Chapter 436: Extra Story 2
This time, Lei Xing truly let go.
He loved Su Tao so much that he feared ruining her happiness and would rather step aside to fulfill her wishes.
Grabbing Shi Zijin by the collar, he roared: “If you ever hurt her, I’ll kill you! I swear, I’ll kill you!”
He wanted to punch Shi Zijin again but thought about how Su Tao might feel sorry for him later, so he held back and stormed away.
Su Tao jogged over and saw Shi Zijin’s face covered in blood, his nose visibly crooked.
“You—ugh, go see Doctor Zhong.”
Shi Zijin seemed oblivious to the pain, casually wiping the blood while asking her, “Is it true?”
Su Tao pulled him toward Zhong Gaoyi’s clinic. “What’s true? Hurry up, your blood is soaking through your clothes.”
“You love me so much that there’s no room for anyone else—is that true?”
Su Tao muttered, “…I never said that.”
“You didn’t say it, but you admitted it.”
“You’re so annoying. Fine, bleed to death here if you want.”
She turned to leave, but Shi Zijin immediately followed, his tone soft and clingy.
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll remember this moment—this punch was worth it.”
The Taoyang clinic had expanded into the Taoyang Hospital, now ten times its original size, with nearly five hundred medical staff, including the young medical assistant, Chen Xi.
Despite her age, Chen Xi had exceptional talent in medicine. Even Zhong Gaoyi praised her as a rare medical prodigy. With her sharp memory and meticulous nature, she was already assisting with moderately complex surgeries.
After quickly bandaging Shi Zijin’s wound, Chen Xi said, “Your nose is slightly dislocated. Come back tomorrow to see Uncle Zhong—he’s spending the day with my mom.”
Su Tao was curious. “Why does your mom need company?”
Zhuang Wan, a workaholic and career powerhouse, rarely prioritized anything over work. It was unusual for her to need her husband’s company.
Chen Xi blushed, leaned closer, and whispered, “I think my mom’s pregnant.”
“What?”
Su Tao was stunned. At thirty-seven or thirty-eight, Zhuang Wan being pregnant meant she’d be considered an older, high-risk mother.
Chen Xi shushed her. “It’s almost certain. Uncle Zhong’s with her for a check-up today.”
On second thought, Su Tao figured that with Zhong Gaoyi’s medical expertise, they’d manage any complications. Plus, having a child could further strengthen their relationship.
Chen Xi clasped her hands together in a hopeful gesture.
“I hope it’s a little sister—please let it be a sister!”
She was tired of dealing with younger brothers. Even though Chen Yang had grown into a skilled marksman with awakened powers, every time she saw him, she still wanted to twist his ears.
Two months later, the news was confirmed—Zhuang Wan was indeed pregnant.
She was shy about it, feeling a bit embarrassed to be pregnant at her age, and only confided in Su Tao.
Su Tao happily congratulated her and then thought of Meng Xiaobo. Six months earlier, he had welcomed a baby girl and doted on her endlessly. Since becoming a father, he had become even more soft-hearted.
It seemed like the birth rate in Taoyang was on the rise.
Minister Xu had also mentioned that since the vaccine became widely available, the national birth rate had increased significantly.
In the past, people were too focused on survival to think about having children. Now that life was stabilizing, people felt hopeful enough to start families.
Su Tao couldn’t help but feel sorry for her friend Manman. Over the past year, everyone around her had gotten married or had kids—it must have been tough for her.
Two days later, Jiang Yu suddenly requested an extended leave.
He wanted to return to his birthplace with his sister Jiang Tong’s belongings.
Su Tao readily agreed and even offered to drive him. She had been planning a cross-country road trip for months—traveling north to Changjing, south to the coast, west to the borderlands, and even across the sea.
She wanted to see the nation she had worked so hard to rebuild.
Jiang Yu smiled faintly and gazed into the distance.
Tongtong, I hope you’re doing well in the other world.
Another month drifted by, and Su Tao began to feel restless. It was time to set off on her journey.
Of course, Shi Zijin wasn’t going to let her go alone. He took a six-month leave from Dongyang and shamelessly tagged along in her RV.
The RV was a gift from Manman, and it would be perfect for their long adventure.
On the day they departed, someone unexpected returned—Shi Ziyue, whom they hadn’t seen for over a year.
Su Tao was stunned by her appearance. The once-delicate beauty now looked as tanned as an African miner.
“Oh my god, what happened to you? Weren’t you supposed to be studying abroad? Did they trick you into working in a coal mine?”
A year and a half ago, Shi Ziyue had left for practical training and, due to her exceptional performance, was selected to study in Changjing. After awakening her powers six months later, she was sent overseas as part of the Federation’s peacekeeping force.
In reality, Shi Zijin had pulled some strings to get her a safer, more prestigious position.
Shi Ziyue scratched her head. “Is it that bad?”
Su Tao laughed. “Ask your brother if you don’t believe me.”
Shi Ziyue flashed a wide grin at Shi Zijin, making her dark complexion even more noticeable.
Unable to bear the sight, Shi Zijin asked, “Are you staying this time?”
Shi Ziyue nodded excitedly. “I’m not going back. They’re assigning me directly to Changjing—I even got a military rank!”
Proudly, she patted her brother’s arm.
“When I heard you were seriously injured, they tried to hide it from me. But I wasn’t worried—you always pull through, no matter how bad things get.”
Shi Zijin smiled faintly. “Don’t ask me for money again.”
Without hesitation, Shi Ziyue turned to Su Tao. “Sister Tao, can I ask you instead?”
Su Tao laughed. “Of course, anytime.”
A week later, Shi Ziyue left for Changjing with a generous gift from Su Tao. Before leaving, she couldn’t resist giving her brother one last piece of advice:
“Brother, be stingy with me all you want, but you’d better not be stingy with Sister Tao.”
Shi Zijin chuckled softly. “I’m only stingy with you.”
Shi Ziyue snorted, then hesitated before adding:
“Brother… Don’t go back to the frontlines anymore. I’m grown up now—I’ll take your place.”
Shi Zijin froze, his expression softening into a gentle smile.
“Okay.”
