Situ Jing led the three of them into the main hall with brisk steps, her voice tinged with an irrepressible spark of excitement. "Father, Mother! I've brought guests home!"
Though she wore a brilliant smile, her mind drifted back to the journey home, recalling the sea-deep, searching gaze of Chu Yuning.
On the road, seeing her instinctive, almost habitual deference toward Crimson Nine, Yuning had finally whispered, "Why do you call my sister 'Captain'? You two should never have met."
Blue Five hadn't panicked. She simply showed him the faintly glowing bracer on her wrist—the sole token of their elite unit. Having spent six months together in the mines, she had already laid her cards on the table. She admired Yuning's integrity and knew her "industrial miracles" couldn't be hidden from his sharp eyes, so she had told him the truth about her soul being from another world. It was because of this honesty that a silent, profound understanding now existed between them.
From behind a screen in the inner hall, Situ Jin emerged, supporting his wife, Jiang Cailing. Upon seeing his daughter, Situ Jin's face darkened as he began his usual lecture.
"Do you even know the way home? Hiding in those mines all day, causing trouble—one day it's explosions, the next you're reassigning servants. You have none of the grace of a noble lady! I have no idea what you're busy with!"
Madam Situ ignored her husband's nagging. Her gaze shifted among the three uninvited guests, and she was privately stunned.
The man in the center (Xiao Zhan) was strikingly handsome, carrying a natural, frigid elegance. The sheer weight of his silent authority made her feel a sudden sense of constraint in her own home. The woman beside him (Crimson Nine) was dazzlingly beautiful and full of heroic spirit; even in simple attire, she possessed an undeniable brilliance. As for the other man (Chu Yuning), though silent, his spine was as straight as a pine—a pride carved into the very bones of a military lineage.
Sensing that these people were anything but ordinary, Jiang Cailing tugged at her husband's sleeve to silence him. She asked warmly, "Jing'er, who are these noble guests?"
"They are merchants from Great Qi, specializing in the trade of kitchenware and farm tools," Situ Jing replied smoothly, following their pre-arranged script. "They heard our family produces superior iron. Apparently, our spatulas and cleavers are exceptionally durable, so they came to discuss a contract."
In this remote region, the private manufacturing of weapons was a capital offense. This reasonable merchant facade served as their best shield.
Situ Jin's anger evaporated instantly. He beamed with pride. "Good! Excellent! My Jing'er has finally grown up, helping with the family business. It seems my pampering wasn't in vain!"
Madam Situ remained cautious. She noticed that the trio's aura was far too sharp for mere travelling merchants, but seeing her daughter's serious demeanor, she chose to bury her doubts and trust her child.
"Father, Mother," Situ Jing struck while the iron was hot. "I'll take them to the study to discuss the trade details. Could you have some fine tea and snacks sent to us?"
"Of course! Anything!" Situ Jin agreed heartily. To him, this wasn't just a deal; it was proof that Situ Jing was ready to inherit the family legacy. He hurried to give orders. "Quickly! Prepare the best Cloud-Mist Green Tea and Jing'er's favorite pastries!"
The moment they stepped into the study, Blue Five locked the door, and her mask of professional calm shattered. She pulled Crimson Nine into a seat, bursting with questions.
"Captain! I've been projected here for six months and couldn't find a single trace of you. Then, three days ago, this bracer lit up, and the system signaled Yellow Seven's location in the direction of Southern Tang. What on earth is going on?"
Crimson Nine didn't answer immediately. Instead, she shot a wary glance toward Chu Yuning.
Noticing her concern, Blue Five quickly explained, "Don't worry, Yuning already knows my identity. For the past six months, we've basically been living and eating together—our friendship is inseparable."
"Miss Situ... your choice of words is highly ambiguous!"
Chu Yuning, who possessed a face of heroic proportions, flushed deep red at the phrase "living and eating together." As a son of a prestigious military family who lived by a strict moral code, he felt utterly flustered. He turned to Crimson Nine, explaining frantically, "Little Sister, do not misunderstand! We only shared the courtyard at the mining site for the sake of oversight and research... it is not as 'intimate' as she makes it sound."
He shot a frustrated glare at Blue Five, looking completely helpless against the lady's eccentric personality.
Seeing Chu Yuning—the most upright and disciplined of the Chu brothers—rendered speechless with embarrassment, Xiao Zhan couldn't hold back any longer. A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes as he let out a low chuckle.
"Third Brother, Miss Situ is truly a woman of spirited character," Xiao Zhan teased, his voice losing the coldness it held outside the gates.
In his youth, Xiao Zhan had trained under General Chu Zheng, living and practicing martial arts with the three Chu brothers. Their bond had long surpassed that of fellow disciples; they were as close as blood brothers. Seeing the usually stoic Third Brother being teased into a red-faced mess by a girl was a rare opportunity Xiao Zhan wouldn't miss.
He patted Yuning on the shoulder and smiled at Crimson Nine. "Zhaoning, your brother has spent too much time in military camps. He's never encountered someone as blunt as Miss Situ. Don't join in on the teasing."
This moment of levity brought a much-needed warmth to their reunion.
However, Crimson Nine didn't join the laughter. Her brow furrowed as she stared at her bracer, sinking into deep suspicion.
Blue Five had been here for six months, yet she had only been here for one. She remembered clearly that the three of them had completed their mission and returned to their apartment to sleep. Since they were "shipwrecked" at the same time, why was there such a massive discrepancy in their arrival times? Was it interference from a space-time rift, or did this world have a specific design for these "outsiders"?
Just as she tried to untangle the chaotic timeline, a soft patter of footsteps approached from outside the study, followed by a maid's respectful knock.
"Miss, the tea and snacks you requested have arrived."
The voice broke the tension. Crimson Nine's expression sharpened, and she exchanged a look with Blue Five. Instantly, they switched back to their merchant-host disguise. Xiao Zhan also retracted his smile, returning to his role as the formidable, aloof businessman.