Halfway through her drive, Yu Hao’s phone vibrated in the armrest compartment. Taking advantage of a red light, she glanced down.

“Are you free next week?”

She looked back up, her gaze toward the road ahead, expression indifferent.

A moment later, her phone vibrated again with another message.

“Are you angry?”

Yu Hao had just parked her car in the residential complex when she finally retrieved her phone from the armrest. “I was driving, couldn’t check my phone.”

Without waiting for a reply, she sent another message, “Next week I need to accompany my professor to an out-of-town symposium. I’ll be back the week after.”

“Alright, take care.”

Lu Huaizheng rubbed his neck as he sent those few words, then tossed the phone back to Li Hongwen and turned to leave. Li Hongwen called after him, “Wait a minute.”

“What now?”

Li Hongwen had someone take the phone away and then looked at Lu Huaizheng seriously. “On Saturday, think carefully about how to phrase things. Don’t make Old Li lose face. Don’t give me that flippant attitude, you hear me—”

Lu Huaizheng waved his hand to indicate that he understood.

Li Hongwen added, “Once this matter is properly handled, I’ll give you an extra day of leave afterward.”

Lu Huaizheng dismissed the offer with a wave. “Don’t bother. Let the leave schedule remain as it is. If I take an extra day, the deputy commander will have to cover for me, and he has a wife and children too. No need for special treatment. I already said, just don’t try to set me up with Old Li’s or Old Zhang’s or Old Wang’s daughters in the future.”

Li Hongwen replied, “Everyone in the unit younger than you is already married. Do you think we’re not anxious? Fine, if you like Professor Han’s student, then hurry up and win her over, get things settled so you can focus entirely on your work.”

“Am I not focused on my work now?” Lu Huaizheng raised an eyebrow.

“Get out of here. I’m tired of arguing with you.”

…

When Yu Hao returned home, she discovered that Shen Xiyuan was there too. As she removed her shoes to enter, Shen Xiyuan was playing Chinese military chess with Old Yu. Hearing the door lock click, both looked over.

Old Yu held a chess piece and greeted her, “You’re back?”

Yu Hao made a sound of acknowledgment and nodded to Shen Xiyuan, who returned a warm smile, as refreshing as a spring breeze.

Feng Yanzhi came out of the bedroom, glanced at Old Yu, and impatiently urged, “Aren’t you going to cook?”

Old Yu had finally found someone to play chess with, and he wasn’t about to let go so easily. Though young Shen wasn’t very skilled, at least he could satisfy Old Yu’s chess craving. Reluctant to end the game, he looked longingly at the chessboard and waved his hand, “One more round.”

Feng Yanzhi threw a pillow at him, hitting Old Yu’s bald head dead center.

Old Yu came to his senses and dejectedly put away the chess set, sighing, “Right away, my lady.”

Shen Xiyuan also stood up and asked gently, “Do you need help, Professor Yu?”

Old Yu pressed on his shoulder, gesturing for him to sit down. “Not. You’re our guest today. Sit.”

Feng Yanzhi leaned on the sofa, turned off the television, and instructed Yu Hao to put away the chess set. She then leisurely examined Shen Xiyuan from head to toe, from hair to toenails, smiling particularly warmly—a smile Old Yu felt he hadn’t seen in decades.

Feng Yanzhi was a beautiful woman who had aged gracefully, with an elegant bearing. When she smiled, she was especially refined and gentle. “How was your study abroad?”

Shen Xiyuan sat on the sofa, slightly hunched, and humbly replied, “Not bad.”

“You’ve always been modest,” Feng Yanzhi asked straightforwardly, “You don’t have a girlfriend yet, right?”

Shen Xiyuan said, “Not at the moment.”

Feng Yanzhi continued, “You and Yu Hao grew up together, and you have a good relationship…”

Yu Hao interrupted directly, “Mom, Dad’s calling you.”

Feng Yanzhi glared at her impatiently, “Don’t interfere.” Then she smiled at Shen Xiyuan, “Little Shen, I think both of you are getting older, and shouldn’t delay anymore. Your parents must be anxious too, right?”

Shen Xiyuan nodded with a smile, “They are quite anxious, but this kind of thing can’t be rushed. I haven’t met anyone suitable yet. Even if I’m anxious, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Feng Yanzhi glanced at Yu Hao, “Don’t you have any feelings for Yu Hao?”

Shen Xiyuan looked down at Yu Hao, who was tidying up, and smiled gently, “Auntie, are you under some misunderstanding?”

Feng Yanzhi exclaimed, “Old Yu said you two dated before when Yu Hao was in college.”

Shen Xiyuan nodded, “We did date then, but we broke up amicably later. I won’t go into the specific reasons, but I remember Yu Hao and I kept it quite private. How did Uncle find out?”

Feng Yanzhi coughed, “In her freshman year, Old Yu said he saw you bringing Yu Hao home, ahem…” She paused, then awkwardly glanced elsewhere.

Shen Xiyuan remembered—it must have been that time. He chuckled lightly, “It was my fault. I broke up with Yu Hao when I was preparing to study abroad.”

Feng Yanzhi said, “Exactly, I figured you two broke up because you were going abroad to study. Now that you’re both back, why not give it another try?”

…

After dinner, Yu Hao was clattering about in the kitchen washing dishes, while Shen Xiyuan assisted, helping her put the bowls and chopsticks into the drawer with practiced coordination.

The night was deep as water, with moonlight gently falling through the window into the sink, reflecting points of light.

“Don’t take what my mom said today to heart,” Yu Hao suddenly said, head lowered. “She’s gone crazy wanting me to get married.”

Shen Xiyuan had his back to her, helping drain the water from the bowls and wiping them with a dry cloth. Head down, he said, “You should get married.”

“You’re four years older than me. If anyone should marry first, it’s you.”

Shen Xiyuan laughed and joked, “Hey, why haven’t you found a boyfriend all these years? Don’t tell me you still can’t get over me.”

Yu Hao retorted, “What if I can’t get over you? What would you do then?”

“Did you ever really like me? I don’t think so. Don’t lie.” Shen Xiyuan’s face suddenly turned cold.

“Then don’t ask. I’m afraid you’ll be heartbroken.”

Shen Xiyuan cursed, “Heartless.”

After a moment of silence, Yu Hao drained the last bowl and placed it aside, then suddenly asked, “Senior, let me ask you one last question.”

Shen Xiyuan responded impatiently, “Go ahead.”

“What should one say when reuniting with someone they haven’t seen for twelve years?”

Shen Xiyuan noticed her serious demeanor and perceptively asked, “Who did you run into? You’re coming to me for advice?”

Yu Hao turned away, hastily wiped the bowl, and put it back in the cabinet, saying softly, “No one.”

Shen Xiyuan said, “As your ex-boyfriend, I’ve never seen you like this. Your senior here is feeling a bit jealous.”

Yu Hao ignored him, “He asked me out on Saturday but then said something came up last minute. Do you think he regretted it?” No, that wasn’t right. Lu Huaizheng had asked about next week afterward, but she had to go on a research trip with her professor. Then he didn’t ask her out again.

Shen Xiyuan said, “If a man takes the initiative to ask you out, it shows he still has feelings for you. Is it that guy from before?”

“…His name is Lu Huaizheng.”

Shen Xiyuan rarely cursed, but now he did, “Damn, it is him.” He stacked the bowls neatly and placed them one by one into the cabinet, asking, “What does that kid do now?”

“Air Force.”

Shen Xiyuan frowned, “Did he pull strings to get in? With his grades, could he even get into a military academy?”

“He joined as a conscript, then took the military academy exam in his second year. No connections involved.” Yu Hao glared at him, “His history grades weren’t worse than yours. He knows many things you might never have heard of.”

Shen Xiyuan immediately gave her a sharp flick on the forehead, “Is this how you speak to your senior? Have you ever seen a mother hen protecting her chicks? That’s exactly what you’re like. I want to see what nonsense this big bluffer can feed you that even someone like me, who’s studied history for over a decade, hasn’t heard of.”

Yu Hao said nothing.

Shen Xiyuan leaned against the countertop, took a calming breath, and asked, “What are you thinking?”

The moonlight fell silently on the glass countertop.

“Nothing much, just that if my mom insists on forcing me to get married, he’s the only person I could accept.”

Shen Xiyuan suddenly looked up at her, his dark eyes revealing unclear emotions, “Not even me?”

“Not even you.”

…

That Saturday.

Lu Huaizheng finished his stand-by training, disembarked from the aircraft, and was removing his gloves while walking back when he encountered Li Hongwen coming from the opposite direction. Li Hongwen stopped him, “Wait, you need to pick up Old Li’s daughter first.”

Lu Huaizheng stopped, looking at Li Hongwen in disbelief, “Are you sure you want me to go?”

“Old Li’s daughter says she recently returned to the country and isn’t familiar with the roads,” Li Hongwen explained.

“Why doesn’t Old Li pick her up?” Lu Huaizheng rolled his eyes.

“Old Li wants you to pick her up, so you pick her up. Stop with all the complaints—why don’t you just be the leader?”

“No thanks.”

“So, will you pick her up or not?”

“I will!” Lu Huaizheng smirked, tossing his gloves heavily onto the chest of the squad leader behind him, then strode away.

Li Hongwen was also angry, thinking: I’ve been worrying myself sick for you, and in the end, you’re still dissatisfied with this and that. Tonight, I’m not getting involved anymore, you can deal with Old Li yourself!

The squad leader behind him laughed, “What’s going on, is the leader trying to set up the captain with someone? Is it that psychologist from last time?”

“You all liked that psychologist from last time?” Li Hongwen glanced at him askance.

The squad leader nodded cluelessly, “We did like her. She’s beautiful and nice, just doesn’t smile much. But the captain smiles enough—the captain’s smile is so infectious.”

Li Hongwen tapped his head, “Alright, stop teasing your captain. Get back to work.”

Lu Huaizheng headed to the Second Hospital to pick someone up. He parked directly at the hospital entrance, wearing a black jacket over a white short-sleeved shirt, casual pants, and military boots. With the car door open, he leaned against the driver’s seat, hands in his pockets, one foot on the ground and the other in the car. His demeanor was more relaxed than when he wore his military uniform or a suit.

Several groups of people gradually exited through the hospital doors, a crowd moving about, apparently just having finished some kind of meeting.

Then, a familiar figure appeared at the entrance, and Lu Huaizheng suddenly withdrew his foot.

Yu Hao finished her psychology lecture at six o’clock and was called as she walked out of the hospital gates.

“Yu Hao.”

She turned with a smile, “Senior.”

It was a senior from her college who had previously given physiology lectures at her institute, named Ye Tingfei. Behind him was a young, beautiful woman who approached Yu Hao, and he smiled as he introduced her, “Junior, this is Li Yaoxin. She has a few questions she’d like to consult with you about.”

After a brief greeting, Li Yaoxin got straight to the point, “It’s like this. Recently, I have had a client whose mental state might have some issues. When facing many of my questions, he either avoids them or lies. This client’s situation is special, and I heard from Professor Han that you’re an expert in lie detection, so I wanted to ask for your help. I wonder if Ms. Yu has time?”

“You can send me the client’s situation via email. I need to accompany Professor Han on a trip next week, so I’ll need to confirm my schedule before I can give you a reply.”

Li Yaoxin thought for a moment and said, “Then let’s add each other on WeChat?”

“Sure.”

…

After dinner that evening, Yu Hao was scrolling through her phone when she came across Li Yaoxin’s social media post.

The man who had said his leave was canceled was now smiling in another woman’s social media post, wearing a black jacket, leaning against a chair in his customary debonair posture.

Yu Hao stared at it for a while, then clicked “like.”