Before marrying his elder brother, his sister-in-law often wore stylish men’s suits and carried a gun at her waist. She could fly planes and ride horses. Occasionally, she felt inspired to pick up a pen and write, composing poetry on the spot.

She often referred to Zhou Yan as a dream of hers, and when she said this, her face was full of youthful joy. This dream arrived unexpectedly, and before she knew it, she was captivated. When they first met, Zhou Yan was wearing a white robe, engaging in conversation. She didn’t even know what they were discussing, but he suddenly laughed, and by the time she regained her senses, the smoke from her mouth had been enchanted away by his smile.

At that time, the sister-in-law was quite wild, smoking and getting into fights. She was so unruly that her family couldn’t control her. Everyone thought that her future husband would have to be incredibly impressive to handle her. No one expected that this person would turn out to be Zhou Yan.

He seemed delicate and bookish. It took his sister-in-law three full years to pursue him before she succeeded. Now, occasionally, she would cook, but the taste was extremely unpalatable. The first time Zhou Jun tasted it, he almost spat it out in front of her. He glanced at his elder brother and noticed that he was swallowing it bite by bite, his expression calm. It wasn’t until he noticed his sister-in-law’s expectant gaze that his elder brother replied, “It’s good.”

Zhou Jun thought about having to stay for dinner that night and felt like his elder brother was subtly punishing him. When the soup was served, he realized it actually tasted pretty good.

Love not only changes people; it can also improve cooking skills. After the meal, he took a box of perfume to give to his sister-in-law. She was sitting and reading, wearing a pink embroidered cheongsam with golden thread. She wore a green jade bangles over her delicate wrist. She turned the pages of the book, flipping through them one by one.

A servant was nearby, cleaning up the incense. Zhou Jun had always thought of his sister-in-law as an older sister. He didn’t see her as a woman, especially since she was incredibly tough when her elder brother wasn’t around.

Sure enough, his sister-in-law gently reached out and grabbed his ear, making Zhou Jun cry out in pain. She spoke softly, “You’ve made your brother worry again, haven’t you? I told you to keep a low profile, but you still caused trouble. Your brother didn’t sleep well last night.”

Zhou Jun held his ear and decided to tell on Zhou Yan to save himself. He said, “But don’t scold me just yet; brother is using opium, you know.”

His sister-in-law let go, and her beautifully shaped eyebrows furrowed into a little knot. She crumpled the paper she was holding, which was marked with ink stains. She sighed and said, “Your brother wants to do business with the British. He says smoking opium is just like eating and drinking, so it’s no big deal, and he won’t let me interfere.”

Zhou Jun deliberately asked, “The British?” After a moment, he added, “Does brother have any contact with General Yong?” His sister-in-law looked at him in confusion, “General Yong?” Then it dawned on her, “Ah! That General Yong.”

Before he could ask more, she chuckled softly, “Isn’t that General Yong quite handsome?” Zhou Jun felt a sense of unease. Sure enough, his sister-in-law had a gossiping look on her face. “A few days ago, when I was playing mahjong, the Miss Du was making a fuss about marrying General Yong.” Once she started gossiping, Zhou Jun found it hard to escape.

Not only did Zhou Jun fail to learn about any connections between his brother and Yong Jin, he also ended up with a head full of scandalous gossip. The center of this gossip was none other than Yong Jin, who had flirted with him over pastries at noon. The brilliance of his achievements made Zhou Jun feel inferior.

The Zhou family home wasn’t far from his small apartment. After taking a shower, Zhou Jun left his hair damp and took out a bicycle from the storage room. It was a German-made bike, a gift from his father for his coming of age. It looked like it had been used regularly; the tires were inflated, and the chain was rust-free.

He changed into a comfortable shirt and trousers, hopped on his bike, crossed the streetcar road, and maneuvered past the rickshaws. Following the streetlights in the old city, he enjoyed the evening breeze on his way home.

The nightlife was still lively. Music spilled out from the dance hall and bar, where people’s joyful steps seemed to want to burst through the doors. Sweet melodies occasionally drifted out through the heavy double doors, while two well-dressed doormen stood by. Their black uniforms were buttoned all the way up to their chins with silver buttons.

The man wore gloves that looked cleaner and more elegant. He didn’t need to pull the door open or drive; he likely just had to light a cigarette, and someone would help him with that. The people who went to fancy clubs, including the dancers, were all wealthy young ladies and socialites. Such people… such people.

Before Zhou Jun could finish his thoughts, a car passed by. Through the small window of the car, he saw a pale outline—a side profile. Yong Jin was sitting inside the vehicle, which slid past him like a fish gliding through water.

When Zhou Jun finally came to his senses, he realized he had been following the car for a while. He pedaled hard, feeling an excitement he couldn’t understand. He was chasing the car like a fool in love. When he realized how silly he was being, he suddenly stopped. Embarrassment made his heart race, and he wiped the sweat from his forehead, cursing himself for being so foolish.

Yong Jin was oblivious too; he didn’t even glance back at the figure chasing his car. He got out of the vehicle and walked away. Zhou Jun had just worked up a sweat from chasing, making his earlier shower feel pointless. He thought about the entertainment venue he had passed and felt a strong urge to go in for a drink.

However, he didn’t look very presentable, so he just let it be. As he walked and pushed his bike, he stopped at a convenience store to buy a bottle of soda and a pack of cigarettes. Once the sweat cooled down, he finally felt the chill of the night air. Normally, at this time, he would be drunk and feeling hot all over, never realizing that the night wind could be cold. He always thought it wasn’t cold enough to match his high body temperature.

Zhou Jun rode his bike slowly back to his apartment, making occasional stops along the way. As he passed by a street, he spotted a sleek black car parked nearby. The car gleamed in the night, its smooth surface making it look almost like a fish—shiny and elusive.

Zhou Jun felt a pang of disbelief. He thought to himself, “No way. It can’t be. Yong Jin isn’t that free.”

Zhou Jun kept denying it in his mind, but he moved faster. The bike wheels turned quickly, leaving a shiny mark on the ground. The closer he got to the car, the quicker he rode. Then, the car door opened, and Deputy Chen got out.

He handed Zhou Jun a movie ticket for a show in five days. Zhou Jun leaned against his bike, glancing into the back seat of the car, but saw no one there. The encounter felt like an illusion, as the back seat was empty. He focused on the ticket that Deputy Chen was offering.

With a cheerful smile, Zhou Jun said, “I’m really sorry, but I have to go to the dentist that day. I ate too many sweets, and now my tooth hurts.” As he spoke, he let the ticket slip from his fingers, causing it to float back toward Deputy Chen.

Afterward, Zhou Jun pushed his bike toward the elevator, ignoring the deputy officer behind him.

He pulled down the elevator door, it clanged as it ascended. He recalled that Miss Wen had mentioned wanting to see that movie, so he thought he might as well ask her out. However, thinking of Miss Wen inevitably led him to think of Miss Du and Shirley Chen. Shirley was so beautiful, yet it seemed that Yong Jin didn’t care much about her.

What kind of woman does he like? Probably any woman by his side would be someone Zhou Jun would admire. The elevator shook as it came to a stop. He locked his bike at the end of the corridor and, absentmindedly holding his keys, walked home.

Zhou Jun was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice someone following him. It wasn’t until he felt a hand on his shoulder that he jumped and swung his fist in surprise. He threw a few punches and kicks, which seemed to amuse the person trailing him.

The person said, “Your skills aren’t very good. If you were my soldier…”

Zhou Jun quickly grabbed the person’s wrist and pulled him out of the shadows. The man was still smiling, a grin that was somewhat annoying. Now, as he stepped into the light, Zhou Jun could see his face clearly.

Zhou Jun smiled back, this time genuinely. He asked, “What would happen if I were your soldier?”

Yong Jin didn’t answer directly. Instead, he raised his hand and started to button Zhou Jun’s shirt, which had come undone because of the heat, fixing it up to his chest. He then said, “Let me in.” It wasn’t a request; it was a demand.