At 3:00 am, Zachary woke with an urgent need to use the restroom. Still groggy, he quickly pulled down his pants and relieved himself. As he passed the washroom, he heard the sound of water running inside.

Who on earth would be up in the middle of the night doing laundry? Now, that was some dedication.

He wandered in and found Jasper.

"Captain Locke?"

Jasper stood at the sink, wearing a white tank top and army green shorts. His face was stony as he worked his hands over something in the basin. With each scrub, the muscles in his arms flexed, veins and tendons visibly straining.

Zachary stepped closer and squinted to get a better look—he wasn't washing clothes. It was a bedsheet.

Mumbling to himself, he said, "Captain Locke's obsession with cleanliness is hardcore, washing his bedsheet in the dead of night."

Bedsheet… Jasper felt a faint blush wash over his ears. After years of emo

Phoebe turned with a spatula in her hand and greeted, "Good morning, Evelyn!"

Feeling guilty, Evelyn took the spatula from her. "You're such a thoughtful girl, getting up so early to do all this. I can take care of breakfast from now on. There's still plenty of time. You young folks should sleep in a little more."

"It's fine, Evelyn," Phoebe replied. "I've been getting up at this hour in the countryside, so I'm used to it." 
 
While Evelyn continued preparing breakfast, Phoebe started cleaning up.

When the Locke family members and Natalie came downstairs, they found Phoebe diligently wiping the coffee table with a cloth.

Evelyn, while setting the table, praised Phoebe in front of Celeste. "Today's breakfast was made by Phoebe. Not only did she cook, but she's also helping to clean up. What a hardworking young lady!"

Celeste surveyed the abundant breakfast spread, knowing it must hav

Inside the book, the pages were filled with bold black text on crisp white paper, showcasing a striking title, "Under the People's Iron Fist, All Conspiracies Will Be Shattered."

Beneath the title, in smaller print, it stated, "Air Force Special Operations Team, 16th Ideology Lesson."

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense, and silence enveloped the room.

Once they processed the book title, Gideon's and Celeste's expressions turned to shock.

What was the meaning behind gifting someone a book on ideological education? Didn't this imply he believed the recipient had problematic views and needed "re-education"?

In the Air Force, such courses aimed to prevent pilots from falling prey to espionage.

However, considering that Natalie's father had been a martyr and her family had been poor farmers for three generations, what kind of ideological education could she possibly have needed?

Clearing her throat, Celeste turned to James. "Is this the book Jasper had for class? Did you perhaps grab the wrong one?"

James, equally perplexed, couldn't understand why Jasper would choose such a book for Natalie.

However, he replied, "I didn't make a mistake. Jasper said he wanted to give Natalie a book. This is the only one he had in his drawer."

Gideon's expression hardened as he turned to make a phone call. "I'm going to find out what he meant by this!"

He knew Jasper well. He was the type who wouldn't tolerate even a speck of dust in his eyes. If he chose to gift a fountain pen to Phoebe, he would never randomly present Natalie with a book like this.

Regardless of Jasper's intentions, Natalie was recognized as his goddaughter, and it was simply unacceptable to embarrass her like this in front of others.

But Celeste grasped Jasper's hand. "Perhaps Jasper got confused. This might not be the book he meant to give Natalie. Let's not rush to accuse him just yet."

Gideon's expression slightly softened as he considered this possibility.

In contrast to the Locke family members' reactions, Natalie remained remarkably composed, having already deciphered Jasper's intent behind the gift.

It was meant to warn her not to harbor any intentions toward the Locke family once she joined them.

Jasper had a sharp and incisive personality, dealing with his enemies with a winter storm's cold, ruthless efficiency.

Although the original storyline didn't delve into the gift-giving plot, it was evident that Jasper had never held the original subject in high regard and harbored significant animosity toward her. It wasn't surprising that he would give her such a book.

Now that Natalie had resolved not to provoke him, she felt it wiser to avoid unnecessary conflict. So, she cradled the book against her chest like a cherished treasure, her face alight with inspiration.

"Mr. and Mrs. Locke, I'm sure that Jasper gave me this book to encourage me. No matter what challenges I encounter, I must believe in the government's and the people's strength. All conspiracies will ultimately be shattered!"

The Lockes were caught off guard by her interpretation, and a fleeting look of astonishment crossed their faces.

Evelyn approached to call everyone for dinner, prompting Celeste to snap back to reality. She took Gideon's hand and said, "Let's gather everyone for dinner before the food gets cold."

This time, James was more attuned to the situation and proactively walked to the dining table, pulling out chairs. "Natalie and Phoebe must be hungry. Let's eat!"

Gideon had no choice but to suppress his urge to call Jasper as the family settled around the dining table. 

After the meal, Celeste led Natalie and Phoebe upstairs to show them their rooms, with James accompanying them.

Evelyn busied herself in the kitchen, leaving Gideon alone in the living room. He sat on the edge of the couch, contemplating before finally deciding to call Jasper.

When the call connected, Jasper's voice came through shortly after.

Gideon's tone was stern. "What was the meaning of giving that book to Natalie?"

Jasper's voice remained cool and detached. "It's nothing special. It was just meant to elevate her ideological perspective. Dad, can't you see why Natalie came to our home?"

Upon hearing this, Gideon's expression darkened, and he forcefully slammed his hand against the couch's armrest.

"Jasper Locke, don't misapply your methods! As a soldier, your actions should be grounded in evidence. You must cultivate a broader perspective and vision in life. Don't let your personal feelings distort your judgment."

Addressing Jasper by his full name signaled his irritation.

Jasper gripped the receiver firmly, sat up straight, and determinedly replied, "I trust my own judgment."

Gideon's demeanor was equally resolute. "Your judgment isn't flawless, either. You must make time to come home within the next few days."

On the other end of the line, Jasper scoffed coldly. "You can accept someone like that as your goddaughter and live together harmoniously, but I can't! I don't want to live with such a vain and snobbish woman, and I certainly don't want to be her brother."

"You!" Gideon's voice was filled with anger. He had never raised his voice at Jasper like this before.

"What do you mean, 'vain and snobbish?' That's just prejudice. You're judging her before even getting to know her. I met Natalie today and found her to be quite simple and genuine."

Simple? Jasper felt like he was hearing the biggest joke. 

At the Willowridge Clinic, he had personally overheard how Lilian taught Natalie to seize every opportunity to climb the social ladder. How could a woman like that be simple or genuine?

"Regardless, I won't be coming home anytime soon. You'd better keep an eye on James. He just turned 18 and is genuinely innocent. I wouldn't want him to get entangled with someone like her, turning your goddaughter into a daughter-in-law and giving everyone something to laugh about."

Today, Gideon had truly experienced Jasper's sharp tongue. He could silence anyone with just a single remark.

However, a father would never be silenced by his son. He snorted and replied, "Fine. If you won't come home, then stay at the base and train hard. As for James, you don't need to worry about him. Natalie probably wouldn't even be interested in him!"
 
With an irritated slam, Gideon hung up the phone. He had lived more than half his life and encountered all sorts of demons and monsters. He could see through people's facades with just a bit of observation.

Natalie's looks were certainly striking, but her eyes were clear, and her demeanor was confident and poised. It was evident that Lilian had raised her well, even in the countryside. She was definitely neither vain nor snobbish.

It was clear that Jasper was biased against Natalie.

Meanwhile, Jasper's brows knitted together in frustration as he hung up the phone. His already negative impression of Natalie deepened as he thought that she seemed manipulative as well.

Gideon, who rarely called him throughout the year, had actually taken the time today to reprimand him personally. He had truly underestimated Natalie's influence.

With a cold expression, Jasper walked back to his dormitory. As long as he didn't return home, Natalie's schemes wouldn't have any chance to take root in his life.

Jasper settled at his desk in the dormitory, immersed in writing his report. 

Beneath the bright light, he wore a crisply ironed military uniform, his posture impeccably straight. His profile was sharp and defined, with chiseled features that gave him an intense look. His lips were pressed together in concentration as he focused intently on the report before him.

As he wrote, he occasionally reached for a book from the nearby shelf to verify his notes, then resumed his task.

Once he finished, he filed away the report. He then meticulously returned each item on his desk to its original position, ensuring everything was perfectly aligned as it had been when he first used them.

After tidying up, Jasper glanced at the clock and realized it was past 11:00 pm. He rose briskly, retrieved a change of clothes from the wardrobe, and headed to the bathroom with a basin in his hand.

After his shower, Jasper lay down on his bed. His thoughts involuntarily drifted back to that train journey as he closed his eyes.

In his dreams, within the cramped confines of the bathroom, a soft, fragrant body pressed against him, and a pair of red lips met his. His body tensed, breaths coming in quick, uneven gasps as he instinctively tightened his grip around her slender waist.

Then, her delicate fingers began to trace his Adam's apple, gliding down his long, strong neck, slipping into his collar, and deftly unbuttoning the buttons on his chest one by one.

At 3:00 am, Zachary woke with an urgent need to use the restroom. Still groggy, he quickly pulled down his pants and relieved himself. As he passed the washroom, he heard the sound of water running inside.

Who on earth would be up in the middle of the night doing laundry? Now, that was some dedication.

He wandered in and found Jasper.

"Captain Locke?"

Jasper stood at the sink, wearing a white tank top and army green shorts. His face was stony as he worked his hands over something in the basin. With each scrub, the muscles in his arms flexed, veins and tendons visibly straining.

Zachary stepped closer and squinted to get a better look—he wasn't washing clothes. It was a bedsheet.

Mumbling to himself, he said, "Captain Locke's obsession with cleanliness is hardcore, washing his bedsheet in the dead of night."

Bedsheet… Jasper felt a faint blush wash over his ears. After years of emotional detachment, it was the first time he had experienced such a dream.

"Go back to sleep," Jaspe

Chapter 9