Lin Xiaoxiao had grown quite fond of Li Yunlan. For one, there was no tension between them as mother and daughter-in-law, nor did Li Yunlan favor sons over daughters. Although she had her moments of temper, it never really affected daily life.

That evening, worried about Li Yunlan sleeping alone on the narrow bed in the outer room, Lin Xiaoxiao insisted that she share the main bed with her, while Zhou Huai'an took the small bed.

Zhou Huai'an was visibly surprised by the arrangement. Unhappy but unwilling to say so, he pressed his lips together and stayed silent.

Lin Xiaoxiao nudged his arm. "You don't mind sleeping outside, do you? Mom's just had surgery and she's still recovering. With everything that's happened lately, I'd feel better keeping an eye on her at night."

Reluctantly, he nodded. "Alright. I suppose the rain will let up in a few days."

Lin Xiaoxiao wondered why he'd suddenly brought up the weather. Still, she agreed, "I hope it stops soon. We're almost out of dry firewood, and who knows what all this rain is doing to the crops."

Zhou Huai'an glanced at her briefly before silently going to tidy the bedding on the small bed.

It wasn't until she lay down that Lin Xiaoxiao finally realized what he'd really meant: he wanted the rain to stop so Li Yunlan would leave sooner, and he could have his spot back next to her.

She couldn't help but laugh softly, covering her eyes with her hand. This awkward, reserved man—he really was kind of cute.

Hu Yaozong was stuck in the guesthouse, feeling restless and uneasy. For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen during this trip to Longbei. His sleep was filled with nightmares—visions of Zhou Xiaocheng covered in blood, followed by Zhou Huai'an's piercing stare, leaving him nowhere to hide.

All he wanted was for the rain to stop so he could get out of this wretched place.

Turning over, he glanced at Zhou Zhennan sleeping soundly in the next bed. An idea crossed his mind. He quietly got up, planning to slip into the next room where Zhou Xiaohong was sleeping alone.

But just as he tiptoed toward the door, Zhou Zhennan sat up abruptly. "Where are you going?"

Hu Yaozong jumped, nearly falling. "I—I was just going to the toilet."

Zhou Zhennan got up. "I'll go with you."

There was no refusing. After they returned, Zhou Zhennan didn't go back to bed. Instead, he made himself a cup of tea and sat on the edge of the bed, watching Hu Yaozong calmly.

Hu Yaozong sat down gingerly, perching on the very edge of the mattress with a respectful expression. "Uncle, aren't you going to get some rest?"

Zhou Zhennan shook his head. "Can't sleep. Yaozong, let's talk."

Hu Yaozong assumed it was about the wedding. As if anyone can stop us now, he thought coldly. Would Zhou Xiaohong even dare?

Zhou Zhennan took a slow sip of tea before speaking. "I've watched you grow up. Our families have always been close. By all rights, we should be reassured to see Xiaohong marry you—we know you well, after all."

Hu Yaozong wasn't sure what he was getting at, but he nodded eagerly. "Don't worry, Uncle. Like I said, I'll always put Xiaohong first. I'll never let her suffer."

Zhou Zhennan waved a hand. "I believe you. But what I really want to talk about is Xiaocheng. You used to follow him around when you were boys—always calling him 'Second Brother.' Sometimes I wonder, if he hadn't joined the military, maybe you two would still be close."

Hu Yaozong grew even more uneasy. Why bring up Zhou Xiaocheng now? They had never been close. Xiaocheng was too perfect—the benchmark against whom all children were measured. He was the standard all parents held up, a thorn in everyone's side. They all secretly wished for him to fail, to become disfigured or disabled—anything to tarnish his radiant brilliance.

So why was Zhou Zhennan acting like they'd been good friends?

Putting on a sincere expression, Hu Yaozong said, "Yes... I always admired Xiaocheng growing up. It's such a tragedy what happened to him." He even managed to tear up, his voice catching.

Zhou Zhennan smiled faintly. "Xiaocheng died a hero. And those responsible... they've paid the price."

Hu Yaozong couldn't tell if it was his imagination, but the words felt loaded—as if Zhou Zhennan wasn't only referring to Zhou Xiaoming's role in Xiaocheng's death. Something more.

Wiping his eyes to hide his guilt, Hu Yaozong reassured himself: Zhou Xiaoming would never talk. Not with his children still relying on the Hu family. Besides, what happened back then was perfectly covered up. No one could possibly know.

Feeling slightly more confident, he dried his tears and said earnestly, "Uncle, I may not be ambitious or particularly talented, but I'll work hard from now on."

Zhou Zhennan nodded. "It's good that you want to improve. I'm sure Xiaocheng's spirit would be glad to hear it."

Long after Zhou Zhennan had lain back down, Hu Yaozong remained puzzled. Why bring this up now? And what did that last comment mean?

His guilt and anxiety only grew.

The next morning, he made up his mind. Braving the drizzling rain, he went to the post office to make a call to Beijing.

Three days later, the skies finally cleared, and the roads were passable again. In the end, Li Yunlan decided to return to Beijing with Zhou Zhennan to attend Zhou Xiaohong's wedding. She still couldn't bear the thought of missing her daughter's big day—if she didn't show up, how would the Hu family treat Xiaohong afterward?

Lin Xiaoxiao, Zhou Huai'an, and Zhou Xiaoling saw them off in town.

Xiaoling clung to Li Yunlan reluctantly. "I wish I could go home with you, but I don't have any leave left."

Li Yunlan patted her hand warmly. "I'll come back as soon as I can. Maybe we can all celebrate the New Year together."

"You have to come back soon," Xiaoling insisted. "I miss your stuffed pancakes."

Li Yunlan hugged her with a laugh. "You and your appetite."

After saying goodbye to her mother, Xiaoling went over to Zhou Xiaohong. She pulled a red paper envelope from her pocket and thrust it toward her sister almost angrily. "I still think Hu Yaozong is a jerk, and I don't want you to marry him. But since you're going to anyway... here. If he ever treats you badly, let me know. I'll take the first train back and kick his stupid face in."

Her eyes reddened. She shoved the envelope into Xiaohong's hand, then turned and stood beside Lin Xiaoxiao, facing away without another word.

Xiaohong's expression softened. She looked down, eyes wet, and stayed silent.

It wasn't until the car pulled away that Xiaoling finally turned around, buried her face in Lin Xiaoxiao's shoulder, and burst into tears. "That idiot Hu Yaozong! Why does she have to marry him?"

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't know how to comfort her. She couldn't help feeling that Zhou Xiaohong had been unfair—Xiaoling clearly cared so much, yet Xiaohong hadn't even said a proper goodbye.

Amid all the recent chaos, Lin Xiaoxiao had forgotten something important: her period was late.