"Big brother, are you returning to the unit?"
Shen Xianjun didn’t explain. After all, he didn’t think there was anything wrong between him and his wife—mutual respect was perfectly fine!
"I am returning to the unit, but you have a new mission. The higher-ups have assigned you to protect Niannian. She’s extremely important right now, especially with what she’s about to undertake. Not even a single slip of paper can fall into the wrong hands."
"Last night, Niannian wrote all night and only just fell asleep not long ago."
At the mention of the mission, Shen Xianjun straightened his posture. Only after hearing the details did he explain why he had been standing at the door.
"Good work. A safe will be delivered shortly. Given your position, it’s convenient. Besides, you and your wife haven’t spent much time with the child. If Niannian goes out—especially if she leaves the residential compound—you must accompany her."
"Understood."
"Since Niannian is resting, I’ll take my leave."
Hu Jun didn’t linger.
Fan Juan slept until the afternoon before finally waking up. Jet lag was something that truly took time to overcome. Afraid to sleep any longer, she hurriedly got up to get ready. She still needed to submit a report before leaving and had to buy a few things as well.
When Yang Yufen returned and learned Niannian was still asleep, she quietly started preparing dinner.
"Mom, the higher-ups have granted me leave. I’ll be home for a while."
He couldn’t mention the mission, so Shen Xianjun only said he was on vacation.
"That’s good. You’ve been married for years, yet you’re practically strangers. The child hasn’t spent much time with you either. Since you’re on leave, you’ll handle the cooking from now on. Braise these ribs, stew this duck, and sauté the shrimp."
Yang Yufen pointed at the ingredients, delegating tasks. There were benefits to entrusting someone to the military—even cooking was something they taught.
Shen Xianjun silently accepted the apron his mother handed him.
His mother clearly favored his wife, admiring those who excelled in studies. No wonder she used to scold him as a child when he neglected his studies—her preferences had always been consistent.
With the work handed off to Shen Xianjun and the child not returning for lunch, Yang Yufen thought for a moment before heading next door.
"Why are you here at this hour? I heard Niannian is back."
"Yes, she’s back. She’s adjusting to the time difference at home. Life abroad was tough—she used to eat very little, but last night she had two extra bowls of rice."
"Then why are you here now? Knowing you, shouldn’t you be at home cooking for your daughter-in-law?"
Aunt Wang teased.
"Xianjun is home. The couple needs time together. Even the military granted him leave to rest—why should I, as his mother, get in the way?"
"Isn’t that nice? Before, you worried because they were apart. Now that they’re together, you can relax."
Aunt Wang smiled, pulling out a bag of peanuts. The two began shelling them together.
"It’s just that with nothing to do, I suddenly feel a bit lost."
Yang Yufen realized she no longer had to tend to the child. Unconsciously, she had already been here for six years—from 1981 to 1987.
"You’re just too used to being busy. You can’t stand being idle for even a moment."
"When the child was young, the days flew by even though it didn’t feel like much was done. Now that the child is grown and no longer clinging to you, of course you feel idle. With Niannian back, I’m thinking of renting a few plots to farm."
Yang Yufen thought farming was a good idea. Business ventures required being ahead of the curve—what was profitable before wasn’t necessarily so now, with everyone copying each other.
Besides, she had savings now, unafraid of medical or retirement expenses. The family’s property was rented out, and she didn’t want to burden her children by living too far away in old age. The residential compound was perfect—familiar faces everywhere.
"Don’t overthink it. Niannian just returned—it’s a time for family reunion. How wonderful!"
Aunt Wang reassured her.
Yang Yufen laughed at herself. She had only been idle for a few minutes and was already overthinking things. Truly, as one grew older, they tended to dwell on trivial matters.
But after shelling peanuts for a while, Yang Yufen remembered something else.
Fan Juan, holding her work credentials, smoothly entered the residential compound of the research institute.
"Aunt Yang? Niannian?"
She checked the address—this was definitely the right courtyard. The gate was open, but no one was in sight. Fan Juan called out from the entrance.
"Yufen, I think someone’s calling for you."
Aunt Wang suddenly spoke up.
"I hear it too. Let me go check."
Yang Yufen stood and walked outside.
"Juan?"
She hesitated slightly.
"Aunt Yang! I came to visit you!"
Fan Juan turned and, spotting Yang Yufen emerging from next door, happily rushed forward to hug her.
"You’ve grown even more beautiful! Come, come, let’s go to my place. I’ll cook something delicious for you."
Inside, Qin Nian had also woken up. Shen Xianjun was installing a safe in the cabinet, having just finished.
"From now on, important things can be stored here. I’ll be on leave for a while—my mission is to protect you."
Shen Xianjun didn’t touch the items on Qin Nian’s desk, afraid of disrupting her work.
"Alright."
Qin Nian nodded, gathering her handwritten drafts and locking them in the cabinet.
"Niannian."
"Juan."
Qin Nian stepped out just as Fan Juan entered, their eyes meeting.
"You two catch up first."
Yang Yufen, noticing Shen Xianjun emerging from the room, said nothing and instead went to the kitchen to check on things. With a guest over, it was fortunate they had bought plenty of ingredients earlier.
"Juan, is there anything you don’t eat?"
Yang Yufen turned back halfway.
"Auntie, no, I’m not picky."
"Good, good."
Yang Yufen smiled and headed to the kitchen, where Shen Xianjun had already come to help. Though he had just installed the safe, he hadn’t been idle—most of the preparations were already done.
"I thought it’d take you a few more days to find time to come."
Qin Nian poured Fan Juan a glass of water.
"Couldn’t sleep at all last night—still adjusting to the time difference. I spent the whole night writing a proposal and came straight to you after waking up."
Fan Juan took a sip. She had ridden her bicycle here, and the journey wasn’t short—she was genuinely thirsty.
"I want to collaborate with you. Here’s my proposal."
Fan Juan pulled out her handwritten draft from her backpack. It wasn’t the final version, but it was clear enough.
"I know your research is usually applied to high-precision fields, but I believe it’s also highly suitable for civilian use. The more advanced the research, the more funding it requires—it can’t rely solely on state support."
Fan Juan explained her thoughts while Qin Nian skimmed the proposal. Shen Xianjun brought in a plate of washed fruit, pausing briefly at the door before knocking.
"Mom asked me to bring you some fruit."
"Thank you."
Qin Nian reached out to take it.
