The voice was almost a roar, shaking Lin Yuqiu’s hands so badly that she couldn’t hold her chopsticks steadily, and they clattered against the edge of the enamel bowl.
She lifted her eyes and saw a young woman standing at the doorway whose features resembled Zhou Runqing’s. Her long, black hair was braided neatly, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, and her gaze lingered on Lin Yuqiu for a moment before snapping toward Zhou Runqing, trembling with anger.
“Big brother, how dare you bring her to the cafeteria! Aren’t you afraid someone will recognize her?”
“Mom and Shiyun are here too. Let’s see how you explain this!”
Before the words even fell, a beautiful female doctor walked in, escorting a woman in military uniform.
The woman carried herself elegantly, with a refined and noble air in her features. Her fair, flawless face betrayed no hint of age.
But her eyes were sharp as ice. She glanced at Lin Yuqiu briefly, then never looked at her again. Even in restraint, her gaze radiated contempt and disdain.
Turning seriously to the man beside her, her face darkened as if she were staring at a disgraceful son, her voice commanding with maternal authority: “Come out!”
In an instant, Lin Yuqiu understood this was Zhou Runqing’s mother.
The man beside her, however, showed no panic. He simply shifted slightly, warm breath brushing her ear, his voice low and soothing: “Don’t be afraid. It’s fine. You eat first; I’ll step out for a moment.”
Zhou Runqing rose and walked to Zhou Wanyi’s side, glancing at his sister with a warning in his eyes that brooked no argument: “Don’t cause trouble.”
No sooner had they left through the door than Zhou Wanyi rushed in front of Lin Yuqiu, chin raised high in full defiance, sizing her up and down, her tone dripping with disdain: “So you’re the one my brother is reporting for marriage? Who exactly are you? How many people are in your family? What do your parents do? What’s your purpose in marrying my brother?”
“Wanyi, you’re going too far checking someone’s household registration?” Guard Xiao Liu couldn’t bear it, stepping in to mediate. “You can’t question someone like you’re interrogating a criminal. If you’re this excessive, the commander will definitely punish you.”
“This isn’t your place to speak,” Zhou Wanyi shot Xiao Liu a glance, then turned back to Lin Yuqiu with an unfriendly stare.
Indeed, Lin Yuqiu looked delicate and pitiable, her fair complexion and gentle features radiating charm even through her coarse, old clothes.
Especially her eyebrows, slightly furrowed, as if wronged by someone.
Zhou Wanyi couldn’t comprehend how her wise and capable brother could like such a fragile little flower, even going so far as to do something so rebellious for her.
Marriage, as she had always been told, was about social status matching. Her brother had forbidden her from associating with careless people since childhood, yet now he had been blinded by love, ignoring even their childhood friends.
“Answer me. You’re so timid and delicate, yet my brother likes you? I really can’t understand.”
Li Shiyun walked in, casting Lin Yuqiu a complicated glance before frowning: “Wanyi, that’s enough.”
Zhou Wanyi sighed. “Shiyun, you’re too kind. My brother has brought this woman into the courtyard; she’s about to be formally recognized, and you’re defending her?”
Her words fell, half-smiling at Lin Yuqiu: “Our Zhou family has a high threshold. Not just anyone can step across this doorstep.”
“Tell me, why is my brother marrying you? I’ve never heard of him having this marriage prospect before.”
Lin Yuqiu’s expression remained neutral: “You should ask your brother why he’s marrying me, not me.”
Zhou Wanyi was infuriated by her attitude. “Don’t get cocky!”
“My parents would never agree to you marrying in. My mother’s idea of a daughter-in-law is Shiyun; my idea of a sister-in-law is Shiyun. Forget about it.”
“You didn’t threaten my brother, did you? My brother likes you? I’ve never heard of you before.”
“My brother, all these years, has only been close to one woman besides me, his sister. That’s Shiyun.”
Lin Yuqiu didn’t know why a sudden bitterness surged, yet she insisted: “I don’t know.”
Zhou Wanyi pressed on relentlessly: “You must have threatened my brother. Explain yourself.”
Just then, a sharp voice rang from the doorway: “Zhou Wanyi!”
Zhou Runqing entered, his expression stern, eyes like blades sweeping over Zhou Wanyi.
Zhou Wanyi, terrified of this look from her brother never before had he been so fierce pouted in grievance.
But her brother acted as if he hadn’t seen anything. Without comforting her or waiting for her to calm down, he tilted his head toward the guard: “Xiao Liu, what kind of female soldiers are we recruiting? When is the registration deadline?”
Zhou Wanyi’s heart sank.
Guard Xiao Liu cleared his throat: “Commander, we’re recruiting logistics and communications female soldiers. Registration began half a month ago and ends in ten days.”
Then he added dramatically: “Training on the island is harsh! Anyone going will suffer. Those delicate girls who’ve never done a day of hard work on the island, the sun will scorch them, the sea wind will cut their faces. Even the prettiest girls turn black. It’s tough carrying guns during patrols, helping male soldiers with engineering and supplies. They’ll probably cry and want to go home soon!”
Zhou Wanyi’s eyes widened in terror. Then her brother’s calm voice drifted: “Sign her up.”
Xiao Liu blinked at Zhou Wanyi and nodded: “Yes, sir.”
Zhou Wanyi’s arrogance drained instantly; her face turned pale, voice trembling as she stomped her feet, pleading: “I won’t go! Big brother, please, I don’t want to go to the island! That place is unlivable wind, sun, I won’t endure it!”
Zhou Runqing’s mother also entered, her gaze landing on Lin Yuqiu. There was no warmth, but also no contempt.
Seeing her mother, Zhou Wanyi clung like a lifeline, whining: “Mom, stop him! I don’t want to go to the island!”
Her mother shook her head helplessly: “Your brother always sticks to his word. You brought this on yourself.”
Zhou Wanyi fumed: “I’ll tell Dad! He won’t let me suffer. Brother, you can’t be so domineering!”
Zhou Runqing ignored her crying, walking to Lin Yuqiu. His cold aura faded, and his gaze fell on her already swollen belly, voice softening: “Have you eaten? I’ll take you home first.”
Lin Yuqiu, still a little startled, obediently nodded, letting out a satisfied burp, quickly covering her mouth.
She didn’t see the slight curl of the man’s lips, wishing to escape the battlefield of this household. Yet another person in the corner caught this silently, left in melancholy.
Lin Yuqiu stood and passed in front of Zhou Runqing’s mother, her heart uneasy.
Zhou Runqing paused: “Mom, I’ll take her over.”
His mother did not object, merely nodding slightly.
Lin Yuqiu was full of questions, still in disbelief once in the car.
Her family, the Lins, were confirmed capitalists. Even if implicated, no one in this political environment would agree to their son marrying her.
Especially in this courtyard, the political center where most pursued power and careers.
The car interior was dim. Zhou Runqing did not sit in the front as usual, but beside her in the back seat.
Though the space was not cramped, once he sat, the air around seemed to be drained.
She instinctively moved toward the window, shoulder leaning against it, yet their knees inevitably touched.
His leg muscles were hard; the texture of his clothing against her leg sent a subtle, spreading warmth to her chest, making her even hold her breath slightly.
Silence spread in the car, punctuated only by blurred halos of passing streetlights.
She froze, then heard his deep voice: “What are you thinking?”
Lin Yuqiu’s heart raced. She whispered: “Did you really sign your sister up to guard the island?”
Zhou Runqing, perhaps to hear clearly, shifted slightly toward her. The closeness made a tingling sensation run along her leg.
She couldn’t avoid it, and his voice betrayed no emotion: “She’s too spoiled. She needs discipline, or she’ll never learn the consequences of her words.”
Lin Yuqiu bit her lip, hesitated, then softly asked: “After we’re married, will we go so far away too?”
Noticing her unease, he turned to her: “What’s wrong? Scared by Xiao Liu’s words?”
“I… I don’t want to,” she murmured, eyes downcast, voice barely audible. “I want to stay here, take care of Mom.”
Silence fell, thick enough to hear a pin drop.
In the darkness, she waited for his response.
Before he spoke, her hands, resting in front of her, were suddenly and tightly grasped by his warm palm, strength inescapable.
The touch of ten fingers pressed together was unprecedented, like vines entwining a branch, tightening strand by strand, giving her the strange feeling that even her heart was being wrapped.