Lin Xiaoxiao giggled to herself, while Zhou Xiaoling, shoveling rice into her mouth, sighed. "My brother's been gone for ages, and you're still smiling. Are you really that happy?"

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded proudly. "Yes, I am! Your brother said I did the right thing today."

Zhou Xiaoling couldn't help but shudder playfully. "Ugh, that's so mushy." Then she shifted to another question. "So, did you really do the same thing as that old woman in the past?"

Lin Xiaoxiao really didn't want to discuss the original owner's shady history, but she nodded helplessly. "I wasn't thinking straight back then. I'm better now."

Zhou Xiaoling looked at her skeptically. "So those rumors about you were true? That you argued with everyone in the compound, that you'd pick fights with anyone who walked by, saying awful things... and that you even yelled at my brother? Called him a country bumpkin?"

Lin Xiaoxiao listened with embarrassment. She couldn't deny it—the original owner had indeed done those things. But admitting it felt unfair.

Zhou Xiaoling suddenly exclaimed, "They must've exaggerated! I'm a good judge of character, and I like you. I don't believe everything they say."

After a moment's thought, Lin Xiaoxiao decided to be honest. "I did say those things, but I was immature. After going through some things with your brother, I realized I was prejudiced. And now... I really like him."

Zhou Xiaoling made a face. "Of course I know you like him. You can't take your eyes off him when he's around!"

Lin Xiaoxiao glared. "Stop exaggerating. I do not!"

They finished their meal laughing and teasing each other. Since Zhou Huai'an wasn't home, Zhou Xiaoling lingered and ended up taking a nap with Lin Xiaoxiao.

By evening, Zhou Huai'an returned with a new cast-iron wok.

Zhou Xiaoling stuck around for dinner again. Next door, it was unusually quiet—so much so that Lin Xiaoxiao almost found it strange.

After dinner, Zhou Xiaoling tactfully helped wash the dishes before leaving.

Once alone, Lin Xiaoxiao became playful again. She sat by the small table watching Zhou Huai'an fill the thermos. "You didn't even ask me once all day if I was sore. How heartless."

Zhou Huai'an set down the thermos, looking slightly awkward, and sat beside her. Obediently, he asked, "Are you uncomfortable anywhere? Does it still hurt?"

He never knew girls could be so delicate—especially Lin Xiaoxiao, who had whimpered and criticized him all night.

And now he understood what his married comrades used to joke about—once you start, it's hard to stop. He'd even found his mind wandering during meetings today.

Lin Xiaoxiao pouted. "It won't hurt if you're gentler next time. Also, I want to discuss something."

It was something she'd been thinking about all day, and saying it out loud made her feel a little selfish.

Zhou Huai'an nodded. "Go ahead."

Lin Xiaoxiao took a breath. "Can we... not have a child right now? I think I'm still too young. Let's enjoy being just the two of us for a couple of years first."

Zhou Huai'an froze. His heart clenched with a dull ache. He thought her not wanting a child meant she was prepared to leave at any time.

But he didn't know how to make her stay.

Though it hurt, his expression remained calm. He nodded. "Alright."

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes curved into happy crescents. "I knew you'd agree. If we had a child now, I'd end up like Zhang Yimei, caring for a baby all day—it would affect our relationship. I'd rather it just be us for now."

She did have her reasons. If by some twist of fate she returned to her original world, what would happen to a child?

Maybe she could be coldly practical—choose her parents over a lover.

But with a child, she wouldn't know how to choose. Either way would be heartbreaking.

Seeing Zhou Huai'an silent, she smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "In a couple of years, we'll definitely have a baby. Besides, the best age for a woman to have children is around twenty-two. I'm still too young."

If after two years she still hadn't returned, she likely never would.

Zhou Huai'an held her tightly. "Okay."

That night, they naturally found themselves wrapped up in sweetness again. Lin Xiaoxiao decided Zhou Huai'an was a silent but diligent student!

It felt like another night without much sleep.

When Lin Xiaoxiao dragged herself out of bed the next morning, she made a mental note to discuss this with Zhou Huai'an: intimacy needed to be regular but not excessive, so they could stay healthy and harmonious.

She was so tired she stayed in bed until hunger finally drove her up. On the table was a meal he'd left—though it was cold now.

It was fried rice with plenty of eggs.

She smiled, thinking he probably wanted to make sure she ate well and kept her strength up.

When Zhou Huai'an returned that evening, he brought a chicken with him—a plump old hen.

Lin Xiaoxiao was surprised. "Where did you get that?"

"Bought it from a village on my way back. It's too late today—I'll make you chicken soup tomorrow." As he spoke, he found some string to tie the chicken's legs and placed it by the door, covering it with an old basket.

Lin Xiaoxiao watched with her hands behind her back, enjoying this simple domestic scene.

Then she followed Zhou Huai'an as he carried a basin to the water faucet in the yard to wash his hands. "You don't have to make breakfast when you're busy in the mornings. I can make it myself."

Instead of responding, he brought up something else. "Would you like to work at the medical station? It pays eighteen yuan a month, plus twenty jin of grain rations and three jin of soybean oil. It's not an official position, so the pay is lower."

Eighteen yuan—in the future, that wouldn't even buy a bowl of noodles, but now it could cover a month's expenses. Thinking it would be better than staying home every day, she agreed happily.

"Sure, I'd be bored with nothing to do. Did you arrange this?"

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "No, Director Chen approached me. He asked if you'd be interested. He heard about how you handled the burn case and thought you had medical skill."

Lin Xiaoxiao was pleased. Who knew arguing could land her a job?

The medical station wasn't directly part of Zhou Huai'an's unit. Their unit had a more advanced medical team, but it served only internal staff.

The station had been set up for families and nearby villagers—mostly handling colds, fevers, and minor injuries. Anything more serious was beyond its scope.

Good doctors were reluctant to come, and those who did seldom stayed long.

Lin Xiaoxiao happily squatted beside Zhou Huai'an. "So we can go to work together and come home together every day!"

Before Zhou Huai'an could respond, Dong Hongmei arrived smiling, carrying a basket of eggs.

She was usually plainly dressed, but today she had a green scarf tied around her neck.