He was a disabled military officer who doted on his research work in the Northwest.

That bracelet—she knew it was a token of betrothal from the Mu family. When she was little, she chased after Mu Qinghan, wanting to marry him. Her mother scolded her when she got home, saying that the Mu family had already used the family heirloom jade bracelet to make an betrothal long ago, and forbade her to go out and talk about it, lest she embarrass herself.

Su Mingyue slowly put down her chopsticks.

……

After arranging things at the children's window, Shen Tang carried a bowl of freshly cooked yam and pork rib soup toward the inpatient department.

She delivers lunch to Mu Qinghan at this time every day, and knows the route so well she could walk it with her eyes closed. However, today, as soon as she reached the lobby on the first floor of the inpatient department, she felt a gaze upon her.

Shen Tang paused slightly and turned her head to look.

A young woman in military uniform with a high ponytail was leaning against the wall of the corridor, arms crossed, openly looking her up and down.

His gaze was frank and sharp, devoid of malice, yet utterly unfriendly. It carried an assessing scrutiny, and also the confidence of someone spoiled by their family—unreserved, as if to say, "I'm watching you, and you'll prove me wrong if you can."

Shen Tang met her gaze for a moment without changing his expression.

She had never seen this person before, but his military uniform, his crisp and decisive aura, and the way he was completely different from the military wives in the compound were striking.

"You are Shen Tang?" Su Mingyue spoke first, her voice crisp and clear, without beating around the bush.

"I am." Shen Tang said calmly, "And you are?"

"Su Mingyue." She didn't boast about introducing herself; she simply stated her name naturally, as if the name itself were a powerful calling card. "Qinghan's—"

She paused for a moment, as if considering which words to use.

"—An old friend. We grew up together."

Shen Tang's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

An old friend you grew up with? Isn't that... a childhood sweetheart?

"Hello, Comrade Su." Shen Tang's smile remained unchanged, her tone as composed and confident as ever. "I'm a friend of Commander Mu, and I'm temporarily cooking for him."

Su Mingyue's gaze fell on the insulated lunchbox in her hand, then moved to the jade bracelet on her wrist, her eyes flashing with a complex expression.

"Cooking?" Su Mingyue suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with relief, bitterness, and curiosity about Shen Tang. "No wonder Uncle Chen said Qinghan is recovering so well. Shall we go upstairs together? I was just about to go see him too."

Two young women walked up the stairs one after the other.

Shen Tang walked ahead, feeling Su Mingyue's gaze on her back—though there was no hostility, there was indeed an invisible pressure. This was a woman who had grown up in the highest-level military compound, confident, open, and poised, sharing similar childhood memories and family social circles with Mu Qinghan.

This pressure, though not malicious, is still very real.

Shen Tang told herself: It doesn't matter. You came here for the space, for scientific research, for your career. Who Mu Qinghan is around, what childhood sweetheart she has, it has nothing to do with you.

But the moment she pushed open the ward door, her gaze involuntarily fell on Mu Qinghan first.

Mu Qinghan was talking to Mu Chengyuan. Hearing the door open, the two brothers turned around at the same time.

Mu Chengyuan's gaze swept gently over Shen Tang, scrutinizing her without making her uncomfortable.

Mu Qinghan glanced at her, then at Su Mingyue behind her, a faint hint of nervousness flashing in her eyes.

Mu Chengyuan caught his younger brother's gaze—no, not nervous, but rather subtly concerned.

The younger brother was watching Shen Tang's reaction, wondering what he cared about.

"Commander Mu, lunch is here." Shen Tang walked to the bedside table as usual, slowly opening the lunchbox. "Today it's yam and pork rib soup, with a plate of stir-fried vegetables and half a bowl of mixed grain rice."

Her movements were natural and practiced, no different from usual. She even poured Mu Qinghan a glass of warm water, and when she handed it to him, her gaze met his for a moment with steady eyes.

Mu Qinghan took the water glass, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against Shen Tang's fingers. Shen Tang's fingers recoiled slightly, then she withdrew them as if nothing had happened.

Mu Chengyuan took in all of this, and the corners of his lips curved slightly.

"And this is..." Mu Chengyuan spoke first, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze.

"Shen Tang," Mu Qinghan introduced her concisely, "she helps me with cooking and rehabilitation massages."

"Hello, Comrade Shen." Mu Chengyuan stood up, gave a slight bow, and smiled warmly. "I am Qinghan's older brother, Mu Chengyuan. I came here specifically to see him. Thank you for taking care of him these past few days."

"Hello, Brother Mu." Shen Tang's smile was just right—neither humble nor arrogant, neither overly warm nor distant. "It's all only right. Commander Mu let me stay in his courtyard; I can't just eat and stay for free."

Mu Chengyuan smiled, did not ask any further questions, and his gaze naturally fell on the jade bracelet on her wrist for a moment before casually looking away.

Shen Tang caught it in that glance.

Her heart skipped a beat—they'd arrived. The Mu family had come to collect the bracelet.

"Brother Qinghan—" Su Mingyue also came over and sat down on the edge of the bed without any hesitation. Her gaze swept back and forth between Shen Tang and Mu Qinghan, and she suddenly smiled, "You're eating quite well now. Much better than the noodles you used to cook for yourself in the capital."

Mu Qinghan gave a faint "hmm" and offered no further response.

Su Mingyue was clearly used to his aloof manner and didn't mind, continuing to chat and laugh with Mu Chengyuan.

Shen Tang quietly tidied up the lunchbox lid, finished what she needed to do, and prepared to leave: "Commander Mu, please enjoy your meal. I'll come back for a massage this afternoon."

She turned to leave, but Mu Qinghan suddenly spoke up: "Wait a moment."

Shen Tang turned around.

Mu Qinghan pointed to the pork rib soup in the insulated lunchbox: "Give me another bowl."

"Can you finish it?" Shen Tang raised an eyebrow.

"Not for me. For my elder brother and the others." Mu Qinghan's gaze swept lightly over Mu Chengyuan and Su Mingyue. "They've been traveling all day."

Mu Chengyuan smiled and waved his hand: "No need, no need, we won't—"

"Chengyuan, have a taste." Dr. Chen, who had somehow reappeared, chimed in with a smile, "Comrade Shen's cooking is so good, everyone in the military hospital and canteen is fighting over it. It's a shame you didn't try it since you've come all this way."

Mu Chengyuan glanced at his younger brother—Mu Qinghan had already lowered his eyes and was drinking his soup, his expression calm as if nothing had happened. But Mu Chengyuan knew in his heart that Mu Qinghan had never before offered to have soup served to others.

He is giving a presentation.

What are you showing? Are you showing that "her cooking is delicious"? Or are you showing that "she's one of my people"?

interesting.

Mu Chengyuan smiled as he accepted the soup bowl from Shen Tang and took a sip.

It's fresh, fragrant, and mild; the yam is soft and tender, the pork ribs are succulent, and the soup base is rich yet not greasy. What's even more wonderful is that after drinking it, a warm feeling rises in your stomach, as if even the fatigue from your journey has been soothed.

Mu Chengyuan raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze towards Shen Tang becoming more serious.

Su Mingyue also took a sip, her eyes widening instantly: "So delicious! This is even better than the soup at Quanjude in Beijing!"

Shen Tang smiled and said, "You flatter me. I'll be going now. If Commander Mu needs anything, just have Xiao Li call me."

She turned and left the ward, her steps still light and composed.

But after turning the corner of the corridor, her pace slowed slightly.

An old friend I grew up with.

They came to see him. They came all the way from the capital.

The way Su Mingyue looked at Mu Qinghan—concerned, tender, and with a hint of cautious affection—Shen Tang wasn't blind; how could she not see it?

She took a deep breath and shook her head vigorously.

"What's it to you?" she muttered softly. "You're not really going to marry him. You're here to do research. Research. Remember that."

Even after I finished speaking, I still felt a dull ache in my chest.