Zhou Xiaoling didn't suspect a thing. "It's fine, I'm a grown-up, I won't get lost. If you're busy, you should go."

Zhou Xiaoming hurriedly packed his luggage, checking out almost as if he were fleeing, then headed straight for the train station.

His rush made Zhou Xiaoling wonder what could be so urgent at his unit.

After he left, with nothing to do until her reporting to the Second Institute the next morning, Zhou Xiaoling found herself with too much time on her hands.

She couldn't stop thinking about the man who looked like her second brother.

Of her two brothers, she had always preferred the second one. He was gentle and kind to everyone, especially to her.

It wasn't that her eldest brother was bad, but her grandfather had once said he was too opportunistic and selfish.

Remembering this, Zhou Xiaoling decided to go back to the guesthouse. Maybe she would see that man again.

She was a woman of quick action. She slung her backpack over her shoulder, grabbed her travel bag, checked out, and headed for the guesthouse.

While checking in, her eyes lit up as she saw someone coming down the stairs. "Lü Zhigang!"

Lü Zhigang jumped, and when he saw it was Zhou Xiaoling, he looked as if he'd seen a ghost. He turned to flee, but she was faster, grabbing his sleeve. "Am I that scary? Do you have to run when you see me?"

Lü Zhigang scowled. "Why are you still in the city? What are you doing here?"

Zhou Xiaoling was quick on the uptake. "What do you mean, 'still in the city'? Have you seen me before? Lü Zhigang, that's not very friendly. Back in school, you even talked me into stealing cigarettes from my dad."

They were two years apart. Because her parents were often busy, Zhou Xiaoling had started school early and was Lü Zhigang's classmate and deskmate in middle school.

Lü Zhigang was from a different district and had only heard about Zhou Xiaoling's privileged family background. He'd never met any of her relatives besides herself.

Lü Zhigang's face darkened further. "That was ages ago. Why bring that up now?"

Zhou Xiaoling held onto his sleeve tightly. "No way! You're unbelievable. You saw me and didn't even say hello. Back then, I didn't just steal cigarettes for you—I got you alcohol too, and even shared meat from our family meals. And now you ignore me? How heartless."

Lü Zhigang was exasperated. "Then why don't you mention how you reported me to the teacher when I skipped class or got into fights?"

Zhou Xiaoling puffed out her chest righteously. "I was doing it for your own good! I didn't want you to go down the wrong path."

Lü Zhigang snorted. "And getting people to beat me up was also for my own good?"

Zhou Xiaoling scratched her head awkwardly. "Well... that was because they said you were peeping in the girls' bathroom."

Lü Zhigang grew agitated. "I never peeped in the girls' bathroom! I was framed!"

Zhou Xiaoling nodded quickly. "I know, I know. We found out later you were innocent."

There they stood, two people in their twenties, arguing at the staircase like a pair of middle schoolers.

When Lin Xiaoxiao came out, she was surprised to see the female soldier knew Lü Zhigang.

Spotting Lin Xiaoxiao, Lü Zhigang instantly became serious. "Let go of me. This is hardly appropriate."

Zhou Xiaoling also noticed Lin Xiaoxiao and immediately released his sleeve, smiling at her.

Lin Xiaoxiao smiled back and asked Lü Zhigang, "You two know each other?"

Zhou Xiaoling was surprised that Lü Zhigang knew this pretty woman. She felt an instant liking for Lin Xiaoxiao—she had a soft spot for all beautiful people and things.

Before Lü Zhigang could answer, she cut in: "I'm Zhou Xiaoling. Lü Zhigang and I were classmates in middle school. We even shared a desk."

Lin Xiaoxiao never imagined such a coincidence—the girl also had the surname Zhou. Even more surprising was that she and Lü Zhigang were classmates. Seeing how well the two looked together, she smiled and said, "That's such a coincidence! Do you live here too?"

Zhou Xiaoling nodded. "Yes, I'm reporting to my new unit tomorrow, so I'm staying here tonight."

Lü Zhigang couldn't help asking, "Which unit? Why come to this godforsaken place instead of staying in Beijing?"

Zhou Xiaoling gave him a strange look. "You're here too, aren't you? Why can't I come? I'm going to the Second Institute."

Both Lü Zhigang and Lin Xiaoxiao were stunned. The Second Institute was Zhou Huai'an's unit. They would be colleagues.

Lü Zhigang stared at her in disbelief. "What are you going to do at the Second Institute? Cause trouble? What can you even do? You slept through class!"

Zhou Xiaoling glared at him, annoyed. "What's your problem? I haven't done anything to you."

Seeing another argument brewing, Lin Xiaoxiao quickly interjected, "Weren't you supposed to go to the hospital with Zhou Huai'an? He's still waiting for you in the room."

Ignoring Zhou Xiaoling, Lü Zhigang went upstairs to find Zhou Huai'an.

Zhou Xiaoling rolled her eyes and turned back to the front desk to check in. Lin Xiaoxiao was there to ask for a thermos and waited for her to finish.

Soon, Zhou Huai'an and Lü Zhigang came down together. They nodded to Lin Xiaoxiao and walked out side by side.

Zhou Xiaoling stared, her eyes practically glued to Zhou Huai'an, making Lin Xiaoxiao wonder if she also had a crush on him.

She subtly shifted her position, blocking Zhou Xiaoling's view.

Only then did Zhou Xiaoling reluctantly look away, too distracted to sign her name properly. She couldn't help turning to Lin Xiaoxiao. "Who was that man to you?"

Although she could guess they were married, she wanted confirmation.

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't mind the question. "He's my husband."

Zhou Xiaoling beamed. "You make a lovely couple. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

The unexpected compliment made Lin Xiaoxiao a little shy. "Oh, not really. I thought maybe you knew him."

Zhou Xiaoling quickly shook her head. "No, no, I've never seen him before. It's just that he looks a lot like a relative of mine."

Lin Xiaoxiao was full of questions. That opening line sounded familiar—wasn't that how people often started a pickup attempt? "You look like my friend," or "You remind me of someone."

She never expected Zhou Xiaoling to use that tactic.

Seeing Lin Xiaoxiao's skepticism, Zhou Xiaoling insisted earnestly, "Really, it's true! I was shocked too. If not for their different auras, they'd look identical."

Lin Xiaoxiao had just finished spinning a wild theory about Zhou Huai'an's background with Lü Zhigang, and now here was someone claiming he looked like a relative.

The timing felt too coincidental—absurdly so.

Instantly on guard, she studied Zhou Xiaoling carefully. Her eyes seemed clear and sincere. Still suspicious, Lin Xiaoxiao asked, "They look that similar?"

Zhou Xiaoling nodded vigorously. "Yes, very much. I have a photo; you'll see when I show you."

She dropped her travel bag on the floor and began rummaging through it for the diary where she kept the photograph.

But after searching through everything, she couldn't find it. Anxious and sweating, she muttered, "I remember putting it in this bag. Where did it go?"