One evening, after work, Li Xiangbin was called to the greenhouse by Xiao Mei.

Under the cover of night, Xiaomei's face appeared exceptionally soft in the moonlight and the soft glow emanating from the sun-wheel tree.

She held something in her hand and handed it to Li Xiangbin.

It was a vest carefully sewn from soft animal hides; the stitches, though a little crooked, were very fine.

“Brother Xiangbing, I noticed you’re always sweating while working, and I was worried you’d catch a cold… So I… I made you a vest with the leftover leather. Try it on and see if it fits.” Xiaomei said, her head bowed, her voice barely audible.

Holding the still-warm vest, Li Xiangbin felt a warm current instantly flow from his palms throughout his body.

This grown man had tears welling up in his eyes. In all his life, no one, except himself, had ever made him a single piece of clothing.

"Xiaomei...you...you're so good to me..." he choked up, not knowing what to say.

“You are the best,” Xiaomei raised her head and mustered up the courage to look into his eyes: “You are the most honest and reliable man I have ever met. Brother Xiangbin, in this godforsaken place, meeting you makes me feel very safe.”

Li Xiangbin could no longer control his emotions. He took a step forward and hugged Xiaomei tightly. He didn't say anything, but held her with all his might, wanting to integrate this woman who gave him boundless warmth into his very being.

Xiao Mei stiffened in his arms at first, then reached out and hugged his broad and sturdy back tightly.

The two embraced in the quiet night and soft light, and time seemed to stand still at that moment.

After a long while, they slowly separated.

Li Xiangbin carefully folded the vest, tucked it into his coat, and pressed it tightly against his chest.

He naturally took Xiaomei's hand in his. Although her hand was rough from working, it looked particularly small in his large palm.

"Let's go, I'll take you home."

"Mmm," Xiaomei responded softly, letting him lead her as the two walked side by side toward the residential area.

Their lodgings were not far apart, and when they walked to the public area in front of a row of wooden houses, they happened to run into Lin Feng, who was returning from his patrol.

Lin Feng spotted them immediately.

He saw Li Xiangbin, a man who was usually quiet and hardworking, with a smile on his face that he had never seen before, a smile that was a mixture of excitement and naivety.

He saw Xiaomei with her head slightly lowered, the blush on her face clearly visible in the torchlight, but the corners of her mouth couldn't hide the upward curve.

Most importantly, he saw their hands clasped tightly together.

His steps slowed unconsciously. He didn't make a sound to disturb them, but simply stood quietly in the shadows.

He watched as Li Xiangbin escorted Xiaomei to her room. The two exchanged a few more reluctant words before Xiaomei finally went inside, turning back to look at him every few steps.

Li Xiangbin, like a child who had received a treasure, stood there grinning foolishly for a long time before turning around and walking towards his room.

Seeing this, a rare, genuine smile of satisfaction appeared on Lin Feng's usually cold and stern face.

He smiled silently, turned around, and his figure disappeared into the deeper night.

The next evening.

After inspecting the farmland, Lin Feng saw Xiao Mei carrying a bowl of steaming soup toward Li Xiangbin's room.

"Xiaomei, stop." He spoke slowly.

Xiaomei stopped in her tracks, her hand holding the bowl trembled slightly, and ripples spread across the soup surface.

She turned around and saw Lin Feng's deep and sharp eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. Lin Feng was usually a man of few words, but whenever he showed that look in his eyes, it meant an irresistible will.

"Mr. Lin." Xiaomei suppressed her unease and bowed her head respectfully.

Lin Feng didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Li Xiangbin is my brother. He is my only and most important friend in this world. If you just want to use him, I advise you to stop now."

Xiaomei suddenly raised her head, a bitter and aggrieved look on her face. She saw the protectiveness towards Li Xiangbin in Lin Feng's eyes, a discovery that surprised her, but more than anything, it gave her an indescribable sense of oppression. In front of Lin Feng, any pretense or falsehood could not be concealed.

“Sir, I really didn’t think that way.” Xiao Mei’s voice trembled slightly, but her tone was unusually firm: “I’m not that kind of person. I… I think Li Xiangbin is a very good person. He is honest, kind, strong, and good at taking care of people… He is a man I can rely on.”

After she finished speaking, she looked at Lin Feng with sincere eyes.

Deep down, she didn't actually like Li Xiangbin that much.

After all, she used to look down on honest men like this.

But times change.

Having gone through so much cruelty, all she wants now is someone to rely on.

A man like Lin Feng is someone she can't control.

Therefore, Li Xiangbin is the best choice.

Moreover, she was well aware that with her qualifications, she had no competitive advantage over other women and had never even entertained any fantasies.

After all, both Tang Bao and Qin Lan are far more outstanding than her.

Lin Feng looked at her coldly.

After a long time, so long that Xiaomei's arms began to ache, a mocking sneer finally appeared on his lips.

"You're very smart." Lin Feng's voice carried a hint of amusement, making it impossible to tell whether it was praise or criticism. "Li Xiangbin is easy to handle. It seems you know very well what you want and what you can achieve."

Xiaomei's cheeks flushed slightly; she knew Lin Feng had seen through all her schemes. She had no way to refute him and could only remain silent with her head bowed.

Lin Feng shifted his gaze from Xiao Mei to the steel wall in the distance, which was gradually being shrouded in night.

His tone became somewhat complicated, with a hint of barely perceptible emotion: "Fine, it's not impossible to grant your wish. After all, this place also needs some warmth."

Xiaomei suddenly raised her head, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"But I need you to do something for me." Lin Feng's voice turned serious again, carrying a hint of command.

"It's my duty!" Xiaomei nodded hurriedly, her tone firm and urgent. Whatever it was, as long as she could gain Lin Feng's approval and have her relationship with Li Xiangbin tacitly acknowledged, she was willing to do it.

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Lin Feng's lips.

He stepped forward, leaned close to Xiaomei's ear, and whispered a few words. Xiaomei's face first froze, then became serious, and finally, she nodded vigorously.

"Don't worry, sir, I will definitely do it. And... I won't let anyone know." Xiaomei's voice was also low, with an unprecedented seriousness.

Lin Feng straightened up and glanced at the soup bowl in Xiao Mei's hand: "Go on, don't keep your 'Brother Xiang Bin' waiting."

Xiaomei's heart skipped a beat, and a blush instantly appeared on her face.

She bowed respectfully to Lin Feng again, and then, like a prisoner granted a pardon, strode quickly toward Li Xiangbin's room.

Her steps became much lighter, but Lin Feng's whispered words and the secret mission that was about to begin echoed in her mind.

Lin Feng stood quietly in place, watching Xiao Mei's figure disappear at the end of the corridor.