The Tenth Spring

I had been in love with Spencer Jiang for ten years.

He said he only loved me, yet he moved on to one girlfriend after another in the blink of an eye.

And when he got tired of them, he would come back to me.

He would hold other women in his arms and laugh, telling me to call them "Sister-in-law".

Later, when I finally started treating him only as a brother, he went all out to arrange a grand proposal for me.

Before I could even speak, a man stormed over, grabbed me, and shouted at him, "She's my wife! Get lost!"

Chaper 1

My dad sent a message in the compound group chat.

"Everyone, come back for dinner tonight. I have some good news to share."

Spencer Jiang replied right after.

"Coincidentally, I also have some good news to announce."

The private chat group for the kids from our compound immediately blew up.

Dylan Young, who was closest to Spencer, teased him: "Oh, gonna bring your girlfriend back to meet the family?"

My heart suddenly tightened.

In the past, Spencer would have sneered and told him to get lost, but this time, he only replied with a single word: "Yeah."

That one light word sent me plummeting into an abyss.

"Who is it? Who is it? Who is it?"

"Let me guess—Yueyue? Xuexue? Or that Chunchun?"

"Wow! Shuangshuang hasn't said a word. Could she be the leading lady?"

"The playboy's finally settling down! Good for you! Congratulations—so it's our Shuangshuang after all!"

"Ugh, my Shuangshuang's ten-year secret crush has finally paid off!"

The fact that I liked Spencer Jiang was no secret in the compound.

Just like how Spencer's preference and special treatment for me over these ten years had been bold and obvious to everyone.

Spencer quickly put an end to the commotion.

"Alright, stop messing around. It's not Shuangshuang."

The lively group chat suddenly fell silent, and no one spoke anymore.

I let out a soft laugh. Of course it wasn't me. After all these years, I had never once kept up with how fast Spencer changed girlfriends.

God knows how badly I wanted to summon up all my courage, look him straight in the eyes, and demand: "Spencer Jiang, have you ever—even for a moment—wanted to stay for me?"

When my dad spoke, nearly half the compound's residents came back.

Spencer arrived last, bringing his girlfriend with him.

The girl was clinging to Spencer's arm, a timid look on her face.

She looked exactly like me ten years ago, when I had just been brought to the Meng family in the compound.

The bustling crowd of family members suddenly fell silent, as if someone had hit the pause button. They all stared at the girl beside Spencer, exchanging glances.

I didn't show much expression, but I knew my dad's face must have darkened.

Gerald Jiang—Spencer's dad—spoke up then: "This is a family dinner for our compound. What are you doing bringing an outsider here?"

"Qinglu isn't an outsider. Let me introduce her—Luna Yu, my girlfriend."

Qinglu. Even her name was so similar to mine.

As he spoke, Spencer took her hand without hesitation, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

Perhaps sensing the awkward atmosphere, Luna shrank back behind Spencer. Dylan Young quickly reacted, hurrying to greet them and show them to their seats.

My best friend Hazel Lu let out a soft chuckle: "Xiao Cheng ge really knows how to surprise people—quiet for ages, then dropping a bombshell."

Another guy from the compound laughed exaggeratedly and asked: "You've been hiding her well! When did you start dating?"

Spencer picked up a piece of fish and put it in Luna's bowl, smiling: "Almost a month now."

All these years, Spencer had flitted from one woman to another, but he had never once gotten attached, let alone brought a girlfriend back to the compound.

Everyone knew exactly what this gesture meant.

"You're still too impulsive," Gerald Jiang said, downing a glass of wine, his expression tinged with anger.

"Dad, don't scare Qinglu," Spencer replied.

Ten years ago, in this very room, someone had said the same thing: "Dad, don't scare Shuangshuang."

Back then, I had just been brought from a small town thousands of miles away to the Meng family in the bustling compound in Beijing. Because I was wearing a pair of sneakers covered in mud, the other kids in the compound had surrounded me, jeering: "Look at her shoes—so muddy, so dirty."

It was fifteen-year-old Spencer who had taken my hand and smiled, opening the door to my life in this unfamiliar city of Beijing.

There were mostly boys in the compound, and over the years, everyone had assumed I was the only one who could make Spencer, the playboy, settle down.

So no matter how much he fooled around in the dating scene, they all just brushed it off as a joke.

Spencer's parents had always been on good terms with my dad, and they treated me as if I were already the future daughter-in-law of the Jiang family.

But now, with this turn of events, everyone was tiptoeing around, afraid I would be hurt, and their reactions were all muted.

The air turned awkwardly still.

Luna bit her lower lip, her eyes glistening with tears as she tugged at Spencer's arm: "Xiao Cheng ge, it seems your family and friends don't like me. Maybe I should leave."

I felt a twinge of physical discomfort at her pitiful act.

I remembered when we were kids, whenever other girls called him "Xiao Cheng ge" in that cutesy tone, he would frown and say seriously: "Only my Shuangshuang can call me Xiao Cheng ge."

His friends would tease him: "Oh, since when did the Jiang family have a Shuangshuang?"

It felt like something was shattering deep inside me—the sound like a light drizzle, or a silent cry.

I downed a glass of wine, and a faint dizziness began to creep in.

So for him, forgetting promises was easy. Between time and a new love, I had chosen time, while he had chosen the new love.

In that split second, it was as if I finally understood so many things.

My obsession with Spencer was like a long-standing bond, one that would eventually fade away in the river of time.

Once, I had seen him as a beam of light—because of him, the whole world had seemed brighter.

But now, I needed to seal that beam of light away in my memories forever.

Spencer was just about to comfort Luna when my best friend Hazel, her face flushed from drinking, suddenly slammed her hand on the table and stood up: "Spencer Jiang, you bastard! What do you take my Shuangshuang for? A friend with benefits? A backup option?"

Now, everyone at the table looked uncomfortable.

Spencer's face darkened. Finally, he looked up, his gaze landing on me.

"You're all misunderstanding. From the start to the end, I've only ever seen Chloe Montgomery as my little sister."

What a line—"only my little sister."

I laughed bitterly to myself, but still pulled Hazel down, then asked Sarah Chen to help her back to her room.

I would never forget that winter—snow was falling everywhere, and Spencer had taken my hand, looking at me affectionately and telling me that I was the one he wanted to spend his whole life with.

But the very next day, he was with another girl.

He had even explained to me that he was just 贪玩，and that in the end, he would always come back to me.

And I had believed him. I felt like an idiot—holding onto that promise that went against all sense of right and wrong for so long.

Given the current situation, staying any longer would only make things more awkward, so I decided to leave too.

But my dad stopped me: "Shuangshuang, don't go yet. There's still some good news to announce."

"Your Brother Nian Yi got a promotion and is being transferred back to Beijing! He should be home in about half an hour!"

It was indeed good news, but I couldn't bring myself to feel happy right now.

I turned around and smiled at my dad: "Then I'll wait until Brother Nian Yi comes back to leave. I'll go to my room to rest for a bit first."

Margaret Jiang—Spencer's mom—also stood up then, took my hand, and sat me down opposite Spencer. Her voice was gentle: "Shuangshuang, you've barely eaten anything. Mom Jiang would feel bad."

Her words were clearly meant for the people sitting across from us.

Luna's face immediately turned ugly. She set her chopsticks down on her bowl and said in a tearful voice: "Xiao Cheng ge, maybe I really should go."

Spencer glanced at me, then pulled Luna—who had already stood up—back, his face dark. "Stay," he said. With his free hand, he clasped Luna's hand tightly, then turned to me: "Qing Shuang, why are you trying to push us like this?"

"You've never been like this before."

My gaze fell on their clasped hands, which then naturally intertwined their fingers.

"Me? Push you?" I stared at Spencer, my voice trembling slightly, and a layer of mist gradually blurred my vision.

Gerald Jiang, who was sitting beside me, also spoke up angrily: "Spencer Jiang! How dare you talk to her like that!"

Spencer seemed to snap back to his senses then. "Shuangshuang, I'm sorry. That's not what I meant."

I let go of Margaret's hand, forcing a smile. "Auntie, I want to go out for a walk alone."

Behind me, I heard the sound of glass shattering and people arguing.

As I pushed the door open and stepped outside, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief for the first time.

I walked along the path. The evening breeze of March brushed against my face, calming my mind a little.

I had planned to walk out of the compound and find a bar to drown my sorrows in, but just as I reached the main gate, a figure in military green appeared before me.

When I saw that figure, a glimmer of surprise flashed in my eyes.

Then he saw me too, a smile lighting up his eyes: "Qing Shuang, long time no see."

It was only the second time I had seen Ethan Lee in his military uniform. His short hair was neat and fresh, his shoulders and neck straight, and the pine-green uniform looked proper and handsome—so handsome it was hard to look away.

"Long time no see, Brother Nian Yi," I said.

My memories of Ethan Lee also dated back ten years.

He was the only son of the Li family in the compound, and since we were kids, he had been the "other people's child" everyone talked about.

He was a few years older than us, with excellent grades and a cheerful personality. He was kind to everyone—he would stand up for us when we were bullied, prepare birthday gifts for each of us, and help us with our homework.

Later, he had gone to a military academy for college, and after graduation, he had been transferred to another city. Even during holidays, he rarely came back.

I still remembered how, back then, I had tried to impress Spencer by offering to get his drone down from a tree for him. I had accidentally fallen, and Ethan had been the first to rush over and carry me to the infirmary.

But even though we had been close, after not seeing each other for so many years, there was inevitably a sense of awkwardness between us.

It was early spring in March, and the night air was cool like water.

The red lanterns nearby cast a warm glow, and as a light breeze blew, the candle flames flickered.

"Why are you out here?" Ethan asked.

I made up a casual excuse: "Just came out for a walk."

"Your eyes are all red," he said, staring at my eyes and letting out a soft chuckle. His voice then softened: "Did someone make you upset?"

People who are wronged can never withstand kindness. I lowered my head, and tears began to fall.

Ethan gently pulled me into his arms, letting my head rest on his chest. "It's okay. Let it all out."

"Let me guess—was it that Spencer Jiang kid?"

When I didn't answer, he seemed to take that as confirmation. "I thought so. Ever since we were kids, you've never been able to stay calm when it comes to him."

"Come on. Let me go teach him a lesson for you," Ethan said, rubbing my hair. His voice was deep and soft, brushing gently against my ears.

I didn't actually remember how the dinner ended.

I had declined Ethan's offer, taken a car home alone, and as soon as the alcohol hit me, I had collapsed into a deep sleep.

The next morning, I was woken up by several urgent phone calls.

"Shuangshuang, are you okay?" Dylan Young's anxious voice came through the receiver.

"What's wrong?" My mind was still fuzzy, and my head felt muddled.

"You didn't hear? As soon as Brother Nian Yi got home last night, he took off his military uniform and beat up Spencer Jiang! We couldn't even pull them apart!"

The overwhelming news hit me all at once, and I stared in disbelief.

Ethan had been in the military for so long—he couldn't have been that impulsive, could he?

Dylan added: "After you left, Uncle and Aunt Jiang got into a fight with Spencer. There was so much yelling and breaking things. That bastard even talked back to his elders just for a girlfriend he'd only been dating for a month! I wanted to punch him myself. Luckily, Brother Nian Yi got there and avenged us."

Me: "..."

"Where are they now?"

"Brother Nian Yi's probably at home. Spencer's probably in the hospital?"

I opened WeChat and quickly typed a message to Spencer, but when I sent it, I was met with a bright red exclamation mark.

Spencer had blocked me.

I closed the WeChat app and opened my messages.

The first one was from Spencer: "I'm sorry, Qing Shuang. Lulu has some issues with you, so we should keep our distance for now."

I pressed my lips tightly together, but my heart was surprisingly calm.

Was I sad? No—if anything, I felt a sense of relief. The kind of relief that comes when you finally stop hoping after years of disappointment.

Ten years of knowing each other and being by each other's side. As they say online, the childhood sweetheart can never compete with the sudden newcomer. My ten-year bond with Spencer couldn't even compare to their one-month relationship.

I stared at that red exclamation mark, lost in thought.

After a long time, I suddenly remembered how Spencer used to smile and say to me: "Don't worry. You're the most important person to me. I'll never leave you alone."

What a shame—those days were gone forever.

Looking back on all of Spencer's relationships over the years, I asked myself honestly: I had never once interfered in any of them.

Every time I heard he had a new girlfriend, I would take the initiative to keep my distance from him.

I was afraid that the girls around him would mind, and I was also afraid that my feelings for him would become a burden to him.

One of Spencer's relationships stood out in my memory.

At the time, my colleagues and I had planned a drinking party to celebrate my promotion to general manager.

Spencer had sounded so excited on the phone: "You have to invite me to celebrate your promotion! I gave you so much moral support!"

Back then, I had naively thought he was happy for me.

That was until the next morning, when I saw him walking out of a hotel room with one of my former female colleagues. The girl was smiling brightly, and the two of them kissed right in front of me, as if no one else was there.

That was when I realized: his so-called "celebration" and "support" were nothing but stepping stones for his love life.

The next day, in the company bathroom, she stood beside the sink touching up her makeup and sneered: "Manager Meng, your childhood sweetheart is really something, huh?"

I laughed to myself, took a paper towel, and wiped my hands without even glancing at her.

But since she had come to pick a fight, I decided to tell her the truth.

"Only insecure people need to provoke others to fill the inferiority complex in their bones."

"You'd be better off focusing on your work instead of this. That way, you wouldn't still be a low-level employee after working in investment banking for two years."

As expected, their relationship ended after just a week.

She had burst into tears and yelled at me in front of everyone in the company: "Chloe Montgomery! Did you meddle in my relationship with Xiao Cheng? Are you happy now?!"

I felt so wronged. I hadn't said or done anything.

"Spencer Jiang told me everything! He said he likes you!"

There it was again—same old excuse.

Every time Spencer broke up with someone, his reason was always some variation of that. And I, the fool, had willingly taken the blame for him every single time.

I looked at her calmly and let out a cold laugh: "So what? What does that have to do with me?"

"Did I beg you two to date?"

She was left speechless, standing there in tears, looking wronged.

But I wasn't going to give her a chance to recover. I loved seeing her look so angry at me but unable to do anything about it.

"Also, you've been late four times this month, skipped work twice, and left early ten times."

"You're fired."

After that incident, Spencer made a point of avoiding people around me whenever he started a new relationship.

I had also clearly told him not to use "liking me" as an excuse to break up with others. At the time, he had been focused on cutting his steak and replied casually: "What's the big deal? Has it affected you or something?"

Chaper 2

He had said it so lightly, as if it was no big deal.

I had explained the reason to him seriously, and he had finally agreed reluctantly: "Fine, fine, you're so petty. I won't do it again next time."

Foolishly, I had believed him. Besides, our social circles barely overlapped anymore, so I had no idea how many relationships he had been in after that.

It wasn't until several of his girlfriends added me on WeChat, telling me to stay away from Spencer, that I finally realized: to Spencer, I was nothing more than a shield he used to pretend to be affectionate and shift the blame.

And my feelings for him had only given him the courage to use me as that shield without a trace of guilt.

From that point on, I had hidden my feelings deep in the bottom of my heart, never showing them again.

So when Spencer blocked me for Luna's sake, I respected his decision.

I found Ethan Lee at the fitness area inside the compound.

He had just finished doing pull-ups; his arm muscles were still bulging, with veins slightly protruding. He was wiping his sweat with a towel when he turned around and saw me. "Qing Shuang?" Every move he made exuded raw masculinity.

I silently thought to myself: "Sinful, sinful."

"Come to blame me?" He smiled for a moment, but a hint of loneliness flashed in his eyes.

I quickly explained: "No, no. I just came to see if you got hurt or anything."

Ethan smirked and teased: "You don't trust me that much?"

"Oh, fine, I'll leave then," I said, pretending to turn around and leave.

Suddenly, he put on a pained expression: "Oh, now that you mention it, that punch Spencer threw yesterday actually hurts quite a bit."

"Let me see," I said.

I was genuinely worried. After all, both of them could throw a mean punch—they had even sent Spencer to the hospital. I didn't believe Ethan had gotten away unscathed.

The next second, he lifted his thin white tank top, revealing his well-defined abs. My face flushed, and my heart raced. I forced myself to stay calm and looked down—and sure enough, I saw a shocking green bruise.

I couldn't help but swallow hard, turned my head away, and asked softly: "Why did you hit him?"

He pulled his shirt back down, his voice cryptic: "You 心疼 him?"

"I'm worried it might affect your military career," I said.

"That kid just deserved a beating," he said, glancing at my expression before adding: "I'll be more careful next time."

"You just got back. Let me show you around?" I asked.

He was slightly taken aback. "Sure."

The spring breeze blew gently, making the treetops above us sway. The sun was warm, casting a soft glow over everything.

We walked along the marble path, and on both sides were rows of snack shops and grocery stores.

The memory of our first meeting suddenly came to mind. "Brother Nian Yi, do you want to have glutinous rice cakes?" I pointed to the glutinous rice cake shop across the street.

"Do you want some? I'll go buy you some," he said.

"You bought them for me back then. This time, my treat," I said.

The warm glutinous rice cakes emitted a sweet aroma.

He stared at me for a long time before speaking: "Shuangshuang, you can talk to me about the things that are making you unhappy."

"I just suddenly remembered— the first thing I ate when I came to Beijing was the glutinous rice cake you bought me," I said.

Back then, my name was still Serena Chen, and I lived in a small town thousands of miles away. I had never imagined that my life would change so drastically.

It was an ordinary noon. I was still cutting grass in a muddy field when a group of people suddenly came to the edge of the field and called me over.

The village chief was there, and beside him stood a man dressed in elegant, expensive clothes.

At that moment, a breeze blew, carrying the faint moisture of the nearby lake.

Then, I heard the most incredible story of my life.

From the village chief's words, I learned that I had been abducted by human traffickers and that the man had found me by chance.

I was supposed to be a child from a big city.

I was supposed to live a life of luxury.

And the man in front of me was my biological father—he had come to take me home.

So that noon, wearing my muddy sneakers, I was taken to Beijing.

Everything happened so suddenly.

The man who claimed to be my father asked me: "Your mom told me they all call you Little Moon?"

I nodded.

"Then let me tell you—you have a new name now."

"Your name is Chloe Montgomery."

"Come on. Your mom is waiting for us at home," he said, taking my hand. His large, warm palm made me feel so secure. I almost thought I was going to become the happiest child in the world.

But I never could have imagined that the next time I saw her would be her last.

When the white cloth was slowly pulled over her face, I heard some relatives whispering that I was a jinx—that I had barely come back before I "killed" my own mother, and that it would have been better if they had never found me.

My father was busy handling my mother's funeral and had no time to take care of me.

When all the relatives kept asking me if I was sad about the death of my biological mother—someone I had never even met—it was sixteen-year-old Ethan Lee who had walked up to me, holding a warm glutinous rice cake, and said softly: "Are you hungry?"

Sometimes I couldn't help but wonder: maybe, from the very beginning, I had loved the wrong person.

"Dad said you got a promotion?" I asked.

"Yeah," Ethan replied.

"That's amazing," I said.

"You're not so bad yourself," he said, suddenly putting his hand on my shoulder and gently pulling me closer to the side of the road—just in time to avoid a passing car. His tone was calm as he added: "I heard you've become a general manager at an investment bank."

My heart skipped a beat.

We chatted on and off as we walked, and before we knew it, we had reached the military base where Ethan was currently stationed.

He noticed the look of anticipation in my eyes and smiled: "Want to go inside and take a look?"

"Good afternoon, Battalion Commander!" A soldier saluted Ethan respectfully when he saw him, then looked at me and smiled warmly: "Is this Sister-in-law? Good afternoon, Sister-in-law!"

Before I could explain, Ethan had already spoken in a cold, calm voice: "What are you thinking? Don't 乱叫."

The soldier looked at me awkwardly, and I didn't know what to do either. Then, another voice drifted lazily from beside me: "Not yet, anyway."

The soldier left with a look of understanding, leaving me standing there, trying to figure out what Ethan had meant by that.

But he didn't give me time to think, adding: "Want to come see my dorm?"

I was just about to say that there was nothing interesting about checking out a military dorm when he had already walked quickly toward the dormitory building. I had no choice but to follow him.

When we pushed the door open, I saw a neat bed with a military-green quilt folded into a perfect square—like a block of tofu.

Honestly, there wasn't much to see in Ethan's dorm. Besides the bed, there was just a wardrobe and a desk.

I couldn't help but sigh: "Truly... ascetic."

"Sit for a while," he said, pouring me a glass of water with a paper cup. There was a hint of pride in his tone as he added: "Wait here. I'll show you something good in a minute."

He took a box out of the drawer of his wooden desk and opened it. Inside were sparkling medals—everything from a National Defense Service Commemorative Medal to medals for various levels of recognition, and even several first-class and second-class merit medals.

These weren't just ordinary medals—they symbolized five years of a soldier's youth and dedication.

Ethan suddenly interrupted my thoughts: "Aren't you going to praise me a little?"

"I'm so amazed that it feels like any words would be an insult," I replied sincerely.

He laughed suddenly, his eyes shining with joy. "It's almost dinner time. Let me take you to the cafeteria."

I followed him silently, and along the way, we attracted quite a few glances.

As we ate, something suddenly occurred to me. "How did you get me in here?" I asked.

He didn't look at me, just picked the green onions out of my plate with his chopsticks. "Oh, I told them you're my family member."

My mind went blank. Luckily, Ethan reacted quickly and caught the tableware I had almost dropped. I regained my composure in a fluster and apologized to him repeatedly.

I was no longer a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl. I could more or less tell what Ethan had meant by his words today.

"You still remember I don't eat green onions?" I asked indirectly.

It wasn't until he had picked the last piece of green onion out of my plate and put it in his own that he finally smiled mysteriously: "Shuangshuang, I remember a lot of things about you."

I had to admit: over the past five years, he had still been as kind to people as ever, but he had also become more mature and steady.

He could interact with others with grace and poise, and he had the courage to openly ask a girl out to the movies.

He selected seats and bought tickets on his phone, then bought two bottles of lemon tea from a vending machine and handed one to me with a smile: "I remember you liked drinking this when we were kids."

I was stunned for a moment, then smiled too: "I can't believe you still remember that."

The atmosphere in the cinema was inevitably a little ambiguous. It was as if a black curtain had fallen around us, making everything feel dim and intimate.

This was the closest Ethan and I had been since we hadn't seen each other for so many years—our sleeves touching. The moment our warm skin made contact, it felt like an electric current had run through my body.

Throughout the entire movie, I was so nervous that I barely drank any of my lemon tea.

As we walked out of the theater, we unexpectedly ran into Spencer and Luna, who had also just finished watching a movie.

They were staring at each other affectionately, their eyes filled with sweet smiles.

The next second, Spencer saw us. The smile in his eyes froze for a moment, replaced by a look of surprise. But in the blink of an eye, the smile was back. He turned to Luna: "Baby, see? She and I are just ordinary friends."

Watching him emphasize and explain our relationship to his beloved, and seeing the triumphant smile that appeared on Luna's face after hearing his explanation, my heart felt like it had been sharply twisted.

The two of them walked past me arm in arm, as if I wasn't even there.

I stood there stupidly, watching their backs, and before I knew it, tears had started to fall.

Ethan noticed my expression, walked over, and used his tall frame to block the scene in the distance from my view.

Later, he walked me back to my apartment. We strolled along the central park. The street lamps cast a hazy glow, dappling the ground with light and shadow. Ethan and I walked slowly side by side, and neither of us spoke—we both knew what the other was thinking, but we didn't say it.

"Brother Nian Yi," I suddenly looked up. My eyes were level with his Adam's apple. He turned to look at me, and I met his dark eyes, asking softly: "Is there anything unforgettable that happened in your youth?"

He was slightly taken aback, and there was a hint of unknown amusement in his eyes: "Why suddenly ask that?"

I shook my head, looked at him seriously, and waited quietly for his answer.

Ethan smiled faintly. His attractive Adam's apple bobbed up and down. "Alright, I'll tell you something."

"What if it was me who carried you out of the fire back then, not Spencer Jiang? Would you have felt even a little differently about me?"

My mind exploded like fireworks. I felt dizzy as I tried to recall.

During the last winter break of high school, the kids from the compound had planned to set off fireworks together.

Unfortunately, I had come down with a fever that day and had to lie in bed.

Maybe because I hadn't shown up for a long time, Spencer had called me. "Shuangshuang, why haven't you come down to set off fireworks yet?"

"You guys go ahead. I want to sleep for a bit," I said. My head was burning, and I was so muddled that I hung up the phone quickly.

I was half-asleep when I was woken up by the smell of smoke.

When I opened my eyes, I realized I was surrounded by flames. The wooden floor under my feet was crackling as it burned.

It had been New Year's Eve. The adults had all gone to the other courtyard to play cards and drink, and the open space where Spencer and the others were setting off fireworks was a bit far from here.

Luckily, the fire hadn't spread to where I was yet. I covered my mouth and nose, trying to escape, but the door handle was so hot it burned my hand. In my panic, I accidentally inhaled a few mouthfuls of smoke. I started coughing violently, struggling to breathe, and the world spun around me.

As my consciousness faded, the last thing I felt was a cold embrace.

Amidst the overwhelming flames, the glass window finally couldn't withstand the heat and exploded. Through my blurry vision, I heard a boy's hoarse voice calling: "Shuangshuang..."

All the memories from the past came flooding back, and all the misunderstandings finally became clear.

The moment I woke up in the hospital room, I had looked everywhere for Spencer.

In the hallway of the hospital, I had run into Spencer, whose wrist was wrapped in bandages. Naturally, I had assumed he was the one who had carried me out of the fire.

At the time, I had also heard my dad say: "Your Brother Nian Yi had just come back the night before, but he had to leave again as soon as he got a mission."

I tried to hold back the emotions surging inside me and said: "Why didn't you tell me?"

He laughed: "It wasn't a big deal. And seeing how much you liked that kid, I figured I'd help him look a little more charming."

What was this? Some cliché plot from a soap opera? I stared into Ethan's eyes, my own filled with shock and confusion.

He didn't look the least bit uncomfortable under my gaze. Instead, he teased: "What? You want to repay me?"

"How do you want me to repay you?" I asked seriously, my eyes watering.

To my surprise, he suddenly leaned in close. His face was hidden in the dim light and shadow. He curled his lips into a smile: "Silly girl."

My heart was like a calm lake into which a stone had been thrown, sending ripples that grew larger and larger.

He tucked a strand of hair that had fallen down my face behind my ear. After a long time, he spoke in a somewhat helpless tone: "Figure it out yourself."

The air after the rain was fresh, like everything had been reborn. It felt so light and easy.

Actually, I had always hated going out on rainy days because my shoes would get covered in mud.

I had seen the night view of Beijing from Spencer's drone once. Back then, I had thought: "So this is what 'a thousand lights' look like—it's not that amazing."

Spencer had told me: "If you walk on the streets of Beijing, your shoes will never get covered in mud again."

Now, as I looked at the mud on my shoes, I couldn't help but laugh.

Come to think of it, the first gift I had received after coming to Beijing was also from Ethan.

It had been a pair of delicate black leather shoes, shining brightly under the light.

He had said: "Black shoes don't show dirt."

I couldn't help but laugh at myself. Maybe love and non-love had already been clear to see many, many years ago.

To show my gratitude, I decided to treat Ethan to dinner.

When I arrived at his military base, he was training his soldiers on the drill ground.

The soldiers were lined up in neat rows. Ethan stood right in front of them. Under the sun, he was only wearing a green training uniform. His posture was as straight and standard as ever—his aura was calm, yet striking. His voice was clear and firm, echoing across the entire drill ground.

He was only twenty-six years old this year, yet he was already leading hundreds of soldiers in the military camp.

There's a line in "Rhapsody on the Shanglin Garden" that says: "The eyes convey desire, the soul surrenders, and the heart is filled with joy."

I didn't have time to figure out what kind of emotions this famous line contained. All I knew was that a scene suddenly flashed through my mind: twenty-year-old Ethan standing in front of me in his military uniform for the first time, his eyes shining with hope as he asked: "I look pretty handsome, right?" Then his face had turned red.

It wasn't until he saluted and bowed that I snapped back to reality. The sound of 整齐，thundering footsteps filled my ears—it was so grand and magnificent.

I stood quietly at the entrance, watching him stride toward me.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Come to repay you," I said, waving the car keys in my hand and glancing behind him. "But it looks like someone doesn't have time right now."

"I'm free tonight," he said. His eyes paused on me for a moment, then he cleared his throat lightly. There was a hint of unknown emotion in his eyes.

"My mom's birthday is tonight. Do you want to come over for dinner?"

At the dinner table, Patricia Lee—Ethan's mom—kept putting food on my plate. "Shuangshuang, you're getting more and more beautiful! Has Nian Yi been bullying you?"

Ethan, who was sitting across from me, twitched the corner of his mouth. Just as I was about to down the fruit wine in my glass in one go, he quickly stepped forward and stopped me: "Aren't you driving later?"

"Drink this instead," he said, quietly handing me a bottle of juice while happily drinking his beer himself.

"Shuangshuang, you don't have a boyfriend right now, do you?" Patricia Lee glanced at Ethan, then nodded when she saw me shake my head. She then leaned over and whispered to me: "I know exactly what Nian Yi is thinking. He's never been in a relationship, and he's not good at expressing his feelings. You understand, right?"

I nodded with difficulty, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for Ethan.

Poor guy—he was already twenty-six and had never been in a relationship.

What a waste of that good-looking face.

After dinner, Ethan was pushed out by Patricia to see me off. I looked at his flushed cheeks and felt a little worried. "Maybe you shouldn't see me off. It's just a short walk."

He didn't move. His face looked a little off. "No, I have to watch you get in the car."

But the next second, he stumbled and leaned straight into me.

I looked at him in disgust: "Your alcohol tolerance is that bad?"

I helped him walk back, full of doubts. I couldn't help but wonder why he was acting so strange today. But we hadn't walked far when we ran into Spencer, who was carrying a gift.

Spencer's expression was dark. His eyes stared at the place where Ethan and I were touching, and he asked sharply: "What are you two doing?"

I looked at him in confusion: "What do you want?"

He looked at me with such a complicated expression—his eyes filled with disbelief, as if I had done something unforgivable to him.

"You're not even boyfriend and girlfriend! Why are you being so intimate?"

Before I could answer, the person leaning on my shoulder suddenly sobered up. His tone was bold, as if he was defending his territory.

"Shuangshuang is my girlfriend now."

The look in Spencer's eyes when he looked at me suddenly turned to shock and hurt. I frowned at him, feeling completely confused.

I took Ethan's hand and turned to Spencer, my tone cold: "You're here to give Aunt Li a birthday gift, right? We just finished dinner, so we won't stay any longer."

My gaze swept past Spencer's face, and a mocking smile lifted the corner of my mouth.

As we walked past him, Spencer suddenly grabbed my wrist. His tone was urgent and low: "Shuangshuang, I was wrong about what happened before. I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?"

He let out a bitter laugh and continued: "I broke up with Luna Yu. Turns out she only cared about my money."

My expression froze for a moment, then a smile tugged at my lips. When I looked at him, my eyes were full of mockery.

"So what?"

"What's that got to do with me?"

The one who left first has no right to say sorry.

After we parted ways with Spencer, I had planned to let go of Ethan's hand. But to my surprise, he didn't let go at all—instead, he held on even tighter.

I sighed: "What's wrong? Are you drunk again?"

"Chloe Montgomery."

"Hmm?" My heart skipped a beat.

He rarely called me by my full name.

"Qing Shuang."

"Hmm?" Why was he talking so much when he was drunk?

"Shuangshuang."

I was speechless. I looked at his ears, which were bright red from the alcohol. "How much did you drink?"

As soon as I finished speaking, I felt a warm touch on my wrist. The next thing I knew, I was pulled into his arms. My heart skipped a beat.

His prominent Adam's apple pressed against my collarbone, and his voice was hoarse: "Shuangshuang, can't you see?"

"I like you."

"I've liked you for a long, long time."

His words brushed against my ears, sending a tingling sensation that spread little by little. The night was dark all around us, but the burning light in his eyes was still clearly visible.

I let him hold me. After a long time, I asked helplessly: "How long?"

His eyes turned slightly red, and his voice was muffled. He rubbed his chin against my shoulder: "Ten years."

"You're drunk. I'll take you home," I said.

"Okay. Take me to your home," he replied.

"Why should I?"

"I'm drunk."

...

And so, I helped the drunk Ethan Lee all the way to my apartment door. I reached out to enter the password. As soon as the door opened, he pulled me inside with him.

The night outside the window was dark, and the light inside the room was dim—we could only see each other's shadows. Ethan pinned me against the wall, his breath coming in low, heavy gasps.

"Ethan Lee—"

The rest of my sentence was left unsaid: If I had known you had ulterior motives, I would never have brought you here!

His voice was incredibly hoarse as he spoke: "Shuangshuang, will you... be my girlfriend?"

I swallowed hard, feeling his breath burning against my skin. I tried to pull away: "Ethan Lee, confessing with drunk words isn't serious at all."

Ethan laughed. He leaned close to my ear, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper: "What a coincidence—I'm not drunk at all."

"Does that mean you agree?"

"Let me go first," I said.

But instead, he buried his head in the crook of my neck and mumbled: "No. Answer me now."

His coquetry was surprisingly soft, and it made my ears tingle. Unconsciously, a hint of sweetness welled up in my heart. I whispered in response: "Okay."

"What did you say?" He thought he had misheard, and his tone rose a little.

"I said... Comrade Li, I a—"

Before I could finish, Ethan leaned in and pressed me back against the wall. He kissed me passionately—as if he had been holding back for a long time—leaving me no room to retreat. I couldn't help but tilt my head up and respond to his enthusiasm.

"What were you going to say just now?" He pulled back slightly, his voice so hoarse it sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't help but complain softly: "My lipstick's all smudged now."

He pressed a light kiss on my earlobe, and every word he spoke was filled with intimacy.

"It doesn't look smudged," he said, then kissed me again.

Not long after Ethan and I got together, the news spread like wildfire in the compound.

Dozens of messages and phone calls came in. When I opened my messages, the first one was from my dad, telling me to come back for dinner that night.

He even specifically told me not to bring Ethan along.

I knew exactly what was going on, so I didn't tell Ethan. I went back to the compound alone.

At the dinner table, before I could say a word, my dad couldn't hold back anymore: "Shuangshuang, I heard you're with Nian Yi now. Dad hopes you're with him because you really like him—not just because you're angry with Xiao Cheng and took it out on Nian Yi."

I couldn't help but want to laugh. So even my dad could see through my feelings—or rather, he thought I had gotten together with Ethan out of anger after being rejected by Spencer.

"Dad, you're misunderstanding. I'm not a kid anymore. I wouldn't act on a fit of pique," I said. As I spoke, the image of Ethan acting coquettishly last night suddenly popped into my mind, and my heart felt a little warm.

My dad hesitated, as if he wanted to say something else. I continued: "Brother Nian Yi is really good to me. Did you know? He was the one who saved me from that fire back then."

My dad fell silent. The dinner table was quiet. He slowly looked away. After a long time, he let out a snort and said: "That kid sure knows how to keep a secret."

Indeed, he had kept it well—for a full ten years.

He took a sip of tea and said earnestly: "I'm happy that my daughter has finally found someone who truly loves her. I won't stand in your way. But there's one thing I need to remind you of."

"Have you thought this through? Nian Yi is a soldier. You know what responsibilities he has on his shoulders. To be with a soldier, you need to have the courage to face risks. You'll have to balance not just love and family, but also your own career and dreams."

"Dad wants you to love yourself first, then love others."

I was stunned for a moment, then my eyes started to water. "I know, Dad. No matter what happens, it's my own choice. I'll take care of myself, and you should too."

Not long after that, Ethan's military base held a major competition, and family members were invited to watch.

As I got in the car, I happened to receive a message from Ethan: "Where are you?"

I quickly typed a reply and sent it. My heart was beating inexplicably fast: "Almost there."

In recent days, many cities in Beijing had been hit by heavy rain, but our area hadn't been affected much. But as if my words had jinxed it, as soon as I arrived, raindrops started to fall from the sky.

By the time I got there, the competition had already started. I stood with the other family members not far away, sheltering from the rain. The rain blurred my vision, but the competition didn't stop.

Even in the dense crowd, I spotted Ethan right away.

He grabbed the rope with both hands, jumped without hesitation, and leaped from one end of the pool to the other. Then he climbed over several low walls in a row. Raindrops hit his face, and in the blink of an eye, he had climbed over a wooden board several meters high. Finally, he crawled through the low-crawling net in the mud.

At that moment, I didn't care anymore whether it was "love at first sight" or "momentary infatuation." The intense emotion that had been suppressed in my heart for so long finally became clear—there was no way to hide it anymore.

With young people like him, our nation surely has a promising future.

After the competition ended, Ethan stepped off the field. He was just about to send me a message to find me when I walked up to him with an umbrella and tapped him on the head.

His face was still covered in mud and water. I took a wet wipe and gently wiped the mud off his face. He froze for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. He suddenly grabbed my wrist: "Aren't you afraid of getting dirty?"

I pressed my lips together, my heart beating faster and faster: "Didn't you know? You looked so handsome just now."

"Did I?" He curled his lips into a smile. His eyelashes, dotted with raindrops, made his eyes look even deeper. "Then reward me by wiping a little longer."

Intimacy filled the air, our breaths mingling. He took my hand and was about to walk somewhere else when suddenly, the urgent sound of an alarm rang out.

He had to stop. He turned around, kissed me on the forehead, and told me: "The rain's getting heavier. Go home quickly." Then he ran off.

I watched Ethan's figure disappear from sight, and suddenly I understood the words my dad had said to me that day.

"A man serves his country, and no one knows when he'll return. A woman abides by her duty, waiting quietly for his homecoming."

I got back in the car and was just about to drive away when the car stalled. I tried several times before finally getting it to start.

Cars streamed by on the road, and the shade trees on both sides blurred into a mass of dark green as they passed by. I glanced out the window, and I couldn't help but feel worried.

I had the radio on the whole way, and that was how I found out that due to the heavy rain, a flash flood had occurred in the suburbs. The government had deployed military forces to go to the suburbs for flood relief.

I was already upset when my phone suddenly rang. I answered it, and to my surprise, it was Spencer.

"Shuangshuang, where are you now? The meteorological bureau has issued an orange alert. You should try not to go out recently—stay safe."

His tone was so sincere and gentle. In the past, I would have been over the moon.

I held back my anger and asked: "Spencer Jiang, what exactly do you want?"

Instead, he sounded wronged: "Shuangshuang, can't you talk to me nicely?"

"Today's my birthday. You even forgot my birthday."

I was stunned for a moment, then checked the date. It was indeed Spencer's birthday. For the first time in ten years, I had forgotten his birthday.

In previous years, Spencer would invite many celebrities and socialites to his birthday parties—and most of his girlfriends had come from those parties. He would stand in the center of the crowd, and someone would ask him: "Cheng ge, haven't you been dating anyone lately? Is there someone who finally made you settle down?"

"How could that be?" Amidst the laughter, I was the only one with red eyes.

Those four words had haunted me like a spell, repeating over and over in my ears.

All those so-called "special gestures" and ambiguous moments had been ruthlessly denied and overturned in that instant.

I could only console myself with a glimmer of hope: At least, at least he hadn't liked anyone else.

Even though he didn't like me either.

Fate really was unpredictable. The once proud and bright Spencer Jiang was now begging me in a humble tone to spend his birthday with him.

I said: "You have so many people around you. Do you really need me?"

He took a deep breath and said: "Shuangshuang, you're different. There's only one you. Will you come back to me..."

I cut him off immediately, my tone calm: "Spencer Jiang, I have a boyfriend now."

"He's risking his life to fight the floods in the front line, and you want me to celebrate another man's birthday in the rear? Does that sound right to you?"

"You're really going to take this seriously with him? Chloe Montgomery, you've liked me for so many years. Can you really let go that easily?"

My eyes were full of mockery: "See? All these years, you knew everything. But in the end, you still didn't choose me."

"I keep thinking—why was my ten years of feelings so insignificant to you?"

I hung up the phone. By then, the rain had gotten even heavier. When I got out of the car, the water was already up to my ankles.

This only made me more worried about the disaster in the suburbs.

I turned on the TV. The news was reporting on the situation in the suburbs. As the camera panned by, I finally spotted Ethan in the corner of the screen, carrying sandbags.

He was covered in mud, looking extremely disheveled, but his movements were still quick and neat.

I hadn't even had time to breathe a sigh of relief when the next moment, the flood rushed in like a ferocious beast. Everyone scrambled to retreat.

One of the soldiers accidentally fell while running. Ethan immediately turned back to carry him on his back. By then, the flood was only ten meters away from them.

The footage ended there.

I let out a scream, and my phone slipped from my hand, hitting the floor with a crisp sound.

Hazel comforted me over the phone: "Brother Nian Yi will be fine. Don't worry."

"Xiao Tong, what do I do? I'm so scared," I said, clutching my phone and huddling under the covers. My voice couldn't stop trembling.

I suddenly remembered the scene from many years ago—when those relatives had accused me of being a jinx who had killed my mother.

I was so scared—scared that history would repeat itself.

"Shuangshuang, worrying like this won't help. You have to trust him. Brother Nian Yi will definitely come back to find you," Hazel said.

"Yeah, he's so strong," I said, forcing a smile. But tears kept falling down my face.

Ethan Lee, where are you now?

At three o'clock in the morning, the doorbell of my apartment rang.

I had stayed up all night, worried sick. When I saw who it was, I opened the door right away.

He must have been really tired. He was wearing clothes that were so dirty you couldn't even tell their original color. He leaned against the wall, his head tilted to one side. Both his legs, which were stretched out on the floor, were covered in mud.

I walked over and knelt down in front of him.

The floor was covered in mud, but I didn't care. I just looked at him quietly, my eyes red: "Ethan Lee, it's three o'clock in the morning. Lucky it's me—otherwise, someone would definitely call the police and have you arrested."

He let out a soft laugh: "Arrest myself?"

Then I saw his slightly trembling eyelashes, still dotted with raindrops. I finally couldn't hold back anymore. I lowered my head and kissed him—seriously and reverently.

He probably wanted to push me away, but for some reason, he let go. He let me kiss him.

I pulled back, my voice soft: "What? You're still going to reject me?"

"I'm too dirty," he said, laughing weakly—but there was still that playful glint in his eyes.

"Go take a shower," I said, helping him up and into the apartment. While he was showering, I made him a bowl of noodles.

Ethan put on my pajamas. They were a little too small for him, but they made him look much softer.

To my surprise, he finished that big bowl of noodles in just a few bites, then lay down on the sofa.

I found a blanket and covered him with it. I was just about to leave when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me down on top of him.

He lifted his hand and brushed the hair off my forehead. His dark eyes were deep and bottomless. "Did you get scared today?"

"As soon as I confirmed my safety with my superiors, I came to find you right away," he said, a hint of pride in his voice—as if he was a kid waiting to be praised.

"So do I need to reward you?" I asked.

"How do you want to reward me?"

A mischievous glint flashed in my eyes. My hand slipped under his shirt.

"Shuangshuang, don't mess around," he said, grabbing my hand. The next second, he sat up. He pulled a small, exquisite box out of nowhere and opened it—to reveal a delicate diamond ring.

I was just about to take it when he pulled it back and closed the lid.

I looked at him in confusion. He continued: "I had this ring custom-made on the first day I came back to Beijing."

"I thought—since I'm back, I should at least try. Even if it meant we couldn't be friends anymore."

"Thankfully, God gave me this chance."

I took a deep breath and looked up. Just one glance was enough to make my nose tingle: "I do."

He ruffled my hair. Emotions swirled in his dark eyes: "Think carefully. Once you put this on, you'll have to face many more days like today."

"I belong to my country first, then to you."

I said: "Ethan Lee, let's not make each other wait anymore."

He was slightly stunned, his eyes burning with emotion.

I took the diamond ring and put it on myself. "Ten years is too long. From now on, I want to walk this path with you."

A month later, it was Dylan Young's birthday. He invited all the kids from our compound to a barbecue in the countryside.

Ethan had some business at the military base and would be a little late. It was already seven or eight o'clock in the evening. I sat with Hazel, skewering meat for the barbecue.

She looked at me suspiciously: "Shuangshuang, Spencer Jiang hasn't come to bother you at all."

"Does he dare?" I replied casually. "My boyfriend will be here soon."

Hazel scoffed at me and got up to go to the bathroom.

Just then, Dylan suddenly ran over and told me to go to the lotus pond to check on Spencer—he said something was wrong with Spencer; he was complaining about a bad heartache.

I had no intention of getting involved, but Dylan insisted that I was the only one with any medical knowledge and dragged me over to check on him.

After all, it was a human life. Reluctantly, I followed him.

But the further we walked, the more something felt off. The path was decorated with lanterns and colored lights—nothing like the countryside. When we reached the lotus pond, there was even a sea of roses.

And there, standing in the middle of that sea of roses, was Spencer Jiang. I realized something was wrong and tried to run away, but Dylan stopped me, looking embarrassed: "Shuangshuang, I'm sorry. I just can't stand seeing my brother moping around in tears every day."

I let out a cold laugh: "Dylan Young, isn't Ethan Lee also your brother? Is this how you treat him?"

He lowered his head and said nothing. Just then, Spencer caught up to us and grabbed my wrist. I was forced to turn around and look at him.

"Spencer Jiang, what do you want?"

I was so angry that my voice was trembling. I wanted nothing more than to slap him.

To my surprise, he got down on one knee, slowly opened the diamond ring box in his hand, and said: "Shuangshuang, I'm begging you. Will you give me another chance?"

I looked at his affectionate eyes, then slowly lifted my hand. "I'm sorry, but I'm already engaged."

He looked shocked and reached out to grab my hand, but I stepped back and said: "Spencer Jiang, I let go of you a long time ago. Over these ten years, I once wanted to pluck the stars from the sky for you. But then I thought—forget it. I can reach the stars, but I can never reach you."

"Let's end this here." After saying those words, I turned around and walked away—as if I was leaving behind my entire painful, tangled youth.

In that moment, I felt like a brave soldier, resolutely stepping onto a new path, saying goodbye forever to the young, innocent girl I had once been and the feelings I had held onto for so long.

Just as I was about to walk away, I heard Spencer's voice. I turned around and watched as he opened and closed his lips, saying: "Shuangshuang, if I had grown up earlier—would I not have lost you?"

Maybe. But in this world, there was never an "if."

I hadn't walked far when I ran into Ethan, who had come to find me.

I took his hand. "You're finally here."

He looked at the string of colored lights along the path, clearly suspicious. I reassured him: "Don't worry. I rejected him."

We walked in silence for a while. Suddenly, he stopped and said in a low voice: "Shuangshuang, I still want to know—why did you choose me?"

I smiled, leaned close to his ear, and the corners of my eyes crinkled with laughter: "Do you believe in God?"

God says: "Seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you."

Ethan raised his eyebrows, smiled, put his arm around my waist, and pulled me into his arms. He whispered softly: "Leader, I want to make a request. Can I call you 'wife' now?"

The warmth of his breath against my ear made my face burn. I gently punched him in the chest.

I was just about to speak when we were interrupted by a sudden voice: "Ethan Lee, let her go."

The tender atmosphere was shattered in an instant. I didn't even bother to look at the person behind me. I leaned comfortably in Ethan's arms and said angrily: "Tell him to get lost."

Ethan let out a soft laugh, held me even tighter, and called out to the person behind us: "My wife told you to get lost."

I laughed and protested: "The leader hasn't agreed yet!!!"

(The End)