160, first meeting, acknowledgment.

"You two...?" Father Jing asked tentatively. Although his daughter had made things clear the last time she returned, and he and his wife had both expressed their agreement and support, they had not expected their daughter to marry a man so quickly.

"Mom, Dad, we have already registered our marriage and held the wedding banquet yesterday!" Jing Qingxin said frankly.

Hearing this, the couple felt much more at ease; after all, they had mentally prepared themselves. They just needed a little time to process the news.

"Well, everyone sit down. Tell us all about it!" Mother Jing said with a smile, gesturing for them to take a seat. Standing around to chat was tiring and awkward, wasn't it?

Once the four of them were seated, Jing Qingxin gave a brief account of their wedding ceremony.

Father and Mother Jing nodded with satisfaction. Even though the conditions were rudimentary, a major life event like marriage could not be taken lightly. They were pleased with Gao Shen's conduct; at the very least, he had given their daughter a proper and legitimate status, ensuring she was not wronged.

"Mom, Dad... we only have twelve hours here. A-Shen insisted on exchanging his own lifespan for this opportunity to travel through time," Jing Qingxin said softly, her voice choked with emotion. Her heart ached just thinking about it.

Although she did not finish her sentence, her parents understood perfectly.

Father Jing reached out and patted Gao Shen on the shoulder, saying in a deep voice, "You are worthy of my daughter's devotion."

Mother Jing’s eyes reddened, moved by the realization that this man would go to such lengths for her daughter. It confirmed that her daughter had made the right choice, and she felt both comforted and overjoyed. She was relieved that her daughter had found a life partner, and happy that he was truly worth trusting—a man who would surely cherish her.

At this, Gao Shen stood up, posture straight, his hands hanging naturally at his sides. He bowed deeply to Father and Mother Jing and said with solemn sincerity, "Thank you for supporting and consenting to our union. Please rest assured, I will take good care of Qingxin and never let her suffer or be wronged. I swear this upon my military uniform!"

For a soldier, the meaning of his uniform went without saying. It represented his highest loyalty and passion. Offering the most sacred symbol of his life as a pledge to their daughter was, without a doubt, the greatest display of his sincerity and intent.

Father Jing nodded and asked, "What is your current rank? Are you a company commander?"

Mentioning his rank made Gao Shen feel a bit tense. While being a company commander was quite an accomplishment in his era, he couldn't help but think of the ranks of the three men in the Jing family seen in photographs. Compared to the men of the Jing family, he felt he wasn't quite good enough yet.

But the thought of Qingxin filled him with renewed fighting spirit and hope. He straightened his back and said firmly, "Rest assured, Father, I will work twice as hard to earn merit! When I return to the unit this time, I am expected to be promoted to deputy battalion commander!"

"Don't be too eager for quick success. Military merit can be earned over time, but your safety is paramount. The system of your era is different from ours; reaching the position of deputy battalion commander in your time is already quite impressive. Besides, you are still young and have plenty of opportunities," Father Jing said earnestly.

As a military man himself, he understood the passion in Gao Shen’s heart. Who wouldn't want to achieve glory? But he was also a father, and he had to consider his daughter’s future; merit was not as important as her lifelong happiness.

Strangely, Father Jing felt a bit awkward using the word "young." Looking at their current appearances, he was the elder, of course. But when he considered the eras they were born in, he felt a bit sheepish. By that calculation, his son-in-law was actually decades older than him and had been in the service much longer!

Thinking of this, the corner of Father Jing’s mouth twitched. How was he supposed to get past this?

"Yes, you are right, Father. I understand," Gao Shen replied with a humble expression.

"Just call us Mom and Dad," Mother Jing added from the side. "The formal titles are just labels; it feels so distant to be so formal."

"Alright, Mom, Dad," Gao Shen complied. He treated his interactions with Qingxin’s parents with the utmost gravity, terrified of leaving a bad impression.

"It's about time; I’ll go prepare dinner. You two keep talking. We’ll go out to eat as a family tonight once Qingmu returns!" Mother Jing said with a smile, standing up and winking at her daughter.

Receiving her mother's signal, Jing Qingxin smiled and said, "Dad, A-Shen, I’m going to help Mom with dinner. You are both soldiers, so you should have plenty to talk about."

She gave Gao Shen a look, signaling him to relax and enjoy the conversation.

Afterward, Jing Qingxin accompanied her mother to the kitchen. The family's helper, Chen Sao, happened to be on leave for two days, so Mother Jing had been doing the cooking. This worked out well; since Gao Shen was not from this time, it was better to avoid contact with people they knew well to prevent any awkward explanations.