The weather was warm and the wind gentle. The sun shone brilliantly, dazzling the eyes. Tender green grass tips secretly emerged from the soil—a jade green that stood firm against the wind.

Through the thin light, Shen Xiyuan recognized Lu Huaizheng almost immediately.

He had seen Lu Huaizheng in high school.

Back then, Shen Xiyuan was nearing the end of his freshman year in college. Worried that the young girl might not be adapting well to her new environment, he took an afternoon when he had no classes to pick up Yu Hao from No. 18 High School.

While waiting at the school gate, he saw several boys laughing as they returned to school and heard Yu Hao’s name on their lips. He instinctively looked over.

A boy from behind placed his hand on the shoulder of the tall, thin one at the front who was carrying a ball, and said, “Huaizheng, is it true you beat up that little tyrant for Yu Hao?”

Shen Xiyuan couldn’t help but take a closer look at the boy called Huaizheng.

The young man was wearing basketball gear—loose knee-length shorts revealing a small section of taut tendons. His Achilles tendon was slender and straight, suggesting excellent jumping ability. He wore blue Jordan-series basketball shoes, with an Adidas jacket on top. It was clear he came from a well-off family.

Aside from the faint bruise at the corner of his mouth, he had a refined appearance.

He lowered his head, dribbled the ball, and gave a slight “hmm” in response to the question.

The expressions of the group became ambiguous as they exchanged glances. Then the young man picked up the ball, cradling it in his arms. With a swaying gait, he tilted his body to look back and added: “Don’t let Yu Hao know, or I’ll get lectured again.”

After speaking, he heaved a heavy sigh, his voice filled with endless worry.

The boys behind him couldn’t bear it and kicked at him: “Damn, showing off your love? You seem to be enjoying it.”

He hugged the ball and smiled without saying a word.

Another boy hooked his arm around his neck and asked quietly: “Are you two together yet?”

He shook his head. “No.”

The boy asked, puzzled, “Why not?”

Raising his head, he tossed the ball forward and casually said: “She said she doesn’t want to date in high school. We’ll see.” Then he rose on his toes to chase after the ball, retrieved it, and turned back, pointing his chin at the boy who had just spoken: “Hey, stop being such a gossip all the time. Have some ambition. The city league is coming up soon. Can’t you focus on basketball?!”

“Then why don’t you stop pursuing Yu Hao!” the boy retorted, unconvinced.

Lu Huaizheng threw the ball at him with a backhand and laughed while cursing: “If I don’t look for her, should I look for you?!”

The boy caught the ball with a grin. The group pushed and shoved each other as they entered the school gate, completely unaware of Shen Xiyuan standing quietly nearby.

Shen Xiyuan thought even then that Lu Huaizheng looked more mature than his peers. Now, looking at him, he hadn’t changed much. His facial features remained as they were before, only shedding the naivety of youth and becoming more mature. Combined with the steady confidence and pride between his brows, he was indeed more attractive than the boy from before. No wonder his junior colleague was nervous.

Just as the guard thought Shen Xiyuan was going to stop his car, Lu Huaizheng honked his horn, signaling to raise the barrier. The guard hurried over to lift it.

Lu Huaizheng extended his hand from the car window, waving briefly in thanks, then raised the window and drove in. The guard stood upright and saluted him.

Shen Xiyuan didn’t linger either. He shook his head with a smile and drove toward the exit.

They would probably meet again, he thought.

…

Lu Huaizheng parked his car, grabbed his keys, and strode up to the second floor in a few steps. Before reaching the activity center door, he heard Yu Hao’s voice in the corridor—neither too soft nor too loud, clear, and resonant, like a golden oriole emerging from the valley.

“When we feel pressure, we unconsciously rub our necks, like this…” She demonstrated as she spoke. “It helps activate the blood flow in the neck and relieve brain tension. This is a signal from the brain, indicating the need for physical relaxation—”

At this point, Yu Hao paused because a familiar figure flashed at the back door. She thought she was experiencing hallucinations due to recent obsessions, but quickly regained her train of thought and continued: “Compared to a lie detector, comfort behaviors can more intuitively reflect a person’s brain activity. For example, when a man lies, his brain feels pressure, and he unconsciously massages his neck to relieve that pressure, adjusts his heart rate to calm himself down, or straightens his tie and shirt collar. These are all manifestations of the brain’s discomfort.”

Lu Huaizheng didn’t enter. He leaned casually against the wall outside the corridor, listening to the girl’s flowing lecture content, occasionally standing with his hands in his pockets in front of the promotional window to read bulletins.

Absorbed in reading the bulletin, he was called out to.

“Why are you here?”

Lu Huaizheng turned around, bewildered, and recognized his former squad leader, who had lost a leg years ago during a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. After retiring from the military, he transferred to the Air Force Sanatorium.

Lu Huaizheng smiled and pointed at the veteran’s battle history on the promotional window: “I was just reading about you and Instructor Liu.”

The old squad leader bowed his head and stood in front of the window using his crutch. Perhaps seeing Lu Huaizheng made him feel emotional. The wrinkles on his aging eyelids piled up, layer upon layer drooping, twitching slightly. “What’s there to see? It’s the same old stories written over and over. You must have heard them at least eight hundred times if not a thousand.”

Lu Huaizheng smiled awkwardly. “I wouldn’t tire of hearing it ten thousand times. You’re a hero.”

The old squad leader waved his hand dismissively. “Your father was the real hero. Last year, when Instructor Liu and I went to sweep his grave, the cemetery was full of heroes. What are we compared to them? Your father always said, ‘We cannot be lax in guarding the country our ancestors established with their blood and lives. One family’s loyalty leads to loyalty in every family.'”

Lu Huaizheng put away his smile and nodded: “Indeed. We must remember the past to guide the future. Protect the homeland, dare to be first—our generation must be strong.”

The old squad leader was quite pleased. He placed his hand on Lu Huaizheng’s shoulder. “How have you been lately? I heard from Instructor Liu that the organization is thinking of promoting you this year. Don’t mess up. Don’t bring shame to our unit.”

“I won’t.”

Lu Huaizheng was exceptionally obedient.

The old squad leader squeezed his shoulder firmly. “Good. You’re much more solid than when you first arrived.”

Lu Huaizheng smiled without speaking.

“When you first came, you looked like a pretty boy. I told Instructor Liu that I definitely couldn’t endure the hardships of the army. Unexpectedly, you were quite righteous at your core. You didn’t disappoint old Lu.”

“I didn’t expect you to judge by appearances.”

The old squad leader spoke frankly, “You don’t know about this recruit who came to the unit before. He looked just like you. Before sleeping at night, he would use some sort of contraband to wash his face, leaving it full of suds. He had to shower twice a day. His lifestyle was so particular. I looked at him, and he resembled you. I told Instructor Liu, ‘Here comes another fastidious one.’ Instructor Liu was mysterious about it, saying you were old Lu’s son. I wondered how someone as rough as old Lu could have such a pretty boy. Instructor Liu and I were both worried about that kid at the time, fearing another one like him would come along. Didn’t expect you’d end up choosing the airborne forces… Anyway, my foot’s going numb. I need to go downstairs for a walk.”

“Shall I accompany you down?”

“No need. You go about your business.”

The old squad leader was very proud. After losing his leg, he became particularly sensitive and disliked others’ sympathy and charity. Fearing that saying more might offend him, Lu Huaizheng didn’t insist and watched him go downstairs.

For the last ten minutes, Lu Huaizheng entered through the back door, mingling in the last row, pretending to listen to Yu Hao’s lecture.

“When people are happy, they raise their arms high. This is an unconscious reaction. When criminals have guns pointed at them, police require them to raise their arms or crouch with their hands on their heads. This is a kind of unconscious psychological comfort… When you feel under pressure, you can try raising your hands above your head to promote blood flow throughout the body, which is also a way to relieve tension…”

“That’s about it for time. My phone number is on the blackboard. If you have any other questions, feel free to consult me.”

In reality, most people weren’t listening to such lectures. Those below were engaged in their conversations. As soon as Yu Hao announced the end of the class, the veterans scattered like startled birds and beasts, swarming toward the exit.

The activity room emptied instantly, with only a tinge of dusky sunset glow remaining.

Yu Hao kept her head down, focused on gathering her things.

“Ahem.”

A light cough sounded.

Yu Hao looked up.

Lu Huaizheng sat brazenly in the last row with his legs spread wide, dressed simply and neatly. He was almost slouching in the chair, one elbow resting on the partition beside him, supporting his chin and half-covering his mouth. He was smiling at her with particular brightness.

“Aren’t you being lazy? How is this lecture any different from what you presented at our unit?”

Yu Hao lowered her eyes again, continuing to pack up her things, responding irritably: “If you want different content, that’s possible. But it’ll cost you. My consultation fee is two thousand per hour.”

Lu Huaizheng had already stood up and walked over, circling halfway around the podium before stopping firmly beside her. He picked up her notebook from the table and casually flipped through it. Yu Hao tried to snatch it back, but he was quicker, pulling it to his chest. He leaned against the table, slightly lowering his head to meet her eyes. “Why don’t you just rob me?”

“If you can’t afford it, give me back my things. Don’t waste my time.”

Lu Huaizheng didn’t move, just kept his head lowered, smiling at her, his eyes deep as if contemplating something significant.

After a while, he placed the notebook on the table and said: “Have dinner with me tonight. Two thousand. I’ll give it to you later.”

“What if it exceeds one hour?”

“Four thousand.” He took a breath and turned his head to look elsewhere.

Yu Hao happily agreed, “Deal.”

Lu Huaizheng looked at her incredulously. “Are you short on money lately?”

Yu Hao finished gathering her things without responding to him. Hugging her notebook, she walked out with her head held high, leaving behind a parting shot: “You have fifty-five minutes left.”

Her silhouette was slender yet straight as she left, her ponytail swinging behind her. Lu Huaizheng was reminded of high school—she would walk ahead just like this, uninterested in talking to others, like a proud peacock, her ponytail flying proudly behind her.

She was very proper, always wearing her hair in a high ponytail.

Unlike Hu Siqi and the others, who sometimes wore their hair down, sometimes curled it—with many variations—she always wore a simple, clean ponytail.

He was very curious to see how she looked with her hair down. Once, when she wasn’t paying attention, he secretly tried to undo her hair tie. Inexperienced, he yanked it downward, hurting her. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears, red and swollen, as she looked at him pitifully, gathering her hair and asking: “What are you doing?!”

His heart skipped a beat, and he apologetically said, “Hey, I’m sorry. Don’t cry.”

Yu Hao didn’t cry; her eyes were red from the pain. The boy had been too rough, not knowing how painful it was to have hair suddenly pulled when caught in a hair tie.

Yu Hao then pounded his shoulder hard several times, her hits equally forceful. Lu Huaizheng grimaced in pain, then caught her hand and pulled her toward him, still trying to charm his way out of trouble: “Ouch, ouch, ouch! I won’t do it again. I am sorry.”

These memories were like fragments that had been constantly surfacing over the past few days, piecing together, almost forming a complete picture.

Lu Huaizheng caught up to her, took the laptop bag from her hand and tucked it under his arm, then grabbed the other bag and books she was carrying. His hand pressed against her back, pushing her forward.

Yu Hao looked up at him.

The man’s presence was imposing. Their bodies were nearly touching as he looked down at her. In the dusky light, he said plainly: “I’ll carry these.”

Yu Hao didn’t stand at on ceremony and obediently followed behind.

Once in the car, Yu Hao fastened her seatbelt. Lu Huaizheng lowered the window for ventilation. Only after driving out of the sanatorium did he close it. With one hand resting on the window frame and the other on the steering wheel, he glanced at Yu Hao through the rearview mirror and asked casually: “What would you like to eat?”

Even in the past, he hadn’t known what Yu Hao liked to eat. She rarely ate in the cafeteria at lunchtime and was seldom seen eating snacks.

With a twelve-year gap between them, they were both strangers to each other’s habits. The feeling was like having owned a book he liked long ago—he had looked at the cover hundreds of times, but before he could ever open it, the book was lost.

Twelve years later, having found it again, the name was still the same, but the cover had been completely changed. He didn’t know if the contents had changed as well.

Little did he know, Yu Hao felt the same way.

They say human cells completely regenerate every seven years. This was nearly the second cycle. Facing each other anew, after periods of hesitation and tentative exploration, she couldn’t deny that she was still intrigued by him.

“Don’t you have a blind date today?”

Lu Huaizheng almost slammed on the brakes. He had thought of hundreds of ways to start the conversation. Even earlier at the Veterans Activity Center, he had prepared an opening statement to explain the situation without awkwardness or revealing too much emotion.

Something like clearing his throat and saying—

“Comrade Yu Hao, I came today to explain why I appeared in Li Yaoxin’s Moments feed that day—”

This opening was too formal and not his style.

He tried another approach: cough cough.

“Dr. Yu, that Saturday was my fault. I shouldn’t have stood you up—”

Too flippant, not sincere enough.

“Yu Hao, there’s something I need to tell you—”

Too casual.

But unexpectedly, Yu Hao spoke first. Lu Huaizheng, who had been driving with one hand propped under his chin, lazily leaning back in his seat, suddenly sat upright upon hearing her words. He gripped the steering wheel with both hands, stealing a glance at Yu Hao, and cleared his throat before saying, “Yu Hao, actually—”

Yu Hao looked out at the passing scenery, interrupting him: “No need to explain. I wasn’t really angry to begin with. I just thought it was interesting how skillfully you put down Professor Han and me at the dinner table, but when it came to someone else, you seemed quite happy.”

“That smile wasn’t directed at Li Yaoxin. It was just a professional smile.”

“You’re in the Air Force, not a flight attendant. What ‘professional smile’?”

Lu Huaizheng licked the corner of his mouth. “When did I put you and Professor Han down at the dinner table?”

Yu Hao coldly mimicked his tone: “Sir, please stop making fun of me. How could such a beautiful girl marry a soldier like me? Don’t make things difficult for her. I’m full. I’ll head back first. You and Professor Han enjoy your meal.”

Lu Huaizheng had almost forgotten his original words, but Yu Hao repeated them verbatim like a recording machine. This reminded him of how she had imitated him disciplining his team at the training ground.

He suddenly gave her a meaningful look: “I’ve noticed—do you particularly enjoy imitating me?”

Yu Hao scoffed, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside the window as she replied lightly: “I’ve always liked imitating animals speaking, like cats, dogs, pigs, and such. Which one are you?”

Sharp-tongued as ever—that hadn’t changed.

Lu Huaizheng was at a loss for words. He touched the tip of his nose and said softly: “If I hadn’t said that, were you planning to marry me? Also, that Saturday, Li Yaoxin is the daughter of Director Li from our Air Force Political Department. I can refuse our commander, but I can’t refuse Director Li. I wanted to explain to you that day, but I was afraid you might overthink it. I didn’t go there for a blind date; I just wanted to make it clear to Director Li that I wasn’t interested in his daughter.”

After he finished speaking, a long silence followed.

Neither broke the silence, even when ordering food. Lu Huaizheng simply handed her the menu and went outside to smoke.

When he returned and pulled out his chair to sit down, Yu Hao had already ordered. “I don’t know what you like to eat, so I just ordered some random dishes.”

Lu Huaizheng nodded. “That’s fine.”

Since their reunion, this was the first time the two had sat together so calmly. Usually, it was either her taunting him or him responding with silence. They had been in a tense atmosphere filled with unspoken hostility.

Through the dim light, she could see the man’s somewhat sharp features. The Lu Huaizheng in Yu Hao’s memory, though not a model student, was at least a spirited young man. Now, meeting again, she couldn’t find any trace of that reckless energy in his eyes—only steadiness.

The restaurant was her choice. Lu Huaizheng didn’t often eat out, so he let her decide. Yu Hao had simply chosen a highly-rated place on Dianping.

Upon entering, she realized it wasn’t what she expected.

As their eyes met, the small orange candle on the table flickered, its light gently swaying, creating an intimate ambiance. Yu Hao rubbed her forearm, looking around suspiciously:

“Why doesn’t this restaurant turn on the lights?”

Lu Huaizheng leaned forward across the table, close to her ear, finally unable to contain the laughter he’d been holding back: “What, never been to a couple’s restaurant before?”