"Yoo, it's so lively in here today," one of the young men exclaimed, his voice playful and full of energy. His sharp eyes scanned the room until they landed on a familiar figure. He stopped mid-step and nudged the man beside him, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Brother Mu, am I hallucinating, or does that girl look exactly like Little Lin?"
The man addressed as Brother Mu stood still for a moment, his piercing gaze following his companion's line of sight. His expression, calm and composed, flickered with a hint of surprise when he saw Xu Jin Lin standing there. Without a word, he began striding toward her, his movements deliberate yet swift.
"Little Lin?" he asked when he reached her, his tone low but filled with unmistakable familiarity.
Xu Jin Lin turned her head, her lips curving into a soft smile. "Brother Mu," she greeted him, her voice steady but warm.
"It really is you, Little Lin," he said, his stoic features breaking into a radiant smile. The grin transformed his already handsome face, and the collective gasp from the nearby onlookers confirmed the effect it had.
Before he could ask anything further, the rest of the group closed the distance, their excitement barely contained.
"Darling Xu!" a playful voice cried out as one of the young men launched himself toward her, his arms spread wide. "How could you just leave like that, you heartless girl? And why didn't you tell me you were back?"
The young man clung to her in a dramatic embrace, his antics drawing amused glances and chuckles from the audience. Jin Lin sighed, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. "I was afraid it would be like this," she muttered under her breath as the human-shaped octopus continued to wail exaggeratedly.
"Ah Tong, let go of her already. You're embarrassing us," another young man scolded as he stepped forward to peel the clingy one off her.
Fang Ning, who had been standing quietly behind Jin Lin, decided it was time to step in. "Ah Tong, stop this nonsense. You're acting like a child," she said, crossing her arms with mock disapproval.
Finally noticing Fang Ning's presence, the playful Ah Tong gasped dramatically. "Fang Ning! How could you hide Jin Lin from us? Are you really my friend?" he demanded, clutching his chest as if wounded by betrayal.
"You're so dramatic," Fang Ning retorted, rolling her eyes.
Before the playful chaos could escalate further, Brother Mu stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Alright, that's enough. Let's go inside and talk. We're making a scene."
"Yes, let's," Jin Lin agreed, her voice light but tinged with authority. She cast a brief glance at the stunned lounge manager and the pale-faced actress, her expression completely indifferent. To her, this was nothing more than a passing inconvenience, something unworthy of her time or energy.
The group followed Brother Mu's lead, their laughter and banter resuming as they made their way deeper into the lounge. Fang Ning stayed close to Jin Lin, her eyes darting between the newcomers with curiosity and amusement.
The spacious private room exuded elegance, with plush furnishings and soft lighting that added a touch of warmth. The group settled comfortably onto the large sofa, all eyes instinctively locking onto Xu Jin Lin. She flipped through the menu, her expression composed as always, and then leaned back against the sofa.
"Say what you want to say," she said with a soft sigh, bracing herself for the inevitable barrage of questions.
Ah Tong, ever the dramatist, cleared his throat loudly before scooting closer to her on her right. His mischievous grin hinted at the interrogation brewing in his mind.
"So, darling Xu, why did you suddenly disappear from the world?" he asked, tilting his head theatrically.
Jin Lin glanced at him, unfazed, and calmly opened a can of Coke. She took a measured sip, letting the silence linger before responding. "Just for clarification, I didn't disappear. I simply left B City."
"That's not what I mean," Ah Tong pressed, his voice rising slightly in exasperation. "I'm asking why you left without a trace. No calls, no messages—nothing. Look at Brother Mu. He went abroad to study, but we still kept in touch. You, on the other hand, vanished like a stone sinking into water."
Jin Lin turned her gaze to Brother Mu, who sat on her left, his handsome face unreadable but his eyes searching hers. "Brother Mu, did you really go abroad to study?" she asked, as if this was news to her.
Before Brother Mu could respond, Ah Feng, the calm and composed one of the group, jumped in. "He only went because he thought you had gone to Country A to study. He wanted to finish his degree there in case he could find you."
Brother Mu's slight shift in expression betrayed his discomfort at having his intentions laid bare, but Ah Feng pressed on. "Don't try to change the topic, though. We're here to talk about you."
Jin Lin smirked, leaning back further into the sofa. "Alright, alright, Granny Feng. Don't get angry. I didn't go abroad. I just enrolled in the military academy. That's all."
Her nonchalant tone paired with the revelation sent shockwaves through the room. She casually reached for a bowl of sunflower seeds and began cracking them open, clearly enjoying her friends' stunned reactions.
"What?!" Ah Tong nearly jumped off the sofa, his eyes wide. "You—military? Are you kidding me?"
"Darling Xu, you?" Ah Feng added, his voice low with disbelief.
Brother Mu remained silent, his sharp gaze fixed on her as though trying to piece together the puzzle of her decision.
"Why is it so surprising?" Jin Lin asked, her tone light. "You all knew I wanted to do something meaningful. The military was just a natural choice for me."
"Natural?" Ah Tong blurted. "You, the same Little Lin who used to spend hours picking outfits and debating which earrings matched better? And let's not even talk about your high heels collection. How did you go from that to... camo and combat boots?"
Jin Lin shrugged, popping another seed into her mouth. "Life happens. Priorities change. Besides, I still have an eye for accessories—I just swapped jewelry for medals."
Fang Ning, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "But why didn't you tell us? We could've supported you, stayed in touch, something."
Jin Lin's gaze softened as she turned to her. "Ning Ning, you know how I am. I don't like drawing attention to myself. It was something I needed to do for me, not for anyone else."
"But no contact at all?" Brother Mu finally spoke, his voice calm but tinged with something deeper. "We were worried about you, Little Lin."
Her eyes met his, and for a brief moment, the air between them seemed to still. "I didn't mean to worry anyone," she said softly. "But I needed to focus. It wasn't easy... and staying in touch would've made it harder."
The room fell silent as her words sank in. Ah Tong was the first to break it, dramatically flopping back onto the sofa. "Darling Xu, you're so heartless. Leaving us here, missing you, while you were off becoming some military goddess."
"Goddess?" Jin Lin raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her tone. "I think you're exaggerating."
"Not at all!" Ah Tong exclaimed, sitting up again. "In fact, I demand proof. You have to show us some photos or tell us some stories from your time in the military."
"Agreed," Fang Ning chimed in. "You owe us that much."
"What's with that proof? It's nothing much," Xu Jin Lin said nonchalantly, pulling out her military badge and passport from her bag. The gold-embossed lettering on the badge caught the dim light of the private room, and her name shone clearly for all to see. "Besides, I've been temporarily transferred to the police department for a few months, so I'll be staying here in B City for a while."
She placed the items on the table in front of them with a slight smile, leaning back as if it was no big deal.
Ah Tong, who had been leaning forward eagerly, grabbed the passport like it was a treasure map. His eyes scanned the text before his jaw dropped dramatically. "CAPTAIN XU JIN LIN?!" he practically shouted, his voice echoing in the room.
All heads turned sharply toward Jin Lin, who was calmly sipping her Coke, seemingly unfazed by the outburst.
"I can't believe it—no, I still don't want to believe it!" Ah Tong exclaimed, clutching the passport to his chest as though to prevent anyone else from seeing it. "This is a prank, right? You're secretly filming for a reality show? Maybe some high-concept drama about military life?"
Fang Ning leaned over to snatch the passport from Ah Tong's hands, her eyes widening as she confirmed the title. "Captain Xu Jin Lin..." she whispered, her voice filled with awe. "Darling Xu, this... this is insane. You're actually a captain?"
"Insane, yes," Ah Tong interjected, still gesturing wildly. "Our Little Lin, who once refused to touch a soccer ball because she didn't want to get her nails dirty, is now a captain? I mean, this doesn't compute. Somebody pinch me."
Jin Lin chuckled softly. "It's not that surprising, really. I worked hard for it, just like anyone else."
"Not surprising?!" Fang Ning exclaimed, her round eyes practically sparkling. "Do you even realize how amazing this is? You didn't just join the military—you became a captain. That's not something 'anyone' can do!"
"Exactly!" Ah Feng chimed in, his usually composed demeanor cracking under the weight of his astonishment. "This is a big deal, Jin Lin. You should be proud."
"I am," Jin Lin admitted, her voice steady but humble. "But it's just a title. The work behind it is what really matters."
Brother Mu, who had been silent, reached out and picked up the badge. His fingers brushed over the engraved name, his expression thoughtful. "You've changed, Little Lin," he said quietly. "But in a good way. This... this suits you."
Jin Lin met his gaze, her eyes softening. "Thank you, Brother Mu."