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

But Qiao Xinxin was so smart; she immediately saw that this king of soldiers, who shed blood but not tears on the battlefield, was actually nervous because of her casual question.

Seeing his heart pounding like a drum while he stubbornly maintained a serious demeanor, Qiao Xinxin's heart trembled slightly, and an indescribable sweetness quietly spread through her heart.

She didn't press the matter further, but instead smiled slightly, lowered her head, and sipped the mushroom soup in her bowl.

The meal was exceptionally warm and quiet for the two of them.

After finishing their meal, Lu Baizhou insisted on paying the bill. The two walked out of "Chunheju" side by side and returned to that quiet old alley.

By this time, the sun had begun to set in the west, and the golden afterglow slanted down, casting long shadows of the two figures on the bluestone path. Their slender silhouettes on the ground shifted with each step, sometimes overlapping, sometimes subtly separating, as if playing some unspoken game.

Lu Baizhou pushed his bicycle alongside Qiao Xinxin, glancing at her sideways:

"It's still early, how about we go for a walk in that park over there to digest our food?"

Qiao Xinxin looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a patch of gray-green tree shadows in the distance, which looked particularly serene in the setting sun.

"Okay." She nodded gently.

It was a small park in the middle of the street. Because it was winter, there weren't many people in the park, making it seem rather empty.

The two walked slowly along the shimmering lake. The lake water was very clear, reflecting the fiery red sunset on the horizon. Occasionally, a few unknown small water birds would skim across the surface, stirring up small ripples.

No one spoke first, but the silence didn't feel awkward; instead, it exuded a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

Qiao Xinxin walked on Lu Baizhou's right side. Occasionally, she would secretly turn her head and glance at the man's profile out of the corner of her eye.

Lu Baizhou was extremely handsome, with high, straight brow bones, a straight nose, and a jawline so sharp it resembled a drawn sword. Yet, at this moment, his gaze as he looked at the lake was incredibly gentle.

Qiao Xinxin found that she seemed to be getting more and more used to and addicted to being with Lu Baizhou lately.

Beside him, she didn't need to deliberately find topics to talk about, nor did she need to pretend or cater to him. Even if the two of them just walked side by side quietly, without saying a word, she felt a sense of peace and security she had never felt before.

"Want to sit for a while?" As they reached a corner, a green wooden bench with slightly peeling paint sat under an old willow tree by the lake. Lu Baizhou stopped and asked gently.

"Okay, my legs are a little sore anyway." Qiao Xinxin smiled and obediently sat down on one side of the bench.

Lu Baizhou sat down next to her, with a fist's distance between them, polite and restrained.

But as she sat there, looking at the lake water dyed red by the setting sun, the string that had been taut in Qiao Xinxin's mind suddenly trembled.

She had been spending some time with Lu Baizhou and Zhou Liguang.

These two men are undoubtedly among the most outstanding young talents of this era. One is resolute and considerate, the other is calm and thoughtful, and both are devoted to her wholeheartedly.

To be honest, who I have stronger feelings for...

Qiao Xinxin lowered her head slightly, looking at the snowflakes on the tips of her shoes. In fact, she already had a vague answer in her heart.

She had fallen for Lu Baizhou.

but……

The first day I opened my eyes in this era was in a strange, dilapidated guesthouse.

As a modern soul from the 21st century, Qiao Xinxin doesn't really care about outdated concepts like "chastity" or "innocence."

But just because she didn't care doesn't mean that the conservative and backward 1980s didn't care!

In this era where a spit can drown a person and reputation is more important than life, a woman's innocence is her lifelong hope.

If she really ends up with Lu Baizhou in the future, and they reach the point of discussing marriage and being completely honest with each other, how should she explain this to him?

Was she going to grab Lu Baizhou's hand and say, "Brother Lu, I'm not a virgin anymore. On my very first day here, I slept with some random guy I don't even know?"

How could she say such a thing?!

Even if she did say it, how could a prestigious family like the Lu family not mind that Lu Baizhou, a prodigy whom everyone in the military respects, would be so arrogant?

Who could be so magnanimous as to accept a wife who doesn't even know who her first man was?

Thinking about all this, Qiao Xinxin's initially excited mood instantly plummeted to rock bottom.

She bit her pink lower lip, and subconsciously reached out and grabbed a willow branch hanging down beside her.

The tender green buds that had just sprouted on the willow branch hadn't even had a chance to grow before she pinched them off with her fingernails and crushed them to dust at her fingertips. The green sap soaked her fingertips, sticky and wet, much like her chaotic and confused state of mind.

Lu Baizhou, who was sitting to the side, had been silently watching her since earlier.

Seeing that she suddenly stopped talking and was struggling with a willow branch in a sullen manner, Lu Baizhou frowned slightly, and a trace of worry flashed in his eyes.

"Xin Xin?"

He turned slightly closer, his voice low and gentle:

"What's wrong? You were fine at the restaurant, why are you suddenly upset? Did I say something wrong that made you angry?"

Hearing his concerned and cautious question, Qiao Xinxin's nose suddenly stung, and her eyes almost reddened.

She took a deep breath, forcing back the grievance she felt, and managed a somewhat stiff smile:

"No, Brother Lu, it has nothing to do with you. I just... suddenly remembered some other things, and I'm feeling a bit upset."

Lu Baizhou looked at her quietly.

He could tell that the girl had something weighing on her mind, something that was very difficult for her.

But unlike most people, he didn't pry or press for details. Instead, he slightly withdrew his gaze, looked at the calm lake before him, and said softly:

"Okay, if you have something on your mind, don't say it if you don't want to. You can tell me anytime you want to talk about it. No matter what happens, I'll be here listening."

His voice was soft, yet it carried a convincing and weighty power.

But the more considerate and understanding he was, the more overwhelming the bitterness in Qiao Xinxin's heart became.

"Brother Lu, it's getting late, let's go back."