Lin Xiaoxiao watched Zhou Xiaoling's frantic search; it didn't seem like an act. She crouched down to help her gather her things. "Don't panic. Try to remember—are you sure it was in this bag?"

Zhou Xiaoling was nearly in tears. The diary didn't just contain the photo—it held the last letter her second brother had ever written to her. Her eyes reddened as she looked at Lin Xiaoxiao. "I put it in this bag yesterday."

Suddenly, it occurred to her that she might have left it in her room at the city guesthouse. She shot to her feet. "Could you watch my things for me? I'm going back to look."

Without waiting for a response, she dashed off in a hurry.

Lin Xiaoxiao sighed, packed the scattered items back into the travel bag, and moved it aside to wait.

Nearly two hours later, Zhou Xiaoling returned, sweating and with red-rimmed eyes. "It's gone. I couldn't find it. I don't know where I lost it."

She sat down next to Lin Xiaoxiao, utterly dejected.

By now, Lin Xiaoxiao's curiosity was thoroughly piqued. Not being able to see the photo was frustrating. "Think carefully. Were you with anyone else, or were you alone the whole time?"

Zhou Xiaoling slapped her forehead. "Yes! My eldest brother. I was with him. He saw my diary... But why would he take it?"

Already influenced by her own "switched-at-birth" theory, Lin Xiaoxiao found everyone suspicious. "Your eldest brother? Does he look like my husband too?"

Zhou Xiaoling shook her head honestly. "No, he doesn't. My eldest brother is quite ordinary-looking—not as handsome as my second brother. Even though they're twins, no one would believe it."

A bold idea began forming in Lin Xiaoxiao's mind. "What does your eldest brother look like?

Someone as pretty as you must have a decent-looking brother."

Zhou Xiaoling shook her head again. "My mom says he takes after our grandfather's side of the family. My second brother, my sister, and I look more like my aunt and my dad."

Lin Xiaoxiao fell silent, studying Zhou Xiaoling's face intently, searching for any resemblance to Zhou Huai'an.

After a long moment, she couldn't find any.

Zhou Xiaoling was on the verge of tears again. "That diary didn't just have the photo... It had the last letter my second brother ever wrote to me."

Lin Xiaoxiao softened. "What happened to your second brother?"

Zhou Xiaoling broke down, sniffing and wiping her tears. "He was killed in action. Not long after he sent me that last letter... He told me to study hard and be someone who contributes to society."

Seeing Zhou Xiaoling's grief, Lin Xiaoxiao didn't know how to comfort her. She also hadn't expected that the man who resembled Zhou Huai'an was already gone.

No wonder Zhou Xiaoling had been so emotional upon seeing Zhou Huai'an.

Once Zhou Xiaoling had calmed down, Lin Xiaoxiao began gently probing for information.

Thanks to her cleverness, she skillfully drew out plenty of useful details: what Zhou Xiaoling's parents did, how many siblings she had.

Her father, Zhou Zhennan, had retired from the military but was rehired as an instructor at a military academy. Her mother, Li Yunlan, was retired and stayed at home.

Her eldest brother, Zhou Xiaoming, worked at the archives bureau in Beijing. Her second brother, Zhou Xiaocheng, had been killed in action. Her older sister, Zhou Xiaohong, was a university teacher.

Their grandfather, Zhou Bingwen, was a highly decorated war hero with significant status.

In short, the family seemed ordinary on the surface but was actually quite remarkable.

Lin Xiaoxiao was now desperate to know what the eldest brother looked like. Without asking directly, she frowned in thought. Wow, this dramatic family reunion might actually be happening.

After a moment, she asked Zhou Xiaoling, "When was your second brother's birthday?"

When Zhou Xiaoling told her the date, Lin Xiaoxiao nearly jumped. It was exactly the same as Zhou Huai'an's. That settled it—no further questions were needed.

This was almost certainly Zhou Huai'an's real family.

Noticing Lin Xiaoxiao's thoughtful silence, Zhou Xiaoling rubbed her eyes. "My mother hasn't been well since my second brother died. Her hair turned white from grief."

Lin Xiaoxiao offered a vague consolation. "Losing a child is unbearable for any parent."

They chatted until evening fell. Lin Xiaoxiao urged Zhou Xiaoling to get some rest and headed to the hospital herself.

Zhou Xiaoling had actually enjoyed talking with Lin Xiaoxiao. It felt good to finally share what had been weighing on her heart for years. And meeting someone who resembled her second brother brought her a small measure of comfort.

Rubbing her eyes, she picked up her things and went upstairs.

Lin Xiaoxiao, however, was buzzing with excitement as she walked to the hospital. The coincidence was incredible—and Lü Zhigang even knew Zhou Xiaoling! Investigating this would be quick.

A touching family reunion seemed just around the corner.

But when she shared her discovery with Zhou Huai'an, his reaction was surprisingly calm. It was Lü Zhigang whose eyes widened in disbelief. "No way? Zhou Xiaoling said Zhou Xiaocheng looked like Zhou Huai'an?"

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded. "Why would I make it up? Besides, haven't you ever seen her second brother? Didn't you know whether they looked alike?"

Lü Zhigang shook his head. "I really never met him. We lived in different districts and were two years apart—we didn't hang out. Plus, Zhou Xiaocheng was one of those top-tier, model kids. He didn't mix with the likes of us."

He stared at Lin Xiaoxiao, still struggling to believe it. "You're not joking, are you?"

Lin Xiaoxiao was convinced. "It's obvious when you piece it together. You could even check whether Zhou Xiaoming has been traveling recently."

Lü Zhigang thought she had a point. He clapped Zhou Huai'an on the shoulder. "If this is true... I can't believe you might be a Zhou. No wonder you're so capable—it's in the genes!"

Zhou Huai'an shot him a glance. "Don't be ridiculous."

He genuinely didn't care about his origins. At nearly thirty, having parents or not didn't matter to him.

Perhaps because he'd never experienced family love or warmth growing up, he'd long stopped craving it.

Seeing Zhou Huai'an's indifferent expression, Lin Xiaoxiao felt a pang of sympathy. His lack of reaction probably came from never having known that kind of warmth.

Lü Zhigang, however, grew more excited the more he thought about it. "We're basically prophets! How did we guess so accurately?"

Lin Xiaoxiao kindly corrected him. "I guessed. Not you."

Lü Zhigang didn't argue. "Fine, fine, it was you. But still—to guess something like this correctly! I need to find a phone and make some calls to verify this."

He hurried out, almost as though he were the one who had found long-lost family.

After Lü Zhigang left, Lin Xiaoxiao turned to Zhou Huai'an. "Are you really not excited at all?"

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "Just a little surprised."

Third Grandpa, who had been listening quietly, was also stunned. Finally seizing a chance to speak, he said, "Now that you mention it... I do remember something. Just before Changsuo was born, an official's wife was recuperating in the village. She was pregnant too, if I recall."

Lin Xiaoxiao excitedly poked Zhou Huai'an's shoulder. "See? That might have been your birth mother."