The lecture ended at eleven. Yu Hao shut down her computer, gathered her speech manuscript, and prepared to leave with Professor Han.

Suddenly, a voice from below the stage boomed: "All units—"

His voice was sonorous and deep, powerfully penetrating the entire hall, each word clear and resonant: "Salute!"

As he finished speaking, everyone below the stage gave a crisp, standard military salute in unison. For a moment, Yu Hao was stunned by their imposing presence. The boys in the front row still looked so young, yet they all seemed so mature for their age. The next second, she thought of a certain someone who, at their age, was still fooling around and laughing with girls all day, completely clueless.

The members of "Girls' Generation" back then were all on good terms with him. Hu Siqi was in the same class as another one of the girls, while the other three were from different classes. The five girls acted like conjoined twins, running to find each other to go to the restroom as soon as class ended, or huddling together in the hallway during lunch break, chatting away inseparably.

It seemed like there was always an unwritten rule back in school.

The good-looking guys and the pretty girls all seemed to know each other. It was as if it were an affirmation of each other's looks, or as if their worlds were inherently connected, like they were given a special pass at the door. In any case, back then, Lu Huaizheng's group of handsome boys were especially close with Hu Siqi's group of girls.

Plus, Lu Huaizheng participated in many extracurricular activities—basketball, soccer, and even pool. New people, all exceptionally good-looking, would pop up around him from time to time. Yu Hao felt he was like a social butterfly who knew everyone, surrounded by a flock of admirers, both male and female.

The "social butterfly" in Yu Hao's eyes was currently walking towards them, following behind a middle-aged man who had a naturally imposing air. The middle-aged man was in his early forties, with dark skin and a slightly stout figure, but his features were resolute, and he still looked dignified and majestic. He was the deputy chief of staff of the Airborne Brigade, named Li Hongwen.

The two came to a stop in front of the lectern. Li Hongwen rested a hand on the lectern and said with a slight smile, "Professor Han, why don't you have lunch with us at our No. 6 Canteen?"

He and Li Hongwen had known each other for years and was familiar with his temperament. He had originally planned to take Yu Hao out for a special meal to reward her for all the nights she'd spent rushing to finish his PowerPoint presentation. With Li Hongwen's invitation, there was no refusing, so Han Zhichen turned to look at Yu Hao.

Li Hongwen and Lu Huaizheng also followed his gaze and looked over.

"You should join us too." This time, it was the social butterfly who spoke.

Yu Hao looked at his expression and inexplicably felt like she was a freeloader.

The group headed for the No. 6 Canteen. Professor Han and Li Hongwen walked side by side in front, while Yu Hao, Lu Huaizheng, and a Little Squad Leader followed behind, also side by side. The Little Squad Leader wasn't very old and had a particularly honest and simple smile. Then, Yu Hao noticed that the two soldiers walked a bit fast. Lu Huaizheng kept his pace perfectly in sync with his superior, forcing her and Professor Han to take hurried little steps to keep up.

When they reached the entrance, Yu Hao realized the so-called No. 6 Canteen was just the Air Force Canteen. She had thought it was some kind of special, private kitchen for the military unit.

She couldn't help but ask the Little Squad Leader standing at the very end, "Do you all call the canteen 'No. 6 Canteen'?"

The Little Squad Leader was just about to answer when the captain beside him casually interjected, "What else? You thought we were preparing a special meal just for you?"

His tone was quite biting.

The Little Squad Leader was a little stunned.

Yu Hao ignored him and, once again leaning past the person in the middle, spoke to the Little Squad Leader, determined to get to the bottom of it: "Why is it called No. 6 Canteen?" She had this quirk; if there was something she didn't know, she had to find out, or she'd feel uncomfortable.

The Little Squad Leader took a breath and glanced at Lu Huaizheng, thinking, 'It's my turn to answer this time, right?' But once again, the person beside him beat him to it, his tone even more biting this time: "Why do you talk so much nonsense?"

Although the captain was usually stern and severe during training, strict and reserved, in private he was just a big kid. He was approachable, often fooling around with them without a care for his image, and he took great care of them. He was very easy to get along with, so it was rare to see him be so cutting with his words.

The Little Squad Leader timidly swallowed his answer back down with a gulp, not daring to speak again.

Yu Hao also fell silent, shutting her mouth tight, unwilling to say another superfluous word.

...

The canteen was very quiet. Because some people hadn't arrived yet, no one could pick up their chopsticks. They had to remain standing and were not allowed to whisper to each other.

Lu Huaizheng stood ramrod straight, his back like a tall, upright pine tree planted firmly beside her. Yu Hao could hear his even, steady breathing. It was unlike his younger self—no longer frivolous and arrogant, but calm and reserved.

A few minutes later, the last soldier finished inspecting all the equipment, ran panting up the steps, and made a loud report at the entrance. Just as Yu Hao was wondering when they could finally eat, she heard a loud shout from beside her: "Return to your unit!"

He had grown taller. Yu Hao's height used to reach past his shoulder, but now she found she was just at his shoulder's side, perhaps even a little shorter. Her ear was close, and that voice seemed to emanate from his chest, sounding especially steady and powerful.

The only time the two of them had ever eaten together before was when he won a ball game, at the Class Eight dinner party.

She never expected the second time would be with the adult Lu Huaizheng in his military unit.

Yu Hao noticed that a few people's trays at the table had extra items, all different kinds—eggs, shrimp, bitter melon, carrots, and the like. She glanced at Lu Huaizheng and saw that his tray was clean, with nothing extra. No wonder he was so snarky; it turned out others got a special meal, but he didn't.

The other tables were eating quietly. Only at their table were Li Hongwen and Han Zhichen chatting warmly. Yu Hao was left to the side, quietly eating the rice in her bowl. Li Hongwen suddenly addressed her, "This student of yours looks very gentle and sensible."

Han Zhichen glanced at Yu Hao and replied with a smile, "The little girl is shy around strangers."

"She can't be that young, can she? Still calling her a little girl?"

Han Zhichen said playfully, "Take a guess. How old does she look?"

Li Hongwen leaned his head over and studied Yu Hao for a moment before saying, "She does look young. But to have stayed by your side for so many years, I reckon she must be twenty-eight, if not thirty?"

"Impressive," Han Zhichen gave him a thumbs-up.

Li Hongwen was pleased. "Did I really guess right?" He turned to ask Yu Hao, "So, is it thirty or twenty-eight?"

Yu Hao answered truthfully, "Twenty-eight."

Li Hongwen smiled. "Not bad, becoming an assistant researcher at twenty-eight."

It wasn't that outstanding. The truly brilliant ones were already researchers by thirty. By the time she climbed to that step, she'd probably be over forty.

Han Zhichen said, "The little girl is quite smart, and a good person too. What do you say, want to introduce her to someone?" As he spoke, he glanced back. "Are there any eligible young men in your unit you could introduce to our Yu Hao?"

It was a joke.

But Li Hongwen suddenly became serious, his gaze shifting across the table. "Then what do you think of that one opposite you?"

The person he was pointing to, Lu Huaizheng, seemed not to have heard anything. He was earnestly shoveling rice into his mouth, his hand never stopping as he picked up food. Yu Hao thought he might be genuinely hungry.

Han Zhichen's gaze fell on Lu Huaizheng, scanning him up and down, and he nodded. "Not bad. But why does he look so familiar?"

Only then did Lu Huaizheng speak up to remind him, "Half a month ago, at Song Xiaotao's wedding, I met you."

Han Zhichen then recalled a vague impression. His memory wasn't as good as a young person's, and his attention hadn't been on him, so he couldn't place him exactly, only that such a person had been there.

Li Hongwen looked at Lu Huaizheng. "It seems you two are quite fated. What do you say? Want to consider it? Professor Han is an old friend of mine for many years. I trust the student he recommends; she must be a good girl."

Han Zhichen had only mentioned it casually as a joke, not expecting that Li Hongwen was genuinely anxious on Lu Huaizheng's behalf.

Not long ago, right after he came back, Li Hongwen had offered to introduce him to someone, but Lu Huaizheng had always managed to dodge it with some vague excuse.

Fearing Yu Hao would be put in an awkward position, Han Zhichen was just about to say a few words for his student when he heard Lu Huaizheng put down his bowl and give the two elders a self-deprecating smile:

"Sir, please don't tease me. How could such a beautiful girl marry one of us soldiers? Don't make things difficult for her. I'm full, I'll head back first. You and Professor Han, please take your time."

Seeing his resistance, Li Hongwen didn't insist further. Fearing Han Zhichen might misunderstand, he turned to explain, "He wasn't this resistant at the mixer last time. Don't be fooled by his rough life after so many years in the army; he grew up with his aunt and has always had good manners. I don't know what's wrong with him today. Maybe Miss Yu's qualifications are too good, and the kid got intimidated."

That's what Li Hongwen said on the surface, but inwardly he was puzzled, 'It can't be. I've introduced him to women with even better qualifications before, and I've never seen him react so strongly.'

Han Zhichen, on the other hand, smiled on the outside but was extremely protective in his heart: 'What's the use of good looks? What's so great about flying a fighter jet? Don't think for a second that you're too good for us; we're the ones who think you're not good enough for her!'

Throughout the entire exchange, Yu Hao didn't say a single word, being kicked back and forth like a soccer ball.

...

Author's Note:

PS: A quick note on one issue. Because the subject matter is sensitive, some details cannot be explained explicitly, so they are handled vaguely in the text.