The three of them walked out of the tenement building and closed the door. Only then did Xiao's mother walk in from the balcony with an unhappy expression. Looking at the fruit and malted milk powder she had bought on the table, she threw them directly into the trash can without thinking.

...

Xiao Xuejun led the way on his bicycle. Although Gu Chen was also familiar with Xinluo Town, he was not as familiar with it as Xiao Xuejun.

"Brother Chen, here, I've saved you a spot." Xiao Xuejun pointed to the empty space under his feet where he could park his bicycle.

Once the two bicycles were parked, he locked them together, so that no one could steal either of them.

It was already past 5 p.m., and as the host, Xiao Xuejun was definitely taking the two of them to eat.

"Comrade Lin, have you started dating Brother Chen?" Xiao Xuejun was surprised that the two of them had become so familiar in just a few days.

Lin Yuxi blinked, her face serious. "We didn't talk about it."

"If you really start dating, that's fine too. According to seniority, I should call you sister-in-law. Talk to her without worry!" Xiao Xuejun patted his chest and handed over the menu. "Take a look at what you want to eat and order whatever you like. It's not easy to get together like this, so don't be shy."

He didn't seem to take Xiao's mother's words to heart at all. His mother was his mother, and he was himself. He was over twenty years old and not a mama's boy. Why should he listen to his mother when making friends?

Finally, the three of them ordered four dishes: three main dishes and a soup.

Gu Chen sat back slightly in his chair, pursed his lips, and asked, "How are things at the soy sauce factory?"

"It's alright, I guess? Just passable." Xiao Xuejun thought about the environment at the soy sauce factory, shrugged, and looked indifferent. "But you, Brother Chen, what are you planning to do after you leave the military?"

If he thought about it carefully, Gu Chen really hadn't considered this question.

"I will follow the organization's arrangements," Gu Chen replied casually.

During this brief moment, Lin Yuxi went to the restroom.

Xiao Xuejun crept closer, as if deep in thought, "Brother Chen, you really aren't dating?"

"No." Gu Chen frowned, his voice low, and he answered a few minutes slower.

“Actually, I also realized Comrade Lin’s identity. Moving her whole family to Qinghe Village means she’s definitely being sent down to the countryside. If you really talk to her, it’s good that you’ve been transferred to civilian work.” Xiao Xuejun thought about it from his own perspective.

"After all, military marriages require you to submit an application report to the military unit, and the political vetting of the woman is particularly strict. She's being transferred to a lower-level unit, and you two..."

"The marriage application report may not even be approved by then."

Of course, Xiao Xuejun didn't say one last thing: Lin Yuxi's demotion would also affect Gu Chen's status and position. A promotion was unlikely, and his position would change.

"You're overthinking it. I've already submitted my application to transfer to civilian work, and we're not at that stage yet." Gu Chen's voice was low and slow, like a breeze, as he spoke of something insignificant.

Xiao Xuejun looked puzzled, his tone tentative, "I think Lin Yuxi is quite nice too. How come you can't seem to find a partner? Do you look down on her because of her exile status?"

"No, I just haven't had those thoughts for a short time."