"yes"
Both of them wore perfectly timed smiles.
Fang Qiong pulled the two of them to sit down, looking them over from left to right.
These two kids are really good-looking; I wonder whose little rascal will be lucky enough to marry them in the future.
"I mentioned last time that I wanted to meet you. I've heard Uncle Gu sing your praises so much at home, and I'm really curious about you. Now that I've seen you in person, I really can't believe that such an outstanding young man is a soldier, and he's sitting right in front of me."
"And Jiaojiao, I heard your aunt praising you, saying that there are two outstanding girls in the family, both of whom are soldiers and very capable. Now I finally see them, and they are even more outstanding and beautiful than I imagined."
Aunt Gu is so good at praising people; even Chu Jiaojiao, who is thick-skinned enough, blushed at this moment.
I'm a little embarrassed; am I really as good as Aunt Gu says?
Gu Si sat on the other side of the sofa with his older brother, feeling extremely proud as he watched his wife (sister-in-law) praise their child (the soldier they had recruited).
"Aunt, now that you have a sister, your younger sister doesn't love me, her nephew, anymore. It's a good thing I kept thinking about you when I was in Kyoto," Xia Yiyang said, pretending to be hurt, which made everyone a little amused and exasperated.
"You smelly brat, you're nowhere near as good as a soft and fragrant girl."
Fang Qiong rolled her eyes at Xia Yiyang, who was performing.
"What? I don't smell bad at all. I don't smell bad at all." She then picked up her clothes and smelled them.
"It doesn't smell bad, really, Mom, smell it, your son doesn't smell bad at all." As she spoke, she pulled her clothes in front of Gu Si, causing Gu Si to push Xia Yiyang's face away with a look of disgust.
"Mom, don't you love me anymore? I'm your dearest son!" He even pretended to cry.
Unable to bear watching any longer, Gu Si sat down next to Chu Jiaojiao and put his arm around her shoulder.
"I have Jiaojiao now, I don't want you anymore."
"You're so heartless! I never thought you were such a heartless mother. I've decided that tonight I'm going to eat two big bowls of rice to soothe my wounded heart and eat you out of house and home. Who told you not to love me anymore?" She didn't forget to give her mother a sarcastic look after saying that.
The living room was filled with joy and laughter. Chu Jiaojiao and Xia Yiyang took turns performing, making the elders laugh so hard they couldn't catch their breath.
When Xia Lin returned, he paused at the door, composed himself, put on a gentle smile, and stepped into the house.
"What are you all talking about? I can hear your laughter from outside."
"Uncle, you're back."
"Big brother, sister-in-law"
"We're listening to Jiaojiao tell us funny stories from her childhood. We never expected this girl to be so clever even as a child."
Gu Si couldn't stop laughing and walked up to Xia Lin to take the things from his hands.
Xia Lin sat down on the sofa, and Gu Si poured her a cup of tea.
Chu Xingyue noticed that Xia Lin's expression was a bit strange. Although he was smiling, there was still something unusual about him.
"Auntie, Jiaojiao and I will go to the kitchen to help you. Xiaoyang, you come too."
Chu Xingyue stood up first.
"No need, elder brother, An'an, come to the study with me for a moment."
The group, still laughing, immediately stopped.
Gu Si was a little worried when he saw this. Xia Lin noticed his wife's expression and patted her hand to indicate that she didn't need to worry.
"It's nothing, I just have something to talk about at work with you and my brother. You two chat here, we'll be down in a bit." Xia Lin tried her best to smile.
Chu Xingyue followed the two into the study and closed the door to the second-floor study.
"Xia Lin, what happened?"
"Big brother, please sit down first. An'an, you sit down too."
"The research institute's team responsible for finding materials has lost contact."
Xia Lin glanced at Gu Yanting's expression.
Why are you looking at me like that?
"The one in charge of the team is Aci."
"What?" Gu Yanting immediately stood up, the stool hitting the ground with a jarring sound.
"When did this happen?" Chu Xingyue frowned.
"Just an hour before I got back."
"What does the higher-ups mean now? Have they already arranged for people to contact and rescue us?" Chu Xingyue asked in a deep voice.
"They said they've already arranged for a local search and rescue team to go up the mountain."
"That won't do. Do you know the place? I want to arrange for someone to go there myself."
"Uncle Gu, don't be impulsive. Wait for orders from your superiors. Don't act on your own." Gu Yanting was extremely anxious. If something happened to Aci, wouldn't that be the death of the old man?
"Is the person who made the arrangement reliable? Did the higher-ups say anything else?"
As Gu Yanting listened to Chu Xingyue's calm words, his heart gradually calmed down as well.
"They said to tell us to prepare, and the order will come down by tomorrow morning at the latest," Xia Lin replied.
"Do you know the approximate location where they went missing?" Chu Xingyue asked Xia Lin.
“I have a general idea of the location, An’an, what do you want to do?” Xia Lin quickly asked.
"Uncle, now that our military region has been informed about this, we will still be involved in the final search and rescue operation. Besides, they also told us to be prepared. Apart from the couple who went on the mission, do you think there are any other people who can be spared now?"
Chu Xingyue's words made Xia Lin and Gu Yanting fall into deep thought.
The two quickly came to their senses.
"An'an, what are your thoughts now?"
“I submitted the materials myself. I know all the materials needed and where they are. No one is more suitable than me.”
"Is there anything my brother and I need to do together?"
Xia Lin knew that it was pointless to stop her now. Besides, An An was right. No one knew as much as she did. If they arranged for someone else to go, they would have to have some concerns. If An An went herself, it might lead to unexpected results.
What about personnel?
Gu Yanting thought for a moment before speaking.
“It’s time to take the rest of the team out. Jiaojiao and Xiaoyang will go with them, especially Jiaojiao. She’s the most capable among them. With her help, I’ll have a better chance of winning. As for the school, Uncle Gu and my uncle will need to talk to the principal.”
“No problem, I’ll take care of it.” Gu Yanting volunteered.
"Um"
“We’ve been up here for quite a while, so let’s have a proper dinner. Otherwise, they’ll be worried about us downstairs.”
Xia Lin still remembers the worried look in Gu Si's eyes when he came up.
"Don't tell them yet, so they don't worry too much."
“I know, brother.”
They have a brother-in-law they raised like a son since childhood, and a brother and sister who have had a close relationship since they were young. If these two knew, they would have to quickly appease them to prevent them from overthinking and scaring themselves.
The group went downstairs. The atmosphere downstairs wasn't as cheerful as when Xia Lin had returned, but with Jiao Jiao and Xia Yiyang there, the two women weren't too worried about whether something bad had happened.
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