After hearing this, Yu Hao cast a thoughtful glance his way, examining his face from the corner of her eye.

Lu Huaizheng reacted quickly, straightening up and uncomfortably rubbing the tip of his nose. “Even if you haven’t eaten pork, you must have seen pigs running.” He then sat down on the stool behind him, lowering his head to scratch his eyebrow. Sitting up straight, he cleared his throat, looked back at her, and said: “It seems in all these years, you haven’t had a boyfriend?”

In the dimly lit restaurant, the faint yellowish light seemed to brighten at these words. Outside the window, night had fallen, with trees standing silently, adding a sense of tranquility to the evening.

Yu Hao’s expression was slightly mocking as she raised an eyebrow and asked in return: “You seem very experienced?”

Lu Huaizheng coughed again and immediately explained: “No.” Then feeling he had explained too quickly and lost the upper hand, he leaned back in his chair and added nonchalantly, “Mainly because I haven’t had time.”

Yu Hao’s lips curved slightly upward, indicating she understood.

This secretive expression, which didn’t answer whether she had dated or not, made Lu Huaizheng a bit restless. During these twelve years apart, their past connection had long since faded into distant valleys and high shores, invisible to the east or west.

The first time he realized he had feelings for the girl before him was after a sports meet. She would help his class with bulletin board designs every day after school. Sometimes when he returned from basketball practice, he would find her still there, alone in the classroom, even the publicity committee member of their class had disappeared. He would sit on the desk and quietly keep her company until she finished drawing.

Sometimes he stared at the drawing, sometimes at her. After staring for so long, even he couldn’t tell whether he was looking at the artwork or the person…

Gradually, it developed to the point where, despite having a bathroom right next to him, he would deliberately take the long route to use the one near Class Five, claiming he needed the exercise… During class breaks, his eyes would involuntarily glance toward Class Five… When playing basketball, if he saw her passing by the playground, his layup moves became more aggressive than usual, yet she never spared him a glance.

On his phone, he had typed “I like you” countless times. Eventually, whenever he typed “I,” the phrase “like you” would automatically appear, like conjoined twins.

What emotion is a secret crush?

Well, at least his input method was more understanding than she was.

When he was little, his father was a guard, rarely at home, seen only a few times a year. He would throw tantrums, wanting to see his father, crying incessantly, wondering why other children had fathers who would lift them high or play horsey with them, while he did not.

After repeated incidents, his mother could only sigh helplessly. But Grandfather Lu was a man who valued family traditions.

Lu Yongkang was in his seventies, having been a military artist in his early years. His back was straight, and even at his age, his dignified bearing remained. Before Lu Huaizheng turned five, he learned Chinese history, world geography, and various encyclopedic knowledge from his grandfather. It wasn’t until the death of his son and daughter-in-law that the old man, heartbroken and devastated, entrusted Lu Huaizheng to his aunt.

His grandfather was well-versed in Chinese history and had made certain achievements in the study of traditional Chinese culture.

His most frequently spoken phrase was:

“Fear not changes in the heavens, blindly follow not the ancestors, worry not about others’ words.”

Meaning: Even if the sky falls, do not be afraid; when facing natural disasters, do not fear; do not blindly follow the systems left by ancestors, but innovate and eliminate the unusual; and as for rumors and gossip, pay them no heed.

His grandfather always used this to educate him, saying that no matter what field he entered in the future, whether he joined the military or not, even if he worked in an ordinary industry, this was a man’s cultivation. Then there was: “Establish principles for the world, secure provisions for the people, continue the interrupted learning of past sages, and bring long-lasting peace to future generations.”

Including, as he grew older and had a girl he liked, that love should be profound, not about taking or being frivolous.

Later, when he joined the military, his grandfather fell ill for some time. His aunt kept it from him until his grandfather passed away when he finally received the news. He was on a mission in South Africa at the time. By the time he completed his mission and returned, his grandfather had already been buried, leaving only a letter for him.

A few brief words:

There’s a beautiful place in the northern frontier called Kanas, with clouds, sea, and Buddha’s light. In my youth, I performed there with my unit. It’s a pity that after returning, I never had the chance to go back. When you have time, go there for me. I often scolded you as a child, saying you weren’t like the Lu family children like your brothers, but actually, you resembled me the most when I was young.

I don’t like how I was in my youth—too arrogant, not knowing how to bow my head, missing too much.

Nothing more beyond that. Hope all is well with you.

Protect the homeland, dare to be first, your generation must be strong. Great responsibility, lasting fragrance. Fulfill your duties, life, and death therein, with no regrets.

Lu Huaizheng didn’t remember much from his childhood. He felt he must have done something bad as a child. After his father’s sacrifice, his relatives left him one after another. His maternal grandparents didn’t care for him. Apart from practicing calligraphy with his grandfather for half a year, he barely saw them a few times afterward. His mother’s relatives said he was unlucky, and he thought so too. In his childhood, his temperament wasn’t actually that cheerful; in fact, he was somewhat self-conscious.

After his aunt remarried, her current husband changed him a lot. His uncle was shrewd, managing hundreds of people, and saw right through him in high school. He would often sneak into his room at night and earnestly provide him with adolescent education, saying that education was actually about guidance.

“Got a girl you like?”

Lu Huaizheng initially denied it stubbornly, but under his uncle’s meaningful gaze, he confessed everything.

His uncle didn’t say much, but after listening, told him not to let it affect his studies. Then, thinking about it, he added, “Well, your studies can’t be affected much anyway,” and advised him, since he was still young, not to go too far.

He hadn’t thought much about it, but the phrase “too far” gave him vivid dreams all night, leaving him in a cold sweat.

…

The first half of this dinner was somewhat awkward, less confrontational but more cautious and clumsy.

Unfamiliar yet wanting to get closer, afraid of being too hasty, it evolved into the following scenes.

The service at the couple’s restaurant was quite attentive. The tableware came in matching sets; the cups, when put together, formed a heart shape. Yu Hao picked them up curiously to examine them. Lu Huaizheng looked at them as if they were similar to the toy bowls his nephew used for meals, raising his eyelids slightly, finding nothing particularly novel.

Though Lu Huaizheng wasn’t picky about food, there were many taboos in the military, such as spicy food, beans, and celery. These couldn’t be eaten before flying. Lu Huaizheng had a flight mission tomorrow, so tonight he should have eaten at the aircrew canteen, but if he didn’t invite her out, who knew when the next opportunity would come?

The dishes Yu Hao ordered tonight were mostly spicy. Lu Huaizheng ate just a few bites before focusing on the bowl of plain boiled vegetables in front of him.

Halfway through the meal, Yu Hao noticed and looked up at him. “What’s wrong, not to your taste?”

Lu Huaizheng thought for a moment and decided to explain, “I have a mission tomorrow. There are some things I can’t eat.”

Yu Hao, with a piece of vegetable in her mouth, stared at him blankly: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Lu Huaizheng pursed his lips, leaning back. “It’s fine. I wasn’t hungry anyway.”

Yu Hao put down her chopsticks and reached for the menu nearby. “Let me order a few more dishes.”

Lu Huaizheng, leaning in his chair, watched her and chuckled, “Really, there’s no need. I notice you’re still the same as before, so determined.”

Hearing this, Yu Hao suddenly turned to look at him. The two were sitting by the window. Outside, the world had completely darkened, the lights just coming on, neon lights flickering, occasionally hearing car horns. The light and shadow on his face alternated between bright and dim, accentuating his cold features. The entire restaurant was elegant and quiet, with lovers whispering to each other, accompanied by melodious and lingering piano music.

Perhaps due to the atmosphere, Yu Hao felt that the man’s gaze across from her became ambiguous at one moment, full of deep affection.

In that instant, she was somewhat dazed, almost believing that sitting across from her was that once lively and exuberant young man, with his fluffy chestnut-colored hair, like a Shiba Inu curling up beside her, pleading for head pats.

Yu Hao wasn’t cold; she just wasn’t good at handling interpersonal relationships, especially not knowing how to respond to others’ enthusiasm toward her. Unable to give a reaction, yet not wanting to appear flustered and disoriented, she put on a facade of not caring about anything.

For instance, since entering, Lu Huaizheng had smiled at the waitress three times; the beautiful woman at the next table had stolen glances at Lu Huaizheng ten times, probably because her gaze was so intense that Lu Huaizheng had returned it once, though with a hint of impatience in his eyes.

After three seconds of eye contact with him, Yu Hao suddenly called out, “Lu Huaizheng.”

“Hmm.”

His response was quick, deep yet alluring, seeming somewhat expectant.

“Excuse me, you two.”

The waitress suddenly appeared, holding a plate of beef tongue, smiling warmly at Yu Hao and Lu Huaizheng in the dim candlelight. “Tonight we’re offering complimentary beef tongue. Would you like some?”

Yu Hao glanced at it and said straightforwardly: “If it’s free, just leave it.”

Lu Huaizheng tilted his head, the corners of his mouth lifting uncontrollably. She was still just as insensitive to things around her as before.

Before the waitress could explain, Lu Huaizheng leaned back in his chair, turned his head, and said directly to the waitress: “Take it away. We don’t need it.”

Yu Hao: “Why refuse something free?”

Lu Huaizheng: “You wouldn’t like it.”

“I quite enjoy beef tongue.”

Yu Hao genuinely wanted to try it; she had smelled it at the entrance and could hardly resist.

Lu Huaizheng stared at her for two seconds, then slightly turned to ask the waitress, “I’ll buy it. Charge it at the original price on our bill.”

The waitress smiled awkwardly, scratching her head. “I need to ask the owner about this.”

Lu Huaizheng nodded. “Go ask.”

“Wait.” Yu Hao called her back. “Why pay when it’s free?”

“Don’t you want to eat it?”

“I want to eat the free one.”

Lu Huaizheng glanced at the waitress, coughed, and discreetly looked away. “You can’t have the free one.”

…

When Yu Hao was waiting outside for Lu Huaizheng to settle the bill, she finally understood why she couldn’t have the free beef tongue. The waitress had taken the plate to the beautiful woman at the next table who had been eyeing Lu Huaizheng ten times. The waitress whispered something in the couple’s ears, and the woman confidently stood up and suddenly embraced the sharply dressed man across from her, kissing him lip to lip.

And then the plate of beef tongue became theirs…

…

…

…

Lu Huaizheng finished paying, tucked his wallet into his pocket, and looked up to see Yu Hao staring intently in a certain direction. Following her gaze, he saw the couple kissing passionately, making loud smacking sounds. Lu Huaizheng looked away, strode over to Yu Hao’s side, directly covered her eyes, and dragged her away by the arm.

“Are you that bored? Watching this?”

Yu Hao’s vision went black as he led her away. Her feet stumbled, and she ended up burrowing into his embrace. His chest was so solid, like a hard wall, nearly stunning her with the impact. Yu Hao was dazed as he dragged her to the car. Then Lu Huaizheng opened the passenger door, one hand on the top of the door, the other pushing her inside. He leaned in halfway, pulled the seatbelt over, and fastened it for her. With his arm resting on the window frame, in the pale moonlight, he looked at her with half-closed eyes.

“Never dated?” He smiled. “Were you waiting for me? Hmm?”