The younger sister mistakenly identified her brother when visiting relatives and was kissed by the c

In an era when pork belly costs just over one yuan per kilogram, how much offal and ribs can you buy with one hundred yuan? That's definitely not a small amount!

She turned her head sharply, her big, bright eyes sparkling as she looked at Lu Baizhou, her voice as sweet as honey: "Brother Lu, thank you!"

Seeing the little girl's greedy little face, as if she had gotten a great deal and was eager to wag her tail, Lu Baizhou's cold and hard jawline softened slightly.

He shook his head slightly, a fleeting hint of doting affection that even he himself didn't notice flashed across his deep eyes: "No need to thank me. Just don't complain about how much I eat when I come to your house for dinner in the future."

"Pfft—"

Qiao Xinxin was immediately amused, her eyes crinkling like crescent moons, and her heart felt warm.

A dignified elite soldier, actually thinking about her food? This contrast is just too adorable.

After laughing, she turned to Uncle Zhou, her expression turning serious as she said earnestly, "Uncle Zhou, I've really taken a liking to this shop, I'm extremely satisfied! However, I need to go back and discuss it with my parents and brother. After all, opening a shop is a big deal for the whole family, and it can't be decided by a little girl like me alone. Could you please reserve it for me for a few days?"

Upon hearing this, Uncle Zhou gave her an appreciative look.

This girl looks delicate, but she's a very reliable person when it comes to getting things done!

"Of course! Such a big matter definitely needs to be discussed properly with family." Uncle Zhou readily agreed, nodding. "I'll reserve the shop for you for three days. I won't bring anyone to see it during those three days. Just give me a definite answer within three days!"

"Thank you, Uncle Zhou! You're so kind!"

Qiao Xinxin thanked him repeatedly with joy, and then, like a little lion surveying its territory, she carefully looked around the shop inside and out, memorizing the arrangement of every pot, pan, and bowl. Only then did she reluctantly follow Lu Baizhou away, turning back every few steps.

As I stepped out of the shop, the sun was already high in the sky, and it was about 11 a.m.

The sunlight became intense, dazzlingly bright.

It was lunchtime, and there were far fewer pedestrians on the streets. The cicadas in the trees began to chirp tirelessly.

Lu Baizhou pushed his gleaming old bicycle with one hand as he walked side by side with Qiao Xinxin on the stone-paved Huaihua Street.

"Thank you, Brother Lu."

Qiao Xinxin looked up and thanked her sincerely again, her little face full of undisguised joy: "You've really gone to so much trouble today. Not only did you take up your whole morning helping me with the shop, but you also put in a good word for me, saving me a hundred yuan in rent!"

Lu Baizhou lowered his eyes, looking at the delicate face beside him, which was bathed in sunlight and beaming with smiles. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he pursed his thin lips: "You're welcome. Zheng Yuan asked me to take care of you, so this is what I should do."

He paused, then added in his deep, steady voice, "Besides, you have good taste. That shop is indeed excellent; the location is convenient, and it's fully equipped. It would be perfect for you to open a restaurant. The tables, chairs, benches, pots, and pans left by the couple may look a bit old, but they're all solid wood and iron, making them very practical. This will save you a lot of initial expenses."

Having received affirmation from this future bigwig, Qiao Xinxin felt even more reassured, nodding her head like a chicken pecking at rice, because she thought so too!

"I'll go back and have dinner, then discuss it with my parents and brother, and try to finalize it by tomorrow!" she said confidently, clenching her little fist, her clear eyes sparkling with boundless anticipation for her future career.

The two reached the fork in the road on Huaihua Street, and Lu Baizhou took a long stride and steadily mounted his bicycle.

Qiao Xinxin skillfully jumped onto the back seat and sat sideways on it.

This time, to avoid falling, she didn't hesitate at all, her slender, soft arms wrapping around the man's lean, strong, and firm waist. She even shifted forward slightly due to inertia, her whole body softly pressed against his broad, warm back.

"boom--"

Lu Baizhou felt an incredible softness press against his back, and his body instantly stiffened like a stone!

Through the thin military green shirt, he could even clearly feel the warmth of the girl's arms and the rise and fall of her chest with her breath.

Even the most unflappable soldier, who could remain calm even in the face of a collapsing mountain, had a layer of sweat seeping from his palms as he gripped the handlebars.

But he didn't say anything. He just took a deep breath, suppressed the surging heat in his body, and pushed off with his feet. The bicycle rode off smoothly.

On the way back, the two didn't talk much, but the atmosphere was awkwardly sticky.

Qiao Xinxin obediently hugged Lu Baizhou's waist, her cheek pressed against his back. Her nostrils were filled with the clean and refreshing scent of soap pods emanating from him, mixed with a hint of masculine hormones, which inexplicably made her feel incredibly at ease.

The golden sunlight shone on the two of them, casting overlapping and inseparable shadows on the asphalt road.

A gentle breeze blew by, and a few strands of Qiao Xinxin's hair that had fallen around her ears fluttered gently in the wind, brushing against Lu Baizhou's exposed, muscular forearms.

It was itchy, like a soft feather brushing against his heart, making him feel uneasy.

Lu Baizhou's deep eyes darkened, his grip on the handlebars tightened unconsciously, veins bulged on the back of his hands, and he unconsciously increased the speed of his pedaling.

We rode in silence until the bicycle came to a steady stop in the shade of the trees below the residential compound.

Qiao Xinxin let go of her hand, jumped lightly off the back seat, stomped her feet, and moved her slightly numb calves.

She looked up, a genuine and bright smile on her face, and extended the invitation again: "Brother Lu, thank you so much today! Come on upstairs, once my shop opens, you can come anytime. I'll make whatever you want to eat! Plenty!"

Looking at her radiant and vibrant appearance, Lu Baizhou couldn't help but twitch his hard lips into a faint yet extremely handsome smile.

"Okay, I'll wait."

Just as he parked his bicycle and was about to go upstairs,

"Beep beep! Beep beep beep—"

Lu Baizhou's smile vanished instantly. He quickly pulled out the small black pager, glanced at the code displayed on the screen, and his expression instantly turned cold and serious. His lazy aura disappeared, replaced by the sharpness of a soldier.

"What's wrong?"

Qiao Xinxin keenly noticed his unusual behavior, and her heart tightened. She asked him with concern.

"It's an urgent mission; I must return to my unit immediately."

Lu Baizhou neatly put the pager back in his pocket, got back on his bicycle, and looked at Qiao Xinxin with a hint of apology: "I won't go up for dinner today, I'll come another day. You go back and discuss the shop with your family first, and remember to let Zhengyuan know when you've made a decision."