You are my mission

The sound of a turning key made Su Xiaoxi hurriedly stuff the photo frame back into place. Lin Yi walked in carrying several shopping bags and frowned slightly at her expression. "What's wrong?" 

"N-Nothing!" Su Xiaoxi forced composure. "What did you get?" 

Lin Yi began unpacking—groceries, daily necessities, and even... a bag of marshmallows? 

"You like marshmallows?" Su Xiaoxi asked in surprise. 

Lin Yi paused. "...They're for you." 

The answer warmed her heart. As she took the bag, she suddenly noticed a fresh scrape on Lin Yi's right wrist. 

"You're hurt!" She grabbed his arm. 

Lin Yi tried to pull away. "Just a scratch." 

"Hold still!" Su Xiaoxi dug out the first-aid kit, firmly sat him down, and carefully disinfected and bandaged the wound. Surprisingly compliant, Lin Yi let her tend to him, though his breathing grew slightly uneven when she leaned close. 

"All done." She admired her handiwork—a dainty bow-tie bandage. "This way, it won't get infected." 

Lin Yi stared at the childish bow, his lips twitching slightly. "...Thanks." 

Dinner was a simple pasta Lin Yi prepared—unexpectedly delicious. Afterward, Su Xiaoxi volunteered to wash the dishes while Lin Yi sat on the sofa inspecting his weapon, deliberately facing away from the kitchen. Still, she could see his reflection in the window, deftly loading and unloading the magazine. 

Night made the safe house feel even smaller. Fresh out of the shower, Su Xiaoxi sat curled in a corner of the sofa in an oversized borrowed T-shirt (Lin Yi's), drying her hair. Lin Yi perched at the farthest end, eyes fixed on his laptop without glancing her way. 

"So..." Su Xiaoxi broke the silence. "Was that your father in the photo?" 

Lin Yi's fingers paused on the keyboard. "You saw it." 

"Sorry, I didn't mean to—" she stammered. "It just... fell out..." 

To her surprise, Lin Yi wasn't angry. He closed the laptop and was silent for a moment. "Yes. He was my father." 

"You look like him," she said carefully. 

"Once." His voice was calm. "He died. On a mission." 

Her heart clenched. "I'm sorry..." 

"It was a long time ago." Lin Yi gazed out the window, his profile under the lamplight strikingly lonely. "I grew up with my grandfather. Also military." 

"So that's why you..." 

"Mn." A brief confirmation. "Entered junior military academy at ten, special recruitment at eighteen, transferred to special operations at twenty-two." 

This was the first time he'd spoken about his past. Su Xiaoxi inched slightly closer. "And your mom?"