Lin Xiaoxiao found it hard to believe. In this day and age, an out-of-wedlock pregnancy would bring serious social condemnation.

Li Yunlan didn't buy it either, and she was visibly upset. "That's pure nonsense—probably spread by the Geng family themselves. What kind of people are they? And the Luo family—how could they go along with this?"

Although Zhou Liyun didn't move in the same social circles, she was related to the Zhou family and knew many of the neighbors. She was well-informed about the compound's gossip.

She lowered her voice. "Xiao Ran has an older brother. I heard he beat up someone from the Geng family—pretty badly, too. To keep him out of legal trouble, they want to settle privately. And the way to settle is for Xiao Ran to marry into the Geng family."

Lin Xiaoxiao was stunned. How could things like this still happen?

"And Xiao Ran agreed to that?"

Zhou Liyun nodded. "What choice does she have? Her mother favors sons over daughters—that boy is her whole world. If Xiao Ran doesn't marry, she'll be treated like a traitor to the family.

Besides, the Geng family has been rising lately. They have connections."

Li Yunlan scowled. "The Gengs are schemers. Nothing good about them."

Lin Xiaoxiao wondered—if Luo Anran knew Zhou Xiaocheng was still alive, would she still go through with the marriage? But Zhou Xiaocheng's survival was a secret that couldn't be shared.

Her heart ached for the ill-fated couple. In some ways, their situation seemed even sadder than hers and Zhou Huai'an's.

Surprisingly, the thought lifted a weight off her chest. She could breathe a little easier.

That evening, to her surprise, Luo Anran actually came to visit. She brought eggs, brown sugar, and two pieces of red cloth.

Li Yunlan, thinking the young women might like to talk, went upstairs to ask Lin Xiaoxiao if she wanted to see her.

Of course Lin Xiaoxiao did. She'd been curious about this "Xiao Ran" for a while. She changed into fresh clothes, put on a hat, and went to the neighboring room to meet her.

Luo Anran was a quiet, delicate-looking girl with a thick dark braid draped over one shoulder.

Based on Zhou Xiaoling's descriptions, Lin Xiaoxiao had imagined someone more vibrant and literary. The real person seemed... ordinary.

Luo Anran stood up and smiled. "I've been meaning to visit sooner, but I didn't have time before the New Year."

Lin Xiaoxiao smiled back and gestured for her to sit. "It's alright. I'm new here and don't know many people. I'm glad you came."

She itched to ask whether Luo Anran was truly willing to marry into the Geng family—and if not, whether she could still fight back.

But Luo Anran's eyes didn't look particularly sad or reluctant, so Lin Xiaoxiao held her tongue.

The conversation was polite but awkward, and soon they lapsed into silence.

It was Luo Anran who spoke first. "I'm getting married on the eighth. I won't invite you to the banquet—you're still in confinement, so you can't go out anyway."

Lin Xiaoxiao seized the opening. "So you're really getting married?"

Luo Anran nodded. "Yes. I'm twenty-seven already—an old maid."

Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't help herself. "But... can you really forget Zhou Xiaocheng?"

Luo Anran paused. "I guess we just weren't meant to be. I can't wait forever. I've already waited three years."

She smiled faintly. "You all probably think I'm being forced to marry Geng Aiguo, right? I'm not. He's... not a bad person."

There was nothing more to say. Lin Xiaoxiao could only wish her happiness.

After Luo Anran left, Li Yunlan was melancholy for a long time. She discussed it with Zhou Zhennan. "It would be awkward to attend the wedding, but I'll go the day after and give Xiao Ran a red envelope."

It pained them to see the young woman they'd once hoped would become their daughter-in-law marry someone else.

Zhou Zhennan agreed. "Make it a generous one."

Li Yunlan's thoughts drifted to Zhou Xiaocheng. "I wonder when Xiaocheng will come back... His future wife is marrying someone else."

Early on the morning of the eighth, firecrackers echoed through the compound—starting from the main gate and continuing all the way to the Geng residence a few rows behind the Zhou home. The three babies slept right through the noise.

Curious, Lin Xiaoxiao got up and peered out the window. She could see a crowded wedding procession. The Geng family was making quite a spectacle—intentionally setting off extra firecrackers near the Zhou house, almost as a provocation.

Zhou Liyun came over to look as well, fuming. "What are they trying to prove? Getting married is one thing, but setting off firecrackers right outside our gate? How shameless. It's like they want to rub it in our faces. As if marrying Luo Anran is some great triumph."

Lin Xiaoxiao also thought the Geng family was going too far. Everyone believed Zhou Xiaocheng had died a hero—to deliberately provoke his family like this was heartless.

Li Yunlan, however, remained calm. "Just ignore them. Look—No. 1 drank more formula today than yesterday. No. 2 wasn't as interested—is he feeling alright? But our little An'an is so good—she just eats and sleeps, trying to catch up to her brothers."

Since Lin Xiaoxiao insisted on waiting for Zhou Huai'an to name the children, they still had no formal names. With numbers on their foreheads, they'd started calling them "No. 1," "No. 2," and—for the little girl—"An'an," a name Li Yunlan had chosen in hopes that Zhou Huai'an would return safely. The family had adopted the nicknames without objection.

At Li Yunlan's remark, Zhou Liyun went over to look at the three babies lying side by side. "No. 2 is growing faster, I think. An'an has filled out too—look at her! She looks just like Xiaoxiao. She's going to be a little beauty."

Lin Xiaoxiao smiled and walked slowly over. She couldn't yet see the resemblance, but all three babies had grown noticeably rounder and less wrinkled.

They gently cleaned the babies' faces with soft gauze every day, so the numbers on their foreheads were still visible, though faded.

Thank goodness for those numbers—otherwise, she'd never tell her two sons apart. They were identical.

As she watched them, it struck her how much both boys resembled Zhou Huai'an. The thought of him made her heart ache again. She turned away and went back to bed.

Zhou Liyun glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao and quickly changed the subject. "Where's your brother today? What's he been up to lately?"