Song Lili was surprised by Lu Ziqing’s sudden arrival, "How did you find the time to come over?"
"I heard from Xiaocao that you guys were planning to eat hotpot tonight, so I thought I’d come over for a meal. Not welcome?"
"No, I just thought you would be busy these days, especially with the President’s visit."
Song Lili hurriedly let Lu Ziqing into the house.
After the sun had set, Luoshe appeared to be in a different season from the daytime; the chill of the night was intense.
As soon as he entered, the warmth of home hit him.
"However... Xiaocao and I just decided on hotpot spontaneously. Did Xiaocao call you?"
Song Lili immediately thought of this possibility; Tang Xiaocao was quite clever. She had bought a children’s phone that could make calls and Xiaocao had gotten proficient in using it after being taught just twice.
Tang Xiaocao emerged and hurriedly said,
"It was Brother Lu who called me."
Lu Ziqing was about to follow up on Song Lili’s words when Tang Xiaocao’s explanation interrupted him.
Song Lili glanced at Lu Ziqing, chuckled softly, and didn’t dwell on it, merely joking,
"Anyway, we have plenty of ingredients prepared; there’s enough for a few more people. But Brother Lu, you’ve come a bit early. You’ll have to help with the ingredients. If you had come later, you could have enjoyed the ready meal."
"Oh? I think I came at just the right time. Anything you need me to do, just say the word!"
Lu Ziqing then rolled up his sleeves.
Tang Xiaocao cleverly brought over an apron, "Brother Lu, here!"
Lu Ziqing graciously accepted it and headed straight into the kitchen.
It was just some vegetables that needed washing. Standing at the sink, Lu Ziqing glanced sideways at Song Lili as she looked at the recipe on her phone, while boiling the soup base.
"Time flies, you’ve been in Xilin for three months already."
"Indeed, I’d almost forgotten the time had passed."
"Lili, don’t you miss home?"
Song Lili stirred the bone broth base. "I do miss home, but not the home that doesn’t belong to me."
Lu Ziqing paused for a moment, expression hesitant, and ventured, "Your father’s remarriage seems to have had a big impact on you."
"Lili, your instructor mentioned that your military theoretical framework is very comprehensive. You perform much better in theory classes than others, almost as if you have real combat experience."
"The instructor is overthinking. Theory is just theory, no matter how much you understand it, it’s no match for actual combat."
This was a wisdom Song Lili had realized in her past life.
She had been influenced by her father since childhood, deeply fascinated by the military. As an adult, although she didn’t become a soldier, she was very interested in military culture.
She had read military books from all epochs and nations. The books she read from the age of five to thirty-three, over twenty-eight years, became her only reliance and advantage after her rebirth.
"Actually, I really don’t understand. Even if you wanted to be a soldier because of your father, I still think the daughter of Anlin City’s vice mayor shouldn’t be able to endure such hardships."
Song Lili paused her stirring and raised an eyebrow,
"Brother Lu, you didn’t just come over to freeload a meal, did you?"
Lu Ziqing’s hand paused too, impressed by Song Lili’s keen intuition!
"Is there something you need from me?"
Song Lili turned towards Lu Ziqing.
Lu Ziqing smiled, "It’s nothing serious, just wanted to understand you a bit more. I always feel...you, little girl, have changed quite a bit from the one I knew back then."
"More than twenty years have passed, anyone would change."
"More than twenty years?" Lu Ziqing was taken aback. Song Lili realized her slip of the tongue and quickly corrected,
"Sorry, I meant more than ten years."
"...It’s been ten years."
"Good thing Brother Lu remembers."
Song Lili served up the soup and Lu Ziqing’s vegetables were nearly ready.
"I’ll just cut some meat and we’re good. Brother Lu, could you take these vegetables to the table?"
Lu Ziqing looked at the plates of prepared ingredients and couldn’t help but admire, "Our little Lili really is clever and skillful!"
"Ha, careful with your words, Brother Lu. I am not one of your family."
"Aren’t you in my home right now?"
Lu Ziqing raised his eyebrows, and Song Lili, unable to do anything about this unabashedly outspoken brother, just laughed helplessly.
The ingredients were brought to the table when the doorbell rang again.
"Did you invite someone else?"
Lu Ziqing asked Song Lili.
"Not at all! Can you check if it’s the neighbor?" Song Lili casually said, continuing to slice the meat.
Lu Ziqing dubiously went to open the door and upon doing so—
Wen Nian, expecting to see someone else, saw that it was Lu Ziqing, and his gentle, hopeful face instantly turned expressionless,
They asked simultaneously, both pairs of eyes locking in surprise.