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

She paused here, bit her lower lip, and continued apologetically, "I didn't think things through before, and impulsively agreed to give you a chance. As a result, it took so long to clarify things with you, and I've wasted your time. It's my fault, and I'm really sorry."

After listening to Qiao Xinxin's words, Zhou Liguang remained silent for a long time.

He sat on the cool stone bench, his gaze fixed on the grass not far ahead, as if slowly processing what he had just said. A cool breeze blew by, ruffling the hem of his military jacket.

After a long while, he finally let out a soft breath, his voice lower than before, carrying a hint of undisguised bitterness: "I understand."

He spoke those three words in a very calm tone. There was no shouting of surprise, nor any angry resentment, but the long and suppressed silence itself spoke volumes about the turmoil within him.

Qiao Xinxin looked at him, her heart clenching slightly. But she didn't look away, facing him openly and honestly.

Zhou Liguang sat for a while, seemingly trying to calm himself down. Then, he turned to look into Qiao Xinxin's eyes and asked, "May I ask who the man you like is? Do I know him?"

Qiao Xinxin lowered her eyes. She had already guessed he would ask this question and had prepared her answer. She was silent for a moment before saying, "It's Lu Baizhou."

Upon hearing the name, Zhou Liguang paused slightly, as if frozen in place. His gaze lingered on her face for several seconds, as if confirming he hadn't misheard: "Who did you say? Lu Baizhou?"

Qiao Xinxin nodded and said definitively, "Yes, it's him."

Zhou Liguang didn't say anything more. He sat on the stone bench, his mind racing through the details of the past few days, like a movie playing in his head.

He remembered that around the Chinese New Year, they bumped into each other on the playground. He excitedly told Lu Baizhou that he had a girl he liked and planned to pursue her. At the time, Lu Baizhou also said that he had someone he liked! He thought it was quite a coincidence that his two good friends were at about the same stage in pursuing their girls, and they happily made a promise that if they got together, the four of them would go out for a meal together.

After all that, it turns out that the brother he considered his best friend was actually pursuing the same girl as him! And he even managed to win her over!

All those little details that he hadn't noticed before suddenly popped up in Zhou Liguang's mind like bubbles, piecing together a truth he had never dreamed of.

Zhou Liguang stared intently at the stone ground beneath his feet, his shoulders slumping.

After a long while, he chuckled softly, a laugh that sounded more painful than crying, tinged with self-mockery: "So, after all this time, the girl he talks about every day and adores is you."

Qiao Xinxin sat next to him, looking at his distressed appearance. She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say, so she simply kept quiet and didn't respond.

Zhou Liguang remained silent for a while, then let out a long sigh, as if to release all the pent-up frustration in his heart: "I always thought that Lu Baizhou, that cold, hard block of wood, would probably never take the initiative to pursue any girl in his life. He's been in the army for so many years, have you ever seen him even glance at any female comrade? I even joked with him in private, saying that he was destined to be a bachelor for life."

He paused here, his voice filled with an unyielding bitterness and regret: "I really didn't expect it. That kid had already made his move behind my back. If I hadn't been so hesitant when I first came back from recovering from my injuries, and had been more shameless enough to confess to you before him, maybe... maybe you would be my girlfriend now."

Listening to his heartfelt words, Qiao Xinxin felt a strange mix of emotions.

But she was a sensible person and knew that if she said anything polite at this moment, she would appear hypocritical and insensitive. So she just sat there quietly and listened.

Zhou Liguang took a deep breath, suppressing his disappointment, and looked up at Qiao Xinxin, saying, "However, since you've already made up your mind to choose him, I absolutely respect your choice. I've been brothers with Lu Baizhou for so many years, I know him best. Although he's usually quiet and reserved, he's absolutely reliable. Once he's set his mind on someone, he'll treat them with his whole heart, and he definitely won't treat you unfairly."

He stood up, his tall frame beside the stone bench, and looked down at Qiao Xinxin with a particularly serious expression: "Xinxin, remember what I said today. If you really end up living with him, and he ever acts recklessly, treats you badly, or makes you suffer, you can come to me anytime. I'll settle the score with him!"

Hearing this, Qiao Xinxin felt both touched and helpless.

Why is this person so stubborn?

Isn't this just one of those "lovestruck backup lover" lines from TV dramas? She awkwardly tugged at the corners of her mouth and gave a dry laugh: "Brother Zhou, please don't say that. Someone as good as you will definitely meet a good girl who truly wants to spend her life with you. I'm being frank with you today because I hope we can still be friends openly and honestly. Please don't let me ruin your brotherhood with Lu Baizhou."

Looking at her troubled expression, Zhou Liguang realized that what he had just said had indeed crossed the line.

He gave a wry smile and nodded. "Yeah, I understand what you mean. Okay, let's not talk about these unpleasant things anymore. Come on, it's getting windy, I'll take you home."

The two walked back along the path they had come from.

The journey back was even quieter than the way there.

Zhou Liguang walked to Qiao Xinxin's right, his steps noticeably slower than when he came, as if he was deliberately delaying this last stretch of the road.

Even though he walked very slowly, he always kept a respectful distance of half a step from Qiao Xinxin.

Not too far, not too close, as if a line had been deliberately drawn, maintaining the boundaries of friendship.

He didn't speak again, and Qiao Xinxin didn't know what to start a conversation with, so the two of them walked on in silence.

The early spring wind blew through the large poplar trees by the roadside, making a soft rustling sound in the leaves, which made one feel empty inside.

After finally reaching the iron fence gate of the family compound, Zhou Liguang stopped.

He turned his head and glanced at Qiao Xinxin, his eyes revealing unconcealed disappointment: "That's enough for now, you should go inside. You must be exhausted after talking so much today, have some hot water when you get back and get some rest."