenly looked up and stared at her for a moment, making Lin Xiang feel uneasy.

“Comrade, is there something wrong with my application?” she asked.

The woman, about thirty years old with short, neat hair, shook her head. “No.”

Behind Lin Xiang, Shen Chunli stepped forward to hand in her form. As she did, the staff member muttered under her breath, “Another one applying for the publicity officer position…”

In this era, everyone wanted an office job. Factory work was demanding, and during busy seasons, it required shift work. With only one opening for the role of publicity officer, competition was fierce—especially among military spouses with high school diplomas, who had the best chances of getting hired.

“Hey, He Fen, are all the applications collected?” After a long day, the factory workers were gathering up the recruitment forms and getting ready to head home.

He Fen nodded while staring at one particular application. Just then, her husband’s voice called from outside.

She quickly walked over, her face filled with urgency. “Old Li, how is it? Can A-Fang get out?”

“There’s no way she’s getting out,” Captain Li sighed, comforting his wife. “He Hongyuan handed all the evidence over to the Public Security Bureau—he didn’t leave any room for negotiation. On top of that, Captain Zhou personally stepped in. I have no influence over this. Your sister is definitely going to prison.”

“A-Fang acted on impulse! And besides, nothing actually happened—why do they have to go after her like this?” He Fen cursed, then suddenly slumped as if all the energy had drained from her body. She nearly collapsed, but her husband caught her in time.

After a brief, whispered conversation, He Fen turned back to the factory and told her colleagues, “I’ll handle organizing the applications.”

The other military wives, eager to get home and cook dinner, happily left her to it. “Great, I’m heading off then. You should go home soon, too.”

——

Lin Xiang successfully submitted her application. Now, she just had to wait for notification about the exam. She was confident in her academic abilities.

The day before the exam, Zhou Yuezhu showed up at her door with an unexpected request.

“You’re going on a date with Shen Jianming—why do you need me to tag along?” Lin Xiang asked, fully aware of her role as a single woman.

Zhou Yuezhu clung to her arm, shaking it playfully. “Oh, come on, Xiang Xiang! Do me a favor! My parents don’t approve of me dating anyone right now, especially not Shen Jianming.”

Although Zhou Shenghuai and Feng Li didn’t solely focus on family background, they already had someone more suitable in mind.

Zhou Yuezhu was well aware of this, so she and Shen Jianming started dating in secret, even sneaking around just for dates. Lately, she suspected her mother had noticed something and had been dropping hints, which made her anxious to pull Lin Xiang in as a cover.

“You come to my house later, say you’re here to take me to a movie. Then we’ll meet up at the cinema—no one will suspect a thing,” Zhou Yuezhu said, her tone sweet and pleading. She was an expert at acting cute, with her naturally pretty and delicate looks, soft voice, and the way she swayed Lin Xiang’s arm—almost enough to make Lin Xiang dizzy. “Please? Please, Sister Xiangxiang~”

“Fine, fine,” Lin Xiang relented. “But you two sit together, and I’ll be far, far away. Enjoy your date.”

She hadn’t been to a cinema in this era before, so it wasn’t a bad excuse to go. Still, she couldn’t resist teasing Zhou Yuezhu a little.

Sure enough, Zhou Yuezhu’s face turned red. After some playful wrestling with Lin Xiang, she finally let the matter rest.

The plan went ahead as scheduled. Lin Xiang deliberately lingered in front of Feng Li to make her presence known, then left with Zhou Yuezhu to meet Shen Jianming at the cinema.

On the way, Zhou Yuezhu was every bit the lovestruck girl—her entire aura was practically glowing pink as she gushed about Shen Jianming, sharing bits and pieces of their relationship. Even Lin Xiang couldn’t help but feel a bit envious. It was just too sweet.

It wasn’t about grand romantic gestures—it was the kind of innocent, shy love where just making eye contact would turn them both red.

“Sister Xiangxiang, what about you and my cousin? When are you two getting married?” After talking about herself, Zhou Yuezhu turned her curiosity toward Lin Xiang.

Lin Xiang chuckled. “Married? Our engagement was annulled. Your cousin has no interest in dating or marriage, and I’ve finally seen it clearly. I’ll find someone on my own in the future.”

“Aiya, my cousin definitely likes you!” Zhou Yuezhu was more anxious than Lin Xiang, her little face scrunched up in frustration at the news of their broken engagement.

Even though her cousin always seemed cold and distant, she had a strong feeling he was different with Lin Xiang.

Lin Xiang raised an eyebrow. “Yuezhu, I think you have a serious misunderstanding about your cousin. He absolutely dreads marriage.”

Yuezhu had no idea how much He Hongyuan rejected the idea of marriage in the novel—so much so that he remained alone for a lifetime.

“There’s a reason for that,” Zhou Yuezhu blurted out, worried that she might lose such a perfect cousin-in-law. “It’s all my second uncle’s fault! That’s why my cousin doesn’t want to get married.”

Lin Xiang’s gaze sharpened. This was the third time she had heard something about He Hongyuan’s father. “Speaking of which, what exactly happened between your cousin and his dad?”

Zhou Yuezhu hesitated no longer. She and Lin Xiang had been through a lot together, and she genuinely thought her cousin and Lin Xiang were a great match.

“My second uncle went off to war and didn’t come back for years. My second aunt raised my cousin alone in the village and even took in a few orphans whose families were killed by the Japanese. She worked hard to support them all while also helping the villagers hide and resist the invaders. She kept waiting and waiting… By the time my cousin was ten, my second uncle still hadn’t returned. Everyone said he must have died in battle and urged my second aunt to remarry. But she refused, taking care of her in-laws until they passed away—fulfilling all her duties as a wife.”

Zhou Yuezhu’s voice grew faster, her anger evident. “Then one day, my second uncle came back. And guess what? He came back just to leave! He told my second aunt that theirs was an arranged marriage, that they had no emotional connection, no shared interests. He had met another woman outside, someone who understood him better, and he had already married her and had kids!”

Zhou Yuezhu was fuming. “He just stopped by to pay respects to his parents’ graves, glanced at my cousin, shoved some money at my second aunt, and declared that since they never officially registered their marriage, they weren’t legally bound. And that was it.

“It broke my second aunt’s heart. My cousin was furious. He chased after my second uncle’s car for miles but couldn’t catch up.”

Lin Xiang hadn’t expected He Hongyuan to have such a past. No wonder his character in the book was so rigid—it was the result of deep emotional trauma.

“My cousin used to think my second uncle was a hero,” Zhou Yuezhu said bitterly. “But in the end, he abandoned his wife and child after becoming a high-ranking officer.”

She gripped Lin Xiang’s hand firmly, her expression serious. “After that, my cousin completely cut ties. He even changed his last name and refused to acknowledge my uncle as his father. He wouldn’t even call my parents ‘uncle’ and ‘aunt’ anymore. We only reconnected because we were stationed in the same military district, and my parents always had a good relationship with my second aunt and cousin. That’s why we started interacting again.

“So you see, Sister Xiangxiang, my cousin didn’t want to get married before because of my second uncle. But now… I really think he’s different with you!”

Lin Xiang listened to Zhou Yuezhu’s words and could almost picture a stubborn young boy, chasing desperately after a father who would never look back.

Then she caught the last part and turned skeptical. “And what exactly makes you think that? Don’t joke around.”

As they spoke, they reached the cinema entrance. Zhou Yuezhu pointed ahead. “Because before, no one could get my cousin to come to a movie. But look—he’s here now!”

Lin Xiang followed Zhou Yuezhu’s gaze and saw a man in a crisp white military uniform standing beside Shen Jianming at the cinema entrance.

Tall and upright, he lowered his gaze, looking straight at her.