Lin Wenbin fell silent for a moment. Then he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Lin Xiaoxiao. "Oh, you silly girl. Don't worry—he will come back safe and sound. If he doesn't, I'll take you and the kids back to our world."

Xiaoxiao had been holding back tears, but now they threatened to spill over. "Easier said than done. How are we supposed to go back?"

She rubbed her eyes and gently pushed him away. "Brother, I've been thinking... I want to go to the front lines. My medical skills are solid—I can handle trauma cases. I'm sure they need doctors like me."

Lin Wenbin stared at her in horror. "Have you lost your mind? What about the children? This isn't a game—bullets don't have eyes! If something happens to you, how could I ever face Zhou Huai'an?"

Xiaoxiao wiped her eyes again. "You know why I became a doctor. When Dad went on that medical aid mission, even though I missed him, I thought what he did was brave... noble. I wanted to be like him. And now—now I can actually help. Otherwise, what was the point of me coming to this world?"

Her brother shook his head fiercely. He'd always feared her reckless streak. "You're insane. I won't allow it. If you wanted to be a hero in this era, you shouldn't have had children! What kind of mother abandons her babies? You're chasing glory while they grow up without you—that's not bravery, that's selfishness!"

"It's not like I'm not coming back!" she fired back. "They have their grandparents. And you.

They'll be fine! Brother, you know how limited medical care is here. I could—"

"You could what?" he cut her off roughly. "Without proper equipment or supplies, even the best skills are useless! You could stitch a wound into a piece of art, but without antibiotics and support, the patient will still die!"

"Listen clearly, Lin Xiaoxiao: if you run off, I will not take care of your children. Let them be orphans or street kids—it won't be my problem. Have you thought about your mother-in-law's health? How much more can she take?"

Xiaoxiao climbed out of bed, standing shaky but defiant. "Maybe I am selfish. But I can't just sit here listening to casualty reports! I can't bear the thought of people becoming disabled because there was no one to properly suture their wounds!"

"I don't want Zhou Huai'an to die! Brother, do you have any idea what kind of man he is? He would never back down from danger. I'm terrified that one day I'll receive a notice saying he's been killed!"

"We remember what happened in this conflict. We know how many died. How can I just do nothing?!"

"I know I'm a terrible mother. I regret having them! If I didn't have the kids, I could go where I'm needed most!"

Furious, Lin Wenbin raised his hand as if to strike her—but stopped himself. His eyes reddened as he stared at his stubborn, desperate sister. "I won't fight with you. You need to calm down.

We're not gods—we can't change history."

Xiaoxiao collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Downstairs, Li Yunlan, Zhou Liyun, and Zhou Zhennan had heard the shouting. They hesitated until Xiaoxiao's weeping grew louder—then rushed upstairs without another thought. Zhou Zhennan pushed aside propriety about entering his daughter-in-law's room.

Li Yunlan hurried to help Xiaoxiao up. "What's going on? Why are you two arguing like this?"But Xiaoxiao couldn't be moved. Zhou Liyun stepped in to help, and together they got her back into bed.

"You foolish child," Zhou Liyun murmured, blushing with emotion. "You're in confinement—crying like this will ruin your health! If something's wrong, tell us. Don't cry anymore—it'll hurt your eyes. You could go blind while you're still young."

Li Yunlan held Xiaoxiao tightly, rubbing her back, crying along with her. She knew how much Xiaoxiao had been holding in—the stress, the guilt over not producing milk, the fear for Zhou Huai'an.

Lin Wenbin took a deep breath, his own eyes still wet and followed Zhou Zhennan out of the room. He explained Xiaoxiao's wish to go to the front—though he omitted her medical skills.

"She's not thinking straight. We need to watch her—I wouldn't put it past her to run off someday."

Zhou Zhennan removed his glasses and wiped his eyes. "I understand. She's worried about Huai'an."

The radio reported casualties daily; it was only natural for Xiaoxiao to be anxious.

"Let her cry it out," he sighed. "She's been holding it in for too long. We'll talk to her when she's calmer."

Lin Wenbin sighed inwardly. His sister was stubborn—who could possibly change her mind?

That night, Zhou Liyun slept in the same room on a cot near the door—so she could help with the babies and be there if Xiaoxiao needed anything.

Knowing Xiaoxiao was still awake, she whispered, "Your brother told me. We understand how you feel... but going won't help. You have no papers—the front won't let you near. And the babies are so small... can you really leave them?"

"Xiaoxiao, listen to me: let this idea go. Your mother-in-law isn't well. She's holding on by a thread. The doctors said she needs another surgery. If it succeeds, she may have a few more years. If it fails..."

"She's had a hard life. Xiaocheng is gone, Xiaohong is so immature, and now Huai'an is... You know how much she's suffering."

Xiaoxiao listened quietly. Crying had offered some release, but she still felt her journey through time must mean something—she couldn't just do nothing.

Yet her brother was right: they couldn't change history.

Just as she was still wrestling with her desire to go, Zhou Xiaoling came rushing back home, brimming with excitement...