Zhou Huaian’s heart ached at the sound of his daughter’s tiny voice calling for him, her cries softening his resolve. He simply hadn't experienced this before—the clever tactic of a little one using tears to sway an adult.

Quickening his pace as he led Lin Xiaoxiao away, his only thought was to finish their errand and return as soon as possible.

The guesthouse where Feng Juanjuan, Feng Dachang's sister, was staying wasn't far from the compound. Lin Xiaoxiao felt a flicker of relief that Zhou Huaian had shown enough discretion not to bring her directly home.

Upon arrival, they found not only Feng Juanjuan but also a young man there. He was of modest height with a genuinely honest face, and he sprang to his feet the moment Zhou Huaian and Lin Xiaoxiao entered.

"Elder Sister-in-Law," he said to Lin Xiaoxiao, his manner slightly awkward.

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded in acknowledgment, her gaze shifting to Feng Juanjuan, who sat on the edge of the bed. The woman's eyes were red and swollen, her face drawn with exhaustion, yet one could still see she had been a pretty girl.

Zhou Huaian barely glanced at Feng Juanjuan, his attention fixed on the young man, Hu Yong. "Are you ready? Let's go."

Hu Yong scratched his head uncomfortably and looked pleadingly at Feng Juanjuan. "She... she won't go."

Zhou Huaian frowned. "Why not?"

Feng Juanjuan stood up, facing Zhou Huaian. "Brother Zhou, my parents are in poor health. I still think we should keep this from them. Please, don't worry about me. I just need a few days here alone to collect myself. I'll go home on my own later."

Zhou Huaian's eyes narrowed as he turned back to Hu Yong. "Weren't you supposed to talk to her?"

Hu Yong looked pained. "I tried, but it's no use. I told her the family must be officially notified, especially since... it was Dachang's error that led to Lin Zihao's severe injury."

Therefore, Feng Dachang's death could not be classified as a heroic sacrifice, and his family would receive no honors.

Lin Xiaoxiao's ears pricked up at the mention of Lin Zihao. She immediately looked at Zhou Huaian, but seeing his stern expression, she knew now was not the time to ask questions.

Zhou Huaian's patience was clearly thinning. "The formal notification must be delivered to your family in person."

Feng Juanjuan grew agitated. "I've said I'll tell them myself, later! Why does it have to be now? If my parents learn their son died a failure, not a hero, the shock could make them seriously ill! Would that make you happy?"

Hu Yong was exasperated. "How can we possibly hide something like this?"

Lin Xiaoxiao understood the dilemma. Feng Dachang was dead, and Zhou Huaian's unit was obligated to formally notify the family. Yet, Feng Juanjuan feared the news would devastate her aging parents. From their respective viewpoints, neither side was entirely wrong.

Feng Juanjuan stubbornly wiped her tears. "I know what you really mean. You blame my brother for jeopardizing Lin Zihao, for nearly getting him killed. So you think his death was deserved!"

Hu Yong grew angry. "No one said any such thing! We don't blame him for a single mistake, despite the severe consequences. Team Leader Zhou even tried to get him recognized as a martyr! Notifying your family is about ensuring they understand the official circumstances. It's procedure, and we'll do everything we can to help them through it."

Feng Juanjuan fell silent, consumed by grief not only for her brother's death but also for the honor he would never receive. It felt deeply unjust.

A wave of frustration crossed Zhou Huaian's face, a flicker of impatience Lin Xiaoxiao had never seen before. He addressed Hu Yong curtly. "Get your things. We're leaving. Now." His dismissal of Feng Juanjuan was palpable.

Seeing Zhou Huaian's visible impatience with the other woman, Lin Xiaoxiao felt a sudden, quiet release of her own irrational fears. She really had been letting her imagination run wild.

In the end, Feng Juanjuan had no choice but to follow Zhou Huaian and Hu Yong home.

The elderly parents' grief upon hearing about their son was profound. Lin Xiaoxiao joined Hu Yong in comforting them, while Zhou Huaian stood silently to the side. As they were leaving, however, Lin Xiaoxiao noticed Zhou Huaan discreetly slip a thick stack of banknotes under the thermos on the table.

Once outside, Hu Yong let out a heavy sigh. "That was agonizing. I can't help but resent Feng Dachang. If not for him, our last mission wouldn't have been such a disaster—two dead, and one critically wounded."

Zhou Huaian ignored the comment, shifting to practical matters. "Go to the hospital. Stay with Lin Zihao and inform me the moment he wakes up. You have my address."

After Hu Yong left, Lin Xiaoxiao finally asked, "Lin Zihao is injured? How serious? Which hospital?"

Zhou Huaian's expression and tone softened noticeably when he turned to her. "At the General Hospital. He's still unconscious. That's actually why we returned early."

Lin Xiaoxiao gasped. "How long has it been? Why is he still unconscious? What happened?"

Zhou Huaian briefly explained Lin Zihao's injuries. "A piece of shrapnel entered his skull during an explosion." He recounted the incident, making Lin Xiaoxiao's pulse quicken with worry.

"Has he had surgery? Can't they just remove the shrapnel?"

Zhou Huaian nodded. "The medical facilities there were limited. We flew back together on a special flight."

Lin Xiaoxiao clenched her hands. If only she had already graduated, perhaps she could have assisted in the surgery. But she trusted that Beijing's medical standards were high; Lin Zihao should be in good hands. She then wondered if she should tell Zhou Xiaoling about this.

Zhou Huaian's thoughts, however, had already returned to An'an. "Should we buy something to bring home? Do you think An'an will be angry we left her behind?" His hesitant tone was that of a new father navigating unfamiliar territory.

Lin Xiaoxiao snapped out of her thoughts and waved a hand dismissively. "No need. We mustn't spoil her, or she'll expect something every time."

When they arrived home, they found An'an had completely forgotten her morning upset. She was happily tussling with her brothers over a ball, with Lin Wenbin playing nearby.

The moment the little girl saw her parents enter, she cheerfully scrambled toward them, giggling and reaching up for Zhou Huaian to hold her. All the worry he'd felt on the way home—that she might be angry or ignore him—melted away at the sight of her joyful face. A smile touched his eyes as he bent down to pick her up.

But Lin Wenbin scooped An'an up first, eyeing Zhou Huaian with mock disapproval. "Your clothes are ice-cold! Don't go freezing the child." He then looked Zhou Huaian up and down, his gaze lingering on the scar. "You weren't much to look at before, and now you've gone and scarred your face."

Lin Xiaoxiao shot her brother an annoyed look. "I don't care about any scar. Worry about yourself—you still don't even have a girlfriend."

Lin Wenbin clicked his tongue. "No need for personal attacks now, is there?"