The owner glanced at the two of them and asked Lu Huaizheng with a grin, "Captain Lu, is this your girlfriend?"

Lu Huaizheng had just lowered his head to take a sip of porridge. Hearing this, he paused and glanced at Yu Hao beside him, truly not knowing how to answer. The owner's sudden question made him freeze, the food he was about to place in Yu Hao's bowl with his chopsticks hovering in mid-air.

From start to finish, the two had never properly discussed confirming their relationship. It would be inappropriate to say yes without asking for Yu Hao's opinion. But if he said no, what was the meaning of putting food in the girl's bowl with his chopsticks?

Seeing him hesitate and even pull back his chopsticks, Yu Hao's heart suddenly grew heavy. It felt like a ball of hot air was stuck in her chest, slowly burning its way up into her mind. The back of her head felt vaguely flustered and swollen, empty and unanchored, as if she had lost her footing again.

The morning light streamed in from the doorway, shining on her neck and making it feel inexplicably hot. It was probably a side effect of Feng Yanzhi constantly nagging her about marriage. Why was she so impatient whenever she saw him? Knowing he was leaving today, she couldn't help but want to see him off, just for those few extra minutes.

"Not yet."

"No."

The two of them spoke at almost the exact same time.

She felt that she shouldn't speak to him again until he returned from Beijing and they had a proper talk. She was afraid she'd die of anger.

The owner turned on the TV.

The morning news was on a loop, broadcasting reports about the coup in Turkey.

"The situation in Turkey is volatile, with multiple violent terrorist incidents occurring within the country. The events have resulted in 230 deaths and 1,510 injuries. The Chinese Embassy in Turkey stated..."

A young boy, about sixteen or seventeen years old, suddenly walked out from the inner room. He seemed to have run out after hearing the news. The owner shouted at him, "Go back and study!" The boy's gaze lingered on the TV, and he hesitated, reluctant to leave. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Lu Huaizheng. His eyes lit up, and he suddenly rushed over and sat down opposite him. "Brother Lu!"

Lu Huaizheng looked up and greeted him, "Long time no see, Zaza." Then he introduced him to Yu Hao, "The owner's son."

Yu Hao smiled and nodded at the boy.

Zaza wasn't very interested in Yu Hao. After a polite greeting, his gaze returned to Lu Huaizheng. "The news says there's a coup in Turkey. Are you guys going on a mission again?"

Lu Huaizheng was almost done eating. He leaned back lazily in his chair, casually picked up an egg from the plate in front of him, and glanced at Zaza while peeling it. He said absently, "Don't know. Waiting for orders."

"Is it too late for me to join the army now?" Zaza's eyes were gleaming.

Lu Huaizheng glanced at the owner. Her eyes were spitting fire as she stared at Zaza. Seeing that there were guests present, she couldn't lose her temper and could only glare.

Lu Huaizheng smiled, placed the peeled egg into a small vinegar dish, and pushed it toward Yu Hao. Only then did he say to Zaza, "You should focus on your college entrance exams."

"No, I want to be a soldier."

"What soldier! Can you even endure the hardship?! Get back there and study properly!"

The owner couldn't take it anymore. She came over, grabbed the back of Zaza's collar, and tried to drag him back to the inner room. Zaza refused to go, clinging to the corner of the table and looking pitifully at Lu Huaizheng. "I'm definitely going to enlist next year!"

"Why do you want to be a soldier?" he asked nonchalantly, his eyes on the news.

Zaza said righteously, "I want to protect someone."

Yu Hao didn't touch the egg. Lu Huaizheng listened to Zaza absentmindedly, pushed the dish with the egg a little closer to her, and said softly, "Eat the egg." Only then did he look up at Zaza, his voice returning to its cool tone. "We don't protect just one person."

No matter how hard the owner pulled from behind, Zaza clung to the table corner, unmoving, and looked at Lu Huaizheng fervently. "I don't care!"

Zaza looked exceptionally stubborn.

Lu Huaizheng watched Yu Hao eat the egg before saying, "Take the exams first. After the exams, I'll tell you the best place to enlist."

"They say you're well-connected and have connections, so you got promoted quickly. Is that true? Can I just join your unit directly?!" Zaza asked with extreme directness, completely unconcerned about whether the person he was asking would be embarrassed.

Lu Huaizheng's answer was just as straightforward and frank. "It's true that I'm well-connected. It's also true that I have connections. And it's true that I was promoted quickly. But the three have nothing to do with each other."

Zaza scratched his head. "Then I'll come find you next time!"

Lu Huaizheng glanced at him and nodded, which counted as an agreement. Only then was Zaza willing to leave. The owner came over, her tone uncharacteristically serious and direct. "I don't want him to be a soldier."

Lu Huaizheng nodded, indicating he understood.

After breakfast, it was time for Yu Hao to go back. Lu Huaizheng walked her to where Old Li was playing chess.

By now, there were hardly any people on the street; everyone had flocked to the center of the temple fair.

Seeing the two of them return, Old Li quickly stubbed out his cigarette and stood up. He handed the chess piece to the man beside him, "You play, you play. I have to go." Then he squeezed out of the crowd and asked Lu Huaizheng, "Leaving?"

Lu Huaizheng handed a cigarette to Old Li and nodded. "Go on, take her back."

Old Li took it, acknowledged with a grunt, and turned to get the car.

Yu Hao said mechanically, "Well then, be careful on the road. We'll talk when you get back."

Lu Huaizheng stood before her with his hands in his pockets. He gazed down at her for a moment, but ultimately said nothing, just nodding. "Get in the car."

The sound of the ancient canal's flowing water was still gurgling endlessly. The bus station was just across the street.

Lu Huaizheng had walked halfway when he suddenly stopped.

Then Yu Hao saw him suddenly turn around and head back toward her. She subconsciously called out to Old Li, "Wait a moment."

Caught off guard, Old Li let out a cry and slammed on the brakes. The car jolted violently, nearly throwing Yu Hao out. Her head spun from the shock.

The next second—

The passenger-side door was pulled open. Before she could react, a dark figure loomed over her, and her lips were covered. His warm breath entwined with hers at the tip of her nose.

Lu Huaizheng supported the back of her head with one hand and braced his other on the seat. His tall frame made the already small car feel even more cramped. He tilted his head to kiss her lips. It wasn't a tentative peck, nor did it have any of the shyness of a first kiss. He went straight for a deep, passionate French kiss.

In that instant, Yu Hao subconsciously closed her eyes. It felt as if a meteor had crashed to earth, filling her vision with starry sparks. It was utterly absurd.

...

Meanwhile, amidst the absurd sounds of kissing, Old Li automatically averted his gaze. His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel as he thought to himself:

'Captain Lu really is a true man.'