Chapter 68: Each Other’s Thoughts

Qin Lang, Lin You, and Zhang Qing were sitting in the courtyard, listening to the chirping of cicadas and gazing at the starry sky, chatting casually. The conversation mainly revolved around Zhang Qing and Lin You, while Qin Lang listened, occasionally chiming in with a word or two.

At some point, Qin Lang left and returned with a summer shawl, which he thoughtfully draped over Lin You. Lin You looked up at him in confusion.

“It gets cool in the mountains at night, and there are mosquitoes. Your skin is delicate, so it’s better to be cautious,” he explained.

“Okay.”

Zhang Qing watched Qin Lang’s actions with envy in her eyes. Lin You noticed her sadness but understood that some things shouldn’t be mentioned, bringing them up would only touch on her wounds.

So she said to Qin Lang, “I’m a little sleepy. Let’s go back to the room.”

“Alright.”

After saying goodbye to Zhang Qing, they returned to their room.

Zhang Qing didn’t look back at their figures but instead gazed up at the starry sky, silently processing her feelings of longing.

Back in the room, Lin You went to wash up, while Qin Lang sat on the bed, lost in thought.

When Lin You emerged, Qin Lang skillfully took the towel from her hands, dried her hair, and gently placed her on the bed before turning to enter the bathroom.

By the time Qin Lang came out, Lin You was already asleep.

The next morning, the sounds of birds and insects outside disturbed the two still fast asleep. Lin You snuggled deeper into Qin Lang’s arms, trying to escape the noise.

Qin Lang covered her ears with his hand, and soon she fell back asleep, while he had already lost his desire to sleep.

When they finally got up to have breakfast, the sun was already high in the sky.

“Are we going to stay here and play for a bit longer?” Qin Lang asked.

“Let’s go home,” Lin You replied.

They found Zhang Qing.

“Qing Jie, we should gather again when we have the chance,” Lin You suggested.

“Yoyo, you must come often in the future,” Zhang Qing responded.

“Sure.”

On the way back, Qin Lang asked Lin You, “Why did you change how you address her?”

“It feels inappropriate to call her ‘sister in law’ now,” Lin You explained. “She’s not in the military anymore, and she’s still young. She can’t just live alone for the rest of her life.”

“If you keep calling her ‘sister in law,’ how will she find someone new? If outsiders hear it, they might have feelings but won’t dare to express them.”

Qin Lang didn’t respond, focusing intently on the road ahead. He understood her point, but he couldn’t help but feel sad for his brother and worry about their future. He knew Lin You was completely focused on him now, but what about later? Would she have someone new?

This thought caused a sharp pain in his heart, making it hard to breathe. He was afraid of making her worry, so he had to suppress his feelings and keep moving forward.

Lin You didn’t notice Qin Lang’s emotional change and asked him another question, “Qin Lang, do you believe in souls?”

Qin Lang took a deep breath, thought for a moment, and replied, “I do.”

“I believe in them too,” she said.

“Actually, there’s a soul connection between family members. Like the night my father’s body was returned, my mom stayed awake all night. She said my dad was speaking to her and told me that the brightest star was him.”

“She even wanted me to listen, but I couldn’t hear anything, and I didn’t see the brightest star she mentioned. If it wasn’t there, maybe she would have followed my dad that night.”

“So there’s definitely a soul connection in this world.”

After speaking, Lin You turned to look out the window, not wanting Qin Lang to see the tears streaming down her face.

Qin Lang understood her thoughts and gently stroked her hair, comforting her, “Everyone has their own fate. Fate is actually something we choose. I believe that both your mother and Zhang Qing made the right choices, and others can’t understand or judge them.”

Lin You wiped her tears and nodded, “Yes.”

Qin Lang, who used to be skeptical about the idea of souls, was now willing to believe. If souls could serve as a connection, then no matter where his body was, his soul would always find her, watching over her happiness and well-being.

But he couldn’t say these words now, they would only add to her worries.

After parking the car, they walked toward the apartment building together.

As they reached the ground floor, they saw Lu Li pacing back and forth, arms crossed, looking anxious.

They exchanged glances, both feeling a hint of curiosity, and quickened their pace towards him.

Qin Lang approached Lu Li and asked, “Lu Li, what’s wrong? Is there something urgent?”

Lu Li looked up, his gaze sweeping over Qin Lang and Lin You. He seemed to want to say something but hesitated, shaking his head before fixing his eyes on Lin You.

In an instant, the anxiety on Lu Li’s face vanished, replaced by a relaxed expression. He stepped in front of Lin You with a smile, saying, “Actually, I just wanted to invite you guys out for a meal. I didn’t expect to wait so long to see you, and I got a bit anxious. Where have you been?”

As they went upstairs, Lin You shared the events of the past couple of days.

Lu Li listened, closed the door, and sat on the sofa, complaining, “You went to such a nice place without thinking about your little brother. How could you do that?”

Qin Lang came over, sorted out the things he brought back, and lightly tapped Lu Li on the head, saying, “What do you want me to take you for? To be a third wheel?”

“Sis, look at him! Not only did he not take me, but he also has this attitude,” Lu Li retorted.

Lin You was about to comfort him when Qin Lang interrupted, “I won’t take you. If you’re envious, then find yourself a partner.”

Lu Li jumped up from the sofa, pointing at Qin Lang as he exclaimed, “There are so many things going on at the base every day! When would I have the time to find someone? Not everyone can trick someone into marrying them like you did when my sister didn’t know any better!”

“If I had found her earlier, who knows who my brother in law might have been?”

After saying this, Lin You couldn’t respond and could only internally pray for Lu Li to fend for himself.

Sure enough, Qin Lang shot Lu Li a fiery glare, retorting, “Well, you haven’t had the luck I’ve had. You haven’t met someone you like since childhood, so you deserve to be single. Your brother in law can only be me.”

Lu Li rolled his eyes at him and then approached Lin You, tugging at her arm, saying, “Sis, look at him! He’s being so ungrateful!”

Lin You gently patted his hand, signaling him not to take it to heart.

Seeing Lin You still supporting Qin Lang, Lu Li decided to be direct, “Sis, can you introduce me to someone?”

What had originally been a moment of frustration turned serious as Lin You genuinely considered, “How about Xiao Bei? I think you two would make a good match.”

Lu Li exclaimed, “Sis, what are you thinking?”

Qin Lang chimed in, “It really could work.”

Lu Li shouted in rejection, “No way!”

The couple exchanged amused glances at Lu Li’s hysterical response and couldn’t help but laugh.

Seeing that they were still laughing, Lu Li flopped back down onto the sofa, refusing to get up.

Lin You approached him and softly said, “Alright, don’t be mad. We know it’s not possible, we were just joking with you. When I find someone suitable, I’ll introduce you. What do you want to eat? I’ll make it for you.”

Lu Li thought seriously for a moment and replied, “Sweet and sour ribs, oil-braised shrimp, stir-fried beef with green peppers.”

“Okay.”

Qin Lang kicked him lightly and said, “If you want to eat, get up and help.”

Then he turned to Lin You, saying, “Don’t mind him. He’s just pretending. You go rest first, and we’ll handle the cooking.”

“We’ll call you when it’s done.”

“Exactly, Sis, take a break.”

With Lu Li’s arrival, the previous worries of the couple seemed to fade away.