Lin Xiaoxiao studied her more closely, and the more she looked, the more convinced she became. But why would Luo Caixia be poisoned?

When Zhou Xiaoling realized Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't responding, she nudged her arm again. "Sis, who was that just now?"

Lin Xiaoxiao snapped out of her thoughts and let out a short laugh. "Oh, she's something else. She's from your brother's village."

She then gave a detailed account of Luo Caixia's history, though she left out the part about the assault. Despite disliking the woman, she was still a victim in that situation, and gossiping about it felt wrong.

Even without that detail, Zhou Xiaoling was shocked and found it hard to believe. "How could she be so brazen? Letting everyone think she was my brother's girlfriend? What will she do when the truth comes out?"

Lin Xiaoxiao clicked her tongue. "Look at her—not only is she fine, but she's even shown up here."

Zhou Xiaoling just couldn't understand it. "A proper girl would never act like that. And doesn't her family care? If I ever did something like that, my mother would break my legs. I'd rather stay unmarried than lose all self-respect."

Talking about Luo Caixia felt like inviting bad luck. Lin Xiaoxiao pulled Zhou Xiaoling along.

"Enough, enough. Let's just go home and make dumplings. She's not worth our time."

Back home, they busied themselves mixing dough, chopping filling, and washing vegetables.

Zhou Xiaoling squatted to clean the scallions, chattering away about her childhood and telling Lin Xiaoxiao all about her family.

Lin Xiaoxiao had never met some of these relatives, but she'd heard Zhou Xiaoling mention them so many times that they felt familiar.

Suddenly, Zhou Xiaoling remembered a piece of gossip. "Sis, I have to tell you something, but don't be scared."

Lin Xiaoxiao laughed. "How can I be scared when I don't even know what it is? What is it?"

Zhou Xiaoling shuffled closer. "People say there's been ghost activity near our unit. At night, some have seen a horse-drawn carriage pass by. When guards chased it, the carriage just...

vanished into thin air. And more than one person has seen it."

Lin Xiaoxiao smirked. "That's it? I thought it would be scarier. Do you also see will-o'-the-wisps on the mountain?"

Zhou Xiaoling nodded. "Yes! Will-o'-the-wisps appear on the mountain all the time—little dots of light. It gives me the chills."

Lin Xiaoxiao grinned. "Clearly, you didn't pay attention in science class. 'Will-o'-the-wisps' on mountains are caused by phosphorus from decomposing bones igniting when it meets the air."

Zhou Xiaoling giggled. "Then how do you explain the carriage? But our unit leadership said it might be sabotage, so my brother will be really busy lately."

Lin Xiaoxiao gave her a look of mock disdain. "Your ghost stories aren't scary at all. I'll tell you one later that'll make you afraid to go to the bathroom at night."

Zhou Xiaoling refused to believe it. "No way! I've fought wolves in Tibet and been trapped in a snow cave for days."

They chatted and laughed as they wrapped dumplings.

Once the dumplings were made, they waited until dark, but Zhou Huai'an still hadn't returned. Lin Xiaoxiao decided not to wait any longer and started a fire to boil them.

She also prepared two cold dishes. "I'll remember your birthday now. Next year, I'll make you a proper feast and even bake you a birthday cake."

Zhou Xiaoling's face lit up. "Really? I've never had birthday cake before. I've seen them at the women's department store in Beijing, but my dad says that's something for capitalist girls."

Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't help but laugh. "That's surprising. Your dad seems pretty open-minded."

Zhou Xiaoling shook her head. "Not about everything. You'll see—he seems easygoing, but he can be really stubborn on certain things."

Lin Xiaoxiao placed a bowl of boiled dumplings in front of Zhou Xiaoling. "No cake, but you can make a wish over these. Birthday wishes are more likely to come true."

Zhou Xiaoling blinked. "Really?"

She closed her eyes solemnly, her expression turning serious.

After she made her wish, Lin Xiaoxiao teased, "Was it about Lin Zihao?"

Zhou Xiaoling gasped and shot her a reproachful look. "Sis! Even if you guessed, you shouldn't say it out loud! I'm so embarrassed."

Lin Xiaoxiao felt a little worried for her. "You won't let me ask about him, and you won't make a move yourself. With a personality like Lin Zihao's, when will he ever notice you? If you like him, just try. What if it works out?"

Zhou Xiaoling quickly changed the subject. "Let's just eat! Come on, let's eat the dumplings."

She lowered her head and popped a steaming dumpling into her mouth. It was like a burst of lava. Tears sprang to her eyes as she waved a hand frantically in front of her mouth, gasping, "Oh my god, that's so hot!"

Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't help but laugh as she poured her a glass of cool water.

Zhou Xiaoling patted her chest and drank the water. A few tears had escaped, leaving her eyes slightly red. But the real ache was in her heart.

To her, Lin Zihao was the moon in the sky—bright and untouchable. And she was just Zhou Xiaoling, lively and earthbound. They were never meant to be together.

Maybe it was enough just to admire him from afar.

That night, Zhou Huai'an didn't return. He only sent a message with their neighbor Wang Wenju: there was an emergency meeting, and she should rest early.

An inexplicable unease settled over Lin Xiaoxiao. She knew Zhou Huai'an was responsible for security at the Second Institute—a classified military research unit. But what exactly did he do?

Was his work dangerous?

She didn't know and couldn't ask. When he came home, he never discussed work.

Not knowing made her worry more. Anything involving military secrets had to carry some risk, right?

Unable to sleep without him there, she decided to finish all her translation work in one go. She checked it several times, correcting awkward grammar.

Rubbing her eyes, she packed the pages neatly into her small leather suitcase. She would recopy them when she had time, then mail them off. Another translation fee would be on its way—the thought lifted her mood. By the time she finished, the sky was already light.

Seeing there was no time to go back to sleep, she got up to wash up. Outside, it was still and quiet, the world hazy and dim in the early dawn.

Lin Xiaoxiao, who usually loved sleeping in, took a few deep breaths of the crisp morning air and suddenly felt like going for a run. Grabbing a towel, she headed out, planning to run to the medical station gate and back.

She felt determined—she would start exercising every morning. She couldn't let Zhou Huai'an outperform her in stamina.

As she neared the medical station entrance, a rustling sound came from the cornfield beside the road.

She slowed down, glancing back. The cornfield fell silent again in the gray morning light.

Puzzled, and sure she hadn't imagined it, she kept jogging slowly, looking back over her shoulder. Without any wind, one patch of corn stalks was shaking noticeably.

Lin Xiaoxiao frowned. A wild boar?