I work as a security guard at a cemetery, and I overhear the dead chatting about getting rich quick.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

Lu's mother asked, "Is he right next to you?"

Lu Zhixia glanced at Lin Ye.

The two of them were still holding hands.

"Um."

"Then come back early tomorrow, and don't come in right at mealtimes."

"understood."

Lu's mother gave a few more instructions before hanging up the phone.

Lu Zhixia put her phone back in her bag.

Lin Ye looked down at their clasped hands.

"Was that line you just said, 'Getting into character early'?"

"As needed on the spot."

"And now?"

Lu Zhixia also looked down.

She didn't immediately let go, but calmly said, "To consolidate the training results."

Lin Ye smiled.

"Teacher Lu learns very quickly."

"You called me by the wrong name."

"Zhi Xia."

Lu Zhixia responded, but her fingers tightened slightly in his palm.

That night, after returning to his dormitory, Lin Ye read through the materials that Lu Zhixia had compiled twice more.

Her birthday.

Her parents' jobs.

She doesn't eat houttuynia cordata, doesn't like overly sweet things, prefers weak tea, and goes to the bookstore alone when she's in a bad mood.

These things used to be scattered here and there.

Now that it's written on a piece of paper, it's as if someone is gradually pushing Lu Zhixia in front of him.

After reading it, Lin Ye placed the paper next to his pillow.

The next morning, he woke up even earlier than usual during training.

It was 6:30, just as dawn was breaking.

After washing up, Lin Ye stood in front of the mirror and changed into the clothes she had bought yesterday.

Dark gray short jacket, white shirt, black trousers.

The clothes fit perfectly.

Her hair was also cut neatly.

The only thing that seemed out of place was the black monitoring ring on his wrist.

It's impossible to pick it.

He could only pull his cuffs down a little.

Lin Ye stared at himself in the mirror for a long time.

I feel like I've been reborn.

He was about to leave when there was a knock on the dormitory door.

Lin Ye opened the door.

Tang Zhi, Xu Mian, and Qin Zhao were all present.

Lin Ye looked at them.

"Are you here to see someone off, or to arrest them?"

Tang Zhi walked around him once.

"sure."

She reached out and patted Lin Ye on the shoulder.

"It used to be a little mongrel, but now it looks like a person."

Lin Ye removed her hand.

"Lu Zhixia said the same thing yesterday."

Tang Zhi stopped moving.

"Did she pick it out for you?"

"Um."

"Did she choose the hairstyle too?"

"Um."

Tang Zhi's smile grew more and more pronounced.

"And he even said it was a fake boyfriend."

Qin Zhao leaned against the wall and glanced at him.

"Your collar is crooked."

Lin Ye lowered his head instinctively.

Xu Mian quickly pointed to his right.

"Over here."

Lin Ye tidied it up.

Tang Zhi crossed her arms and spoke earnestly.

"Remember, there are three principles for meeting the parents."

"Speak less, eat more, and smile more sincerely."

Xu Mian whispered, "Actually, elders generally prefer people with good appetites."

Lin Ye was somewhat moved.

Xu Mian thought for a moment, then added, "The premise is that you don't snatch the last piece."

Lin Ye: "..."

It's too early to be moved.

Cheng Fang came over from the other side of the corridor, holding a training tablet in his hand.

He glanced at Lin Ye.

"Be back before 10 p.m."

Keep your phone accessible.

Lin Ye nodded.

"clear."

Cheng Fang glanced at his clothes again.

It paused for two seconds.

Lin Ye awaited his evaluation.

Cheng Fang simply said, "Let's go."

Tang Zhi followed up from behind, asking, "Captain Cheng, aren't you going to say a few words of praise?"

Cheng Fang didn't even turn his head.

"The clothes are acceptable."

Lin Ye remained silent for a moment, then decided to stop talking to them.

Lu Zhixia drove to pick him up.

Lin Ye opened the car door and got in.

Lu Zhixia turned her head and glanced at him.

See from head to toe.

Lin Ye fastened his seatbelt.

"How is it?"

"good."

"It's alright?"

Lu Zhixia looked away and started the car.

"I already praised it yesterday."

Lin Ye chuckled.

After the car had driven a short distance, Lu Zhixia suddenly reached out and touched his collar.

Lin Ye's body stiffened slightly.

"What's wrong?"

"It's folded inwards."

She gently turned up his shirt collar.

Her fingertips brushed past his neck and then quickly withdrew.

The movements were so natural, as if they were second nature.

Lin Ye remained silent for several seconds.

Lu Zhixia looked at the road ahead.

"nervous?"

"no."

"You didn't say anything just now."

"I'm cooperating."

Lin Ye leaned back in his chair.

"I've seen things that are more dangerous than this."

Lu Zhixia's lips twitched slightly.

"My grandfather was a very good person."

"And what about your parents?"

"polite."

Lin Ye understood.

Being polite doesn't mean being easy to talk to.

The Lu family's residence is not located in the bustling city center.

The car drove into a quiet old neighborhood and finally stopped outside a courtyard with blue bricks and red tiles.

The storefront is not large.

There were no extravagant decorations, and no eye-catching luxury cars were parked next to the door.

There was only a faded doorplate, and two neatly trimmed pomegranate trees growing by the wall.

Lu Zhixia got off the bus.

Lin Ye stood outside the courtyard gate and glanced at it a few times.

"Your family is quite low-key."

"What did you expect it to be like?"

"At least two stone lions should be placed at the entrance."

"My grandfather thought it took up too much space."

Lu Zhixia walked up to him and smoothed out a wrinkle on his shoulder.

She raised her hand, very close.

Lin Ye could smell a faint fragrance emanating from her.

"Final check?"

"Um."

Lu Zhixia glanced at his cuffs again.

A small section of the black bracelet was visible.

"If they ask, just say what we said yesterday."

"Unit health monitoring equipment, closed training to collect data."

"right."

Lin Ye looked at her.

"Zhi Xia."

"What's wrong?"

"Your hands are a little cold too."

Lu Zhixia paused in adjusting her collar.

Lin Ye looked down.

Are you nervous too?

"no."

She answered quickly.

Lin Ye smiled.

"Okay, objectively speaking, you don't."

Lu Zhixia looked up at him.

"Be poor."

After saying that, she reached out and took his arm.

Lin Ye's body stiffened slightly.

She gently pinched the inside of his arm with her fingers.

"Be natural."

"My muscles weren't cooperating with my first job."

"Then treat it as training."

Lin Ye adjusted his posture.

The two then entered the room.

The courtyard appears deeper than it does from the outside.

After passing through a short passageway paved with blue bricks, you enter a well-maintained courtyard house.

Orchids and an old osmanthus tree are planted in the corner of the yard.

The windows are made of wooden lattice with a calm, understated paint color, without any ostentation.

An old elm wood bench sits by the door of the main room, and a display shelf is placed against the wall.

There weren't many items on the shelves.

A small bottle with a bluish-white glaze.

Two old inkstones.

Several thread-bound books were packed in a wooden box.

There is also a copper paperweight.

Lin Ye glanced at it only once before looking away.

Lu Zhixia noticed his gaze.

"Don't develop occupational hazard."

Lin Ye lowered his voice.

"I have reformed."

Footsteps could be heard coming from the main room.

A woman in her forties came out first.

She looks somewhat like Lu Zhixia.

Her eyes and brows were cool and aloof, her hair was neatly tied up, and she was wearing a plain-colored knitted sweater.

She was just a bit more gentle than Lu Zhixia, and also had a more subtle scrutinizing quality.

Lu Zhixia released Lin Ye's arm and then naturally took his hand.

"mom."

She introduced, "This is Lin Ye."

Lin Ye said, "Hello, Auntie."

Lu's mother glanced at him, her gaze lingering on the two people's clasped hands.

"Come in since you're here."

Her tone was polite, neither warm nor cold.

Two men were sitting in the living room.

The younger one, around fifty years old, wore thin-rimmed glasses and was slender. In front of him was an unclosed periodical about cultural relics.

He should be Lu Zhixia's father.

Another elderly man sat on a wooden chair by the window.

His hair was completely white, but his back was very straight.

The old man was wearing a dark Zhongshan suit. He had an old scar on the web of his left hand. His eyes were bright, unlike those of an average eighty-year-old.

Lin Ye knew at a glance that this was Lu Zhixia's grandfather.

Lu's father closed the book.

Lu Zhixia introduced, "Dad, Grandpa."

Lin Ye greeted them in turn.

Mr. Lu nodded.

But Old Master Lu waved to him directly.

"Come here, let me take a look."

Lin Ye walked over.

Old Master Lu looked him up and down a few times.

My gaze lingered for a moment on his posture, shoulders, back, and wrists.

"Have you been training lately?"

Lin Ye's heart skipped a beat.

He clearly didn't say anything.

Just as Lu Zhixia was about to reply, Lin Ye nodded.

"I just started working here, so there's a lot of basic training."

"You've been training pretty hard, haven't you?"

"good."

Grandpa Lu glanced at the thin callus that had just formed on the tiger's mouth.

"I just started practicing, and I couldn't control the force in my hands."

Lin Ye looked down at his hands.

I felt a bit of admiration for him.

That old man has a really sharp eye.

Lu Zhixia explained from the side, "He's been doing physical and safety training every day lately."

Grandpa Lu nodded.

"It won't hurt for young people to practice more."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Lin Ye again.

"Don't stand, sit down."

As soon as Lin Ye sat down, Lu Zhixia sat down next to him.

There was almost no space between the two of them.

Her hand rested on the back of his hand.

Lin Ye looked down.

Lu Zhixia seemed not to notice, and only tapped lightly twice with her fingertips.

Remind him.

From now on, be careful with every word you say.

Lu's mother brought over tea.

"Where is Xiaolin from?"

The first question is relatively normal.

Lin Ye answered truthfully.

Lu's mother then asked, "What are your parents doing now?"

Lin Ye didn't try to hide anything.

The family is of average means.

Neither of their parents had a respectable background.

He used to work in Qingcheng, but has just been transferred to the capital.

After hearing this, Lu's mother's expression remained unchanged.

He simply picked up the teacup and took a sip.

Mr. Lu then asked, "Zhixia said you work on cultural relic security?"

"right."

"Which organization specifically?"

Just as Lin Ye was about to answer, Lu Zhixia gently pressed her hand on the back of his hand.

"Dad, his job requires confidentiality."

"I know what I can say, and there's no point in asking about what I can't say."

Mr. Lu glanced at his daughter.

"I'm just looking into it."

Lin Ye began, "Uncle, I'm currently working in a field coordination department related to cultural relic security, and I've just entered the training phase. It's not convenient to disclose the name of my unit or my specific tasks outside; it's not that I'm intentionally hiding anything."

Lu's father looked at him.

Is fieldwork stable?

"It's not exactly stable right now."

Lin Ye didn't make it sound nice.

"I just joined, and I only passed all the assessments. Whether I can stay long-term depends on my future performance."

Lu Zhixia twitched her finger.

She seemed surprised that he would speak so directly.

Mr. Lu also paused for a moment.

"So what are your plans for the future?"

"Focus on doing the things in front of you well first."

Lin Ye said, "Practice what needs to be practiced, and take the tests. As for whether I'll stay in the capital or not, I won't take responsibility for saying I'll definitely stay now."

Lu's mother frowned.

"And what about Zhixia?"

Lin Ye turned and glanced at Lu Zhixia.

She was looking at him too.

"If we really come to the point where we need to make a decision, I will discuss it with her."

"I won't let her accommodate me alone, nor will I make decisions for her."

The living room was silent for a few seconds.

This answer wasn't very good.

There are no guarantees whatsoever.

But at least it's true.

Grandpa Lu leaned back in his chair, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

However, Lu's mother was not entirely satisfied.

"You've only been in a relationship for a month, it's definitely too early to be talking about these things."

She looked at Lu Zhixia.

"But since we're bringing it home, it's not just for a casual meal."

Lu Zhixia calmly replied, "I know."

Lu's mother asked, "Who pursued whom first?"

Lu Zhixia paused for a moment, which was rare for her.

This wasn't one of the questions she had prepared.

Lin Ye felt her hand, which was resting on the back of his hand, tighten slightly.

Without thinking twice, he accepted it.

"I fell in love first."

Lu Zhixia turned to look at him.

Lin Ye's face showed no unusual expression.

Under the table, Lu Zhixia pinched his fingers.

Lu's mother looked at the two of them.

"When you were in Qingcheng?"

"At that time, I just felt that she was a little different from others."

Lin Ye said, "I only really figured it out after we broke up."

This statement is half true and half false.

Even Lin Ye himself fell silent for a moment after he finished speaking.

Lu Zhixia did not let go of his hand.

The fingertips were just pressed a little tighter.

Mr. Lu asked, "What makes Zhixia different from others?"

Lin Ye could have been described as beautiful, intelligent, and capable at work.

These answers are safe and not prone to error.

But after thinking about it, he said, "She's pretty stubborn."

Lu Zhixia turned to look at him.

Lu's mother was also slightly taken aback.

Lin Ye continued, "But there are bottom lines to everything we do."

"When she was in Qingcheng, there were some things she could have ignored, but she still did them."

"She's not good at saying nice things, but if something really happens, she's more reliable than someone who only knows how to say nice things."

Lu Zhixia looked at him.

His gaze gradually calmed down.

Grandpa Lu suddenly chuckled.

"That sounds like her."

Lu's father did not refute it.

Only Lu's mother said, "Zhi Xia's personality is a bit too stubborn."

Grandpa Lu waved his hand.

"It's better to be tough; at least you won't suffer a loss."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Lin Ye.

"What if you two start arguing?"

Lin Ye thought for a moment.

"Let her finish speaking first."

"and then?"

"She's right, I agree."

"Even if she's being unreasonable, I still have to speak up."

Old Master Lu raised an eyebrow.

"You dare to say it?"

"I have to tell you."

Lin Ye said, "If we don't make things clear, we'll end up arguing again next time."

Lu Zhixia said calmly from the side, "When have I ever been unreasonable?"

Lin Ye turned to look at her.

"Look."

Grandpa Lu burst out laughing.

Even the seriousness on Mr. Lu's face eased a little.

The atmosphere in the living room finally didn't feel so much like an interrogation.

Before dinner, Lu's mother went to the kitchen.

Mr. Lu also got up to get the wine.

Lu Zhixia was called away by her mother to help.

Only Lin Ye and Grandpa Lu remained in the living room.

Grandpa Lu poured him a cup of tea.

"Xiao Lin."

"Grandpa, please tell me."

"Do you genuinely like Zhixia, or is she just using you as a last-minute substitute for a blind date?"

Lin Ye's hand, which was holding the teacup, almost trembled.

The old man looked at him, his eyes perfectly clear.

Lin Ye remained silent for two seconds.

"How did you figure that out?"

"I didn't notice."

Grandpa Lu smiled.

"I'm just kidding."

Lin Ye: "..."

This family is definitely not easy to deal with.

Grandpa Lu picked up his teacup.

"However, she has always hated having others make arrangements for her."

"I have to think more about this sudden announcement of her boyfriend bringing her home."

Lin Ye didn't rush to explain.

Grandpa Lu then asked, "What do you like about her?"

Lin Ye looked down at the tea.

I've already answered this question once.

But the old man clearly didn't want to hear the kind of answer he could give to his parents.

After a while, Lin Ye said, "She made me realize that having a reliable person by your side is a rare thing."

Old Master Lu looked at him.

"That's it?"

"besides."

Lin Ye smiled.

"She's actually quite good at taking care of people, but she just doesn't like people to see it."

"Sometimes he says harsh things, but he has a good heart."

"She remembers more than she's willing to admit."

Grandpa Lu nodded.

"That's more like it."

He put down his teacup.

"Then can you protect her?"

Lin Ye did not answer immediately.

His current physical fitness level is only passable.

His marksmanship was barely passable.

In the seventh division, he was still the weakest member of the second group.

If they were really in danger, he couldn't even guarantee whether he could protect Lu Zhixia.

So he said, "Not necessarily now."

Old Master Lu looked at him but didn't say anything.

Lin Ye continued, "But I will practice."

"If something really happens, I will never stand behind her."

Grandpa Lu stared at him for a few seconds.

Suddenly, he reached out and patted his shoulder.

"OK."

"At least he wasn't bragging."

When it was time to eat, the Lu family's dishes were already laid out on the table.

It wasn't some fancy delicacy.

Braised lion's head meatballs, braised fish, boiled shrimp, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a stewed beef brisket dish until tender.

They are all home-style dishes, but each one is made with great care.

Lin Ye trained for half a month, and his appetite was already developed.

But on the first visit, he still instinctively accepted it.

I only picked up the plate of greens in front of me.

Old Master Lu glanced at it and became displeased.

"Why are young people eating like cats licking their food?"

Eat everything you can reach.

Lin Ye smiled.

"I'm worried that it might be inappropriate for me to eat too much since it's my first time here."

"It's not good to eat until you're full."

Grandpa Lu immediately put a large piece of beef brisket on his plate.

Eat more.

Lin Ye nodded.

"Thank you, Grandpa."

He had just picked it up when someone lightly touched his knee under the table.

Lin Ye turned his head.

Lu Zhixia ate her meal without changing her expression.

Her lips moved slightly.

"Slower."

Lin Ye also lowered his voice.

"I haven't eaten yet."

"A heads-up."

Lu's mother happened to be looking over.

What are you saying?

Lin Ye immediately replied, "Zhi Xia told me to eat more."

Lu Zhixia turned to look at him.

He was nudged again under the table.

This time it's noticeably heavier than before.

Grandpa Lu laughed and said, "It's rare that she can take care of people."

Lu's mother also looked at her daughter.

"Zhi Xia wasn't this attentive before."

Lu Zhixia picked up the serving chopsticks and placed a piece of fish on Lin Ye's plate.

"He's been training a lot lately, so his stomach isn't good. He gets upset if he eats too quickly."

Lin Ye looked at the fish in the bowl.

This sentence was not in yesterday's training materials.

She really remembered it.

He paused for a moment and then placed a piece of food on Lu Zhixia's plate.

"She doesn't eat houttuynia cordata, so this dish is fine."

As Lu's mother watched the two of them passing food back and forth, her expression softened slightly.

"You remember all of this?"

"Remember."

Lin Ye said, "There aren't many things she dislikes, so they're easy to remember."

Lu Zhixia said calmly, "There are many things I don't like."

"for example?"

For example, you talk too much.

Grandpa Lu laughed so hard he stopped eating.

Lin Ye didn't care.

When the braised fish was turned to their side, Lu Zhixia picked up a small piece.

She has disliked fish skin since she was a child.

As soon as she put the fish in the bowl, before she even picked up her chopsticks, Lin Ye naturally took away the piece of fish skin and then picked out a piece of boneless fish for her.

Lu Zhixia was stunned for a moment.

Under the table, her hand, which had been resting on her knee, slowly moved over and gently touched his fingers.

Lin Ye lowered his head.

The tablecloth obscures it, so others can't see it.

Her fingers were pressed against his.

I only touched it once.

Like a reminder.

It doesn't seem like a reminder.

Lin Ye took her hand in return.

Lu Zhixia's fingers stiffened slightly.

But it didn't pull back.

At the table, Lu's father was still asking Lin Ye about his work.

"Does your job require frequent business trips?"

Lin Ye held chopsticks in his right hand and clasped his left hand with Lu Zhixia's under the table.

"Possibly."

"Is it dangerous?"

There is some risk involved.

Mr. Lu frowned.

"Zhixia's work is already busy enough. If both of us have jobs that keep us away from home, how will we manage?"

Just as Lu Zhixia was about to speak, Lin Ye gently squeezed her hand.

This time it was his turn to remind her.

"Uncle, you're right."

Lin Ye put down his chopsticks.

"These problems all exist."

"It's unrealistic for me to say that I will never go on business trips or encounter danger again."

"But when it's time to let her know I'm safe, I won't keep her waiting."

"If someone really needs to make adjustments, I won't assume that she has to give in."

Lu Zhixia turned to look at him.

Lin Ye didn't look at her.

He simply held her hand under the table and never let go.

Mr. Lu did not speak immediately.

After a while, he simply nodded.

"Let's eat first."

This already puts the problem behind us.

After the meal, Lu's mother cut some fruit.

Mr. Lu accompanied the old man to drink tea in the living room.

Lin Ye offered to help clear away two plates, but was stopped by Lu's mother.

"Since this is your first time here, just sit down."

Grandpa Lu called out from the living room, "Xiao Lin, do you know how to play chess?"

Lin Ye walked over.

"Won't."

"You can't even play chess?"

"I know a little, but I don't play well."

"Then come practice with me next time."

Lin Ye glanced at Lu Zhixia.

"next time?"

Old Master Lu glared at him.

"What, you're just going to do it once?"

Lin Ye smiled.

"Then I'll study more in my spare time."

"That's more like it."

Mr. Lu sat beside him and did not object.

When Lu's mother saw them to the door, her tone was a little gentler than when they came in.

"Kobayashi seems very honest."

She paused for a moment, then said to Lu Zhixia, "But you haven't been in a relationship for very long."

"Don't rush things."

Lu Zhixia nodded.

"I know."

Mr. Lu simply said, "Come again when you have time."

It still sounds polite.

But at least it's not a rejection.

Grandpa Lu stood in the courtyard and waved to Lin Ye.

"Don't come empty-handed next time."

Lin Ye was stunned for a moment.

He brought fruit and tea this time.

Grandpa Lu continued, "Just bring the person back."

Lu Zhixia was helpless.

"grandfather."

Old Master Lu had already turned and gone inside.

After the courtyard gate closed, the two walked out along the quiet alley.

Lu Zhixia was still holding Lin Ye's arm.

After walking about ten meters, Lin Ye whispered a reminder:

"They're out."

"Um."

She responded.

But it didn't loosen.

Lin Ye turned his head to look at her.

"How did you do today?"

"good."

"Not bad again?"

"It's more natural than during training."

Lin Ye smiled.

"That's at least progress."

Lu Zhixia asked, "Do you regret taking on this mission?"

"A little."

She slowed her pace.

Seeing her reaction, Lin Ye added, "It's mainly because your dad's questions are too detailed, like he's checking your household registration."

Lu Zhixia glanced at him.

"I thought you were scared."

"I'm not afraid."

Lin Ye said, "The food was delicious; I'll come again next time."

Lu Zhixia's lips curved slightly.

She released his arm.

Lin Ye then took her hand.

Lu Zhixia looked down.

"They're already out, no need to act anymore."

"We acted inside all afternoon, and now that we're suddenly relaxed, it's easy for us to give ourselves away."

My parents are not here.

Lin Ye looked up at the security camera in the corner of the wall.

"There are surveillance cameras."

"That area can't be filmed here."

Lin Ye remained silent for a second.

"Then consider it as consolidating the training results."

Lu Zhixia did not expose him.

He didn't pull his hand back either.

The two of them slowly walked out of the alley.

Our palms were pressed together, which felt much more natural than when we were in the mall yesterday.

So naturally, no one mentioned when the show would end.

Even after walking all the way to the alley entrance, no one let go first.