A military compound.

"You still have the nerve to come back?!"

An angry voice rang out after seeing the person at the door. A woman who looked nearly sixty years old glared at him with an ugly expression.

"Then let's go?!"

As she was about to enter, Ling Xiaohe grinned at her and made a gesture as if he was about to turn and leave.

"If you dare to take a single step through this door, don't ever come back."

Ling's mother was immediately enraged by his words; this unfilial son was born only to make her angry.

"Mom, so should we go or not?!"

After putting down his luggage, Ling Xiaohe started acting like a rogue and deliberately asked her that question, which made Ling's mother even angrier.

What do you think?!

Just then, an old voice came from upstairs, and then an old man slowly walked down the stairs.

"grandfather."

Upon seeing the old man, Ling Xiaohe immediately dropped his playful grin and adopted a serious expression.

When Grandpa Ling saw his grandson's appearance, he couldn't help but shake his head. It wasn't that he was disappointed, but rather that he was helpless and speechless.

The child is becoming increasingly unruly, especially when it comes to important life decisions, and is unwilling to follow the arrangements made by his family.

"dad."

When Ling's mother saw her father-in-law coming downstairs, she immediately went over to help him, and even took the opportunity to glare fiercely at her son.

"Don't upset your mother, come and sit down."

After the old man sat down on the sofa, he spoke to his grandson, who was not far away, and patted the spot next to him.

Ling Xiaohe did not hesitate this time, and obediently walked over and sat down next to the old man.

“From now on, we won’t pressure you anymore. You can handle things yourself. But you can’t find someone with bad character, bad conduct, or improper behavior. Otherwise, I’ll cut ties with you.”

The old man never interfered with his grandson's marriage. Over the years, it was his daughter-in-law who caused all the trouble, and the relationship between the mother and son deteriorated.

This time, he didn't want any unrest at home. He believed his children and grandchildren had their own destinies, and he wouldn't concern himself with such matters. However, he did have his bottom line: those with a shady, flamboyant style were absolutely unacceptable and could never enter the Ling family.

If his eldest grandson dares to disobey this bottom line, the old Ling family will abandon him.

"Grandpa, don't worry. Even if I remain a bachelor for the rest of my life, I will never find a partner like that."

Ling Xiaohe understood perfectly well what the old man meant! He had seen this kind of thing before; there was a living example of it in their compound.

"If you're going to find someone like that, I'd rather you stay single your whole life."

The old man thought so too, and on the contrary, he didn't lack grandchildren or great-grandchildren.

"Dad, I think he's just unlucky. His aunt introduced him to such a good girl, but he still doesn't like her. He deserves to be a bachelor for life."

After listening to the conversation between the grandmother and granddaughter, Ling's mother's anger subsided considerably. If she were to think of that example in the compound, she might as well remain a bachelor.

Without comparison, there is no harm.

However, Ling's mother was still deeply resentful.

That girl, Sister-in-law Shao, is so wonderful! She comes from a military family and is a military doctor herself. She'll definitely be a great help to my son after we get married. With such excellent qualities, there's no reason my son wouldn't be interested in her!

But this guy just didn't like it. Can you believe it?!

"Mom, I have no feelings for her."

Ling Xiaohe really didn't know how to make his family understand his thoughts. It wasn't that the other person was bad, but that he didn't have feelings for her.

No feeling means no thoughts, no attraction, and the other person is almost like a stranger.

"What do you mean by 'having feelings'?! What's wrong with her?! Your aunt said she's quite pretty, quiet, and tall. Isn't a girl like that good enough?! Do you want to find a fairy godmother?! Even if there were a fairy godmother, would you be worthy of her?!"

Ling's mother had already calmed down considerably, but now she was getting angrier and angrier as she talked, and she even slapped her hand in anger when she said the last few sentences.

How could he not be worthy of being a Celestial?! No, what would he need a Celestial for?! Ling Xiaohe couldn't help but mutter to himself, but he dared not say it aloud, lest his mother get angrier and angrier.

"Alright, as long as he doesn't cross the bottom line of our Ling family, let him stay single if he wants. Ping, go and make him a bowl of noodles."

The old man didn't want the family to quarrel and be unhappy about his grandson, so he changed the subject and asked the housekeeper to make a bowl of noodles for his grandson to eat.

In the evening, Ling's father, elder brother, and sister-in-law also came home from get off work, making the house lively again.

Ling Xiaohe also stayed at home obediently for a while, and also took care of his nephews and nieces.

Upon learning of his return, Ling Ge's family, along with his two sisters' families, also returned that evening to reunite with their families.

After a couple of nights of noise, Ling Xiaohe couldn't stay at home any longer; he needed to get some fresh air.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Gulou Hutong, Su Feng, Qiao Jiuru, and Su Huaiyuan, both carrying their belongings, boarded a bus on the main street outside the hutong bound for the Jin family.

They had barely left when Ling Xiaohe got off the bus and headed straight for Gulou Street and the alleyway.

Although Ling Xiaohe is indeed from Beijing, he grew up in a compound and didn't go to university in this area. From the fourth grade onwards, he was sent to the military every summer vacation. He wasn't actually very familiar with Beijing's many alleys and streets.

After many twists and turns, Ling Xiaohe searched through an alley. Then, he saw a girl who suddenly turned onto the path in front of him.

The other person was tall and slender, with long, wavy hair. She wore a beige overcoat, black wool wide-leg pants, and black leather high heels, but inside she was carrying a vegetable basket in a very down-to-earth manner.

"Comrade, Comrade ahead, please wait a moment. I'd like to ask how to get to No. 90, XX Alley!"

For some reason, Ling Xiaohe instinctively called out to the person in front of him.

Su Huazhu was walking home in her high heels when she heard someone calling from behind.

The person behind her should be calling her, right? So, she stopped in her tracks, then turned around slightly.