"What’s the matter?" Li Dajun dismissed it, trying to retrieve his beloved remote, only to have it tossed aside by Sun Lufang.

"What’s the matter? I heard the transfer orders for after September 1st are coming down. Captain Mu and his wife are cozying up to Chief Guard Wang at this time because they’ve clearly heard some news. You’re just a blockhead, always thinking about following orders, but in today’s world, just following orders isn’t enough, is it?"

Although the Guard Team in S Province is located in a basin and it’s like a steamer there in summer, if they don’t seize this opportunity, Li Dajun might remain in the position of captain all his life.

Seeing his wife’s eyes red with urgency, Li Dajun didn’t want to say anything more. He put an arm around her shoulders, pulled her up, and nudged her towards the kitchen. "Alright, Lifang, just focus on cooking well, take care of Lele, and then give me a daughter later on. Don’t worry about the other things, I’ve got it under control."

Sun Lufang looked at Li Dajun with a heavy sigh, seeing his stubborn demeanor.

Her husband is good in every way, except that he’s so single-minded.

She noticed lately that Captain Mu frequently goes to see Chief Guard Wang, and several times she saw them walking back from the administrative building together. Captain Mu must also want a transfer there. Although Li Dajun excelled in this exercise, Captain Mu outperforms Li Dajun in other areas. She truly worries that they might miss this opportunity, and if that happens, Li Dajun might never get another chance for promotion.

Coming out of Chief Guard Wang’s house, Mu Xingfeng and An Ran walked side by side on the brick road.

The distance wasn’t far, but there were no major obstructions, and the afternoon sun was already slanting, shining directly onto the road.

Mu Xingfeng walked on the outside, his tall figure casting a shadow that precisely covered An Ran, encasing her small frame within that shadow.

"Honey, I checked that your birthday is on September 1st, and I should still be here then. I’ll celebrate your birthday for you," he said.

Back then, Xia Yuzhu had said that An Ran’s birthday was on the Ghost Festival, and the elders in the mountains followed the lunar calendar.

This birthday was something An Ran dreaded. She only understood, after knowing her birthday, why the witch had said she had the destiny of a Heavenly Killer Star.

The Ghost Festival, traditionally believed to be when the gates to the underworld open, was the day she was born. On that day, her mother died in childbirth.

Perhaps Mu Xingfeng worried that celebrating on this day would remind her of sad things, so he specifically checked the lunar calendar and chose the solar date for her birthday celebration.

"Okay," An Ran responded softly. This man was always so thoughtful, providing warmth in ways she never expected. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"In the next few days, when nothing’s happening in the Guard Team, I’ll teach you how to drive. When you get your license after learning well, I’ll give you a car for your birthday," Mu Xingfeng said, noticing that the person beside him had stopped. Turning back, he saw An Ran standing there with a surprised expression. "Honey, will you really give me a car? Let me drive by myself?"

When she was in the An Family, both An Youcai and Sun Xuehui had cars. At 15, Sun Xuehui taught An Sijia to drive. Although you had to be 18 to get a driver’s license in the Empire, both An Sijia and An Sicheng could drive. Only An Ran had no one to teach her.

Watching An Sijia and An Sicheng race down deserted roads, she’d envied it, but all she could do was be envious back then.