He recalled Howard's description of the little sun with a braid and a smile as sweet as honey, and his heart felt like it had been hit hard by a hammer, causing him to gasp in pain.
Gong Zhu paused for a moment. As a doctor, she had seen too many scars left by suffering, both physical and mental.
The marks on Mingzhao's body were shocking.
She understood Minglang's pain. "Comrade Minglang, what's past is past, and no amount of pain can change it. The most important thing now is to look forward. Mingzhao is still alive, and that's the greatest hope. Her 'quietness' may be a form of protection, a... special way of surviving. Commander Huo is trying to enter her world, and you've seen it; she responds, albeit slowly and with difficulty."
She put down the gauze, picked up disinfectant and cotton swabs, and began to treat the few small wounds on the back of his hand.
The sting of the iodine made Minglang's brows furrow even more, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the mental anguish he felt.
“A special way of surviving…” Minglang chewed on Gongzhu’s words, the pain in his eyes did not lessen, but instead settled into a deeper, colder hatred.
"Huang Weiguo! Li Hongmei! Those two beasts! Spies! Scoundrels! They ruined my Zhaozhao! They deserve to die a hundred times over!"
He practically gritted his teeth as he spoke those words, each one dripping with venom.
Gong Zhu paused slightly as she tended to the wound. She looked up at the murderous hatred in Ming Lang's eyes and said softly, "They've been arrested and are being interrogated by the National Security Bureau. They will receive the punishment they deserve. Your task now is to recover so that you can better accompany and protect Ming Zhao once you're healed."
"Punishment? The death penalty?" Minglang sneered, without a trace of pleasure in his eyes. "Even if you execute them a hundred times, can you turn my Zhaozhao back to her original state?"
He took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently, as if trying to suppress the surging hatred within him.
After a long while, he spoke in an unusually calm yet chilling voice:
"Dr. Gong, I need your help."
Gong Zhu raised her head: "You speak."
"Make a call for me." Minglang's gaze sharpened, like a drawn blade, fixed on Gongzhu. "Call to the capital and find my grandfather. Tell him... Minglang has an emergency, a matter of life and death, and he must answer the phone personally!"
Gong Zhu's heart skipped a beat! The capital? Her maternal grandfather? A matter of life and death? She instantly realized that Ming Lang was probably targeting more than just Huang Weiguo and Li Hongmei!
“The capital? This…” Gong Zhu hesitated.
In this day and age, long-distance calls are an extremely scarce resource, especially those across military regions or provinces and cities. They require multiple transfers, involve complicated procedures, and the content of the calls is sensitive and easily monitored and recorded.
What's more, they'd have to fight their way to the capital and find a "grandfather" who sounds like he's someone of extraordinary status.
"Dr. Gong!" Minglang saw her concerns and spoke with an undeniable plea and determination.
“I know this is difficult! But only my grandfather can investigate this matter! And only he can get justice for Zhaozhao and my parents!”
He paused, his voice lowering further, yet each word was like a knife, laced with bloodlust: "Huang Weiguo is a spy! He's been lurking for so many years, his heart filled with malice! Then, back then, the deaths of my aunt and uncle...were they really just accidents?! Really... just to save that beast Huang Weiguo?!"
These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, exploding in Gong Zhu's ears!
The tweezers in her hand clattered into the enamel dish with a sharp, piercing sound! She looked up abruptly, staring at Minglang in shock, her face turning deathly pale!
Aunt and uncle? Mingzhao's parents?! An accident? Saving Huang Weiguo?!
Gong Zhu was a doctor and a soldier. She instantly understood the meaning behind Minglang's words!
If Huang Weiguo was a premeditated spy, then the "accident" that led to the death of Mingzhao's parents, Huang Weiguo's "luck" survival, and his "natural" adoption of the orphan girl...
The truth hidden behind it is probably far darker and bloodier than the word "accident" suggests!
A chill ran down Gongzhu's spine! Looking into Minglang's eyes, burning with the flames of revenge and heart-wrenching grief, she finally understood why he was so resolute!
This is not just about seeking justice for Mingzhao's abuse; it's about uncovering a bloody case that may have been buried for over a decade! It's about avenging the parents! It's about getting peace for the innocent younger sister!
The winds of change seemed to press in silently through the window of the hospital room at this moment.
However, undercurrents are still surging underground, and enemy sabotage activities have never ceased.
An “accident” that happened more than a decade ago has led to a spy case. The conspiracy and power behind it may be something that a battalion commander or even a regimental commander could not easily shake!
Minglang is... gambling everything! He might even drag his grandfather into this bottomless vortex!
Gong Zhu's heart began to pound.
She looked at Minglang, at the resolute determination and deep-seated pain in his eyes, and remembered Mingzhao's empty eyes and the scar on his forehead.
A strong sense of justice and the grief and indignation of being a fellow military family member welled up in my heart!
“Okay!” Gong Zhu’s voice trembled slightly, yet remained unusually firm. “I’ll make the call for you! The duty room’s phone line is empty tonight, I’ll figure something out! But… I can only give you five minutes! And the content…”
She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear: it had to be subtle, and she absolutely couldn't leave any evidence against her.
“I know!” Minglang nodded emphatically, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes. “Five minutes is enough! Just tell Grandpa: Minglang has just woken up from his serious injuries and found Zhaozhao in the Northern Military Region. Zhaozhao… is in bad shape. Huang Weiguo is a spy and has been captured. Please, Grandpa… be sure to investigate whether there was really an ‘accident’ involving my aunt and uncle back then!”
The word "accident" was emphasized heavily by Minglang, filled with a bloody accusation and a cold questioning.
Gong Zhu silently made a mental note and nodded vigorously: "I understand. You... don't get too excited, get some rest and conserve your energy. I'll come and get you as soon as the call connects."
She quickly tidied up the medicine tray, gave Minglang a deep look, her eyes filled with worry, admiration, and a silent promise.
After Gong Zhu left, the ward fell silent again. Minglang leaned against the headboard and closed his eyes. The wound on the back of his hand throbbed faintly, but it was nothing compared to the feeling of being pierced by a thousand arrows in his heart.
My aunt's gentle smile, my uncle's hearty voice, and little Zhao Zhao with her pigtails who would run into his arms and call him "brother"...
Vivid images surged through my mind, only to be mercilessly covered by Mingzhao's pale, indifferent, scarred face.
Huang Weiguo, how many more heinous things have you done?
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