Could you please provide the text you would like me to translate?

Perhaps worried that she might embarrass herself again by wearing her waterproof cloak, Ye Yin and Ye Hua were not taken directly to the hotel this time. Instead, they were first brought to a special 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 were they escorted in leisurely fashion, surrounded by a throng of elegantly dressed ladies, into the grand ballroom.

The banquet was as lavish as ever, and Commander Zhuo was still the same reserved and stoic figure: a solemn face, a meticulously pressed military uniform, and a stiff, formal greeting for the two sisters—so "upright" in demeanor that he could only fool those who didn’t know better. Ye Yin’s status was slightly different this time; she was not only a high-ranking official of the Third Base but also, in a semi-official capacity, someone intimately connected to the Zhuo family. The guests were all warm, open, and astutely considerate—any discordant elements had long been weeded out—so the atmosphere quickly reached a harmonious peak through friendly exchanges.

Having learned her lesson from last time, Ye Yin was cautious now. After dealing with Commander Zhuo, she immediately retreated to a corner with Ye Hua, refusing to venture out again, anxiously awaiting the end of the banquet.

“It seems you truly dislike these occasions,” Zhuo Zhelian remarked, taking a seat beside Ye Yin with a gentle smile on his lips. He wore a black double-breasted princely suit and thoughtfully handed Ye Hua a delicate pastry.

“Don’t sit so close. You’re making me nervous,” Ye Yin said, shifting away. “Where’s your brother?”

“Actually, when I visited your Third Base last time, he was already ill,” Zhuo Zhelian replied calmly, as if discussing a matter unrelated to himself. “He still hasn’t awakened. They say it’s a kind of complex aftereffect—a combination of prolonged confinement and severe emotional shock. The explanation was too technical for me to remember. The hospital was at a loss and handed him over to Teacher Yue for treatment. It will probably be some time before he opens his eyes.”

“That’s a real shame,” Ye Yin said quietly. “I had hoped to apologize to him this time.”

“There’s nothing to be done. Don’t dwell on it.” Zhuo Zhelian’s eyes shifted slightly, a trace of amusement at his lips. “You look wonderful today. White suits you.”

Ye Yin and Ye Hua were both dressed in white gowns from the same collection—Ye Hua’s was short and angelic, while Ye Yin’s was long, simple, and elegant. The style complemented her carefully arranged hair and lustrous pearl earrings perfectly, eloquently proving the saying that clothes make the person.

“Thank you. You look quite captivating in black yourself,” Ye Yin replied sincerely. “No wonder so many women are drawn to you like moths to a flame. The glares flying your way make it seem as if you’re always walking into a den of wolves.”

Zhuo Zhelian laughed aloud. “If I didn’t know what kind of person you are, I’d think you were jealous.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Zhuo Zhelian said abruptly. “But if I were wearing a white suit tonight, would I be more suitable to invite you to dance?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It just seems that black should stand behind white, not beside it—otherwise, it risks overshadowing the light.”

“I think it’s fine,” Ye Yin replied, thinking absently that black and white was a classic pairing—just like those famous cookies, quite tasty…

“In that case,” Zhuo Zhelian said with a smile, rising to his feet and bowing gracefully as he extended his hand, “Miss Ye, may I have this dance?”

As they entered the dance floor, the crowd instinctively parted, leaving the central space to them. The spotlight illuminated the pair, as if they were the stars of a puppet stage. The white gown and black suit standing together were strikingly conspicuous—strangely harmonious in a way that defied explanation.

Ye Yin had taken some ballroom dance lessons before, so there was no entertaining mishap. The two moved with steady grace, gliding unremarkably yet flawlessly across the floor.

“My brother and I have always been close, never quarreling over anything,” Zhuo Zhelian said languidly. “But when he wakes up this time, I think we’ll have our first argument.”

“Why?”

“Because I think he’s being foolish,” Zhuo Zhelian replied. “In times as harsh and cold as these, he still clings to youthful illusions, unable to see reality for what it is. He’s always been our parents’ pride—exceptional at everything, never faced a problem he couldn’t solve, his life blessed with smooth sailing. With him around, so much of the burden has been lifted from my shoulders, allowing me to be myself. Selfishly, I want him to stay that way—brilliant and unyielding—not to grow ever more timid and brooding…”

Ye Yin, startled, nearly stepped on his foot.

...

“Big sister, you’re such a disappointment. Because of your failures, I’ve been forced to learn things I hate. After all those years of effort from Mom and Dad, you’ve become a worthless wreck!”

“Yin, why did you change? Where did the real you go?”

“Get out. I don’t have a daughter like you!”

...

“What’s wrong?” Zhuo Zhelian noticed Ye Yin’s pallor and asked gently.

“It’s nothing.” Ye Yin managed a strained smile. “Maybe your brother hasn’t changed at all.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone has moments of weakness and darkness,” Ye Yin said. “We’re not gods, after all. We all have flaws and vulnerabilities. Isn’t it the role of family to accept those?”

Zhuo Zhelian fell silent, the phrase “talking at cross purposes” coming unbidden to his mind.

“But I do understand, a little, how you and your parents feel… If your brother could open up and share his fears and pressures, maybe your expectations wouldn’t weigh so heavily. Estrangement is never just one person’s fault—both sides have to reflect. I realized that too late, but for you, it isn’t too late yet.” With that, Ye Yin flashed him a broad, radiant smile. “So—good luck.”

Zhuo Zhelian was caught off guard, then averted his gaze. “Don’t change your mood so suddenly.”

“Huh? Did I?”

“Yes. You suddenly became so… sweet, like you were possessed.”

“Thank you! Not many people praise me like that, haha!”

“I wasn’t complimenting you…”

...

“Haha, the young lady isn’t as bad a dancer as I expected!” Commander Zhuo watched from afar, nodding his head in approval. The Commander's wife, though smiling, seemed to have a hint of worry in her beautiful eyes.

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

Zhuo Chenglan was still sleeping. His side profile looked different from usual—gentle, fragile, evoking a sense of tender pity. Resting her chin in her hand, Ye Yin gazed at him, wondering what he might have been if he hadn’t become a soldier. A cold doctor? A strict teacher? Either would suit him, she thought.

As the saying goes, a handsome man makes even hacky sack look charming, while an ugly man playing golf looks like he’s shoveling manure. Zhuo Chenglan had no choice in his fate, destined to sweat it out among men in the barracks, his beauty hidden from the world. Had he been born to an ordinary family, perhaps he and his brother could have become a legendary duo, sweeping girls off their feet everywhere they went, like characters from a romance novel…

“Teacher!” Ye Hua squealed with delight, throwing herself into Teacher Yue’s arms as she entered the room. Teacher Yue patted her head fondly. “You’ve grown again—I can hardly lift you!”

“Hello, Teacher Yue,” Ye Yin quickly stood to greet her with respectful formality.

“Oh, hello, hello. No need to be so polite—sit down.” Teacher Yue smiled. “I heard the Third Base is safe now, thanks to your efforts?”

“Not really. It was everyone’s effort, not mine alone.”

After chatting with the sisters for a while, Teacher Yue checked Zhuo Chenglan’s condition. “He seems stable.”

“How long do you think it will be before he wakes?”

“His body’s fine. It’s his mind that’s wounded,” Teacher Yue said. “If he doesn’t want to wake, there’s nothing we can do.”

“That old Mu really is a piece of work,” Ye Yin thought, wondering if the former Commander Mu had done something especially cruel during the confinement to break a man as resilient as Zhuo Chenglan.

“Teacher, what’s that in Brother Zhuo’s hand?” Ye Hua noticed his right hand was clenched in a fist, something just visible between his fingers.

“We’re not sure. We’ve tried to take it, but it was impossible. If we forced it, he might…” Teacher Yue fell silent, eyes suddenly widening, her body trembling slightly. Following her gaze, Ye Hua’s jaw dropped.

With a crack, Ye Yin pried open Zhuo Chenglan’s fist and examined the object in her palm. “Oh, it’s this.”

The room was silent.

Ye Yin asked, “What’s wrong?”

Teacher Yue: “…”

Ye Hua: “…”

“Who was so rough as to break three of his fingers!” The doctor, alerted by the commotion, stormed in. “Even if you’re water element users and can heal wounds like these, you can’t treat people like objects! He’s the Commander’s son, for heaven’s sake, not a plaything for you to break!”

Ye Yin shrank into a corner, sweat beading on her brow.

Once the doctor was finally sent on his way, Teacher Yue let out a sigh of relief. “The hospital staff have always been wary of us water element users, and he’s been the Zhuo family’s personal physician for decades—it’s understandable he’d be upset. Don’t take it to heart.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s fine. So what did you get from his hand?” Teacher Yue smiled. “I’m curious, too.”

“It’s a charm,” Ye Yin said. “But it was broken in two before—probably the one I gave him. Now it’s been mended. That idiot, doesn’t he know a charm that’s been broken can’t protect you anymore? If he needs a new one, he could just ask me. It’s not expensive.”

Teacher Yue and Ye Hua exchanged a glance. Teacher Yue stifled a laugh; Ye Hua sighed.

Ye Yin took out her latest, finest charm and gently tied it to Zhuo Chenglan’s wrist. “Sorry. Take this limited-edition charm as my apology for breaking your fingers.”