A few rows of clothes were drying in the yard, and the setting sun cast a warm glow on them. The evening breeze blew, creating fluttering shadows. Aunt Pang from the compound stood at the gate, almost not recognizing that this was Gao Jianguo’s house.

Did the sun rise in the west? Did Gao Jiangguo’s lazy wife really wash all these clothes?

The lazy wife couldn’t cook, and when they had guests, they had to ask others for help. Aunt Pang, skilled in cooking, had received a call from Gao Jianguo and was bringing a few dishes over.

She placed the dishes on the table, and the hostess called out to her. Gao Jianguo, wearing an apron, was cooking in the kitchen. In the corner, a radio was playing the news, and a man in military uniform was sitting upright on a wooden chair, holding a document.

“This is your friend? The young lady looks really good.” Knowing that Aunt Pang had children, Qin Yao took out some milk candy and gave it to her, thanking her for making the trip.

Chen Baozhen wasn’t good at small talk, but Qin Yao was liked by elders. She was fair and chubby, resembling a large version of a lucky doll. Older people especially liked her appearance.

Aunt Pang chatted with her about daily matters, and Chen Baozhen joined in a few words, “Clothes dry quickly here, in one or two hours.”

“You should take them down soon, it might rain tonight.”

Chen Baozhen replied, “If they get wet, they’ll dry again by morning.”

“No, no, that won’t do.”

Aunt Pang had rarely spoken to Chen Baozhen before. She thought the city girl was too proud to talk to her. But now, after chatting a bit, she realized this girl was a bit simple-minded.

“Comrade Qin Yao, do you have a boyfriend?”

Qin Yao smiled, “No, why? Are you planning to introduce someone to me?”

Aunt Pang nodded and gave her a knowing glance, “Of course, I know a lot of people here.”

Qin Yao teased, “Do you know anyone from the fishing company?”

“I do, let me go ask around for you.”

After a few more words, Aunt Pang left, saying a few words to Commander Gu, “Commander Gu, I’m heading out. If you have time, come by my place.”

As Aunt Pang’s figure disappeared, Gu Cheng’s face remained expressionless. The setting sun outside bathed him in golden light, casting a warm glow on his white military uniform. The color was warm, but it didn’t feel comforting; instead, it carried a subtle chill.

Chen Baozhen hadn’t expected Gao Jianguo to invite Gu Cheng to their house for dinner. She didn’t dare look at Gu Cheng for too long—just one glance was enough to make her feel uneasy.

When her family had set up the blind date, it felt like they were deliberately putting her through hardship.

Gu Cheng’s cold gaze swept over Qin Yao, who greeted him with a bright smile.

The young girl’s bright eyes sparkled, and her long, curled lashes fluttered with each blink. Her pink lips were soft and shiny, with a beautiful lip pearl gleaming with gloss.

Qin Yao smiled carelessly. She had noticed that when the fishing company was mentioned, Commander Gu had looked at her strangely. Was he considering introducing his younger brother to her?

That would be interesting. She would definitely refuse Gu Cheng without hesitation!

Qin Yao was someone who held grudges.

She had been so nice to him, but his feelings for her had actually decreased, even turning negative! If it happened again, she would refuse him first, making it clear that she wasn’t interested and wouldn’t let him misunderstand her intentions.

Even though she liked Gu Cheng’s younger brother’s type, she wouldn’t cling to him like a pest. That would just make her look annoying and be rejected.

Qin Yao imagined the scene where she “rejected Gu Cheng” and felt a sense of satisfaction.

“Get ready, it’s time to eat,” Gao Jianguo said as he removed his sleeves and called everyone.

Qin Yao helped set the table. There were four people for dinner, which wasn’t much trouble. Chen Baozhen didn’t cook, so she helped serve the dishes. Gao Jianguo took off his apron, changed clothes, and brought two bottles of wine downstairs, setting up two small glasses and pouring for both men.

Gao Jianguo wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had been busy with the cooking and hadn’t had time to invite anyone else to drink. His wife, Chen Baozhen, couldn’t be relied upon to ask people over, so he made do with just the two of them.

Qin Yao and Chen Baozhen didn’t drink, so they ate quickly and finished first, leaving the two men to continue eating and talking.

Gao Jianguo was a good talker, while Gu Cheng spoke little, but he was an excellent listener. He either remained silent or spoke with purpose and substance.

Gao Jianguo enjoyed their conversation, feeling a sense of admiration for Gu Cheng. Despite his young age and many achievements, Gu Cheng remained composed and steady. He was nothing like others who, after a little success, would show off at the table in flashy ways.

Over the years, Gao Jianguo had met all kinds of people. At drinking tables, some had spent years waiting for a promotion, hoping for recognition after accumulating enough seniority, while others would make a point of boasting, bragging about their accomplishments and demanding respect from everyone. Listening to such people talk was like hearing a show-off’s boast, no matter how much they smiled—what they said made people uncomfortable.

Gu Cheng, on the other hand, spoke rarely but with great charm. His words felt pleasant and even left a feeling of being flattered.

Seeing Gu Cheng’s calm demeanor, Gao Jianguo felt reassured. He had feared that some people might be small-minded and judgmental.

At that moment, Gu Cheng probably hadn’t figured out what kind of woman would be right for him.

Outside, Qin Yao and Chen Baozhen stood in the doorway, enjoying the evening breeze. They hung the light bulb overhead and lit some mosquito incense. Chen Baozhen brought out her cello, sat on a small stool, and was about to play for Qin Yao.

Qin Yao watched her, smiling, as the sound of the violin was bright and melodious, while the cello had a deeper, more somber tone, like the distant rumble of the sea that brought thoughts of waves and tides.

“Sounds beautiful.”

In the 70s and 80s, the harmonica was the most popular instrument. Almost every young person had one—it was inexpensive and easy to play. The sound was pleasant, and many young men would tuck a harmonica into their shirt pocket, adding to their charm.

Qin Yao had once played the harmonica, and now, playing it alongside Chen Baozhen, she casually played. The lively sound of the harmonica clashed with the deep, serious tone of the cello, creating an oddly mismatched harmony.

While playing, Qin Yao hit a wrong note and burst into laughter. Chen Baozhen became more serious and reminded her, “Focus.”

But Qin Yao deliberately played off-key to tease her, causing the cello’s sound to go out of tune.

“Ah, you’re so annoying!”

The two of them playfully swatted each other, their laughter filling the air. The sound of young girls laughing was far more beautiful than any music played on an instrument.

Having been married to Chen Baozhen for some time, Gao Jianguo had never seen her so lively and cheerful. A smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

Even though Chen Baozhen was not the most virtuous or ideal wife, Gao Jianguo still liked her.

He shifted his gaze to Gu Cheng, feeling a momentary daze. For a second, he thought he saw an unspoken smile on Gu Cheng’s face, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination.

“My wife and her friend are getting noisy, maybe it’s too loud? Should I have them go upstairs?”

Gu Cheng, with his usual calm, replied, “No need.”

The moon hung in the sky as Qin Yao and Chen Baozhen figured it was getting late. They reached for the clothes drying outside, which were now fully dry.

“All dry, let’s bring them in.”

Qin Yao took down the clothes, folded them neatly, and placed them on a wooden bench. Chen Baozhen carried the pile of freshly folded bedding upstairs. After saying goodbye to Gao Jianguo, Gu Cheng adjusted his cap and stepped outside, standing behind Qin Yao.

The imposing figure of the tall man standing next to her, especially in the dark night, felt like encountering a black bear in the forest. His large shadow seemed to envelope her. Qin Yao looked up, and this time, with the close proximity, she could clearly see a small mole beneath his right eye.

Gu Cheng stared at her for a moment, then leaned in slightly. Through her amber-colored eyes, he saw his own reflection. His Adam’s apple moved, and he muttered, “Pretending.”

After saying that, he turned and walked away quickly.

Qin Yao stood there in a daze, as if a series of explosions had gone off in her mind. That mole, that mole, that mole…was it there when Commander Gu had first come? She hadn’t noticed it before, but now, it was unmistakable. It was identical to the mole she had seen on the young man at the port! The size and position were exactly the same!

The mole was small and inconspicuous, only visible when you got close enough to see it.

Could it be that the two men were the same person?

She threw the clothes aside and ran upstairs in disbelief. “Zhenzhen, I need to ask you something. The Commander Gu who came over today, what’s his real name?”

Chen Baozhen replied, “Gu Cheng.”

“Ah!” Qin Yao felt as if she had been struck on the back of the head. It really was him! The names were the same!

“He was my previous blind date. He was very fierce, wasn’t he? Let me tell you, he was really strict. They say the navy is softer than the army, but not this Commander Gu. When he scolds someone, you wouldn’t believe it. He’s like the King of Hell…”

Commander Gu? Gu Cheng? Was it really the same person?

——What kind of employee of a fishing company could be so different?

Qin Yao had no idea about the King of Hell part, but she felt that Commander Gu had a split personality. Maybe he had two personalities, or maybe he was a drama queen. He could easily write a book called “The Actor’s Self-Cultivation.”

Qin Yao tried hard to recall the Commander Gu she met today, but she hadn’t connected him to the Gu Cheng she knew. It was all due to the “first impression” trap.

In her mind, soldiers and military officers were easy to recognize. Their posture and the way they walked gave away the marks of training. But had the Gu Cheng she met before shown any signs of military training?

Qin Yao: “…”

Speechless.