Chu Xun clenched his fist. "Okay."

Chu Xingbang softened his tone, "A-Xun, I know you never want to mention that memory again, but sincerity is the most important thing between lovers. Besides, you're going to be with her for the long haul, and she'll find out sooner or later."

"It's so unfair to her that you're hiding it from her."

"If your Grandpa Liao knew that you were seeing her behind her back, he would be even less likely to agree to you two being together."

Chu Xun took a deep breath. "Grandpa, I understand."

Li Xiyue was standing by the window enjoying the breeze. The wind sobered her up considerably. Suddenly, a large hand reached out and closed the window.

"Ah Xun." Li Xiyue turned around and smiled.

Chu Xun touched her face; it was cold. He said worriedly, "You'll catch a cold from being exposed to the wind like this."

"It's alright." Li Xiyue held his hand. "Just warm it up for me."

Chu Xun hugged her. "Why aren't you asleep yet, it's so late?"

"I've been waiting for you." Li Xiyue nestled against his chest, listening to his erratic heartbeat. "A-Xun, is something on your mind?"

After much hesitation, Chu Xun finally made a decision. He pulled her to sit on the bed and handed her a photo frame.

Li Xiyue took it and saw that it was a family photo of a young couple holding a child.

The young couple looked somewhat like Chu Xun, and Li Xiyue guessed, "Are these your parents?"

"Yes." Chu Xun nodded.

Li Xiyue took a look at the child. "Is this you?"

“No, it’s my older sister, Chu Xiang,” Chu Xun said.

Li Xiyue asked in surprise, "Your sister? I've never heard you mention having a sister before. Where is she?"

"She's gone," Chu Xun said softly. "My mother and my sister are both gone."

Li Xiyue's heart clenched. No wonder everyone reacted that way when she mentioned his parents and family at the dinner table.

"My grandparents had five sons in total. My father was the youngest. My father and four uncles were all soldiers. Except for my father and second uncle, the others all died in the line of duty."

My grandfather was a decorated war hero, known as the "Tiger of the North" in his youth. He was a fearsome figure who struck terror into the hearts of his enemies. Although he has now retired, everyone still respectfully calls him "Old Commander".

My mother and my maternal grandparents were all military personnel; our family could be considered a military family.

“But our family has a disgrace. My father once saved a seriously injured woman when he was young. My father didn’t know that the woman was actually Japanese and a spy. She approached my father to harm my grandfather.”

"She knew evil magic. When no one was paying attention, she used evil magic to control Grandpa and drive him crazy. In the end, it was Grandpa Liao who saved Grandpa with the Thirteen Ghost Needles."

Li Xiyue was both surprised and furious. The Japanese were indeed resorting to any means necessary. Unable to defeat them openly, they actually used such despicable methods to harm Chinese soldiers.

"Did they catch that Japanese woman?" Li Xiyue asked.

Chu Xun shook his head, his fists clenched tightly. "She ran away and even took the opportunity to kidnap my three-year-old sister!"

What?

“My mother almost went blind from crying because of this, and her relationship with my father broke down. It wasn’t until she found out that she was pregnant with me that she became strong again… But when I was two years old, my mother took me to my maternal grandmother’s house. On the way, they were followed by Japanese soldiers. My mother hid me, but she was captured and killed.”

He clenched his hands tightly, his body shrouded in deep sorrow.

Li Xiyue felt heartbroken. She never expected that the seemingly invincible and iron-willed officer would have such a tragic past.