Zhou Huai'an was caught off guard by Lin Xiaoxiao's sudden shift in topic—and such a bold one at that. He frowned, about to respond, when Lin Xiaoxiao quickly waved her hand.

"No need to say anything. I know it's not appropriate to talk about this in broad daylight. Let's save it for tonight," she said cheerfully.

Zhou Huai'an fell completely silent. He simply couldn't keep up with the way her mind worked, and he never knew what daring thing she might say next.He took a sip of tea and changed the subject. "How are you settling in these past couple of days? Are you keeping up with the coursework?"

Lin Xiaoxiao sighed, putting on a worried expression that made Zhou Huai'an's heart sink. He thought she was struggling with her studies—until she spoke again, her tone leisurely:"Studying is no problem at all. I'm pretty clever, after all. It's just... I miss you a little. Sleeping alone at night, the bed feels so cold."

Zhou Huai'an didn't understand how every topic somehow turned into something cheeky when it came out of Lin Xiaoxiao's mouth.He was only asking about her studies, and she still managed to steer it in this direction.

Seeing Zhou Huai'an once again rendered silent, Lin Xiaoxiao pursed her lips. Weren't you full of advice when you wrote me those letters teaching me how to behave? Why so quiet now?

Finally, Zhou Huai'an stood up with a hint of helplessness. "I need to go to the hospital to see Dr. Lu. Shall we go together?"

Lin Xiaoxiao happily packed the box and handed it to him. "Keep this safe for me, will you? It might get lost in the dorm."Then she crumpled the newspaper and stuffed it into her pocket—it could be used as toilet paper later.She felt she was becoming rougher around the edges by the day, adapting more and more to local ways.

Zhou Huai'an didn't refuse. It was true that the dorm wasn't the safest place, and she'd be heartbroken if it went missing. He placed the box into the bag he'd brought with him.

Beaming, Lin Xiaoxiao followed behind Zhou Huai'an with her hands clasped behind her back. As they entered the hospital, several of her classmates greeted her warmly.

Just before reaching the outpatient department, a man in a white shirt—buttoned all the way to the top—with a military satchel slung across his shoulder approached politely. "Comrade Lin, did you go out for lunch?"

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded cheerfully. "Yep! Family came to visit, so I ate outside."She couldn't quite remember this classmate's name—Dai something?

Dai Xueming smiled shyly at Zhou Huai'an. "Comrade Lin, is this your uncle?"He looked quite a bit older—certainly not like her brother.

Lin Xiaoxiao glanced at Zhou Huai'an and burst out laughing. "No, this is my husband."She left Dai Xueming staring in shock as she walked off with Zhou Huai'an.

Zhou Huai'an felt a strange twinge in his chest. For the first time, he wondered if he really was that much older than Lin Xiaoxiao. Only nine years—how could that make me her uncle?And clearly, Lin Xiaoxiao was very popular among her classmates.That realization stirred a vague, uncomfortable feeling in him.

Lin Xiaoxiao stole a few glances at Zhou Huai'an. Not seeing any obvious change in his expression, she still felt the need to reassure him:"Don't listen to him. You're not old at all, and you don't look like my uncle. Besides, I'm not some weirdo who would be into her own uncle, right?"Giggling, she skipped ahead toward Lu Yuanda's office.

Zhou Huai'an slowly turned her words over in his mind. Surprisingly, the restlessness inside him eased. He followed her into Dr. Lu's office.

Meanwhile, at the Zhou Family Home in Beijing:

Li Yunlan and Zhou Xiaohong hurried inside.The moment she saw Zhou Zhennan, Li Yunlan gripped his hand tightly. "We lost one son. I want him back. Bring him home."

Zhou Zhennan tried to calm her. "I already know. Don't get upset—let's talk this through, alright?"

Li Yunlan had barely slept the entire journey. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw images of Zhou Huai'an being abused as a child.Not knowing what he looked like back then, she pictured her younger son Zhou xiaocheng as a boy—soft, innocent, adorable.The thought of a child like that suffering under Wang Fenglan and Zhou Mancang filled her with murderous rage.

"No. You have to bring him home. No—wait, we need him to agree to come home. We can't force him. And Wang Fenglan—you have to make her pay! How dare she steal my son!"Her words were scattered, but her intent was clear: she wanted Zhou Huai'an home, and she wanted revenge.

Zhou Zhennan patted her back gently. "Alright, I'll look into it. Just try to stay calm. Let's talk properly, okay?"

He, too, was shaken to learn that one of their sons had been swapped. It was hard to believe someone could be so despicable.But he remained rational. After Zhou Xiaohong's call, he had looked into Zhou Huai'an's background.Though he hadn't seen a photo yet, he knew the young man was exceptional: a military veteran decorated for valor, his deeds even reported in the papers.Now transferred to the promising Second Research Institute, he was someone who had worked hard and steadily built his future.He was as outstanding as their own son Zhou Xiaocheng, who had sacrificed his life.

After reading the file, Zhou Zhennan had sat quietly in his office for a long time. This was his son.They hadn't met yet, but knowing he had grown up so capable filled him with both pride and ache.True to Zhou blood— resilient no matter the environment.

Now, he needed to meet Zhou Huai'an and hear what he thought.

But Li Yunlan couldn't be reasoned with. "I only came back to tell you—I'm packing my things and going to Longbei to be with him."

Zhou Xiaohong could only sigh. No matter what she'd said during the trip, her mother refused to yield.Zhou Huai'an had been so cold toward them at the Institute. Why couldn't she let go?She even felt that while biological bonds mattered, the love of the family who raised you also counted for much.Zhou Huai'an clearly didn't need family. Why did they have to push their way into his life?Wouldn't it be better to acknowledge him and simply stay in touch like distant relatives?

Just as Li Yunlan was breaking down, Zhou Xiaoming walked in."Mom, Xiaohong—when did you get back? Dad said you were worried about Xiaoling and went to check on Xiaoling. How is she? Is she doing alright over there?"

Zhou Xiaohong nodded. "Yes, Xiaoling is fine."

But Li Yunlan felt differently. She saw no reason to hide where they'd really been.Now, just the sight of Zhou Xiaoming irritated her—especially his eyes, those narrow, greedy triangles that reminded her so much of Wang Fenglan.The more she looked, the angrier she felt. She turned away with a cold snort, refusing to acknowledge him.

Zhou Xiaoming was taken aback. "What's wrong, Mom? Are you upset I didn't take Xiaoling to register? Something urgent came up, I had to return."

Zhou Xiaohong shook her head, unable to hold back. "Brother, we met someone in Longbei who looks exactly like Second Brother."