The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

Fu Hua was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I agree. But I'm still a student, so I can only use my spare time."

"no problem!"

Commander Hua was overjoyed. "The communications company will coordinate the specific arrangements with you!"

The problem was solved in the afternoon.

Commander Hua warmly invited him to have lunch in the canteen.

"I'll have the chef cook a few more good dishes; we must treat our hero well today."

Xie Ci smiled and said, "Commander, Professor Yan and I have already made plans to go out for hot pot."

"hot pot?"

Commander Hua's eyes lit up. "Which one? I'll go too!"

"Then let's do it together."

Commander Hua and Professor Yan went to wait at the entrance of the military base.

Xie Ci and Fu Hua went to get the car.

On the way from the communications unit to the parking lot,

We had to pass through the army's stables.

The afternoon sun in winter slanted into the eaves.

Several glossy military horses were leisurely chewing hay by the trough.

Fu Hua's steps unconsciously slowed down.

My gaze was drawn to a tall, chestnut-colored horse.

The horse seemed to sense her gaze and raised its head.

His warm, large eyes looked at her, and he snorted.

"You like horses?"

Xie Ci had walked up to her without her noticing, and following her gaze,

"These are military horses used for training. They are a crossbreed of Mongolian and Ili horses, with good endurance, making them suitable for long distances."

Fu Hua nodded gently, "I rode it in the production team when I was a child."

This was also one of her leisure activities during her spare time while doing scientific research in her previous life.

She paused, a hint of nostalgia in her voice, "I've become rusty with horseback riding."

Xie Ci turned his head to look at her; the girl's profile appeared exceptionally soft in the sunlight.

The look in his eyes reveals the curiosity and longing that comes with his age.

He felt a slight stirring in his heart, but said nothing more.

The group drove to an old Beijing copper pot restaurant near the military base.

The shop was small, and the glass was covered in white condensation.

The aroma of mutton can be smelled from afar.

The copper pot was brought out, the charcoal fire was burning brightly, and the clear soup broth was bubbling away.

Commander Hua took off his military jacket, rolled up his sleeves,

Completely abandoning his commander-in-chief airs: "The sesame paste at this shop is exceptional, Xiao Fu, eat more, you've had a hard day!"

Professor Yan placed a slice of mutton into Fu Hua's bowl: "Fu Hua, regarding the Fourier transform part of the encoding algorithm you mentioned earlier, I still have some questions..."

An old man and a young man discussed technical issues amidst the steaming hot pot.

Commander Hua and Xie Ci, unable to get a word in edgewise, exchanged a smile.

"Old Yan has struck gold."

Commander Hua said in a low voice.

Xie Ci's gaze unconsciously drifted to the person opposite him.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the steam, and her eyes were bright and sparkling.

It was completely different from his usual quiet demeanor.

"yes,"

He said softly, "It's a rough gem."

The rising steam from the hot pot blurred the cold winter outside the window.

The mutton in Fu Hua's bowl gradually piled up, and she sighed helplessly.

Xie Ci silently cooked the tenderest lamb brain and put it over.

"Start eating, it won't be good if it gets cold."

"That's enough, that's enough."

Fu Hua was unusually flustered, "I can't eat that much..."

"Eat more."

Commander Hua placed another piece of frozen tofu on her plate. "You're at the age where you're growing, and we'll definitely need your help with any communication problems the troops encounter in the future!"

"Commander Hua, if you need anything, please contact the professor directly. I'm available on Saturdays and Sundays."

Fu Hua ate a piece of hot pot mutton, and it was indeed fragrant, spicy, and warming to the stomach; her hands and feet felt warm from eating it.

Inside the hot pot restaurant, steam, aromas, and laughter filled the air.

These memories intertwine to form the warmest recollections of this winter.

After the meal, Xie Ci offered to see Professor Yan and Fu Hua off.

Commander Hua made the decision: "Then I'll trouble Deputy Division Chief Xie to take care of Professor Yan and Expert Fu. Make sure they are delivered home safely!"

He stood at attention and said, "Yes, sir!"

The group took their leave.

I declined to drive and first took Professor Yan back to the research station.

Fu Hua wanted to follow, but Professor Yan waved his hand and smiled, "You can't keep your mind tense when doing scientific research. You've worked hard today, go back and get some rest, and don't look at those formulas anymore."

He then winked at Xie Ci, "Xiao Xie, take Fu Hua home. You personally escort her to her doorstep and make sure she gets home safely."

"Don't worry."

He smiled and said thank you.

The car restarted, but did not head towards the military compound where the Fu family lived.

Fu Hua looked out the window at the increasingly unfamiliar street scene.

He asked in confusion, "This isn't the way home."

"I'll take you somewhere."

Xie Ci looked straight ahead with a smile on his lips. "Relax your mind. Uncle Yan is right. We can't always be so tense."

The car eventually stopped outside a horse farm on the outskirts of Beijing.

The wooden fence stretches into the distance.

Several figures were galloping on horseback inside the arena, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust.

Fu Hua's eyes lit up, but then she regained her composure: "Why did you bring me here?"

"dislike?"

Xie Ci got out of the car, walked around to her side, and opened the car door. "My eyes lit up when I saw the military horse."

Fu Hua pursed her lips and got out of the car.

A cold wind blew in, carrying with it the distinctive smells of hay and horses.

In the distance, a black horse is leaping over an obstacle.

The rider lay prone on the horse's back, seemingly one with the horse, in an exceptionally harmonious state.

Okay, she admits it.

I'm really itching to get one.

As soon as the two entered the horse farm's reception area, they heard a familiar voice: "Fu Hua?"

Fu Hua turned her head and saw Lin Bei and several boys coming out of the locker room.

Lin Bei was wearing simple sportswear.

His scalp was slightly damp, as if he had just exercised.

His eyes lit up noticeably when he saw her.

But when his gaze fell upon Xie Ci beside her, it darkened again.

A tall boy walked up to Lin Bei.

He was about eighteen or nineteen years old, and his features resembled those of a member of the Fu family.

He laughed with a touch of arrogance: "Fu Hua? I'm Fu Lie, from the third branch of the family, your cousin."

He extended his hand generously, saying, "I've heard that my second uncle's family has reunited with their sister, but I haven't had a chance to meet her yet."

Fu Hua shook hands politely: "Hello, cousin."

Fu Lie's gaze then turned to Xie Ci.

His eyes held a newfound seriousness: "Brother Xie Ci, you're here riding horses too? We've met before, you remember?"

Xie Ci nodded: "How's your dad doing lately?"

"My dad is great. He often mentions at home that you are the most promising among the younger generation."

Xie Ci nodded indifferently, his attitude not particularly warm: "Fu Lie, I've heard your father mention you. I heard you're quite good at horseback riding?"

"No, it's just a hobby. I ride it a lot most of the time."

Lin Bei withdrew his gaze from Xie Ci and then looked at Fu Hua: "What a coincidence, you're here to ride horses too?"

He spoke casually, but his fingers tightened slightly as he gripped the kettle.

"Who is this? Won't you introduce him to us?"

"This is Comrade Xie Ci, who lives in our compound. My friend, this is Lin Bei, my classmate."

Fu Hua's words were concise and to the point.

"classmate?"

Fu Lie raised an eyebrow, glancing at Lin Bei and then at Fu Hua.

With a knowing smile, he said, "More than that, right? I heard someone transferred from Class A to Class D. Is he interested in my cousin?"

Lin Bei's ears turned slightly red, but he did not deny it.

A glint of light flashed in Xie Ci's eyes, then he narrowed his eyes and scanned Lin Bei up and down.

Finally, the focus returned to Fu Hua, and the smile on her lips deepened: "So you're a classmate."

His tone was ordinary, yet it inexplicably made Lin Bei feel a sense of pressure.

Fu Lie clearly wanted to befriend Xie Ci.

He enthusiastically suggested, "Brother Xie Ci, since you're here, how about we go for a couple of laps? I recently trained an Orlov horse, it's incredibly fast."