Zhou Xiaoling jolted upright in bed, her heart hammering. Though irritation flashed through her, she held back from shouting at Lin Zihao. "How did you get up here?" she demanded, her voice tight.

Ignoring her completely, Zihao clutched his pillow and scrambled onto her bed. "Jiejie, it's dark," he whined. "I'm scared. I don't want to sleep alone. I want to sleep with you."

Startled all over again, Xiaoling pushed at his arm. "Get down! Right now! You're not allowed up here. If you don't get off, I'll never speak to you again!"

The threat hit its mark. Zihao froze, then reluctantly slid off the bed. He stood barefoot on the floor, hugging his pillow, rooted to the spot. His eyes, wide and brimming with accusation, locked onto hers—a silent plea that sent a sharp pang of guilt through her. For a moment, she felt like the one who had done something terribly wrong.

Before she could utter another word, Zhou Hua'an strode into the room. Without explanation, he grabbed Zihao by the arm and marched him out. "If I catch you up here again, you'll be locked in your room," he warned.

Trembling, Zihao cried out, "Jiejie! Jiejie!" His wails grew loud enough to rouse the entire household. Soon, family members emerged from their rooms, pulling on robes and exchanging curious glances.

When Li Yunlan realized Zihao had sneaked into Xiaoling's room, she voiced her concern. "Zihao, if you're frightened, your uncle can stay with you."

Overwhelmed by the sudden audience, Zihao wanted to refuse but didn't dare. He gave a meek nod. "Okay." Before being led away, he shot one last, pitiful look at Xiaoling.

Zhou Zhennan brought bedding to Zihao's room and prepared a pallet on the floor. With sleep now out of the question for everyone, he decided to address the delicate subject. "Xiaoling is a girl, and you are a boy. You cannot sleep in the same room," he explained gently.

Zihao looked baffled. "Why not?"

"Because you are different genders. Xiaoling will get married one day, and so will you."

"What's marriage?" Zihao asked, still confused.

Zhennan thought for a moment. "It is like me and your aunt, or Hua'an and Lin Xiaoxiao. When people marry, they share their lives—and a bedroom."

Zihao brightened. "Then I'll marry Jiejie. Then we can sleep together."

Zhennan sighed inwardly. "That is not possible. You and Xiaoling are related by blood. Relatives cannot marry."

But Zihao couldn't grasp it. "I want to get married," he insisted.

Feeling more drained than after a long political meeting, Zhennan gave up. "It's late. Time for sleep."

Upstairs, Huai'an and Xiaoxiao were still awake. They had waited for their daughter to fall asleep, hoping for some privacy, but just as things were becoming intimate, Huai'an caught the faint sound of footsteps on the stairs. He didn't need to guess who it was. Suppressing a groan, he dressed and went to intercept the intruder.

Later, curled beside him, Xiaoxiao murmured, "How does Zihao always find Xiaoling's room so easily? He's never even been upstairs before."

"Tracking is his strongest instinct," Huai'an replied. "If he wants to find someone, he will. His sense of smell is remarkably sharp, almost like a hound's."

"Even after all he's been through, he hasn't lost that," Xiaoxiao marveled.

Huai'an nodded, his expression turning serious. "We must remind Xiaoling to keep her distance. However you look at it, those two cannot be together."

"I will talk to her," Xiaoxiao promised. Yet, a part of her couldn't help wishing for a miracle—something that would prove Zihao wasn't truly a Lin by blood, freeing him and Xiaoling to be together.

"Miracles like that are rare," Huai'an said gently, as if reading her thoughts. "Besides, Zihao bears a resemblance to his father."

"People who live together long enough start to look alike," Xiaoxiao argued half-heartedly.

Huai'an cupped her cheek. "Do not put ideas in Xiaoling's head. We must not let her hope for the impossible."

"I know. I won't," Xiaoxiao assured him, though the secret hope lingered in her heart.

Some days later, on a quiet morning, Zhou Liyun had gone to visit her own home. Xiaoxiao sat in the living room with Li Yunlan, watching the older woman skillfully make shoes. Though Xiaoxiao had no talent for the craft herself, she observed with genuine interest.

Nearby, Hua'an played with the children as they crawled cheerfully across a quilt spread on the floor. The scene was so peaceful that Xiaoxiao felt a deep contentment. If only her parents could be part of it, everything would be perfect.

"I went to see Duoduo the other day," she mentioned to Yunlan.

At the child's name, Yunlan brightened. "How is he? Has he gained weight? Is he talking yet? Oh, I wonder if he still remembers me."

Xiaoxiao smiled. "He still calls me Mama. I keep telling him to call me Jiejie, but he forgets. He's as affectionate as ever—always wants me to hold him."

Yunlan's eyes softened with yearning. Even with three children in the house, her love for little ones was boundless. "What a sweet boy. You must bring him for a visit. I would love to see him again."

"Duoduo's father is in town as well," Xiaoxiao added. "He has been wanting to thank you properly. I postponed it because things were so busy with Zihao's situation."

Sitting on a stool by the window, Zihao heard his name and turned. "Saozi, is Jiejie coming back?" he asked. He had been stationed by the window all morning, waiting for any sign of Xiaoling.

"Not yet," Xiaoxiao told him softly before turning back to Yunlan. "They would like to come for a meal. Perhaps we could also discuss formally acknowledging Duoduo as part of the family?"

Yunlan's eyes lit up, but before she could answer, Hua'an glanced over from the floor and remarked casually, "I heard something about sworn kinship. We should discuss it when they visit."

Both women turned to him in surprise. Since when did he pay such close attention to these matters?

Xiaoxiao hid a smile. Perhaps, just perhaps, things were falling into place.