Zhou Xiaoling clung to Zhou Xiaocheng's arm. "I don't care what anyone says—you have to get revenge for me! My face was swollen for days. And everyone in the compound calls me a shrew, even though Geng Aiguo hit me first!"

Zhou Xiaocheng kept smiling. "Alright, I'll get your revenge. But you need to work on that temper of yours too. You're a grown woman now—you can't go around picking fights."

Xiaoling grinned, happily enduring her brother's gentle scolding.

Upstairs, Lin Xiaoxiao stood by the window overlooking the yard. She could see Zhou Xiaocheng and Zhou Xiaoling clearly and hear every word of Xiaoling's unfiltered complaints. A bittersweet ache swelled in her chest.

Quietly, she returned to her bed and opened Zhou Huaian's diary, reading each word slowly and carefully.

News of Zhou Xiaocheng's return had spread throughout the entire compound in the time it took to finish a meal. Many were shocked, though most quickly understood—given the nature of his duty, such things happened.

Only Geng Aiguo received the news with a dark scowl. He couldn't believe Zhou Xiaocheng was still alive. And then he remembered Luo Anran's face during dinner—on the verge of tears, her eyes glistening.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. When he entered their bedroom and saw Luo Anran sitting on the bed, reading, he snatched the book from her hands. "How can you even focus on reading? Luo Anran, stop pretending. Aren't you thrilled that Zhou Xiaocheng is back? Do you regret marrying me? If only you'd waited a few more months, you could've been with him."

Luo Anran's face flushed with anger and shame. She glared up at him. "Have you lost your mind? We're married. How could you think I'd still entertain such thoughts?"

Geng Aiguo sneered. "No? Then why were you crying earlier?"

Luo Anran refused to back down. "Geng Aiguo, we grew up together. How can you not feel even a little relieved that Zhou Xiaocheng is safe? Aren't you happy for him?"

He snorted. "Why would I be happy for him? I bet your heart is already with him, isn't it? You probably can't wait to see him."

He pushed her down onto the bed, his hands rough and impatient.

Luo Anran struggled. "Geng Aiguo, stop it. I don't want to."

"You don't want to because Zhou Xiaocheng is back, isn't that it? You're thinking about him, aren't you?"

He ignored her resistance, his movements harsh and angry. A twisted sense of excitement surged through him—so what if Zhou Xiaocheng was back? Luo Anran belonged to him now.

After a night's sleep, Lin Xiaoxiao felt clearer. Zhou Xiaocheng's return was something to celebrate. She got up and helped Zhou Liyun change and feed the babies.

Noticing Lin Xiaoxiao was in better spirits, Zhou Liyun started chatting. "You really shouldn't overthink it. Everyone's happy that Xiaocheng is back. And he's never been a liar—even as a child. If he says Huaian is fine, then he must be."

Lin Xiaoxiao patted Zhouzhou's back as she burped him. "I know. I was just being emotional yesterday."

Zhou Liyun didn't press further. Li Yunlan came upstairs to get the children, her mood visibly brighter. "Are the little ones awake? Xiaoxiao, have you washed up? Come downstairs for breakfast when you're done. Xiaocheng went out early and brought back steamed buns from Dongxing Lou. They're still warm."

Lin Xiaoxiao quickly freshened up and went downstairs.

Zhou Xiaocheng was already at the table. Zhou Xiaoling was chattering away, and he listened with the same gentle, faint smile.

Without yesterday's exhaustion, he now carried himself with a refined, almost noble grace—a stark contrast to Zhou Huaian's rugged, reserved demeanor, shaped by a childhood of hardship.

Pausing briefly at the foot of the stairs, Lin Xiaoxiao walked toward the table.

As soon as Zhou Xiaoling saw her, she jumped up. "Sister-in-law, you're awake! I was just about to go get you, but Mom said to let you sleep. She said once school starts tomorrow, you won't have time to sleep in. Come sit down!"

Zhou Xiaocheng also stood and greeted her warmly.

Looking at his face—so similar to Zhou Huaian's—Lin Xiaoxiao felt a pang of sadness, but she managed a smile. "You didn't have to wait for me. The buns will get cold."

Xiaoling happily went to fetch Zhou Bingwen and Zhou Zhennan from the study, and the family sat down to breakfast together.

Zhou Zhennan asked Zhou Xiaocheng about his plans now that he was back.

"I can work in the public legal system. I chose the Public Security Bureau. I start in mid-May."

Xiaoling was thrilled to hear he was staying. "Second Brother, you're going to be a police officer? That's great!"

Xiaocheng smiled. "That doesn't mean you can go around picking fights."

"Second Brother!" she protested, slightly embarrassed. "You make it sound like I'm some troublemaker. I only fight back when people bully us. Normally, I'm very civilized."

She then launched into a detailed account of everyone who had wronged her over the past few years.

Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't help but laugh. Watching Zhou Xiaocheng and Zhou Xiaoling together, it was clear they had always been close. As Xiaoling said, her second brother doted on her—gently correcting her mistakes, no matter what she said.

There was a quality to Zhou Xiaocheng that Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't quite name—a kind of transparent, almost pristine purity.

Zhou Zhennan finally had enough and stopped Xiaoling's storytelling so everyone could eat in peace.

After breakfast, Xiaoling pulled her brother aside again. "Second Brother, did you know... I'm not really a Zhou by blood?"

Xiaocheng didn't seem surprised. "What does that change? You'll always be my sister."
Xiaoling beamed. "Good. I was afraid you wouldn't treat me the same if you knew."

He tugged one of her braids affectionately. "Don't worry. No matter what, you'll always be a part of this family—unless you decide you don't want to be."

Satisfied, Xiaoling grinned. Seeing her father wanted to speak with Xiaocheng, she bounded upstairs to find Lin Xiaoxiao.

Lin Xiaoxiao took one look at her radiant expression. "Someone's happy."

Xiaoling nodded. "I am. My second brother is the best brother in the world."

Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. "My brother is pretty good too."

Xiaoling waved a hand. "It's not the same. He and I grew up together."

Lin Xiaoxiao decided it was better not to compare. Otherwise, they'd end up arguing like little kids.