In the hospital room, they sat facing each other.

Their conversation had taken on an unprecedented seriousness. Lu Huaizheng put aside his earlier casualness and looseness. When facing his mother-in-law’s soul-searching questions, his gaze was honest, his answers flowed readily, and he appeared so composed that it seemed as if he was merely chatting with an ordinary friend.

Feng Yanzhi: “Your situation was explained to me by your uncle the other day. So you’re currently living with your uncle? Do you have your place in Beijing?”

Lu Huaizheng leaned back in his chair. “I have a bachelor apartment that I bought a long time ago. I’m usually at the military base, so I don’t use it much.”

Feng Yanzhi nodded: “So if you marry Yu Hao…” She coughed, feeling it was inappropriate, and added, “I mean, if you two get married—of course, we should follow Yu Hao’s wishes—I just think you should buy a house in Beijing, right? Before coming here, I discussed this with Yu Hao’s father. Given your salary, it would be quite difficult for you to buy a house in Beijing alone. And now with the new marriage law just enacted… Our family has some savings after all these years. Yu Hao herself has no money, so don’t expect her to contribute. Her daily spending on bags and cosmetics is probably already more than she can afford. So, for the down payment, her father and I can help a bit…”

Hearing this, Lu Huaizheng crossed his arms and lowered his head with a smile: “No need. I can buy the house. If you’re worried, the deed can be in Yu Hao’s name alone. In the future, if you feel I’m not treating her well enough or if I do something that hurts her, I can leave with nothing.”

If at this point he were to say something like “I will never divorce her” to the other party’s parents, it would make the elders fear that if the couple’s relationship deteriorated in the future, the man might be too stubborn and refuse to divorce.

Lu Huaizheng was very clever. He was open and forthright, understanding the value of strategic retreat. Even Feng Yanzhi, a shrewd person herself, was left momentarily stunned by his words, almost moved by what he said. She could only laugh and say, “Of course, that’s not what I meant…” She changed the subject: “What’s your annual income now?”

Lu Huaizheng gave her a figure.

Feng Yanzhi covered her mouth. “That much?”

He nodded slightly. “It’s decent.”

“How dangerous is your job? I saw the Tuslan video. First, I greatly respect your military personnel, but please understand that as a mother, I must admit—your overall conditions are very good, and I trust my own daughter’s judgment, but as Huo Ting said, although you’ve known each other for a long time, you’ve only been together for this short period. I hope you both are calm and rational enough to feel you’re truly suitable for each other, rather than acting on a momentary impulse. Romance is wonderful, I understand, wonderful enough to make you want to throw caution to the wind. But marriage and romance are two different matters. You need to drop your pretenses, shed all your romantic fantasies, and then face life’s trivial issues and daily necessities together.”

Feng Yanzhi paused. She met Lu Huaizheng’s open and direct gaze. “Yu Hao is a child who doesn’t like to communicate with people. She has many flaws, and sometimes she speaks without thinking. She’s very direct and doesn’t know how to be tactful. Talking with you for just these few minutes, I can sense that you’re very intelligent, a child who is exceptionally skilled at managing emotions, and very perceptive of others’ feelings. Because she’s different from most girls, you might like her and care for her now. But she’s just a very ordinary girl. I’ve introduced her to many boys whose conditions weren’t as good as yours, and to be honest, their evaluations of Yu Hao weren’t very high. They found her too serious and uninteresting. She’s only interested in academic papers, and even when meeting potential matches, she discusses academic issues like the broken window theory.”

Lu Huaizheng found this amusing. He crossed his arms, a half-smile on his face, leaning back in his chair, shaking his head with a low laugh. His expression was particularly helpless, but his eyes were full of indulgence.

That demeanor momentarily made Feng Yanzhi feel disoriented, but she quickly regained her composure. Then she heard Lu Huaizheng say: “There is a certain level of danger. As our instructor would say, the annual death rate from car accidents is higher than our death rate. It’s something I can’t guarantee you about. No one wants to sacrifice themselves; everyone wants to fight to stay alive. Over the years in our unit, many have married and had children. Every time we go on a mission, who doesn’t think of their own family? At most, I might lose an arm or a leg in the latter half of my life…”

Feng Yanzhi’s expression had just relaxed, but upon hearing those last words, her eyes widened in anger. Lu Huaizheng quickly promised before she could speak: “Don’t worry, even if I lose an arm or a leg, I absolutely won’t burden Yu Hao.”

“Don’t tell me you would divorce her? If you’re forty or fifty, where would she go after a divorce?”

“We don’t serve on the front lines after forty-five. I’ll be transferring to civilian work in a few more years.”

“Transfer where?”

“That’s still undecided. I might stay in the military, or transfer to a local position, or simply retire and go home.”

But Li Hongwen would certainly not agree to his retirement.

“Look for work after retiring and going home?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of work could you find?”

Lu Huaizheng pondered: “Bank security? Security company? Private bodyguard?”

“…” Feng Yanzhi heard this and got a headache. “Enough, enough, the more I hear, the more ridiculous it sounds. You’d better stay in the military.”

Lu Huaizheng deliberately said: “Actually, private bodyguards in China now earn a decent annual income, much higher than what I make now. They protect important political figures.”

Feng Yanzhi pursed her lips: “No, ‘bodyguard’ sounds awful. If someone asks what my son-in-law does, and I say he’s a bodyguard—what kind of thing is that? It’s not that I look down on this profession, but I think with your current conditions, there’s no need to go down this path. Smooth things over with your unit leaders. If all else fails, I can ask our hospital director to pull some strings and have someone arrange a position for you in the military. There’s no rush; we can discuss this when you transfer.”

Feng Yanzhi hadn’t realized that she had already been drawn in by Lu Huaizheng.

The term “son-in-law” had slipped out, and she didn’t find it inappropriate.

Lu Huaizheng had a look of having gained an advantage while still acting humble. He very sincerely said: “Good, I’ll work hard and not let you down.”

Feng Yanzhi instantly lost her temper with him. Sitting in the chair, she sighed: “I didn’t hurt you earlier, did I?”

Lu Huaizheng shook his neck, completely unfazed: “Not at all.”

Feng Yanzhi said seriously: “Dai Lin said it was a joke? I don’t understand what kind of jokes you young people tell these days. Anyway, tell fewer of these messy jokes. It makes people seem exaggerated.”

Lu Huaizheng placed his fist against his lips and coughed lightly: “Yes.”

After they had talked for quite some time, Yu Hao was finally allowed in.

Feng Yanzhi prepared to leave. Before leaving, she said to Yu Hao: “Come back early tonight, don’t be too late. I’m going to visit a colleague, then I’ll head back first. I won’t wait for you.”

Yu Hao nodded repeatedly like a pecking chicken, bowing slightly as she saw her mother off.

When she turned around, Lu Huaizheng was already sitting in the previous chair, with his back to her, his hand pressing on his neck as he stretched it.

Outside the window, the bright moon hung high, and the curtains were only open a narrow slit, creating a tranquil scene.

Inside the room, a bedside lamp was lit, its light-tinged yellow, creating a vague, hazy atmosphere where the silhouettes were not visible.

Yu Hao placed both hands behind her back, pressing against the door, and slowly, gradually closed it.

The man in the chair remained motionless, still pressing his neck and stretching, his expression tired, his eyes slightly drooping.

“Click—”

The door closed, and she pressed her body against it. The door was locked.

“Come here.”

The man in the chair spoke, still not stopping his movements.

The room was dimly lit. His voice was like mountains and water, without any particular emotion, yet to her ears, it seemed quite provocative. Even his back made her heart flutter.

When she stood in front of him.

Lu Huaizheng leaned back in the chair, his long legs casually planted on the ground. He moved his left leg outward, and patted his thigh: “Sit.”

Yu Hao sat down shamelessly, turned her body halfway inward, reached to hook his neck, and asked with lowered eyebrows: “Is it settled?”

Lu Huaizheng crossed his arms, leaning back in the chair with a casual demeanor, his head slightly tilted as he looked at her sitting on his lap. He nodded thoughtfully, “Ah, it’s settled.” Then he looked at her with a half-smile: “Any reward?”

“A kiss?” Yu Hao suggested tentatively.

He kept his arms crossed, smiling without speaking. The flirtatiousness written in his eyes made Yu Hao feel embarrassed. She buried her head in his warm neck. “You’re impossible. Your thoughts are too vulgar.”

“Who are you saying is impossible?”

A man’s sensitivity to this phrase is comparable to a woman’s sensitivity to weight.

Yu Hao buried her head deeper. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

Lu Huaizheng couldn’t help teasing her, pinching her ear and rubbing it: “Then am I good enough or not?”

“Why are you so fixated on this?”

“It’s not fixation. This thing naturally comes from an emotional connection. If you can’t feel pleasure with me, I’d feel like a failure as a man.”

Yu Hao whispered in his ear, “But I might have a physical issue. I didn’t feel much pleasure.”

“Come, let me help you rediscover pleasure.” As Lu Huaizheng spoke, he tried to lift her to throw her on the bed. Yu Hao was scared and quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering breathlessly in his ear: “What are you doing? You’re still injured.”

Lu Huaizheng ignored her and carried her to the bed himself. “The lower body isn’t injured, so it’s fine. Come, lie down.”

Yu Hao held onto his neck, refusing to let go. Seeing his determined look, she glanced down at the narrow hospital bed. “Are we… going to do it?”

Lu Huaizheng teased her: “Yes, we just have too little physical communication. Doing more harmonious work helps promote social harmony and national stability. Then I won’t have to go on so many missions.” He tilted his head and instructed her: “Lie down, take off your clothes. I’ll teach you a new position today, one we haven’t tried before.”

“…New… position?” Yu Hao was horrified. “I haven’t even adjusted to the previous ones!”

They spoke as if they had experience.

Yu Hao obediently lay down and efficiently unbuttoned her shirt one by one. Her round chest suddenly sprang out, the black lace fabric at her chest accentuating her delicate, smooth skin, which looked particularly white and soft, like rippling water.

He had originally intended to tease her but hadn’t expected Yu Hao to undress.

Lu Huaizheng’s gaze deepened, and he continued to direct, his voice losing its earlier playfulness, gaining a hint of desire: “Leave it half-on and half-off. It looks better than completely off.”

“…”

Yu Hao obediently complied, leaving the last three buttons undone. She looked up at the man standing by the bed with one arm in a sling: “Then—”

Then, her lips were caught by his.

Before she could finish her question, Lu Huaizheng bent down, cupping her face with one hand to kiss her.

Outside the window, the moon gradually scattered, clouds gathered, and the light flickered as if falling into darkness.

Inside the room, the light was dim. One bending down, one looking up, sharing intimate, deep kisses. Their lips and tongues intertwined tenderly in the ambiguous lamplight. Lu Huaizheng kissed her once, then turned in a different direction. Yu Hao, deprived of oxygen by his kisses, reached up to hold his neck, pressing tightly against him.

Lu Huaizheng slowly moved his hand from her face, rubbed her chest a few times, and shamelessly commented: “Is your period coming soon?”

Yu Hao was startled. With his lips in her mouth, she calculated hazily in her mind, “How did you know? It does seem to be coming soon.”

“They’re a bit bigger than usual. I heard women’s breasts get bigger when their period is coming. So it’s true. Amazing.”

The tone of “amazing” made her want to punch him.

Yu Hao was furious. She pushed his forehead with her palm. “Why are you researching this!”

They separated, and Lu Huaizheng couldn’t stop laughing. Looking down at her, he was about to speak when the hospital room door was suddenly pushed open. Yu Hao reacted quickly, turning her back.

Zhao Dai Lin and Sun Kai stood at the door, without time to see anything. They were hit hard with a pillow, accurately striking Sun Kai’s face: “Didn’t your mother teach you to knock before entering?”

Sun Kai complained: “I wasn’t the one who opened it.”

He turned around, and Zhao Dai Lin had already disappeared, making a quick escape. Sun Kai was about to speak when Lu Huaizheng shouted at him again: “Stop fucking looking!”

By then, Yu Hao had already buttoned up her shirt and was sitting on the bed hugging her knees, looking somewhat lost as she gently rubbed her leg.

“Bang!”

The door was quickly closed.

The two looked at each other, without much desire left. Lu Huaizheng had initially just been teasing her, not expecting to get aroused himself. Now he tried to calm his breathing, sitting down on the edge of her bed. First, he turned to look at her, tucking her hair behind her ear, then turned back to look out the window: “I’ve settled things with your mother. Leave the wedding matters to me.”

Yu Hao hugged her knees, softly acknowledging with a sound.

Lu Huaizheng sat on the edge of the bed, his legs loosely hanging, with one arm in a sling. He smiled somewhat self-mockingly, somewhat incredulously: “Actually, I never thought there would be this day. I never imagined that one day I could marry you.”

Yu Hao rested her chin on her knees, silently watching him.

The man was sitting sideways to her, the lamp shadow vaguely outlining him. His features were firm yet gentle. The self-mocking smile at the corner of his mouth when he turned to look at her somehow made her heartache.

His gaze suddenly became distant.

“When we first reunited, the day I took you back to the research institute from the military region when I invited you to dinner that day, I had no other intention. I just wanted to have a meal as old classmates and ask how you’d been these past few years.”

“And then?”

He let one hand hang down, resting it beside his leg, slightly dropping his shoulders. He let out a long, relaxed sigh: “Then I discovered you still had feelings for me.”

“Aren’t you being narcissistic?”

Lu Huaizheng turned to smile at her: “Do you dare say it’s not true? At the wedding banquet, when you saw me looking lost, I knew right then that you still had feelings for me.”

“Then why did you ignore me that day?”

“Actually, at that time, I just had doubts. I thought that after so many years, you might already have your own life, and I was afraid that my sudden appearance would cause you trouble. But later, at the couple’s restaurant, I was sure you still liked me. That day during the psychological assessment, didn’t you ask what I was hesitating about? I said I was hesitating whether to pursue you. I was indeed hesitating, not joking.” Lu Huaizheng paused, turning to glance at her, his eyes full of meaning, thoroughly melting her. “To be honest, in these eight years of military service, I’ve been quite emotionally detached.”

He slowly turned his gaze back, slightly squinting as he looked at the bright moon outside the window. “I was truly detached, not caring much about anyone until I met you again. I found I still liked you. I felt quite unpromising and also resistant to my feelings for you. Until we were in Yunnan, when your senior forced me to make a choice, I was still unwilling. Why should I always take the initiative? Later, when I learned the reason you left before, I blamed myself for not being more magnanimous as a man. Yu Hao, I’m still quite lacking.”

Yu Hao reached out to hug him, rubbing her face against his hard shoulder. “I’m lacking too. Let’s learn together slowly.”

He softly acknowledged, turned his head to kiss her forehead, “We’ll probably argue in the future. Huo Ting says there’s no married couple that doesn’t argue. Arguments are arguments, but some words, unless necessary, shouldn’t be said lightly. They hurt feelings badly.”

“I understand.” She whispered near his ear, “I love you.”

The sudden confession made Lu Huaizheng laugh. He suddenly turned his head to kiss her lips, pecking them lightly and heavily, holding her lips to gently suck and lick. Yu Hao was pushed to the head of the bed. He pulled her down, gently unbuttoning her shirt one by one.

His fingers faintly brushed over the skin on her chest. The rough, warm feeling of the man’s touch made Yu Hao’s whole body tremble. He remained composed, looking at her, sliding his hand down along the buttons. Yu Hao’s scalp tingled, feeling an electric shock.

Lu Huaizheng gently buttoned up her shirt, saying with a teasing tone while holding back laughter: “I can’t help you. Bear with it a bit longer.”

Yu Hao was filled with anger, her face puffed up, holding her breath. Suddenly, like a deflated ball, she kicked him hard. Lu Huaizheng laughed heartily.

The atmosphere was as beautiful as a painting, with intense ink and light touches full of romance.

The wedding was thus decided.

When Feng Yanzhi returned to her workplace, she was all smiles even toward Professor Yang, making him uncomfortable. He asked Feng Yanzhi’s friend: “What’s up with Professor Feng? Why is she so happy lately?”

Feng Yanzhi’s friend replied: “Her daughter is getting married, of course, she’s happy.”

Professor Yang was surprised, covering his mouth: “When did this happen? It’s so sudden!”

The two were gossiping when Feng Yanzhi returned from the bathroom. Her friend smiled, “Ask her yourself.”

Professor Yang walked over. “Old Feng.”

Feng Yanzhi instinctively looked up. “What is it?”

“Is Yu Hao getting married?”

Feng Yanzhi glanced at her friend at the opposite desk. “Your information is quite up-to-date.”

“Is it true? What kind of person is he?”

“It’s not even certain yet. We’ll talk about it later.” Feng Yanzhi waved her hand.

Feng Yanzhi’s friend quickly interjected: “Come on, stop pretending. Old Yang, don’t leave after work. I’ll tell you, today Yu Hao’s boyfriend is coming to pick up Old Feng after work. If you don’t mind going home late, stay and see. I heard he’s a soldier.”

Hearing he was a soldier, Professor Yang’s interest decreased by half. “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t let her marry a soldier?”

Feng Yanzhi first glared at her friend, blaming her for being talkative, then absent-mindedly and quite perfunctorily sang two lines: “Being a soldier is good, being a soldier is wonderful, being a soldier is great.”

Meaning she didn’t want to elaborate.

“What’s wrong with you? I must tell you, military marriages aren’t easy to manage. The follow-up matters are troublesome. If not handled well, you could even go to jail.”

“Bah!” Feng Yanzhi rolled her eyes dramatically: “What are you saying? You have no filter. Save some virtue for your Ran Ran. I don’t even want to talk to you. This is why Ran Ran got her marriage certificate without telling you. It’s because of your sharp tongue.”

These two argued daily; the office wouldn’t be peaceful without a couple of verbal jabs. Everyone was used to it, enjoying the show.

“Don’t think what I’m saying is unpleasant. I’m telling the truth. With Yu Hao’s conditions, shouldn’t she find someone better?”

Feng Yanzhi ignored her, checking her watch. When the time came, she quickly grabbed her bag and went downstairs.

Lu Huaizheng was already waiting downstairs. He had been recovering for half a month, and now, except for not being able to lift heavy objects, he had recovered. He was dressed in all black, minimalist yet casual, looking handsome. He had a youthful quality that mature men lacked, yet also possessed a masculine charm that college boys didn’t have. This attracted frequent glances from the girls in the university town, their gazes lingering. He had one hand in his pocket, half leaning against the car door, talking to Yu Hao on the phone. “I’m at the entrance of your mother’s workplace.”

Yu Hao said something on the other end.

Lu Huaizheng held the phone to his ear, looking around, squinting his eyes: “You don’t need me to pick you up?”

On the other end, things were a mess. Papers for her thesis were rustling loudly as she said distractedly into the phone: “No need. I’ll drive back myself when I’m done. You go home with my mom first. She wants to see if you can cook, afraid we’ll starve in the future.”

“…The focus should be on you, right? I can’t go home to cook for you when I’m at the base.”

“You learn first, I’ll learn slowly.” She was frustrated again, running her hand through her hair: “I still have so much to write. I’ve only written half of the proposal, and this year we’re starting professional title evaluations again. You know what I fear most every year—I fear this the most. I also have to prepare a bunch of lecture materials. If I can’t make it back tonight, don’t wait for me. Eat first.”

At this moment, Yu Hao was like an agitated little lioness. Lu Huaizheng could even imagine her frantic expression as she said these words—pouting, her mouth could hang an oil bottle—very cute, vivid, and full of life.

He liked the current state of their relationship very much, ordinary yet full of joy.

Feng Yanzhi came down from upstairs, followed by two or three aunties of similar age, heading straight toward him. Lu Huaizheng stood up straight, put his phone back in his pocket, and quite openly greeted them.

Feng Yanzhi introduced them one by one. “Old Yang, Old Li, colleagues from my office.”

Lu Huaizheng nodded politely: “Professor Yang, Professor Li.”

Feng Yanzhi turned to glare at the two: “Satisfied? Seen enough?”

Lu Huaizheng could guess what was going on. He wasn’t shy, standing confidently and allowing them to look, without any timidity.

Professor Yang: “Where do you serve in the military?”

“Right here in Beijing.”

“What branch of the military?”

“Air Force.”

“Air Force? Then your salary must be very high.”

“You’re joking.”

Lu Huaizheng’s way of responding made Feng Yanzhi gain another inexplicable hint of goodwill toward him. He was very understanding of his mother-in-law’s feelings. When facing Feng Yanzhi’s questioning, he answered all questions, but when facing the questioning of outsiders and colleagues, he deflected and redirected, not making the other person uncomfortable while also not revealing everything.

Otherwise, answering every question would make him look foolish.

Feng Yanzhi felt that in terms of dealing with people, Lu Huaizheng was quite skilled. Once in the car, she couldn’t help asking: “Have you always been so good at chatting with people?”

Lu Huaizheng was driving and was taken aback. “What?”

Feng Yanzhi said: “Yu Hao isn’t this smart. When chatting with elders, she answers whatever people ask, explaining everything clearly, afraid people won’t know all about her. When she encounters questions she doesn’t want to answer, she purses her lips and doesn’t know how to be ingratiating. Anyway, it’s all very headache-inducing.” She shook her head as she spoke, leaning against the car window.

Lu Huaizheng held the steering wheel and smiled: “She’s more pure.”

“So she always offends people. Her grandmother doesn’t like her, and her maternal grandmother doesn’t like her much either. If she could be like you, so understanding of human feelings and worldly affairs, she wouldn’t have ended up with so few friends now.”

“Others not liking her isn’t her problem. It’s like how my maternal grandfather doesn’t like me either. How can you negate yourself because one or two people don’t like you? Yu Hao is very good. You don’t need to worry.”

Feng Yanzhi didn’t continue the conversation. At that moment, leaning against the car window, she thought that if Yu Guoyang had half of Lu Huaizheng’s temperament, their family wouldn’t have ended up in its current state.

While Yu Hao was busy and frantic, Zhao Dai Lin suddenly called her.

“Quick, look at Weibo.”

Yu Hao’s head was muddled, and she leaned on the desk without much energy, mumbling along: “What for? I’m still writing the report that’s due tomorrow! I don’t have time. I’m not looking at gossip, don’t disturb me. Lu Huaizheng is waiting for me at home for dinner! If I don’t finish writing, Professor Han will kill me tomorrow.”

Thinking of Professor Han, she suddenly shuddered.

She thought, oh no, oh no, now the man who can make her shudder is not Lu Huaizheng but Professor Han. This is too terrible.

“Someone has exposed that in the Stanford Prison reset experiment, Di Yanni kept giving misleading tendencies to volunteers, even deliberately inducing and stimulating their desire to perform.”

“Desire to perform?”

“Yes, constantly giving them psychological suggestions, making them enjoy abusing their prisoners, thereby deriving pleasure. When you publicly confronted her, some people questioned whether you were trying to ride her popularity. Now many people have dug up and reposted your previous Weibo.”

At the same time, Lu Huaizheng received a call from the military.

“Come back, there’s something we need to discuss with you.”