Huanxing Town.
The afternoon sun dispelled the last traces of the rain’s gloom.
The base was bustling with activity, but everyone’s faces were lit with relaxed smiles after the victory.
After handling some urgent wrap-up work, Mu Qingqing found Lin Mowei, who was reviewing frontline casualty reports.
“Chief!”
Mu Qingqing’s face shone with the brightness of completing a major task, along with a barely concealed excitement.
“There’s a simple celebratory lunch at the base cafeteria at noon. Will you join us? Everyone really wants to thank you in person.”
Lin Mowei looked up from the report, meeting Mu Qingqing’s expectant eyes.
“Celebration? Why wasn’t it last night?”
Normally, after such a big victory, there would be a celebration that very evening, even if conditions were simple.
Mu Qingqing smiled sheepishly and rubbed her nose.
“Last night… last night I didn’t dare organize anything. I wasn’t even sure if I’d be disciplined today. If I got a demerit, what would there be to celebrate?”
As she said this, she laughed, revealing a row of small white teeth.
Hearing this, Lin Mowei couldn’t help but smile.
This subordinate, who had been with her for several years, had truly grown through the tempering of this independent command.
She could withstand pressure at critical moments and make cold but necessary decisions.
But right now, she revealed the frankness and authenticity of youth that still lingered in her bones.
Lin Mowei initially wanted to refuse out of habit.
Today was her birthday. According to her plan—even her longing—she should return to the resort and spend it with her brother. Just the two of them. No Xia Yanran, no Qin Wuyue, no battles, no responsibilities. Only her and her most important Xiao Yu.
But the moment that thought arose, an image from deep within her memories uncontrollably surfaced in her mind.
Causing her… to inevitably feel a certain fear.
In her previous life, it had also been this birthday.
Back then, Xiao Yu seemed to have prepared a gift.
But that day, Xia Yanran was there too.
The girl had hovered around Xiao Yu, her smile radiant.
And the look in Xiao Yu’s eyes when he glanced at Xia Yanran…
A tenderness she had never seen before, one she couldn’t ignore even if she tried.
That necklace was beautiful, but she never wore it again afterward.
Every time she saw it, she couldn’t help but imagine the natural intimacy they had shared that day.
And she could only suppress the dark emotions within her that must never see the light.
That birthday had a cake and blessings on the surface, but it was steeped in her sourness and hidden pain.
She was afraid.
Afraid that in this life, even if Xia Yanran wasn’t yet in a relationship with Xiao Yu, even if things seemed different, this special day might once again become something… she didn’t want to see.
Perhaps temporarily avoiding it, not actively touching this day, burying her head in the noise of celebration like an ostrich, would be safer.
This complicated psychology of escape ultimately overpowered her desire to monopolize her brother’s time.
The smile on Lin Mowei’s face faded slightly, but it remained gentle.
She closed the report in her hand and nodded at Mu Qingqing. “Alright, I’ll go.”
Mu Qingqing hadn’t expected the chief to agree so readily. She responded happily and immediately ran off to make arrangements.
Watching her retreating figure, Lin Mowei let out a soft breath, suppressing the trace of melancholy and weariness in her heart.
On the other side, at the resort.
At lunchtime, Lin Yu sat in the dining room, with Xia Yanran beside him and Qin Wuyue across from him, who had returned alone.
“Aunt Qin, where’s my sister? She didn’t come back with you?” Lin Yu glanced at the door, somewhat puzzled.
Based on his understanding of his sister, unless something extremely important came up, she would have come back for lunch, especially on this day.
Qin Wuyue leisurely picked at her food, her tone casual. “Oh, she’s at Huanxing Town for a celebration banquet. Mu Qingqing organized it, said she wanted to thank her.”
“Celebration banquet?”
Lin Yu was taken aback, then slowly nodded.
“Oh, I see.”
“Then why didn’t you stay there, Aunt Qin?” he asked offhandedly.
Qin Wuyue glanced at him, the corners of her mouth lifting into an ambiguous smile.
“If I stayed, they’d probably be too restrained to even eat loudly. Where’s the fun in that?”
Her tone was flat, carrying a knowing detachment.
She was well aware that her very presence was an invisible pressure for most people.
“Uh…”
Lin Yu didn’t ask further. The three of them ate lunch in silence.
After the meal, Xia Yanran chattered about going somewhere in the afternoon or finding some other amusement.
Lin Yu was distracted, intending to wait until evening to celebrate his sister’s birthday.
And so he waited until dusk.
When the setting sun painted the resort in a warm gold, Lin Mowei’s figure finally appeared at the entrance.
Lin Yu quickly found her.
She stood under a flowering tree, slightly tilting her head to look at the evening glow. Her graceful curves were outlined by the soft sunlight, creating a moving scene.
She turned and saw Lin Yu, and a smile immediately spread across her face.
But Lin Yu immediately noticed that his sister seemed different from usual.
A faint blush bloomed on her cheeks, like fine rouge, but more vivid, and with an indescribable… fragility.
Her usually clear, sharp eyes now held a hazy sheen, and as her gaze shifted, there was less of her usual restraint and more of a rare, languid charm.
As she approached, a faint scent of alcohol mixed with her body fragrance drifted into Lin Yu’s nose.
“Sis?” Lin Yu frowned slightly. “You’ve been drinking?”
“Mm, just a little.” Lin Mowei nodded, her smile more unrestrained than usual, carrying the honesty and relaxation of a light buzz.
“I was happy, everyone kept toasting, and I couldn’t refuse.” Her voice was softer and slower than normal, as if soaked in honey, sticky and heart-tugging.
She raised a hand, habitually trying to fix her hair, but her movements were slower than usual. Her fingertips brushed her cheek, accentuating the startling redness.
Lin Yu looked at her, this charming appearance so different from her usual self. His heart inexplicably skipped a beat, a strange feeling rising, but more than that, he felt worry.
“Did you drink a lot? Are you feeling sick?”
“I’m fine…” Lin Mowei shook her head, using the alcohol to steer the topic away. “I want to go back and rest. I’m… a little tired today.”
She lowered her eyelids, avoiding Lin Yu’s gaze, and also avoiding any possibility of touching on the subject of “birthday.”
Let this day pass quietly in “celebration” and “exhaustion.”
She thought like an ostrich.
“…”
Lin Yu was indeed a bit surprised.
He had thought his sister would at least remember her own birthday, but seeing her tired face and the fact she had been drinking, maybe she really was worn out.
Though he felt a faint disappointment inside, he didn’t show it. He just nodded. “Then go rest, Sis. Get a good sleep.”
“Mm.” Lin Mowei responded and turned to leave.
Inside the room.
The moment the door closed, Lin Mowei leaned against the cool door panel and let out a long breath.
The composure and smile she had forced moments ago collapsed instantly. The courage brought by alcohol was quickly swallowed by the icy tide rising from the depths of her heart.
She staggered to the bed and threw herself heavily onto the soft mattress, burying her face in the pillow, letting out a muffled sob.
“Lin Mowei, how can you be so useless…” she muttered into the pillow. “What are you afraid of? What exactly are you afraid of? Xiao Yu isn’t with that girl. He clearly wanted to say something just now. He must have wanted to celebrate your birthday. He remembered.”
“You coward, you chicken…”
She curled up, hugging herself tightly, as if that could ward off the boundless fear.
The fear came not from the battlefield, nor from a powerful enemy, but from the deepest part of her heart—her attachment to and possessiveness over her brother, which went beyond familial affection.
She was afraid that this special day would once again become a rehearsal for “loss,” or a reminder of a love that might never be reciprocated.
“I’m still so scared…”
After an unknown time—perhaps a few minutes, perhaps an hour—a soft knock came from the door.
“Sis? Are you asleep?”
It was her brother’s voice, tinged with worry and hesitance.
Lin Mowei’s whole body stiffened. She took a few deep breaths, trying to make her voice sound normal.
“No, I’m not asleep. Come in, the door’s unlocked.”
Lin Yu pushed the door open, holding a small box.
He saw his sister sitting on the edge of the bed, her hair a little messy, her eyes seeming redder than before. The doubt in his heart grew heavier.
But he didn’t ask questions. He walked straight up to her.
“Sis, wait a moment.” He looked at her face, his tone serious. “I know you’re very tired, but take this first.”
With that, he handed the small box to her.
Lin Mowei stared blankly at the box held out to her. Her heartbeat seemed to skip a beat.
She knew what was inside—a birthday gift.
In her previous life, it had also been a similar box, containing a necklace she later never wanted to touch again.
Fear enveloped her again.
She didn’t want to take it. Didn’t want to open it.
Didn’t want this thing to drag her back into that suffocating association, to ruin the pure concern in her brother’s eyes right now.
Seeing her hesitate, Lin Yu grew a little anxious. He pushed it closer. “Sis?”
Lin Mowei bit her lip. Finally, she reached out, her fingertips trembling slightly, and slowly took the small box.
The velvet texture was delicate, but it felt scalding to her touch.
“Sis, aren’t you going to open it?” Lin Yu looked at her lowered lashes. “I think… this will suit you.”
Lin Mowei’s fingers curled.
She didn’t want to open it. Really didn’t want to.
But her brother stood right in front of her, his gaze burning, clean and warm, filled with a simple desire to make her happy.
She couldn’t resist that look.
Taking a deep breath, as if bracing herself for some judgment, her fingers gently undid the clasp of the lid.
Click.
The lid opened.
The cold metal she had anticipated did not appear.
Under the soft light, lying quietly on the dark blue velvet cushion, was a pair of pearl earrings.
Sakura-pink pearls, round and gentle, simple and elegant, emitting a soft glow.
Not a necklace.
A completely different gift.
Lin Mowei’s pupils dilated sharply, her breath halting.
She stared dumbly at the earrings, her mind blank for a moment.
Not… not that necklace.
He chose earrings.
Did her brother remember that she occasionally wore small ear accessories?
Or was it just a coincidence?
But no matter what, this was completely different from her memory!
This difference, like a sudden beam of light, violently split the thick gloom coiled in her heart.
Just then, Lin Yu’s gentle voice sounded.
“Happy birthday, Sis.”
Lin Mowei looked up.
Her brother stood before her, his face wearing the familiar gentle smile, his eyes clear, filled only with blessings for her, nothing else.
No figure of Xia Yanran. No heart-breaking gaze falling on someone else.
Just him, and a simple, straight-to-the-heart “Happy birthday.”
In that instant, the cold memories that had been tightly binding her melted and receded like snow under sunshine.
Yes…
What was there to fear?
Everything was clearly different.
Her brother wasn’t with Yanran. He remembered her birthday, carefully chose a gift, and was standing right in front of her, just to say happy birthday.
Without realizing it, Lin Mowei felt warm liquid sliding down her cheeks.
Huh?
She instinctively raised a hand to wipe it, and her knuckles touched moisture.
I’m… crying?
This sudden flood of tears startled Lin Yu, who had been expecting a happy reaction.
“Sis? What’s wrong?” He leaned in, at a loss, his face full of confusion. “Why are you crying? Is it… don’t you like the gift? We can exchange it tomorrow. Really, don’t cry…”
Seeing his flustered appearance, Lin Mowei let the tears flow freely while shaking her head vigorously. The corners of her mouth struggled upward, blooming into a smile—teary, yet incredibly genuine.
“No, I like it. I like it very much.” Her voice choked, but carried immense joy. “I really like it, Xiao Yu. Thank you…”
As she spoke, she stood up, opened her arms, and forcefully hugged the still-dazed Lin Yu.
“…?!”
Lin Yu’s whole body stiffened at the sudden embrace.
He could clearly feel his sister’s slight trembling, her hot tears soaking the skin of his neck. The faint scent of alcohol and fragrance from her body pressed closer, lingering around his nose.
This hug was strong, even squeezing the breath out of him a little.
Then, he heard his sister’s voice, thick with a stuffy nose.
“Xiao Yu, promise me you’ll never leave me, okay?”
Hearing this, Lin Yu was completely baffled.
He didn’t know why his sister had suddenly become so emotional, why she was crying, or why she would make such a request.
Maybe she had experienced too much today—the thrill of victory, the sentimentality after drinking, the emotions of her birthday all intertwined, making his usually strong sister unusually sentimental?
This was probably… tears of joy? He thought uncertainly.
After a moment of hesitation, he raised his hand and awkwardly hugged her back, gently patting her back like comforting a frightened child.
“Okay,” he replied seriously, even though he didn’t understand. “I promise, Sis. I won’t leave you.”
Hearing his promise, Lin Mowei hugged even tighter, and her tears flowed even more.
But this time, it was no longer born from fear. It was a release of joy mixed with immense relief and the feeling of regaining something precious.
Outside the window, twilight deepened, and the stars began to appear.
Inside the room, the brother and sister held each other tightly. One let go of a fear that had spanned two lives through her tears, while the other, in his confusion, made a promise whose weight he did not yet understand.