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Perhaps out of concern that she might embarrass herself again in her waterproof cloak, Ye Yin and Ye Hua were not taken directly to the hotel this time. Instead, they were first escorted to a dedicated dressing room, where, under the emerald gaze of the Commander's wife, a legion of flamboyant stylists of indeterminate gender "armed" them from head to toe. Only then, surrounded by an entourage of elegantly dressed ladies, did they make their way leisurely to the grand banquet hall.

The banquet was as luxurious as ever; Commander Zhuo was still his reserved, fastidious self, his expression solemn, his uniform immaculate, and his greetings to the sisters stiff to the point of being comically "upright"—though his act could only deceive those unfamiliar with the truth. This time, Ye Yin's status was slightly different: she was not only a senior official of the Third Base, but also a semi-officially acknowledged member of the Zhuo family. The guests were all warm-hearted and perceptive; any discordant elements had already been quietly removed, and the atmosphere quickly soared to its peak amid friendly exchanges.

Having learned a hard lesson from the previous ordeal, Ye Yin was wiser this time. After fulfilling her social obligations with Commander Zhuo, she immediately pulled Ye Hua into a corner, steadfastly refusing to emerge, anxiously waiting for the banquet to end.

"It seems you really don't like this kind of occasion," Zhuo Zhelian remarked, settling beside Ye Yin with a smile, dressed in a black double-breasted prince's suit, and thoughtfully handing Ye Hua a small dessert.

"Don't sit so close; you're making my skin crawl," Ye Yin edged away. "Where's your brother?"

"Actually, he fell ill right after I visited your Third Base last time," Zhuo Zhelian replied calmly, as if discussing a matter unrelated to himself. "He hasn't woken up since. Apparently, it's some kind of post-traumatic complication brought on by prolonged captivity and acute emotional shock. The explanation was so convoluted I can't remember all of it. The hospital was at a loss, so they transferred him to Teacher Yue for treatment. It'll probably be a while before he can open his eyes."

"That's truly unfortunate," Ye Yin murmured. "I'd hoped to apologize to him in person this time."

"There's nothing you can do—don't let it trouble you," Zhuo Zhelian said, his gaze shifting, a slight smile playing at his lips. "You look very nice today. White suits you."

Ye Yin and Ye Hua were both dressed in white gowns from the same collection. Ye Hua's was short, making her look angelic; Ye Yin's was a long, simple, and elegant dress, perfectly complemented by her carefully styled updo and lustrous pearl earrings, a testament to the saying that clothes make the woman.

"Thank you. You look great too—black makes you quite alluring," Ye Yin said sincerely. "No wonder those women flock to you like moths to a flame, shooting daggers at anyone who dares get close. You must feel like you're living in a wolf's den wherever you go."

Zhuo Zhelian burst out laughing. "If I didn't know you better, I'd think you were jealous."

"Don't flatter yourself."

"I won't," Zhuo Zhelian suddenly said. "But if I were wearing a white suit today, would it make me more suitable to invite you to dance?"

"Is there any necessary connection?"

"I just feel that black should stand behind white, not beside it—otherwise, it overshadows the light."

"I don't really see it that way." Oreos are black and white, after all—and they're delicious...

"In that case," Zhuo Zhelian said, standing up with a smile and extending his hand with courtly grace, "Miss Ye, may I have this dance?"

When the two stepped onto the dance floor, the other guests instinctively cleared the central space. The spotlight fell upon them as though they were starring in a puppet play. The contrast of her white dress and his black suit was striking, creating an inexplicable yet harmonious effect.

Ye Yin had learned a bit of ballroom dance before, so there was no dramatic mishap or clumsy stumble; their movements were steady and graceful as they circled the floor.

"My brother and I have always been close," Zhuo Zhelian said lazily. "We've never argued about anything. But when he wakes up this time, I think I'll quarrel with him."

"Why?"

"Because I think he's being foolish," Zhuo Zhelian replied. "In these harsh and chilling times, he still clings to childish fantasies, refusing to see reality. He's always been our parents' pride, excelling at everything, never troubled by a problem he couldn't solve. Thanks to him, my own burdens have been much lighter, and I've been free to be myself. Out of selfishness, I wanted him to stay that way—brilliant and strong, not growing ever weaker and darker..."

Ye Yin started, almost stepping on Zhuo Zhelian's foot.

...

"You really are a disappointment, sister. It's because of your failures that I was forced to learn things I never wanted to. After all the years Mom and Dad invested in you, you turned out to be such a waste!"

"Yin, why did you become like this? Where did the old you go?"

"Get out! You're no daughter of mine!"

...

"What's wrong?" Zhuo Zhelian asked softly, noticing the pallor on Ye Yin's face.

"It's nothing," Ye Yin managed a strained smile. "Maybe your brother hasn't changed at all."

"What do you mean?"

"We all have moments of weakness and darkness," Ye Yin said. "People aren't gods; everyone has flaws and vulnerabilities. Isn't it family who should accept these parts of us?"

Zhuo Zhelian didn't answer, but inwardly, a phrase surfaced: talking past each other.

"Still, I can understand a bit of what you and your parents must feel... If your brother could open up about his anxieties and pressures, perhaps your expectations wouldn't weigh so heavily. Estrangement isn't any one person's fault; both sides should reflect. I realized this too late, but you still have time." With that, Ye Yin beamed at him. "So, don't give up."

Zhuo Zhelian was momentarily taken aback, then looked away. "Don't change your attitude so suddenly."

"Huh? Did I?"

"Yes. Suddenly you were so... positive, almost like you were possessed."

"Thank you! Hardly anyone ever praises me like that—ha!"

"I wasn't praising you..."

...

"Hahaha! The girl dances much better than I expected!" Commander Zhuo watched from a distance, nodding in approval. The Commander's wife smiled as well, though a hint of concern lingered in her beautiful eyes.

The next day, Ye Yin took Ye Hua to visit Zhuo Chenglan.

Zhuo Chenglan was still sleeping. His profile, so different from his usual self, seemed gentle and fragile, stirring a sense of tender pity. Resting her chin in her hand, Ye Yin gazed at his face, unable to resist imagining what he might have been like if he hadn't become a soldier. A stern doctor? A strict teacher? Either seemed plausible.

As the saying goes, a handsome man makes even the simplest things look elegant, while an unattractive one ruins even the most sophisticated pursuits. Zhuo Chenglan never had a choice; fate destined him to toil among men in the barracks, hidden from the world, unrecognized by admiring eyes. Born into an ordinary family, perhaps he and his brother would have formed a twin idol group straight out of a girls' novel, causing a commotion wherever they went.

"Teacher!" Ye Hua exclaimed, bounding up to Teacher Yue as she entered the room. Teacher Yue fondly patted her head. "You've grown again—I can't lift you up anymore."

"Hello, Teacher Yue," Ye Yin said, standing up to greet her respectfully.

"Ah, that's all right. No need to be so formal. Sit down," Teacher Yue replied. "I heard the situation at the Third Base is resolved—your doing?"

"Not really. It was a group effort; I couldn't have done much alone."

After chatting with the sisters for a while, Teacher Yue examined Zhuo Chenglan's condition. "Seems stable enough."

"How long until he wakes up?"

"There's nothing wrong with his body; it's mostly psychological trauma," Teacher Yue said. "If he doesn't want to wake up, there's nothing we can do."

"That bastard Mu," Ye Yin thought, wondering if the former Commander Mu had done something despicable during Chenglan's captivity to break such a resilient man.

"Teacher, what's Zhuo holding in his hand?" Ye Hua asked, noticing that Zhuo Chenglan's right hand was clenched in a loose fist.

"We're not sure. We've tried to get it out, but no luck. We're afraid to hurt him..." Teacher Yue didn't finish her sentence, her eyes suddenly widening in shock, her body trembling slightly. Following her gaze, Ye Hua's jaw dropped.

With a crisp snap, Ye Yin pried open Zhuo Chenglan's fist and examined the object in her palm. "Oh, it's this."

The room fell silent.

"What's wrong?" Ye Yin asked.

Teacher Yue: "..."

Ye Hua: "..."

"Who was so rough as to break three of his fingers?" the doctor who came to check on the commotion demanded furiously. "Even if you're water-type abilities, and can heal such injuries easily, that's no excuse to treat people like they're disposable! He's the commander's son, and you treat him like this?"

Ye Yin shrank into a corner, sweating profusely.

After finally sending the doctor away, Teacher Yue breathed a sigh of relief. "The hospital staff have always been hostile to us water-types. And he's been the commander's personal physician for decades—no wonder he's emotional. Don't take it to heart."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"It's all right. What did you take from his hand?" Teacher Yue smiled. "I'm curious too."

"It's an amulet," Ye Yin said. "But it was broken in two before—I think it's the one I gave him. Now it's been mended. What a fool—once an amulet is broken, it can't ward off disaster anymore. If he needed another, he could've just asked me; it's not like it's expensive."

Teacher Yue and Ye Hua exchanged glances, and Teacher Yue couldn't help but stifle a laugh while Ye Hua sighed.

Ye Yin took out her latest, most prized amulet and gently tied it to Zhuo Chenglan's wrist. "Sorry—consider this limited-edition amulet my apology for breaking your fingers."