Lin Zihao shook his head. "No one ever saw him again. Everyone was too busy working in the fields to care about some unidentified dead man. Eventually, it just became a ghost story people told for fun."

Seeing Zhou Huai'an silently studying the watch, Lin Xiaoxiao patted his shoulder. "It's okay. This means Zhou Xiaocheng was alive. That's good news. We can tell your parents later—they have wide connections. They'll definitely find him."

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "Not yet. We need to deal with Zhou Xiaoming first. Otherwise, Zhou Xiaocheng could be in danger."

The fact that Zhou Xiaocheng never returned home suggested either that his injuries were too severe... or that he'd lost his memory. Either way, staying hidden was his safest option for now.

The mere thought of Zhou Xiaoming made Lin Xiaoxiao furious. "Who does Zhou Xiaoming think he is? Does he really think he can get away with everything?"

Zhou Huai'an patiently explained, "Do you really think Zhou Xiaoming could orchestrate all this on his own?"

Lin Xiaoxiao paused. So there was someone bigger behind him.

Zhou Huai'an put the watch away and nodded to Lin Zihao. "Thanks. Do what you can to draw Zhou Xiaoming out soon. The highway explosion has already made him nervous."

Lin Zihao nodded. "Alright. Get some rest. I'll be going."

And just like that, he was gone as quickly as he came.

Not long after Lin Zihao left, Li Yunlan and Zhou Zhennan arrived with breakfast. Seeing that Zhou Huai'an and Lin Xiaoxiao were already eating, Li Yunlan sighed at her husband. "This is your fault. I said we should come earlier, but you insisted I rest more. Now they've already eaten."

Zhou Zhennan looked resigned. "I heard the buns from that place in the southern district were the best. I didn't expect such a long line so early in the morning."

Lin Xiaoxiao quickly stood up with a smile. "You bought buns from the south city? Their meat buns are delicious! Though they're a bit expensive—Huai'an never buys them for me."

Zhou Huai'an glanced at her, puzzled. Since when did she want buns?

Li Yunlan promptly handed the lunchbox to Lin Xiaoxiao. "Here, you and Huai'an have these. Eat as much as you want."

Lin Xiaoxiao happily took the steamed bun Zhou Huai'an was holding and replaced it with a meat bun. "Try it—this place is really good."

Without a second thought, she took a bite of the half-eaten bun he'd been eating.

Zhou Zhennan and Li Yunlan exchanged a warm smile. It was clear the young couple were close.

Under Lin Xiaoxiao's insistence, Zhou Huai'an ended up eating four large buns. Li Yunlan couldn't stop smiling with satisfaction.

After he finished, Lin Xiaoxiao tidied up briefly and turned to Zhou Zhennan and Li Yunlan. "Mom, Dad, I'll leave things to you here. I need to get to class."

Li Yunlan was taken aback for a moment, then beamed. After Lin Xiaoxiao left, she turned to Zhou Zhennan, her eyes glistening. "Did you hear that? She called me 'Mom.' Didn't she?"

Zhou Zhennan nodded. "She did. She's a good girl."

Overcome with emotion, Li Yunlan quickly wiped her eyes and turned to Zhou Huai'an. "Huai'an, would you like some water? Should I make you some milk formula?"

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "No need. You should both sit and rest."

"We're not tired," Li Yunlan insisted. "I'll have your father buy a chicken and borrow a stove from the cafeteria to make you chicken soup. We can have noodle soup for lunch. How does that sound?"

Zhou Huai'an knew she wouldn't take no for an answer, so he simply nodded. "Please don't overexert yourselves."

"It's no trouble at all," she assured him. "Didn't you mention renting a place? Would you like us to help you look?"

Zhou Huai'an felt it was better to let Lin Xiaoxiao handle it herself—she'd be particular about what she wanted. "There's no need. Xiaoxiao will look at places at noon. She knows the city better."

Zhou Zhennan gently pressed his wife's shoulder. "That's fine. We can go with Xiaoxiao when she's ready."

Zhou Huai'an thanked them politely. For now, Li Yunlan was content—even if her son hadn't called them "Mom" and "Dad" yet, Lin Xiaoxiao had. There was hope.

On their way to the market to buy a chicken, Li Yunlan couldn't stop praising her daughter-in-law. "Huai'an is so lucky. His wife is wonderful—Xiaoxiao seems bright, thoughtful, and caring. She has such a fortunate aura."

Zhou Zhennan agreed that Lin Xiaoxiao was a good match, though he suspected Li Yunlan's enthusiasm was partly because Lin Xiaoxiao had called her "Mom."

Li Yunlan continued reflectively, "When Xiaoming married Hu Ling, I never really warmed to her. You said I was being a difficult mother-in-law. But look how much I like Xiao Ran and Xiaoxiao."

Zhou Zhennan didn't point out that it might be because one son was gone and the other had just returned—so she was projecting her affection onto their partners. If they all lived together long-term, things might not be so smooth.......After calling them "Mom" and "Dad," Lin Xiaoxiao didn't feel embarrassed at all. Instead, it made her feel like she'd gained a family. In this world where she had started with nothing, she cherished having people who cared about her.

When she entered the classroom, An Xiuyu immediately moved to a corner with her child.

Li Guiling noticed and whispered to Lin Xiaoxiao, "What happened between you and Sister Xiuyu? She cried for a long time after she came back yesterday."

Lin Xiaoxiao found it strange. "She cried? Did you ask why?"

Li Guiling shook her head. "She wouldn't say. I just saw the two of you talking outside."

Lin Xiaoxiao felt a cold anger. She hadn't expected An Xiuyu to play the victim. But she wasn't going to enable her.

She hadn't expected An Xiuyu to rescue Zhou Xiaocheng, but pushing him into the river and delaying treatment for two days? Unless he was incredibly lucky, how could he have survived?

If this were a time with better legal systems, it would be murder.

"I didn't say anything to her. And I have nothing to feel guilty about."

Seeing Lin Xiaoxiao's stern expression, Li Guiling began to have doubts. "Did she really... have something to do with your brother-in-law's death?"

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't answer. She didn't want this spreading, and the fewer people who knew, the better.

After class, she shot An Xiuyu a meaningful look before leaving, satisfied to see her lower her head nervously.

When she returned to the hospital room, the rich aroma of chicken soup filled the air. A brown clay pot sat on the bedside table.

Li Yunlan smiled warmly. "You're back from class! I've been simmering this soup all morning.

Huai'an said you finish at 11:30, so I timed the noodles. Go wash your hands—lunch is ready."

Touched, Lin Xiaoxiao set her books down and hugged Li Yunlan. "Thank you. You really didn't have to go through all this trouble just for me. Huai'an is the one who needs it."

Li Yunlan laughed. "You should eat well too. Stay healthy and strong—it'll be better for when you have children."