Villain? No, I'll catch up with the protagonist after passing the civil service exam.

The old lady's voice trembled slightly on the other end of the phone.

The joyful emotion traveled through the airwaves, making the phone receiver buzz.

Lu Jingyan remained silent.

He listened quietly to the noisy background sounds coming from the phone. There was the clanging of spatulas hitting the iron pot, and the boisterous laughter of his relatives.

"understood."

His Adam's apple bobbed. His voice softened, revealing a rare gentleness.

"On my way. Almost home."

The call ended. The screen went dark.

Lu Jingyan raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose.

He turned his head and looked at the driver's seat.

"Tiezhu, pull over."

The SUV's tires scraped against the asphalt, making a rough, rustling sound. The car came to a steady stop in the marked parking space on the side of the road.

"Chief, aren't you going back to the station?" Zhao Tiezhu stepped on the brake and turned around to ask.

"I'm not going today."

Lu Jingyan opened the car door. The dry autumn wind blew in through his collar.

"You go back to command center and keep an eye on things. I'm asking for leave."

He closed the car door. He glanced down at his faded old police uniform.

This leather outfit has been worn for far too long. It smells of fish from the market and is covered in cement dust from the construction site.

He didn't intend to wear this outfit to see the old lady.

There happened to be a chain clothing store on the side of the road. Several ordinary men's outfits were hanging in the transparent glass window.

Lu Jingyan stepped inside.

Less than ten minutes later, he came out carrying a paper bag.

His police uniform was neatly folded in a bag. He changed into a dark gray pullover sweater and loose black casual trousers.

There was no tie. The fabric around the collar clung softly to her neck.

The perpetually taut shoulder and back muscles were wrapped in soft wool. The cold, oppressive aura emanating from the person instantly dissipated by more than half.

He looks like an ordinary office worker who has just finished get off work.

Su Xiaoxiao, carrying a canvas bag, stood under the shade of a tree at the intersection waiting for him.

She kept her head down, her toes nervously kicking at the fallen leaves on the ground. The withered leaves cracked and snapped.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up.

She stared at Lu Jingyan, who had changed into casual clothes, for half a second, then blinked twice.

"Wow... dressed like this, it seems like your temper has improved." She muttered softly.

Lu Jingyan walked over and naturally took her hand.

The man's palm was large, warm and dry. The calloused knuckles of his fingers brushed against the back of her hand.

"Let's go. Let's get a taxi."

He reached out and flagged down a yellow taxi with its "For hire" sign on.

The two sat in the back. The car smelled of cheap car air freshener with a lemony odor.

The closer the car got to the old town, the narrower the road became.

Su Xiaoxiao's palms began to sweat. They were damp and sticky.

She struggled, but couldn't break free. Instead, Lu Jingyan held her even tighter.

"that……"

She swallowed hard, her voice slightly unsteady.

"Should I have gone to buy some health supplements or fruit? If I went empty-handed, wouldn't your mom think I'm inconsiderate?"

The more she thought about it, the more panicked she became, gripping the strap of the canvas bag tightly with her other hand.

"Driver, could you stop at the next intersection ahead? I need to buy two cases of milk..."

"Need not."

Lu Jingyan interrupted her, his gaze fixed on the receding street scene outside the window.

"We have plenty of whole milk at home. I reported your identity information to the bureau through their intranet last month."

He turned his head and looked at her face, which was flushed red.

"My mom doesn't check shopping receipts. Your presence is the most valid proof."

Su Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes.

The tension was somewhat dispelled by his dry, legal-speaking tone.

"Who asks for legal proof when meeting the parents? Your brain must be welded shut by the law."

The taxi stopped at the entrance of an old alley.

Lu Jingyan paid the bill and opened the car door.

The alley was paved with bluestone slabs. Weeds grew in the cracks.

Before I even reached the door, I heard a noisy commotion.

In front of an old courtyard house, four large red lanterns hang from the branches of two old locust trees.

The red paper tassels swayed in the wind.

A rich aroma of braised pork ribs wafted from inside the courtyard, mixed with the fragrance of star anise and cinnamon.

Lu Jingyan walked to the black, mottled wooden door.

He reached out and pushed it away.

"Squeak—"

The door hinges turned. The scene in the courtyard burst into view without reservation.

It's so lively!

Two large round tables were placed in the middle of the courtyard. Several aunts and uncles were sitting around the tables, cracking melon seeds.

Sunflower seed shells were scattered all over the ground.

Two five- or six-year-old children were running around under the table with toy guns, sweating profusely.

"Oh! Xiao Yan is back!"

A middle-aged woman with curly hair had sharp eyes. A handful of sunflower seeds fell onto the table with a thud.

That shout stopped everyone in the courtyard.

The plastic curtain in the kitchen was suddenly ripped open.

A middle-aged woman hurried out.

She wore a floral apron around her waist. The apron was stained with flour and soy sauce.

That was Lu Jingyan's mother.

The old lady was running a little too fast. Her soft-soled cloth shoes made a soft, rustling sound as they scraped against the brick floor.

She didn't care about the title of supreme commander, nor did she care about her son's great reputation outside.

She rushed to the door and grabbed Lu Jingyan's arm.

The water on his hands hadn't been dried; they were still sticky on the sleeves of his gray sweater.

"You've lost weight."

The old lady's eyes reddened. She squeezed the muscles on his forearm hard with her fingers.

"That interstellar cafeteria outside, they definitely don't use much oil in their cooking. Look how hungry you are, your chin is practically pointing to one side."

Lu Jingyan didn't touch it.

He let the old lady's calloused hands explore his body.

"My nutritional intake is up to standard," he said softly. "I'm not hungry."

"Meets the standard my ass!"

The old lady glared at him. She reached out and slapped him on the back with a dull thud.

"Look at your face, always so stern. You look like you're going to collect a debt."

After she finished speaking, her gaze went past her son's shoulder.

It landed on Su Xiaoxiao, who was timidly standing behind.

The old lady's eyes lit up instantly. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes crinkled together in a smile.

She released Lu Jingyan and directly took Su Xiaoxiao's hand.

"This must be Xiaoxiao, right? Wow, she's really pretty."

She pulled a thick red paper packet from her apron pocket and shoved it into Su Xiaoxiao's palm.

"Here you go. It's a gift from your aunt."

Su Xiaoxiao was so frightened that she kept backing away. She was at a loss for what to do.

"No, no, no, Auntie, this won't do. I can't accept it..."

"Keep it!" The old lady said sternly, but her tone was affectionate.

"That's the rule in our Lu family. You've suffered a lot following this wooden stake, haven't you? Take this and buy something good to eat."

Su Xiaoxiao looked at Lu Jingyan for help.

Lu Jingyan nodded slightly.

"It conforms to folk customs for gift-giving. Take it."

Everyone in the courtyard gathered around, bombarding them with questions.

Nobody asked him how he got the aliens into prison. They only asked if he was wearing long johns in winter and if it was windy outside.

The door to the main room opened.

A man in a dark blue suit strode out.

His hair was styled with hair gel, making it shiny and smooth. The suit was a little tight around the waist, and his stomach was slightly protruding.

This is Lu Jingyan's older brother.

He walked up to Lu Jingyan, raised his fist, and punched him hard in the chest.

"Thump."

"I thought you were too busy saving the galaxy to care about my mess." The older brother grinned, revealing his slightly yellowed teeth.

Lu Jingyan rubbed his chest. The collar of his sweater was slightly deformed from being pulled.

"There was no traffic. I wasn't late."

His tone remained calm. But the tension in his eyes had completely eased.

The sun is about to set.

The orange glow of the setting sun slanted across the gray brick wall, softening the light in the courtyard.

A photographer wearing a baseball cap is setting up a tripod in the middle of the yard.

"Come on everyone! Get ready! Let's take a group photo while the light is good!"

The photographer clapped and shouted.

The sound of chair legs scraping against the ground filled the air.

Two grand armchairs were placed at the front. Lu Jingyan's parents sat down properly.

"Second brother! You stand on the right! Take your wife with you!"

The eldest brother stood on the left, his arm around his fiancée in a red dress, and waved to Lu Jingyan.

Lu Jingyan walked over on the blue bricks.

He stood still. His hands, as was his habit, hung down along the seams of his trousers, his back ramrod straight.

Like a utility pole stuck in the ground.

"Hey, don't be so stiff."

Su Xiaoxiao stood next to him and nudged his lower back with her elbow.

The old lady in front also turned around.

"Smile! We're taking a picture, not interrogating a criminal. Who are you trying to impress with that long face?"

Lu Jingyan closed his eyes briefly.

The breath that had been held in his chest was slowly exhaled.

The muscles in his shoulders relaxed. The muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

In recent years, he has been out there catching pirates and setting rules.

In this family photo, the right side has been empty for a long time.

Today, it's finally filled up.

"Look at the camera! Three, two..."

"Wait a minute! My tie is crooked!" the older brother suddenly shouted, bending down to pull at the red tie around his neck.

"Don't move!"

The photographer promptly pressed the shutter.

"Click."

A blinding white flash of light illuminated the yard, making people's vision blur.

A faint smell of burning magnesium powder wafted through the air.

The image freezes.

The crowd scattered in a flurry. Some carried chairs, others carried plates.

The crisp sound of bowls and chopsticks clattering echoed incessantly in the courtyard.

The older brother came over.

He stretched out a thick arm and put his arm around Lu Jingyan's shoulder.

The fabric of the suit rubbed against the chunky knit sweater, making a rustling sound.

The cheap perfume and tobacco smell emanating from him wafted straight into Lu Jingyan's nose.

The older brother lowered his voice and gave him a winking smile.

After the photos were taken, Lu Jingyan's older brother put his arm around his shoulder and winked, saying, "You're the best man and head of security at tomorrow's wedding. You'd better keep this job safe!"