Chapter 549 | Chapter 550 | Chapter 551
Chapter 549: Injury! Fright!
Sheng Wanyan let out a terrified shriek, her eyes widening. Seeing the small knife about to plunge into Father Sheng’s abdomen, her face turned instantly deathly pale.
Clutching the stun baton in her hand, she immediately rushed forward, cradling her stomach as she walked, enduring the throbbing pain in her belly.
“Maodou! Bite him!”
Hearing Sheng Wanyan’s voice, Maodou instantly lunged forward and threw himself onto the thief to protect Father Sheng.
The thief was knocked to the ground. Though his knife slashed across Father Sheng’s arm, he was securely pinned down by Maodou, who sank his teeth deep into the intruder’s shoulder.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
The thief flailed the knife in his hand like a madman, desperately trying to plunge it into Maodou’s neck.
Sheng Wanyan pressed a hand against her belly and stepped forward, her forehead drenched in sweat. She moved in and used the stun baton to shock the thief pinned underneath the dog. The thief’s body convulsed before he instantly blacked out.
Seeing him lose consciousness, Sheng Wanyan’s body went completely limp, and she slumped onto the floor. Sweat dripped from her forehead as she clutched her stomach, before completely passing out herself.
“Wanyan!”
“Wanyan!!!”
When Sheng Wanyan woke up and stared at the ceiling, her mind hadn’t entirely processed the situation before she saw a crowd of people gathered around her bedside.
Grandfather and Grandma Sheng, Father and Mother Sheng, and everyone from the Gu family—except for Eldest Sister-in-law Gu, who was still resting during her recovery month—had all arrived.
And then there was Gu Tingxiao, who had finally returned from his months-long mission…
Father Sheng’s arm was wrapped in gauze, but he looked perfectly fine.
Waking up and looking at them, Sheng Wanyan’s very first instinct was to touch her own stomach. Finding that her belly was still swollen and firm, the tightly strung cord in her heart completely snapped loose.
“Wanyan…”
“Wanyan, how do you feel?”
Sheng Wanyan scanned the room but didn’t see Yi Yi, so she immediately propped herself up, trying to sit up in a panic.
“Yi Yi…”
Her voice was raspy, and she anxiously tried to swing her legs out of bed. Gu Tingxiao quickly stopped her, explaining Yi Yi’s situation to her.
“Yi Yi is fine.”
“Rest assured, Aunt Hu picked her up and took her to dance class.”
Yi Yi had absolutely no idea what had happened. When she woke up inside the wardrobe, she had actually thought her family was playing hide-and-seek with her. Once Mother Sheng found out about the previous night’s events, she quickly settled Yi Yi before rushing over to the hospital.
Hearing that Yi Yi was safe, Sheng Wanyan finally lay back down on the hospital bed.
“You really scared us half to death.”
Mother Gu patted her chest, a lingering dread in her voice. Out of nowhere, a thief had managed to break into the house and even injure someone. If Father Sheng hadn’t been there, she didn’t dare imagine what would have happened to Sheng Wanyan and her daughter.
Knowing full well that there was a man in the house, and knowing that Sheng Wanyan’s husband was a soldier, the thief still dared to be this audacious, breaking in to steal in broad daylight. This was simply lawless; he completely disregarded the nation’s statutes.
Gu Tingxiao fed Sheng Wanyan some water. In her moments of sheer panic, she had accidentally unsettled her fetal energy. Fortunately, she had been rushed to the hospital in time, and her constitution was robust; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
“Dad, are you alright?”
Sheng Wanyan looked at Father Sheng’s bandaged wound. He had been slashed by the knife, and she didn’t know how severe it was.
“I’m fine, it’s just a minor scratch, a superficial flesh wound.”
“It’ll heal in a few days.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded. Lying on the bed with a somewhat pale complexion, she didn’t pay much attention to Gu Tingxiao.
It was impossible for her not to feel a trace of resentment in her heart. She had been pregnant twice, yet she spent both terms entirely alone. Gu Tingxiao was like a shrewd merchant who only showed up to sow the seeds and then reap the harvest. The moment her belly swelled up and was almost ready for harvest, he magically appeared.
Gu Tingxiao naturally understood her resentment toward him. Let alone Sheng Wanyan, even he felt he was a terrible husband and a terrible father. Every single time his wife needed him, he was nowhere to be found. On top of managing her daily stresses, his wife still had to constantly worry about whether he was dead or alive.
“I’ll go get the doctor for a checkup.”
Mother Gu could clearly sense the underlying tension between the couple, so she quickly pulled Father Gu out of the room.
Grandfather Gu, Grandma Gu, Grandfather Sheng, and Grandma Sheng were all exceptionally perceptive elders; they quickly made up an excuse and left as well, with Eldest Brother Gu hurriedly following behind them. Why would he stay behind? Third Sister-in-law’s dark expression looked exactly like the one his own wife wore whenever she was about to settle scores with him!
“I’ll go with Old Sheng to buy some food.”
Father Sheng looked at Mother Sheng with complete bewilderment. When did I ever say I wanted to go buy food???
Mother Sheng didn’t give him a chance to speak, straight up dragging him out by his hand. This man was truly clueless and lacked any romantic sense whatsoever.
Father Sheng offered no resistance and allowed Mother Sheng to drag him away, leaving only the husband and wife, Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanyan, inside the hospital room.
“Wanyan…”
Gu Tingxiao’s voice was no better than Sheng Wanyan’s, sounding incredibly raspy.
Sheng Wanyan turned her head to look at him, and only now did she carefully notice that his face bore numerous small cuts and bruises, and his stubble looked as though it hadn’t been shaved in days. She could clearly see the dark circles under his eyes, and even his knuckles were covered in minor wounds.
Having been out on a mission for so long, she didn’t know if he had sustained any major injuries. The trace of anger in Sheng Wanyan’s heart vanished by more than half in an instant.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Hearing her concern, Gu Tingxiao’s eyes instantly turned red. He extended a trembling hand and carefully stroked her stomach.
He had rushed straight back the moment his mission concluded. He truly deserved to die; after all this time, he hadn’t even known his own wife was pregnant. Moreover, she was carrying twins, and he had no idea how his wife had managed over the past half year. Whether it had been grueling raising a toddler while pregnant, whether the babies were rowdy at night, and whether she had been unable to sleep well—he knew none of it.
“I’m fine.”
“Wanyan…”
Gu Tingxiao’s voice was thick and raspy. Sheng Wanyan looked at him. “What is it?”
“I’m sorry.”
Hearing his apology, Sheng Wanyan’s tears cascaded down like a waterfall. She turned her head away, not daring to look at him. Her tears soaked a small patch of the pillow, her heart filled with profound sorrow.
She didn’t regret marrying Gu Tingxiao, but she was a woman after all; she also wished that when she needed her husband, he could be by her side. When she ran into danger, she also needed someone to protect her. Her heart was filled with helplessness, yet she harbored no regrets.
Gu Tingxiao reached out to wipe her tears away, continuously repeating the words “I’m sorry.” The remaining trace of resentment in Sheng Wanyan’s heart instantly evaporated into thin air. She reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into his chest.
“I was so scared.”
“I can protect myself, but I couldn’t protect the child…”
If she were in danger, she could simply escape into her space, but what about Yi Yi! As a mother, it was impossible for her to abandon her child and ignore her safety, and what about Father Sheng! This was her greatest helplessness. She could protect herself perfectly well, but what about her family? As a mother and a daughter, she felt unable to protect them. That kind of powerlessness terrified her.
“It’s over now, it’s over.”
Gu Tingxiao held her tight, gently patting her back to comfort her. He knew everything. If anyone was to blame, it was entirely his fault. It was because he couldn’t stay at home, because his profession forced his wife and daughter to endure so much isolation and grievance.
Sheng Wanyan wept for a good while, fully venting all the stifled terror and stifled sorrow in her heart.
Chapter 550: Gu Tingxiao’s Apology
With Gu Tingxiao around, she could finally let her guard down and freely vent her emotions and dissatisfaction. As long as he was there, her heart felt grounded.
By the time the doctor came in for the final checkup, Sheng Wanyan had already finished crying and was eating the food her parents had bought for her.
“How is she?” Mother Gu asked anxiously.
After finishing the examination, the doctor’s expression softened. “She’s fine now. She can be discharged.”
“But you must be extremely careful after returning home. This cannot happen a second time.”
“Carrying twins is inherently risky. A pregnant woman’s body cannot afford to take another shock like this.”
“Go ahead and settle the bill, and then you can leave.”
Mother Gu hurriedly nodded and thanked the doctor, the heavy stone in her heart finally dropping to the ground.
“Also, regarding this patient’s arm,” the doctor pointed at Father Sheng, “remember to apply the prescribed ointment on time.”
Mother Sheng nodded repeatedly, fully intending to keep a strict eye on Father Sheng to make sure he applied it properly.
“Alright, thank you, Doctor.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
The doctor nodded and left. Sheng Wanyan hated staying in hospitals, so the moment she knew she could go home, her energy and spirit instantly surged back.
“Old Third, stay here and make sure Wanyan finishes her food. I’ll go settle the medical bills.”
“Once she’s done eating, support her downstairs. You’d better be careful with her!”
Gu Tingxiao nodded. While Father and Mother Gu went to pay the hospital expenses, Father and Mother Sheng hurriedly followed them out, worried that the in-laws might mistakenly pay for Father Sheng’s treatment fees as well.
Father Gu instructed his guard to bring the car right to the hospital entrance to wait, sparing Sheng Wanyan from walking too far.
“What happened to the thief?” Sheng Wanyan asked about the situation as she ate.
Gu Tingxiao explained it to her briefly. “The public security officers locked him up. He’s a repeat offender, and this time he even injured someone.”
“Breaking into a soldier’s home automatically upgrades the severity of the crime. He’ll be put away for at least six years.”
Sheng Wanyan let out a massive sigh of relief. As long as he couldn’t pose a threat to her family for the time being, it was fine. Six years later, their family would have long since moved back to live in the city proper. Father and Mother Sheng would also surely relocate to the south side of the city for the sake of Huzi’s education. Even if the thief wanted to seek revenge after his release, he wouldn’t be able to find them.
“Wanyan, the officers might come by the house later to take a statement.”
Sheng Wanyan paused for a moment. The thief had been knocked out cold by her stun baton, and Father Sheng had witnessed it.
“When they ask about it, just say that the stun baton was something I left behind for you to use for self-defense.”
Sheng Wanyan looked at Gu Tingxiao. Was this man really not going to question her at all?
“Actually, I…”
“Wanyan, don’t tell me.” Gu Tingxiao reached out and gently covered her mouth. His eyes were entirely serious as he stared intently at her.
Sheng Wanyan looked at him with bewilderment. Is this man… truly not curious at all?
“No matter what secrets you have, don’t tell me.”
“I’m afraid that in the future, I might grow greedy, or end up utilizing it and hurting you.”
“Keep your secrets safely to yourself. That way, even if I really do become greedy one day, you will still have your own confidence and a way out.”
Sheng Wanyan stared at him blankly. He had thought out everything for her, preparing for any potential disaster that might occur in the future—even including a scenario involving himself.
He was afraid that if he knew the secret, his future self might not be able to withstand the temptation. He was afraid he might hurt her, and afraid that after exposing himself to too much wealth and status down the line, he might fail to guard his own heart. He had arranged everything for her, but what about himself?
“I…”
“Be good.”
Sheng Wanyan swallowed the words she wanted to say, ultimately tacitly accepting Gu Tingxiao’s arrangement.
She was pragmatic, after all… But she did not believe her choice was wrong. She could not place her entire being onto a single man. She would let herself be selfish just this once; she chose to prioritize her own safety.
Since Sheng Wanyan was perfectly fine, they left the hospital. Now that Gu Tingxiao was back, Father Sheng naturally wouldn’t continue staying at their house. Sharing a roof with his son-in-law would be somewhat awkward, and besides, he missed his own wife…
Mother Sheng came over to help him carry his things, preventing him from aggravating his injury.
“Dad, Mom, stay and have dinner before you go.”
“No, no need. Let Little Gu get some proper rest first. We’ll come back in a few days.”
“Your dad will pick up Yi Yi later, so don’t worry about it.”
After speaking, Mother Sheng led Father Sheng away. One look at Gu Tingxiao and it was obvious he hadn’t slept properly for a very long time. They weren’t in a rush for a brief visit and didn’t want to disturb the young couple.
Gu Tingxiao was indeed utterly exhausted. He had traveled non-stop all the way back, only to run right into a thief the moment he stepped through the door in the middle of the night. Father Sheng had been injured, and Sheng Wanyan had fainted. He spent the previous night rushing them to the hospital, turning the thief over to the police, and then keeping watch at the bedside all night long. It was almost sunset now, and only after arriving back home was he finally able to rest for a brief moment.
“Go take a bath, and I’ll cook something for you to eat.”
“Don’t move. I’ll handle it myself.” Gu Tingxiao hurriedly settled her back onto the bed to rest. Reaching down, he took off her shoes and helped her lie back down.
Sheng Wanyan hadn’t seen him for half a year; suddenly being this intimate left her feeling a little unaccustomed, her entire body slightly stiff.
“Get some good rest, don’t worry about me.” After speaking, Gu Tingxiao went to tend to his own needs. He couldn’t bear to let his freshly discharged wife cook for him while carrying such a massive belly.
Mother Sheng brought over some cooked dishes from her house, sparing Gu Tingxiao from having to cook.
“Don’t bother making dinner tonight. Wanyan still has some provisions stored over at our place. When it’s dinner time, just walk over and carry the dishes back.” After dropping off the instructions, Mother Sheng left.
Gu Tingxiao saw her to the door, and Mother Sheng darted off toward the general store like a flash.
Gu Tingxiao finished eating and returned to the bedroom. Seeing the wardrobe door still wide open, he walked over and shut it. Even now, he couldn’t forget the scene from the previous night: when he opened the wardrobe, a little flesh roll had been sleeping soundly inside, drooling so much that the bedding was covered in her teeth marks.
“Oh right, what about school…?”
“Don’t worry, Mom already went to request a leave of absence for you.”
Seeing that everything had been properly settled, Sheng Wanyan peacefully enjoyed her break. When she slept, she had to lie on her side; otherwise, lying flat made her belly feel far too heavy, making it difficult to breathe.
In her sleep, her calf suddenly cramped. Gu Tingxiao snapped his eyes open, sitting up immediately to massage her calf.
The couple rested for about three hours until it was dinner time. The moment Yi Yi returned home, she instantly searched out Gu Tingxiao, forcing him to resign himself to getting out of bed.
“Papa!”
“Yi Yi, come here.”
Gu Tingxiao opened his arms, and Yi Yi sprinted straight into his embrace. Gu Tingxiao scooped her up, his arms tensing slightly with the effort.
Though the father and daughter hadn’t seen each other for so long, their bond hadn’t grown distant in the slightest, remaining just as wonderful as before he left.
“You’ve gotten quite a bit heavier.” Gu Tingxiao’s mouth ran faster than his brain, earning him an immediate glare from his daughter.
“Papa! Hmph~” Yi Yi crossed her little arms and pouted, looking thoroughly displeased.
“I said it wrong. You’ve gotten much healthier.”
Only then did Yi Yi cheer up again, and the father and daughter instantly became as thick as thieves once more. Watching them, Sheng Wanyan could only shake her head.
The family of three turned in early after dinner. Gu Tingxiao hadn’t slept for long before being rumbled awake by Yi Yi; if he didn’t catch up on his sleep now, he was afraid he would start to feel entirely dazed.
Chapter 551: Cultivating Talent
Sheng Wanyan rested at home for two days before she finally found the time to ask Gu Tingxiao about his upcoming work arrangements.
“You’re not going back to Bingcheng?” Sheng Wanyan looked at Gu Tingxiao, her eyes brimming with anticipation.
Gu Tingxiao’s brow softened as he nodded. “I’m not going back. I’ve already been transferred back to the Capital. I’ll be serving in the Capital Military Region and can report for duty once my injuries are fully healed.”
Sheng Wanyan excitedly grabbed his arm, her eyes clearly writing Is this for real? “Really?”
“Really. From now on, I’ll be right by your and our child’s side.” Gu Tingxiao’s large hand clasped her small one, placing it on his lap as he smoothed the stray hairs from her forehead.
Sheng Wanyan had her hair tied up in a bun, and due to her pregnancy, her face was slightly chubby. As she stared at him with her crystal-clear eyes, Gu Tingxiao found her incredibly endearing. She looked exactly like a larger version of Yi Yi.
“That’s wonderful!” Sheng Wanyan had finally been waiting for this day. The family would finally no longer have to be separated, and she wouldn’t have to live in constant fear and anxiety.
“Then what position do you hold in the Capital Military Region?” After asking, Sheng Wanyan avoided his eyes.
Amused, Gu Tingxiao squeezed her hand. “I thought you weren’t planning to ask.”
“How could I not! Who doesn’t want to be the wife of a high-ranking officer…” Sheng Wanyan muttered the latter half of her sentence very softly. But who was Gu Tingxiao? A soldier’s hearing was top-notch.
Upon hearing this, Gu Tingxiao instantly let out a laugh, his chest vibrating with his chuckles.
Sheng Wanyan glared at him, her expression rather constipated. What was so funny?
“Alright, in the future, I will make you the most remarkable officer’s wife.” Gu Tingxiao’s words were very forceful, carrying a solemn seriousness as if he were taking an oath.
Sheng Wanyan instantly felt incredibly awkward. Now that he knew the little vanity hidden in her heart, she felt too embarrassed to face anyone.
Gu Tingxiao had always thought Sheng Wanyan didn’t care about power and status, but it turned out she simply kept it in her heart without speaking it aloud. Now that he knew, he would certainly strive hard in that direction to give her the greatest satisfaction.
“Are you going to tell me or not?” Sheng Wanyan turned her embarrassment into anger.
Gu Tingxiao didn’t want to keep teasing her, so he quickly revealed his rank. “I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you. I’m still a regiment commander. I’m not old enough yet, so I can’t be promoted further just yet.”
After speaking, he observed Sheng Wanyan’s expression. Her face was completely filled with smiles—a regiment commander was fantastic! A regiment commander at the main the Capital Military Region! That was no small position!
Furthermore, he would be assigned an orderly and a communications officer. However, they would only work within the military region and wouldn’t come to the house, since they weren’t personal bodyguards who needed to follow him twenty-four hours a day.
If Gu Tingxiao wanted to climb higher, he would either need to accumulate more military merits or wait a few more years. But Sheng Wanyan knew he would choose the first path; he wouldn’t just wait around for time to pass, he would take the initiative.
“Whatever position it is, as long as the family doesn’t have to be separated, it’s for the best.”
Hearing this, Gu Tingxiao pulled her onto his lap. Sheng Wanyan gave his chest a testy pat. “Keep your hands to yourself.”
“I’m keeping them to myself. Just a hug.” Sheng Wanyan didn’t move, letting him hold her. This man was truly a closet romantic.
“Once you report for duty, if you’re too busy, just stay at the courtyard house in the city. Don’t run back and forth.” One had to know that driving from the city to here took a full three hours; running back and forth every day would be exhausting.
“Don’t worry about me. Unless it’s an absolute emergency, I will naturally come back to protect you and our daughter.”
Sheng Wanyan smiled and nodded. As long as he didn’t find it too grueling himself when the time came, it was fine.
After the two doted on each other for a while, public security officers came to the door to ask about the incident that day. Sheng Wanyan recounted everything word for word, and explained the stun baton to the officers exactly according to Gu Tingxiao’s cover story. In this era, a stun baton wasn’t easy to obtain, but given Gu Tingxiao’s status as a military officer, the public security side didn’t question it.
“Alright, we’ve gathered all the details on our end. The public security bureau will handle everything properly from here, so please rest assured.” When the officer said the last sentence, he stole a glance at Gu Tingxiao. Sheng Wanyan didn’t notice the look exchanged between the two of them, nodding with a smile as she saw them off.
“Wanyan, you rest at home. I’ll go pick up Yi Yi.”
“Okay.”
Once he left, Sheng Wanyan took some fruits from her space to supplement her nutrition, placing a few apples and snow pears in the cabinet.
The clothing store’s newly made winter garments already had finished products ready, and an employee had brought them to the house for her to check. Seeing that the workmanship had no issues, Sheng Wanyan arranged for them to be put on the shelves for sale within the next two days!
The weather in the Capital was already getting slightly chilly, so selling them now would allow them to rake in a wave of profit. Upon hearing that they could start selling, the employee excitedly rushed back to the store to arrange the stock.
New arrivals on the shelves meant their wages would also increase, so how could they not be excited? They loved working here; although the shift system was strict, they could tend to their own affairs when there were no customers. They could gossip a bit or step out to buy some snacks to chat over, and the boss never scolded them for it.
As long as the work was completed, the boss was incredibly generous, frequently bringing them treats and providing excellent benefits during holidays. For National Day, she had straight up given them a paid day off so they could join the hustle and bustle at Tiananmen to watch the flag-raising. Furthermore, she had prepared a crate of fruit and a set of clothes from the shop as a National Day bonus for them. When the neighbors found out, they were green with envy.
With a generous boss, they were even more motivated to work and wanted to earn more money for her.
Watching the employee’s retreating figure, Sheng Wanyan had her own plans. Once she gave birth, the preparations for the branch store could get underway. When that time came, these three veteran employees would be promoted to store managers for training, along with a pay raise!
However, they still lacked a bit of capability when it came to handling crises. After mulling it over, Sheng Wanyan decided to let them handle their own customers for the foreseeable future. With more experience, they would be able to manage a storefront well.
Sheng Wanyan paid a visit to the clothing store, and seeing that there were no customers at this hour, she spoke up immediately.
“Boss.”
“Sit down, everyone.”
The three employees sat down one after another. Every time the boss came, it was for a good thing, so was it a good thing this time too?
“It’s like this—aren’t I pregnant with twins? I suffered a fright two days ago, so I need to recuperate properly. Therefore, for the foreseeable period before I give birth, you three can discuss and resolve any matters regarding the clothing store yourselves. Just make sure the daily accounts are clear and bring them to me.”
The three employees exchanged glances. Did the boss mean what they thought she meant?
“Boss, your meaning is… we make the decisions ourselves?”
“Yes. Only come to me if it’s an issue you absolutely cannot resolve. Handle those difficult customers yourselves. As for the store’s operations and warehouse management, you will also discuss and handle them together.”
