"Why are you here?" Chu Xingyue asked her younger siblings.

"Yangyang overheard his aunt and great-aunt talking on the phone and found out you're in this military region. Yangyang told me, so I suggested we come and see you." Before Xia Yiyang could speak, Chu Jiaojiao interrupted her.

Does your family know you're coming?

Xia Yiyang didn't dare to say anything, and Chu Jiaojiao was also a little nervous at this moment.

"I came directly from school, and Yangyang picked me up."

"It's my fault. It was my suggestion. I dragged Yangyang over here."

Chu Jiaojiao had no concept of lying, and Xia Yiyang watched Chu Xingyue nervously from the side.

Chu Xingyue couldn't bear to blame Xia Yiyang for his behavior.

Jiaojiao saw that they were admitting their mistake and decided to let it go. The two of them weren't children, and there was no need to make a big deal out of it. She would call home later to tell her grandparents, since it had been a few days since they last spoke.

“You’re not allowed to do that next time. You have to tell your family before you go on a long trip. I trust your skills, but I’m just afraid you might run into someone you can’t handle,” Chu Xingyue said earnestly to her younger brother and sister-in-law.

"knew."

"I understand, Sister An'an. I won't do it again next time."

"Come on, let's go home for dinner. Your aunt is cooking something delicious today. Yangyang, come along. Your parents were just talking about you."

The three siblings walked together toward the family quarters. Along the way, all they could hear was Chu Xingyue's chattering, interspersed with Xia Yiyang's voice. Although they hadn't seen each other for a while, their bond hadn't diminished at all.

"Dad, Mom, I'm back!" Xia Yiyang called to Xia Lin and Gu Si as soon as she entered the house.

"Uncle, Aunt, I'm here to bother you!" Chu Jiaojiao's sweet voice was so sweet it melted Gu Si's heart.

Xia Yiyang, who was in front, thought his mother was going to hug him when she saw her coming over, so he quickly opened his arms. But his mother walked right past him and hugged Chu Jiaojiao, who came in from behind.

"Jiaojiao, quickly give your aunt a hug."

"Auntie, I miss you so much! Do you miss Jiaojiao too?" No one can resist Chu Jiaojiao's sweet and coquettish pleading.

"Uncle, I miss you too." Chu Jiaojiao quickly greeted Xia Lin as he walked over.

"Haha, Uncle and Aunt miss our little darling very much."

Xia Lin is never stingy with praising the younger generation, especially since this is the youngest girl in the family.

"Come in with your aunt. You must be tired. Sit down and chat with your sister for a while. I'll prepare dinner. It'll be ready soon."

"An'an, go to the cafeteria and get two more hearty dishes."

"Okay, I'll go now." Chu Xingyue stood up and walked out.

"Sister An'an, wait a minute, I'll go with you. I haven't been there for years, and I don't even know if Uncle is still there." Xia Yiyang caught up with Chu Xingyue.

"Auntie, my sister went to the cafeteria, I'll help you." Chu Jiaojiao hooked her arm around Gu Si's and acted coquettishly.

"Okay, then you help me pick the vegetables, and let your uncle cook."

Xia Lin, who was tying her apron herself, turned her head.

"Let Jiaojiao try her uncle's cooking today too."

"Uncle, you'd better prepare more, I have quite an appetite."

Chu Jiaojiao said playfully.

"I'll make sure you eat your fill. Your sister knows how big your appetite is, so she'll definitely bring back a lot from the cafeteria this time."

"Jiaojiao, do all the kids in our family have big appetites?" Gu Si brought Chu Jiaojiao a small stool, and the two chatted as they picked vegetables.

"Everyone else has a normal appetite, but my sister and I have huge appetites. I don't know if our ancestors had big eaters or what, but my sister and I are the only ones who can eat so much." Chu Jiaojiao chuckled at Gu Si.

"That's really amazing. I'm already this old, and I've only ever seen you and An'an eat like this. I've never seen anyone else eat like this. But we older folks always say that being able to eat is a blessing."

“Yes, that’s how girls should be. Just eat normally, there’s no need to diet, you’ll ruin your health.” Xia Lin replied quickly.

"However, you all exercise a lot, so it's normal for you to have a large appetite. It may be due to high energy expenditure. As long as you are healthy, it's okay to eat more."

“My grandparents said the same thing.” Chu Jiaojiao never thought that being able to eat a lot was something shameful. On the contrary, she thought it was something really awesome. No one could eat as much as her and An’an. They couldn’t outeat them or beat them. This wasn’t their problem; it was someone else’s problem.

The three of them chatted casually like that.

Chu Xingyue and Xia Yiyang walked towards the cafeteria.

"Xiao Yang, how have you and Jiao Jiao been doing at school lately?"

"I'm fine, sis."

"Sis, you have no idea. Ever since you graduated with your bachelor's degree at the end of the year, everyone has been studying like crazy at the beginning of this semester, like they've been injected with chicken blood. The counselors have even had private talks with a few of the most hardworking students, telling them to be realistic about their limits. After all, not everyone is like you. Sis, you've really given the upperclassmen and underclassmen at the school a shot in the arm." Xia Yiyang felt proud; this academic genius was his sister.

"By the way, sister, the soldier at the gate called you Deputy Regiment Commander Chu. Did you get promoted? That's a huge leap. Have you been working particularly hard in places we don't know about?" As a child of a soldier, Xia Yiyang knew how much effort it took to reach this position. Most people would work their whole lives and still not reach it, eventually ending up transferring home.

Now that his sister has only been in the family for such a short time, you've already been promoted to deputy regimental commander. It must have been incredibly hard work for you.

"The night I arrived, I encountered hijackers. Together with two people who were with my teacher, I subdued them. There's more to the story, but I can't tell you about it."

Chu Xingyue chose what she could talk about, since there were so many people on the plane, she couldn't hide it even if she wanted to.

The things that happen at the research institute cannot be discussed.

"I know, I know, it's a confidentiality agreement."

Chu Xingyue smiled at Xia Yiyang.

"How long can you stay here, sis?"

"I don't know yet. I still have tasks to complete here. I should be able to go back after that." I wonder if those guys will be able to reach the level she envisions.

"I plan to stay here with Jiaojiao until Sunday noon and then go back to school."

"Will you make it?" "No problem. I've already talked to the uncle at the gate. I'll be there before the lights go out. I've given you plenty of time. You should be able to make it."

"Okay, you guys keep track of the time yourselves, I'll take you there on Sunday."

"Won't this take up your time?" Chu Xingyue smiled at her thoughtful younger brother.

She stood on tiptoe, ruffled her younger brother's short hair, and said with a smile:

"What are you worrying about at such a young age?"

"Hehe, I'm just afraid of interfering with your business, sister. This is my turf now, I'm afraid he'll beat me up." Xia Yiyang made a scared gesture.

"Haha, have a good talk with your dad tonight. He and your mom miss you a lot. I've heard him talk about you so many times."