Lin Xiaoxiao glared, irritated, yet she knew her brother was right. She truly had no head for business. She had no idea how other time-travelers managed to build fortunes, but she certainly lacked that visionary spark.

Lin Wenbin, however, didn’t press the issue further. "Aren’t you earning some extra money by submitting articles to magazines? That’s good enough. After graduation, just become a doctor—live a stable, peaceful life. A girl doesn’t need to push herself too hard. When your brother has the means later, I’ll open a hospital for you."

Xiaoxiao pouted. "And then I’ll probably run it into the ground."

Wenbin laughed, lifting Duoduo high into the air, making the baby giggle uncontrollably, drool dripping down his chin.

After playing for a while, he suddenly remembered something important. "Duoduo’s household registration hasn’t been finalized, right? What are you planning to name him? He’s not going to take the Zhou family name, is he?"

Xiaoxiao shook her head quickly. "No, no. My mother-in-law suggested Duoduo take my surname, Lin. We just haven’t decided on a name yet. She says this child has a special connection with me."

Wenbin seemed satisfied. "I’ll take Duoduo for a kinship test later, see if he’s actually related to me. Then we can think of a proper name."

Xiaoxiao had considered this before, but private DNA testing didn’t exist in this era—hospitals couldn’t do it, only judicial centers could, for official purposes.

She’d thought about asking Zhou Xiaocheng for help, but that would reveal too much.

"I was thinking I could do it secretly in the lab once I start studying that field," she said. "But if you want it done now, who would you get to do the test?"

Wenbin grinned. "Zhou Xiaocheng, of course. Wouldn’t it be foolish not to use such a convenient resource?"

Xiaoxiao was shocked. "You want Zhou Xiaocheng to find out we’re not from this world? And if the test shows you and Duoduo are related, how would you explain it? Remember, you’re supposed to be my cousin, whose parents died. Where would Duoduo come from?"

Wenbin waved a hand dismissively. "Don’t worry about that. Just focus on thinking of some nice names for me."

Xiaoxiao fell silent. If Lin Wenbin decided to manipulate Zhou Xiaocheng, he probably could. After all, Xiaocheng was straightforward and honest, unlike Wenbin, who wouldn’t hesitate to use underhanded methods.

Because it was the Winter Solstice, Xiaoxiao had invited Zhang Wanqing over for dumplings.

Wanqing happily agreed. Close to noon, she arrived carrying a fish and a can of powdered milk. Stepping inside, she froze for a second upon seeing Lin Wenbin holding Duoduo on the sofa.

Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered she’d been meaning to arrange a meal for Wenbin and Wanqing to formally meet, but recent schoolwork had made her forget.

Seeing Wanqing’s hesitation, she quickly went over and linked arms with her. "Perfect timing! The dumplings are just wrapped. Come on, let me introduce you. This is my brother, Lin Wenbin."

She then shot a meaningful look and a smile at Wenbin. "Brother, this is my classmate, Zhang Wanqing. You’ll have to look out for her if she ever needs help."

Internally, Wenbin snorted. His sister only called him "brother" so sweetly, like it was dipped in honey, when she needed something. Otherwise, it was straight to "Lin Wenbin." Externally, he smiled amiably. "Hello. Xiaoxiao talks about you often at home."

Seeing Wenbin play the part of a stranger, Wanqing, no fool herself, smiled brightly. "Hello, Brother Lin. I’ve heard a lot about you from Xiaoxiao too—she says you’re very capable. I won’t stand on ceremony if I need help later!"

Xiaoxiao glanced at Wanqing. So she could be articulate! How come when she was with Zhou Xiaocheng, all she did was eat?

Studying Wanqing, Wenbin felt a flicker of surprise. This young, pretty girl had been operating in the ghost market and emerged unscathed? She must have some skill.

Li Yunlan was delighted to see Zhang Wanqing. She liked this girl, who shared Xiaoling’s simple, good-natured heart, and secretly hoped Wanqing might become her daughter-in-law.

It was a pity, though, that Zhou Xiaocheng was too busy with work to come home for the solstice dumplings. In the end, Wenbin packed two lunchboxes of dumplings to take back.

After lunch, Li Yunlan suggested Xiaoxiao take Duoduo and An’an upstairs for a nap. Zhang Wanqing followed. The two young women lay on the bed chatting in hushed tones because of the two sleeping children between them.

After discussing an experiment scheduled for the following week, Wanqing abruptly changed the subject. "About that overseas Chinese English teacher Meng Xiaona mentioned—she’s already in Beijing. When I was leaving, I saw Meng Xiaona dressed like a proud peacock, heading out proudly. She told me she was going to see that teacher, Linda, I think?"

Xiaoxiao made a noncommittal sound. "You have to admit, Meng Xiaona knows how to work things and seize an opportunity."

Wanqing was dismissive. "What’s the use? She’s so involved with Dai Xueming now. If she gets married, would she still go abroad?"

Xiaoxiao didn’t see a conflict. "It wouldn’t be unheard of to abandon a man for better prospects. Look at all the students who come to the city for university and leave their rural partners behind. Some even owe their chance at university to those partners, only to discard them after arriving in the city."

Wanqing expressed disdain for such people. "I wouldn’t do that."

She then grew curious about what kind of person Zhou Huai’an was.

She felt that Lin Xiaoxiao, who had endured the most hardship, had changed significantly. The happiness in her eyes was unmistakable, and she even playfully teased Wanqing sometimes.

Their conversation eventually trailed off as they drifted into a nap.

In the afternoon, heavy snow began to fall. The snowflakes, large as goose feathers, continued all night, and by morning, the accumulation reached past their calves.

Riding a bicycle to school was impossible, so Xiaoxiao had to walk. By the time she arrived, the first class was half over.

She slipped in through the back door to her seat. As she pulled out her textbooks, she glanced around the classroom and noticed over a dozen empty seats. Chen Fangfei was also absent.

Zhang Wanqing, as if reading her mind, secretly passed her a note. It explained that Teacher Linda had already arrived at the university and was giving a open lecture first thing in the morning. Many of their classmates had gone to listen.

Foreigners seemed mysterious to them, and overseas Chinese were equally intriguing.

Xiaoxiao didn’t think much of it. She organized her books and focused on the lecture.

When class ended, Meng Xiaona and some other students who had attended the lecture returned, chatting animatedly. "Teacher Linda’s English is so good! Just like in the foreign movies, with such a beautiful intonation. And don’t you think? Having lived abroad really shows—her demeanor is so elegant," Meng Xiaona said, her voice full of admiration and longing.

A classmate who had gone with them suddenly exclaimed, "I just realized why Teacher Linda looked so familiar! Don’t you think Lin Xiaoxiao in our class looks a lot like her?"