Back then, Lu Huaizheng and Sun Kai had just entered military school. The night they left Guangzhou, they had drunk a bit too much.

The previous evening, there had been a brief farewell ceremony in the unit’s dining hall. There wasn’t much sentiment; soldiers were stationed all over the country, each guarding a different front line, and they would surely meet again someday. But the next day, as they boarded the bus and their instructor held their hands reluctantly, his eyes gradually reddening.

The two young men finally couldn’t hold back their emotions. The gentle breeze brushed their faces, stirring their feelings, and their hearts surged with the soft wind. Despite suppressing the regret and reluctance in their hearts, they were still young after all, and tears fell.

When the vehicle drove out of the camp and dropped them at the station, the two didn’t rush to buy tickets and leave. Instead, they sat on a bench at the station all afternoon. As night fell and neon lights flickered, Lu Huaizheng suddenly asked if he wanted a drink. Sun Kai nodded readily.

The two picked up their things and found a small restaurant nearby, where they drank almost all night.

Lu Huaizheng truly drank too much that night. His alcohol tolerance was poor to begin with. After finishing a crate of low-alcohol beer and returning from the bathroom, he propped himself up with one hand on a beer bottle. With a flushed face, he looked at Sun Kai, gave a muffled burp, and with hazy eyes said, “Let me sing you a song.”

It wasn’t that they had never heard Lu Huaizheng sing before—the unit often sang military songs together. His singing wasn’t off-key, but it certainly wasn’t good. At least he could stay in tune, just without any technique—a straightforward, masculine singing style.

Sun Kai was also in a drunken state. He waved his hand and said, “Go ahead and sing. Tonight I’ll risk my life to accompany you. No matter how bad it sounds, brother, I’ll listen.”

Lu Huaizheng didn’t even blink before he started singing.

When Sun Kai heard it, he thought, wait, that’s a love song? And seeing that pitiful look in his eyes, Sun Kai waved his hand in front of Lu Huaizheng’s face and laughed, “Are you drunk? What are you singing? Shut up! Sing ‘Unity is Strength’ for me!”

“No, I’ll sing this one.”

Sun Kai asked with a grin, “Are you missing a woman?”

The usually taciturn man, who was always serious and rigid on the training field and never spoke of his love life, suddenly lowered his guard at that moment, half-closed his eyes, and nodded.

Sun Kai threw a peanut at him and advised, “Find a girlfriend in Beijing.”

Lu Huaizheng continued humming the tune dreamily.

At some point, the lights in the small restaurant grew dimmer. The flickering halo of light around his head made him drowsy. When he finally closed his eyes, his head fell forward onto the table. The tune gradually stopped, and Sun Kai leaned closer, hearing him mumble against the table, “No, I’ll wait a bit longer.”

“Who are you waiting for?!” Sun Kai threw another peanut shell at him.

He didn’t answer. With his face sideways on the table, his mouth like a bird’s beak, he murmured, “What if she comes back someday and can’t find me.”

When the restaurant closed, both men were dead drunk. In the end, it was Chen Rui, who was studying in Guangzhou at the time, who came to pick them up.

In the taxi, Chen Rui was sandwiched between the two of them—on his left was Lu Huaizheng’s singing, which resembled a major car accident, and on his right was Sun Kai’s stream of crude curses. Occasionally, the driver would cast sympathetic glances through the rearview mirror.

Chen Rui, who somehow found the courage at that moment, took out his phone and recorded it.

Later, when Chen Rui also joined the Airborne Brigade and was assigned to Lu Huaizheng’s team, the video was viewed by everyone in the unit, and word spread: the way to deal with Captain Lu—get him drunk!

Afraid of embarrassing Lu Huaizheng, Sun Kai still left him some face, not revealing everything. He cut out the part about Yu Hao and gave them a brief explanation. After finishing, his arm still hooked around Lu Huaizheng’s neck, stroking the back of his head as if smoothing his fur: “I must say, every man in our brigade has an iron exterior but a tender heart!”

Lu Huaizheng tilted his head away from Sun Kai’s hand and cursed with a smile: “Get lost!”

Sun Kai withdrew his hand and secretly leaned toward his ear, gritting his teeth as he whispered: “I saved your face by not telling Yu Hao what you said back then. Otherwise, you really wouldn’t have any face left in front of her, I’m telling you.”

Lu Huaizheng gave him a sidelong glance, then turned his gaze back to the stage, watching Chen Rui and the others making a commotion. With a calm indifference, he said, “I don’t have much face in front of her anyway. What, do you still care about saving face in front of your wife?”

The stage lighting effects were quite rudimentary, but Chen Rui and Wu Heping were having a great time. After speaking, Lu Huaizheng pointed at the most timid Wu Heping, deliberately putting on a stern face and pretending to scold him: “Get down here. Are you asking for punishment?”

Wu Heping trembled a bit and took small steps to go down, but Chen Rui grabbed him back, “Fool! After being with Captain Lu for so long, you still can’t tell when he’s genuinely angry or just pretending. When he’s truly angry, he wouldn’t even bother talking to you! He would have already stood up and walked away! He’s just trying to scare you, you coward!”

Wu Heping continued singing into the microphone, eventually changing the lyrics.

“In the wine glass, such loyal devotion…”

Sun Kai knew that Lu Huaizheng was most skilled at putting on a good front and most afraid of having his weaknesses exposed. Li Hongwen once said that emotions were probably his greatest weakness—family love, romantic love, friendship… He was also a sentimental person who valued old relationships and was loyal.

Sun Kai grinned mischievously and looked at Lu Huaizheng with sinister amusement: “So you don’t care about saving face, huh?”

Lu Huaizheng came back to his senses and turned to look at him, sensing he was up to no good. Sure enough, Sun Kai suddenly leaned forward, poking his head out to shout at Yu Hao, “Doctor Yu, let me tell you, that day when he was drunk… mph!”

The music on stage was loud and enthusiastic. Just as Yu Hao leaned forward to listen, she saw Sun Kai’s mouth directly covered by Lu Huaizheng’s hand. She didn’t even hear the first half of the sentence.

Sun Kai’s eyes smugly signaled to Lu Huaizheng: Didn’t you say you don’t care about face?

Lu Huaizheng wrapped his arm around Sun Kai’s shoulder, holding him in front, while his other hand firmly covered his mouth. With a cold gaze, he looked down at him, not allowing a single word to be spoken.

Sun Kai’s eyes signaled for him to let go.

Lu Huaizheng returned his gaze calmly—I’ll let go if you shut up.

Sun Kai raised an eyebrow, still smugly—I won’t shut up.

Lu Huaizheng also raised an eyebrow and smiled—Everyone has something to hide, right?

Yu Hao watched in a daze as the two men’s gazes reached an agreement amid the chaotic spotlights.

Lu Huaizheng released his hand, and Sun Kai didn’t speak anymore. He pursed his lips and sat obediently at the side, deciding not to disturb the two of them.

“What was Captain Sun saying?” Yu Hao asked, looking up.

Lu Huaizheng glanced at her, “He’s acting crazy. Just ignore him.”

In youth, emotions are hard to conceal; one is straightforward and frank, daring to say anything. Back then, he truly didn’t care, was bold and passionate—to put it bluntly, a bit shameless, not caring about the girl’s feelings. What he cared about was superficial effort, like shopping for clothes, occasionally studying in front of a mirror which angle made his smile look best, and on days when he had PE class with her, he would even put some hair gel on before going out.

That bottle of hair gel he gave Zhou Siyue back then was his own.

He would deliberately match the colors of his jersey and shoes, vain and pretentious.

Now, apart from a few sets of frequently worn military uniforms, he didn’t have many casual clothes and wasn’t particular about clothing. Sometimes when going downstairs to buy cigarettes, he would throw on a jacket with nothing underneath and head out—whatever was convenient. He didn’t care much about appearances anymore, caring more about inner feelings and considering things more thoroughly than before.

It was hard to say which version he preferred.

Sometimes he missed the carefree nature of his youth, but more often, he enjoyed his current state.

In the past, even if Sun Kai hadn’t mentioned it, he would have brazenly tried to charm Yu Hao, while also questioning her: how much he had thought about her, how much he had done for her, and where had she been all these years?

Making her feel guilty so she would be nicer to him.

But now, stopping Sun Kai from speaking was because he felt there was nothing worth saying. More importantly, he didn’t want Yu Hao to know, afraid it would burden her.

Thinking carefully, a man who, without any unexpected circumstances, had waited for you for twelve years—if the other person couldn’t return the same feelings, such a relationship couldn’t be equal. Whether it was more or less, it would become a burden.

Lu Huaizheng always felt that what he was willing to give her was his to give, but she should be free.

The song was called “Longing.” In high school, Yu Hao had performed at an arts festival, playing the piano.

After the performance, Yu Hao sang it again for Lu Huaizheng alone on the rooftop. They had argued a few days before—the first time Lu Huaizheng had been angry with her. Though Yu Hao felt no remorse, she sang sincerely.

At that time, he had leaned against the wall, looking down at her with a tender, smiling gaze.

As Yu Hao sang toward the end, her mind began to wander. She kept feeling that he might kiss her the next second. She couldn’t say whether she expected it or not; she just felt a bit afraid. She was averse to the opposite sex, yet couldn’t resist when he looked at her so affectionately.

Later, whenever they disagreed, she would sing “Longing.” After a couple of lines, he would be soothed, and extremely easy to placate.

Yu Hao turned her head to look at the man’s hard profile, wondering if he was still so easy to coax now.

“What time are you leaving tomorrow?”

Hearing her voice, Lu Huaizheng shifted his gaze from the stage and turned to look at her. The music continued loudly; Wu Heping had stopped singing. After causing a commotion for a while, they knew when to stop and quickly left the stage before Lu Huaizheng got angry, leaving it to the cultural troupe girls.

His eyes swept over to her, a smile gradually appearing. “What is it?”

Yu Hao said: “I need to go to town tomorrow to buy some things. Why don’t I go with you?”

Lu Huaizheng wasn’t stupid; he naturally understood what she was thinking.

He had originally planned to leave before she woke up, which would lessen her feeling of loss and make his departure cleaner. He had asked Director Tang to arrange for a car to pick him up at six o’clock.

“What time will you get up?” Lu Huaizheng asked in return.

Yu Hao thought for a moment. If she said too early, she feared the shops in town wouldn’t be open; if too late, she worried he might leave early. After careful consideration, she tentatively suggested what she considered a compromise: “Six-thirty?”

Lu Huaizheng nodded slightly, his elbow propped on his knee. Lowering his head, he lifted his leg slightly, seemingly grinding something on the ground. With narrowed eyes, he said casually: “Let’s make it seven then. I’ll wait for you at the entrance.”

Yu Hao nodded repeatedly.

Lu Huaizheng gave a slight smile, reaching past Sun Kai to touch Tang Mingliang’s shoulder. Against the blaring music, he leaned close to his ear and said, “No need to send a car to pick me up tomorrow. Let Chen Rui go first and wait for me at the airport.”

Tang Mingliang was surprised. “Why not pick you up?”

The music was deafeningly loud. Lu Huaizheng let go and stretched closer to his ear again. “Yu Hao needs to go to town. I’ll take her there and then go to the station directly. Just arrange a car for me tomorrow.”

Sun Kai glanced at Yu Hao beside them and smiled, pushing Lu Huaizheng’s head. “Not bad, you.”

Lu Huaizheng ignored him, blocking with his hand as he continued to instruct Tang Mingliang, “Also, please assign a driver to me. I won’t have time to take her back.”

Tang Mingliang’s expression became mysterious as he stared at him without responding.

Lu Huaizheng looked at him for a moment, then frowned: “Hey, what’s with that expression?”

Tang Mingliang raised an eyebrow: “You have feelings for Yu Hao, huh?”

They were all experienced in these matters. Going to such lengths, wasn’t it just to spend more time together? Acting as if no one had ever been in love before! Like she was a treasure!

Sun Kai thought Lu Huaizheng wouldn’t answer. To his surprise, Lu Huaizheng’s eyes suddenly became serious. Those eyes were as clear as a bright mirror, completely earnest. In the cold moonlight, they were as hazy yet profound as blue smoke. He looked down and then softly uttered an “Mm.”

Although the brothers often joked around and teased each other, Sun Kai was the only one who had seen Lu Huaizheng when he was drunk. Jokes aside, he had felt heartache for him deep down. Now seeing him take this step, he couldn’t hide his excitement and joy. “Is it decided?”

“Eventually.” He was being conservative with his words now.

Sun Kai didn’t mind. “So can I call her sister-in-law now?”

Lu Huaizheng just smiled.

Tang Mingliang was also pleased. The issue with Sui Zi was just a misunderstanding that had been cleared up. He just hadn’t expected this guy to hide his feelings so deeply. He said, “No need to make it so complicated. Just let Yu Hao go with you to the airport, and then have the driver come back.”

Unexpectedly, Lu Huaizheng waved his hand. “No need. It’s over four hours from here to the airport. It would be tiring for her to travel back and forth all day. Let’s do it as I said.”

Sun Kai smiled. Oh? Not even married yet and already being so considerate?

Lu Huaizheng coldly replied, “Try making Fangyan travel back and forth all day and see what happens.”

Alright, Sun Kai had nothing more to say.

Fangyan wasn’t as delicate as Yu Hao. Fangyan would beat him to death.

Both were doctors, yet so different.

The next day.

When Yu Hao was ready and arrived at the entrance, Lu Huaizheng had changed into casual clothes—still a white T-shirt and black jacket, looking clean and sharp as he leaned against the car door. In the early morning light, he had his head down, arms crossed over his chest, his expression focused.

As Yu Hao approached, she discovered he was playing with a dog, balancing on his toes. The dog seemed familiar with him. When he lifted his foot, the dog would stand on its hind legs, its front paws trying to catch his shoe. He would lift his foot again, and the dog, growing impatient, would sit on the ground and growl at him.

Lu Huaizheng smiled and had the driver take a sausage from the car. Then he squatted down, placed the sausage on the ground, and made a gesture to the dog.

Meaning it couldn’t eat yet.

The dog listened to him, sitting obediently, waiting for his command.

Yu Hao stood silently in the distance, watching. The mountain breeze blew gently, soft, and fresh.

Lu Huaizheng patted the dog’s head and said softly: “Eat.”

The dog suddenly lowered its head to bite, devouring the sausage swiftly, all while looking up at the man beside it.

Lu Huaizheng stroked the dog’s fur a couple of times before standing up with a smile, hands in his pockets. Looking up, he saw Yu Hao watching him from a distance.

His smile resembled his former self, but she knew he was no longer the Lu Huaizheng of the past. Now, he carried on his shoulders the weight of the nation, of these mountains and rivers.

Yu Hao’s heart pounded, her emotions surging like turbulent waves on a lake. In her dreams, it was always him.

A man like this—she would be willing to wait another ten years for him.

So she thought.