Lin Xiaoxiao blinked, her vision clearing until she could make out the man sitting on the sofa. His posture was straight and proud, his handsome features seeming veiled in a faint haze, making it difficult for her to see him clearly.

But she knew—this wasn't Zhou Huaian.

She blinked again, forcing back the tears, and became even more certain. This man lacked Zhou Huaian's stern, reserved demeanor.

Zhou Xiaoling also realized it wasn't their eldest brother, but the second brother, Zhou Xiaocheng. With a gasp, she rushed over. "Second Brother! Oh my heavens, Second Brother, is it really you? You're back?" She threw her arms around him. "Oh, Second Brother... wuu... why did it take you so long to come home?" Overwhelmed, she didn't know how else to express her feelings.

Zhou Xiaocheng offered a gentle smile, patting her back. "You're still such a child, crying at the drop of a hat." He gently pushed her away and stood up, his gaze settling on Lin Xiaoxiao.

"Sister-in-law."

Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't sure what she was feeling—a tumultuous mix of excitement and letdown.

Seeing Zhou Xiaocheng, who looked so much like Zhou Huaian, brought a deep, aching sadness.

Xiaocheng walked toward her, pulling a notebook from his pocket and handing it to her. "Big Brother asked me to give this to you."

Lin Xiaoxiao froze. She hadn't expected that he and Huaian had met. She stared at the black-covered journal, afraid to take it. Suddenly, tears welled up. "Why... why didn't he come back himself?"

If Zhou Xiaocheng could return, why couldn't Zhou Huaian? Had something happened?

The thought twisted her heart into a knot. Each breath felt like a knife stabbing her chest.

Xiaocheng was silent for a moment. "I'm with the Northern Command. I was due for rotation. Big Brother... isn't able to yet."

Lin Xiaoxiao still refused to take the diary, just staring at it silently. She didn't believe him. Following every story and TV drama trope, Zhou Huaian must be in trouble. Otherwise, why could Xiaocheng return but not him? She refused to believe the explanation.

Zhou Zhennan also stood up. Seeing Lin Xiaoxiao on the verge of tears, he went over to comfort her. "Xiaoxiao, Xiaocheng is telling the truth. Huaian is fine."

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't respond, silently wiping away a tear.

Zhou Xiaoling, stunned by the news that her two brothers had met, hurried over and hugged Lin Xiaoxiao. "Sister-in-law, Second Brother is right. Big Brother must be okay. If something had happened, they would tell you. They wouldn't hide it."

Finally, Lin Xiaoxiao reached out and took the journal. She lowered her head, flipping through the pages numbly.

Xiaocheng softened his voice. "Big Brother said he didn't know if the babies had names yet. He chose two names for boys. If they were girls... he hadn't decided. He felt no name would be good enough for his daughter."

"There are three children," Xiaoling corrected. "Two boys and a girl."

Xiaocheng paused, then smiled. "That's wonderful."

Having no heart for conversation, Lin Xiaoxiao took the diary and quietly went upstairs, her emotions in turmoil. She had noticed Xiaocheng's face—thinner, his lips chapped. It spoke of a harsh, difficult life out there.

The more she thought about it, the worse she felt. Holding the diary, she sat in her room, tears falling as she read Zhou Huaian's entries.

They were simple records: the daily weather, his surroundings, some brief reflections. One page was filled with potential baby names, with Zhou Lizheng and Zhou Lirong circled emphatically. Nothing was written after that. She flipped through the entire journal but found no mention of her name, not a single word of longing.

Lin Xiaoxiao wiped her tears. "Foolish man. Doesn't even miss home."

But unwilling to accept it, she started from the beginning again. She noticed each date was followed by the weather, and then a single phrase: All is well.

Unlike his other hurried scribbles, the character for "well" was written with careful, deliberate strokes—neat and full of intention.

Suddenly, her composure broke. She wiped her tears and closed the diary. Not a single word said he missed her, yet every character seemed filled with the sentiment.

Downstairs, Zhou Xiaoling waited a while before telling Li Yunlan she was going up. She pushed the door open to find Lin Xiaoxiao sitting on the floor, continuously wiping her eyes.

Xiaoling went over and sat beside her on the floor. "Sister-in-law, you should be relieved. We've waited so long, and now we finally have news. It means Big Brother is safe."

Lin Xiaoxiao wiped her tears hard. "If he's safe, and your Second Brother came back, why didn't he bring a single letter? Not one thing for us? I don't believe they had no time to say goodbye."

Xiaoling couldn't explain it. If he could bring a diary, why not a simple note?

Lin Xiaoxiao turned to the last page of the diary. "Look here. This date is March 3rd—the day the babies turned one month old. He never wrote anything after that. Are you telling me he had no time to write?"

Xiaoling opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Lin Xiaoxiao sniffled. "Zhou Xiaocheng is lying. Something must have happened to your brother. They just don't want us to worry. Otherwise, why bring back this old diary?"

Perhaps it was the sheer weight of her grief, but her heart felt so tightly wound she could no longer cry.

Xiaoling stayed beside her, unsure how to comfort her. Lin Xiaoxiao's reasoning sounded painfully valid.

Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't the only one with doubts; Zhou Zhennan shared them too. Only Li Yunlan seemed to fully believe Zhou Xiaocheng's words—or perhaps she simply refused to think too deeply about it.

It wasn't until the three babies woke up crying that Lin Xiaoxiao finally dried her tears and went to tend to them. Zhou Liyun and the nanny came up to help change diapers and prepare formula.

Xiaoling stood by helplessly, watching Lin Xiaoxiao sniff back tears while deftly changing a diaper.

After a moment, she hurried off to find Lin Wenbin. He would know how to comfort her.

When Lin Wenbin heard, he rushed over with Xiaoling, complaining under his breath the whole way. "That Zhou Xiaocheng... what was he thinking, handing her a diary of all things? That girl is too clever for her own good."

Xiaoling had no defense. "Don't blame my Second Brother now. Just go and talk to her."This situation seemed even more serious than when Zhou Huaian left just after the babies were born.

No one could clarify Zhou Huaian's current status—not even Zhou Bingwen could inquire too deeply. Rules were rules.

Lin Wenbin glanced briefly at Zhou Xiaocheng as he entered, then hurried upstairs. Seeing Lin Xiaoxiao holding An'an, her eyes just slightly red but her expression calm, he let out a sigh of relief. "Your brother-in-law coming home is good news, isn't it? Why the tears? You look like you're preparing for widowhood."