Linlin wanted to go too.
But they wouldn’t take her, worried she might run into danger.
Afterward, Yan Yuan tried to make it up to her by taking her boating in a park.
Even though Linlin had been young then, she knew perfectly well that going out to sea was nothing like boating on a lake in the park.
They believed they were doing it for her own good, and Linlin knew that too.
So after throwing a brief tantrum, she obediently stopped bringing it up.
When Yan Yuan had first confirmed their relationship, he had continued treating her the way he always had.
He wanted to build a transparent glass dome around her, shielding her from every danger and hardship.
But as they gradually spent more time together, Linlin would occasionally test him.
She would do something just a little too daring.
At first, Yan Yuan would refuse, but Linlin had now more or less figured out how to handle him.
It turned out that a boyfriend was different from an older brother.
She had to listen to her brother, but her boyfriend had to listen to her.
Yan Yuan suddenly understood why Auntie Lin had wanted Linlin to try dating while she was in college.
Linlin needed to have some decisions that she made on her own.
Even her parents, older brothers and sisters, or a boyfriend like him had no right to interfere in her choices.
After hearing him out, Shen Man was indeed somewhat persuaded.
She was silent for a moment. “Then should I also start letting go a little?”
As soon as she said it, Shen Man suddenly came to a realization.
It turned out that she had never really considered Linlin’s feelings either.
Linlin was too well-behaved, and too adorable.
As her older sister, Shen Man had to admit that she actually enjoyed keeping Linlin under control.
It seemed that the more obedient Linlin was, the more they enjoyed managing her.
Yan Yuan shook his head with a laugh. “No need. You can keep controlling her.”
Shen Man: “?”
Yan Yuan’s lips curved upward. “She likes excitement. You keep a close eye on her, and I’ll secretly take her out to do those things. She’ll be even happier that way.”
“…”
Shen Man silently called him a scheming man. “Are you trying to drive a wedge between us and Linlin?”
Yan Yuan raised an eyebrow. His success in his career had given him an even more composed air. “Shen Man, why do you think she lets you control her?”
It was because, in Linlin’s eyes, all of them—her older brothers and sisters—were important.
Warmth spread through Shen Man’s heart, and she shot Yan Yuan an annoyed look.
No matter how nicely he put it, in Shen Man’s eyes he was still just a sly old wolf who had coaxed away their precious cabbage.
The following July, the leader of An’nan’s hard-line faction died. With him gone, the country’s aggressive war policy lost its strongest support.
After An’nan’s new leader took office, he recognized the fact that years of war had exhausted the country. Domestically, he reduced the military; internationally, he eased tensions with our country and abandoned the policy of expansion.
Our strategic objectives had also been achieved.
The prolonged rotation of troops had steadily drained the other side’s national strength, so we too began reducing our offensive operations. No more large-scale campaigns to seize enemy positions were organized. Instead, the focus shifted to artillery suppression and defensive positions.
Jiang Chengzhou was awarded a second-class merit citation, promoted out of turn to full company commander, and transferred back to the Yingtian Military Region.
He had not taken a single day of leave in all those years. Once he was out of the combat zone and the preparations for battle had ended, the military district arranged compensatory leave for the troops to visit their families.
Jiang Chengzhou had originally planned to return to the island first, but when Lin Zhilan learned that he was on leave, she asked him to go to the capital first and check on Jiang Jinzhu.
Whatever one might say about the past, Jiang Chengzhou had been stationed at the border and was unable to do much. During those years, Lin Zhilan had often called Jiang Jinzhu.
Jiang Jinzhu told her everything—even the password to his bankbook and what valuables he had at home.
He was afraid that if something happened to him one day, there would be no time to explain any of it.
All the savings he had accumulated were meant for Jiang Chengzhou.
For the sake of that devotion alone, Lin Zhilan could not simply leave him to fend for himself.
When Jiang Chengzhou learned that his grandfather was in poor health, he changed his ticket. Instead of going to the island, he would travel to the capital.
When Linlin heard that her brother was finally coming home, she took leave from work and went to the train station with Yan Yuan and Shen Man to meet him.
The train whistle blew loudly. With the clatter of wheels against the tracks, the green train slowly pulled into the platform.
Linlin stood on tiptoe, craning her neck to look. Yan Yuan was half a step behind her, one hand hovering protectively at her waist.
Shen Man stood beside them, her expression calm, though her eyes remained fixed on the train doors.
The doors opened, and the passengers began filing out.
The moment Jiang Chengzhou appeared in the doorway, Linlin was about to rush forward when a figure beside her moved even faster.
Shen Man had already strode ahead. She pushed through the crowd and ran straight into Jiang Chengzhou’s arms.
The impact made Jiang Chengzhou stagger half a step backward, and the luggage bag in his hand nearly slipped free. His grin stretched almost to his cheekbones as he lifted Shen Man completely off the ground and spun around with her.
Shen Man’s hair flew through the air, brushing against his arm, and her eyes curved into a bright smile.
Linlin froze with one foot raised. She turned to Yan Yuan, her eyes wide. “What… is going on?”
Yan Yuan lowered his gaze to the pair embracing tightly in front of them, a knowing smile curling across his lips.
He pulled Linlin to his side and said with a quiet laugh, “I think it’s exactly what you think it is.”
After Jiang Chengzhou exchanged a few words with Shen Man, he took her hand and walked over to Linlin and Yan Yuan.
“Brother, you and Sister Manman…”
Jiang Chengzhou raised the hand he was holding with Shen Man. “What do you think? Don’t we make a good match?”
Linlin wouldn’t have dared say otherwise. At that moment, all she wanted was to hurry home and tell her mother the earth-shattering news.
Yan Yuan had driven his own small sedan to the station. Jiang Chengzhou had spent several years in the mountains, and it felt as though the whole world had changed while he was away.
As soon as he got into the car, his first reaction was, “Yan Yuan, you haven’t done anything illegal, have you?”
Yan Yuan threw him an irritated look. “What are you thinking?”
“As long as you haven’t broken the law.” Jiang Chengzhou patted his chest. “I’m a timid man. Don’t scare me like that.”
The four of them returned to the little Western-style house first, where Jiang Chengzhou washed up. Linlin and Shen Man had both prepared new clothes for him.
Jiang Chengzhou made sure to wear something from each of them: the shirt Linlin had bought and the trousers Shen Man had picked out.
Everything fit perfectly. Jiang Chengzhou stretched comfortably and turned to Yan Yuan. “What about your gift?”
Yan Yuan reached over and brushed Linlin’s hair aside. “When you get married, I’ll buy your household a television.”
“It’s a promise!” Jiang Chengzhou turned to Shen Man and said, “Wifey, did you hear that? Our family is going to have a television!”
No wonder the two of them had ended up together.
Shen Man was not shy in the least. She smiled at Yan Yuan and said, “Then thank you in advance.”
Two hours had already passed, yet Linlin still felt dazed, as if she were living in a dream.
Her brother was actually together with Sister Manman.
The strangest part was that she had no idea when they had gotten together.
It was all rather miraculous.
Seeing his sister’s bewildered expression, Jiang Chengzhou reached out to ruffle her hair, but Yan Yuan blocked his hand. “What are you doing? You’ll mess up her hair.”
Linlin slapped Yan Yuan’s hand away. “What are you doing? I like it when my brother pats my head.”
Jiang Chengzhou shot Yan Yuan a triumphant look and patted his little sister’s head. “That’s right. You have to be a little fiercer with men.”
Linlin blinked. “Brother, is Sister Manman fierce with you?”
