A young boy from the 1970s, separated from his family, fled famine and led his younger brother into

My name is Lu Xingzhou, the company commander of the Sharp Sword Special Forces, codename "Iceberg".

In my world, there has always been only black and white, tasks and obedience.

Until that girl named Lu Nianci appeared, my world began to have color.

The first time I saw her was at my front door.

Despite being a tiny child, he possessed a pair of eyes that were frighteningly calm, befitting his age.

I concluded that she was a little liar, a pawn sent to get close to my father with ulterior motives.

I scrutinized her with the harshest methods and treated her with the coldest attitude.

I thought she would break down and reveal her true colors under my aura.

But I was wrong.

Not only was she not intimidated by me, but she also used a dramatic "wailing" to completely fool me, causing me to be kicked out of my home by my parents and sleep in a truck for the night.

At that moment, I tasted the bitterness of "defeat" for the first time.

This little girl became the first "opponent" in my career that I found difficult to deal with.

I began to observe her discreetly.

I heard that she won over Li Hao, the "king of the kids" in the entire compound, without shedding a drop of blood with an unbelievable chess game.

I watched as she used the immense kindness of the Gu family to seek justice for an old janitor who was not even related to her.

I watched as she built a "white giant egg" out of thin air in that small backyard, bringing life to the entire city's harsh winter.

I watched her standing among a group of uncles and aunts who were much taller than her, explaining scientific knowledge that even I was unfamiliar with in an orderly manner, her face radiating confidence, like a queen who was born to stand in the center of the stage.

My doubts were crushed by repeated shocks.

Instead, I felt an emotion that I couldn't quite explain.

Is it admiration? Is it curiosity? Or... something else entirely?

I've found that I enjoy watching her more and more.

I love watching her hold a thick book, her brows furrowed as she ponders intently.

I love watching her act like a little adult, giving orders and arranging everything in an orderly manner.

I prefer to see her occasional sly smile, like that of a little fox.

I even started to enjoy arguing with her.

I saw her face turn red from my provocation, and then she used a series of fallacies and heresies that I had never heard of before to leave me speechless.

That feeling... was quite interesting.

It was like carrying out a series of highly difficult missions, full of unknowns and challenges, which revitalized my long-dormant heart.

Today, she proposed another "crazy" plan—raising chickens and rabbits.

My parents both thought she was unreliable, and I habitually made comments to "put her down."

I thought she would argue logically and try to persuade us with her "scientific theories," just like before.

But she didn't.

She just looked at me with sparkling eyes and asked if I was looking forward to eating fresh scrambled eggs and braised rabbit in the winter.

For a moment, I shamefully... felt a flutter in my heart.

I can almost smell the enticing aroma and feel the tender texture.

My Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, and all my "principles" and "reason" crumbled at that moment.

I looked into her eyes, which seemed to see right through people, and at the smug, mischievous smile on her lips.

I suddenly realized that I seemed to have... failed.

I've fallen for this little girl who's more than ten years younger than me and only reaches my upper thigh...

This feeling is unfamiliar, and even somewhat...dangerous.

As a special forces soldier, my intuition tells me that I should stay away from such uncontrollable factors.

But my heart was screaming, wanting to get closer to her, even closer.

I wonder how many wildly imaginative ideas are still swirling in that little head of hers.

I want to know, where exactly is her limit?

I would rather... personally clear away all obstacles for her, and watch her stand in a higher and farther place, shining with even more dazzling light.

"Brother? What are you thinking about? Why is your face so red?"

The little girl appeared in front of me at some point, tilting her head up and looking at me curiously.

Her warm breath tickled my arm, like feathers, stirring my heartstrings.

I snapped back to my senses and instinctively took a step back, increasing the distance between us.

"Who's blushing? It's too hot with the heating on!"

I abruptly threw out a sentence, turned around and left, my steps as fast as if I were fleeing some raging flood or ferocious beast.

"Dad, Mom, since Nianci wants to do it, let her give it a try."

As I reached the door, I couldn't help but stop, turn my back to them, and speak in as calm a tone as possible.

"It's just chicks and rabbits, right? I'll figure something out."

After saying that, I left the living room without waiting for their reaction.

I could feel the smug look in the eyes of the little girl behind me, like two tiny searchlights, making my back burn.

Damn!

I, Lu Xingzhou, have actually been completely controlled by a little girl!

I leaned against a poplar tree in the yard, and the cold wind blowing on my face calmed my feverish head a little.

I looked up at the gray sky, but my mind was in complete turmoil.

I told myself that I was helping her only because her plan was beneficial to the military region and the country.

I told myself that I was paying attention to her only because she was hiding a secret that might be related to the "water ghost".

But... is that really the case?

Why does my heart soften involuntarily whenever I see her bright, sparkling eyes?

Why is it that whenever I hear her call me "brother" in her clear voice, I feel more satisfied than any medal?

Lu Xingzhou, what's wrong with you?

This unfamiliar, thrilling feeling has far exceeded the scope of sibling affection.

It's more like a... profound protection.

A longing to shelter her from the wind and rain, and to watch her spread her wings and fly high.

I don't know where this feeling will lead, I only know that I can't resist it.

I...don't want to resist.

Perhaps I should find an opportunity to have a proper "talk" with her.

No, it was neither interrogation nor a test.

We just wanted to chat.

I want to understand her world more deeply, to understand her wildly imaginative thoughts, and to understand her true heart, which is wrapped in layers of ice.