Two hours later.

Xu Xinghe cuts out paper-cut window decorations.

They started to categorize the items.

Lian Xiao also helped out.

Just as his hand reached for a pastry, Jiang Linchuan pressed it down, his gaze deep, "I'll do it."

“Okay, you do it.” Lian Xiao said, standing up, casually smoothing the wrinkles in his white shirt, and picking up his coat draped over the back of the chair. “Xinghe, let’s go put up some paper-cut window decorations.”

He curled his lips into a smile, his gaze fixed on Jiang Linchuan. "You just said you'd stay here to organize the New Year's goods. Xinghe and I will get busy then, so don't come back later with some other excuse to interfere. Commander Jiang, a man's word is his bond, isn't it?"

Xu Xinghe looked at him, then at Jiang Linchuan.

Why do I feel like these two are getting along even worse?

Weren't we on a mission together?

Logically speaking, they should be comrades who can entrust their backs to each other, and their relationship should be even better, right?

Xu Xinghe quickly coughed lightly to smooth things over, "Um... why don't you two go put up the window decorations? I've been cutting them for a while and I'm a bit tired, so I'll stay here and organize the New Year's goods. A lot of these were sent from Shanghai, and Lin Chuan might not even recognize them all, so it'll be easier for me to put them away."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Linchuan immediately stood up. "Okay."

Lian Xiao pursed his lips. Although he was unhappy, he had no reason to object, so he could only carry the paste and walk out.

The two stood outside the door, their eyes like unsheathed swords, their sharpness fully revealed, showing none of the restraint they displayed in front of Xu Xinghe.

Lian Xiao handed over the paper-cut window decoration, saying, "Put it up carefully. If it's crooked, I'll tell Xinghe that you deliberately ruined her craft."

Jiang Linchuan didn't respond to his words. He raised his hand and slapped the paper-cut window decoration on, gently pressing the edges with his fingertips, and said calmly, "It's not crooked."

"Xinghe painstakingly cut this, and this is how you treat it?"

She cut the paper-cut window decorations herself, but now they're going to be pasted up in another man's house.

"Is there a problem with how it's pasted?" Jiang Linchuan turned to look inside the house. "Xinghe, come and take a look. Comrade Lian said I didn't paste it well."

"It's here!" Xu Xinghe quickly ran out the door, leaned close to the window and took a closer look. "It's great, it's pasted up neatly and evenly, not crooked at all."

Lian Xiao was speechless, and angrily licked his upper teeth, "Commander Jiang, I never knew you could tattle on others!"

"Likewise."

Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Xu Xinghe quickly turned around and went into the house, where she quickly sorted and packed up the New Year's goods. "Let's go, everything is packed up."

If she stayed any longer, she was afraid the two of them would start fighting right there and then.

They're all good people, so why do they act like they're on steroids when they get together?

Jiang Linchuan's expression softened instantly, and he stepped forward to naturally take the cloth bag from her hand. "Okay, let's go."

Lian Xiao buttoned up his coat and put his hands in his pockets. "We didn't cook at home today, Xinghe. Is it okay if I come over for a meal?"

Jiang Linchuan kept causing him trouble during the mission, so he'd retaliate in the military!

He's happy as long as the other person is unhappy!

Xu Xinghe glanced at Lian Xiao's deserted room and couldn't bring herself to refuse. "Alright."

Finally, the three of them returned to the courtyard together.

As soon as she entered, Xu Xinghe tugged at Jiang Linchuan's sleeve, signaling him to come and help heat up the dishes.

She was afraid that the two of them would quarrel again if they were alone together.

But Lian Xiao rolled up his sleeves first, saying, "I'll handle the hot dishes with him. You stay inside and rest, don't get involved."

"this……"

Xu Xinghe wanted to say something more, but Jiang Linchuan nodded, "Go inside and rest."

"Then you two must not fight!" Xu Xinghe was still worried and reminded him, "We are all friends, so if there is a misunderstanding, just talk it out and don't argue all the time."

She entered the inner room, glancing back every few steps. She had barely sat down for two seconds when a loud bang startled her, and she immediately stood up and walked towards the door.

"It's nothing!" Lian Xiao's muffled voice came from the direction of the kitchen. "I wasn't paying attention when I opened the door, and it hit the wall."

How careless you must have been to slam the door so hard...

She sighed helplessly and sat back down on the kang (a heated brick bed).

It seems I need to find an opportunity to have a proper talk with them. If we really can't get along, I'll just try to avoid getting together with them in the future.

She had hoped that their relationship would improve if they went on a mission together, but now it seems she had been too naive.

Fortunately, there was no further noise from the kitchen until the food was heated up.

The three sat down around the table, the food steaming, but the atmosphere was inexplicably heavy, and no one spoke first.

Suddenly, the table shook slightly.

Xu Xinghe immediately looked down and asked, "What's wrong?"

The two legs under the table spread apart instantly.

Despite the pain, Lian Xiao forced a relaxed smile. "It's nothing, I just accidentally bumped my foot on the table leg."

"Then be careful not to bump into anything again."

Without thinking much, Xu Xinghe picked up her chopsticks and put a piece of meat on each of their plates, trying to break the awkward silence.

After finishing his meal, Jiang Linchuan stood up first and slowly put on his coat. "Comrade Lian, there are still some details to organize in the report on the mission before the New Year. Come with me to the office."

Lian Xiao subtly moved his right foot. "Okay."

Xu Xinghe stood at the door, watching the two figures who seemed to be at odds, and couldn't help but blink.

Are these two really going to fight?

Fortunately, nothing happened until the two of them were together for an hour. They were about half a person's distance apart and didn't even touch each other.

The 29th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The entire military was given annual leave.

Most of the soldiers living in nearby villages packed up and went home, and the military headquarters became much quieter.

Xu Xinghe was making final preparations for the Lunar New Year in the courtyard.

Jiang Linchuan and Lian Xiao, however, did not show up, presumably still busy preparing the mission report.

Lunar New Year's Eve has finally arrived.

Early in the morning, the sound of firecrackers went off one after another outside.

Xu Xinghe quickly put on her coat and ran out the door, just in time to see Jiang Linchuan walking over, carrying a string of firecrackers. "First, put up the Spring Festival couplets, then set off half a string of firecrackers, and then we'll go to the cafeteria to make dumplings."

"good!"

"Bang bang bang—!"

The crisp sound of firecrackers rang out again, and Xu Xinghe instinctively covered her ears.

Red confetti exploded on the snow, filling the air with the unique scent of the Lunar New Year.

Only then did she finally feel the true meaning of celebrating the New Year.

"Jiang Linchuan, Happy New Year!" She looked up and shouted to him with a smile.

Jiang Linchuan stopped what he was doing, took out a red envelope from his coat pocket, and handed it to her. "Yes, Xinghe, Happy New Year."