"You have your prenatal checkup tomorrow. This time, your husband will definitely go with you." Huo Qingfeng stroked his wife's face. He had been on missions during the previous two prenatal checkups and hadn't been able to go with her, so he had been thinking about it ever since. Although his sister-in-law was with him, it wasn't the same as him being there.
Ling Ruoke had a rib in her mouth and couldn't speak, so she gave him a sweet smile. Although she sometimes envied other husbands accompanying their wives to prenatal checkups, she didn't blame him. She knew better than anyone that if there was any chance, he wouldn't want her to go to the hospital alone. Besides, the hospital in this unit was mostly staff or their families; most women outside the obstetrics and gynecology department came alone, which wasn't unusual at all.
Huo Qingfeng breathed a soft sigh of relief. The less she threw a tantrum, the more he felt guilty towards her. No wonder some say that a smart woman doesn't try to win a man's affection by making a scene, but rather by being so obedient that he feels sorry for her, and he will willingly spoil her. This isn't always true, but there's some truth to it.
The next day, Huo Qingfeng took the day off and accompanied his wife to the hospital for a check-up early in the morning. He even brought breakfast in a thermos so that his wife could have breakfast as soon as her check-up was over.
Ling Ruoke's previous checkups showed everything was fine, so she wasn't worried. While waiting outside, she occasionally heard the doctor mention things like signs of miscarriage, which made her subconsciously touch her abdomen.
"Don't be nervous." Huo Qingfeng held her hand and comforted her with a slight smile.
Ling Ruoke truly felt less nervous. The baby was inside her, and she knew it was fine. But all mothers feel this way; after all, she couldn't see the child yet, and he wouldn't say anything, so it was inevitable that she would worry unnecessarily.
After the examination, Huo Qingfeng was just about to find a quiet place for his wife to sit down and have a proper breakfast when they unexpectedly ran into a woman.
"Captain Huo, are you feeling unwell?" The woman was young, and even her white coat couldn't hide her beauty. Especially her large, captivating eyes—they were irresistible.
Ling Ruoke was stunned for a moment before realizing it was the girl who had been watching them all day on New Year's Eve. If last time she had only guessed, this time she was absolutely certain that this person loved her husband!
Thinking of this, Ling Ruoke turned her head slightly and glanced at Huo Qingfeng. See? Your suitors are at it again!
Huo Qingfeng's heart skipped a beat, and his expression turned bitter. Oh no, his wife's going to be upset!
Huo Qingfeng looked at the woman opposite him, feeling genuinely wronged. He didn't even know her name. He only knew she was a doctor, and apparently had quite a powerful background. Knowing she was a doctor wasn't his fault; after all, he was a special forces soldier, spending every few days in hospitals, so he naturally knew which doctors were there, but names usually didn't match the person.
If Huo Qingfeng were a special forces soldier, there's no reason he wouldn't be able to tell whether Ruoke was truly angry or just pretending. The key is that Ruoke is too important to him; he's never been particularly adept at handling emotions. If it weren't for Ruoke's understanding nature, he wouldn't be able to manage emotional conflicts at all. Concern cloudes judgment, so even his strongest abilities were rendered useless.
Ling Ruoke looked at the girl, her brows furrowing slightly. If she had only guessed on New Year's Eve, now she was certain of one thing: this girl liked her colonel!
Looking at Huo Qingfeng's expression again, she knew in her heart that he had no interest in this girl. However, thinking that she had just lost Gu Zheng and now another unwanted suitor had appeared, she was still a little annoyed. Besides, she was heavily pregnant, and it was said that husbands were most likely to have ideas when their wives were pregnant. It would be good to give him a warning and prevent any potential problems. So, her displeasure was evident on her face.
Ling Ruoke's mind raced in a short time, then she reached out to take the thermos from his hand. "You guys chat, I'm going out to get something to eat first."
Huo Qingfeng instinctively stepped back, not daring to let his wife leave alone—that would be tantamount to courting death. So, disregarding that they were in a public place, he grabbed her waist and said sweetly, "Wife, I'll stay with you."
Without even glancing at the girl, he quickly pulled his wife away, wishing he had come out at the right time to run into her. Judging from his wife's reaction, it looked like a fight was in the works today.
Ling Ruoke struggled slightly but couldn't break free, so she silently let him carry her. This was a hospital; she couldn't let him lose face. However, she looked away, refusing to look at him.
Huo Qingfeng was extremely anxious. Although his wife wasn't the type to make a fuss unnecessarily, women are prone to jealousy. He had previously caused her a lot of suffering because Gu Zheng liked him. Now, with this other woman appearing out of nowhere, it was inevitable that his wife would think back to Gu Zheng, and her anger and resentment would surge upwards.
Once they reached the bench next to the hospital, Huo Qingfeng attentively helped his wife sit down. He set the thermos aside, then took her hand and confessed his feelings. "Wife, are you angry? I don't know her. I only saw her in a white coat when I was injured and hospitalized, so I knew she was a doctor. I don't even know her name, really!"
Ling Ruoke glared at him, stopping his explanation. Inwardly, she was practically bursting with laughter; she had only just realized how awful she had been. "I'm hungry. Can I eat something first? The baby's hungry."
"Oh, oh!" Huo Qingfeng immediately grabbed the thermos and, like a sycophant, scooped up a dumpling and fed it to his wife. "Wife, you eat, be careful it's hot."
Ling Ruoke didn't hesitate, opened her mouth and called out the dumplings, chewing slowly. Her eyes, however, didn't look at him, but instead casually glanced around.
This made Huo Qingfeng anxious. Actually, it wasn't a big deal, but the problem was that Ruoke had always been gentle and magnanimous, never blaming him even after Guzheng had hurt her. Now she was clearly jealous, and he was completely unsure of himself. "Wife, is it delicious?"
Ling Ruoke gave a slow, deliberate "hmm," her tone rising slightly. Then she turned her head and glanced at him. She didn't speak, her face expressionless. In reality, Ling Ruoke didn't dare to speak; she knew she'd lose her composure if she did. Come to think of it, she really wasn't suited for things like this, where she was jealous and possessive.
"Wife!" Huo Qingfeng wanted to shout. He feared nothing in his life except his wife's discomfort or unhappiness. "You really don't trust me?"
Ling Ruoke looked at him innocently, then shook her head with a slight wry smile after a while. "I didn't. It's just that they all say women become ugly when they're pregnant, and men are more prone to..."
"Wife!" Huo Qingfeng called out, leaning down to kiss her. "Don't say those two words. I'm not an ordinary man; I don't have that kind of self-control. Besides, you're not ugly at all. Who told you that nonsense? I've heard people say that pregnant women are the most beautiful, and I think you've become even more beautiful since you got pregnant." Her skin was so soft and supple; if he could indulge himself, he probably would have turned into a hungry wolf every day.
Seeing his nervous yet sincere expression, Ling Ruoke couldn't bear to tease him any longer. A warning bell should be given, but not overdone. So she reached out with a slight smile, leaned forward, and said, "Baby's starving."
Huo Qingfeng understood and quickly continued feeding her. Seeing the smile on his wife's face, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and resolved in his heart that he would avoid that female doctor from now on, staying as far away as possible. No, he meant he would avoid any unmarried woman he saw.
Judging from what those bastards were saying, there seemed to be quite a few women in the army who were interested in him. He needed to have a serious talk with them and make sure the news didn't reach his wife's ears.
Ling Ruoke actually knew that Huo Qingfeng was very popular with women in the army. He was tall, strong, handsome, and the best soldier, having become a colonel at a young age. It was no wonder that such a man was destined to be the object of women's affections. Her jealousy show today was also a reminder to him, so that no woman would come to provoke him when he was heavily pregnant. She particularly hated that kind of thing.
Huo Qingfeng obediently fed his wife breakfast, then finished off the meager amount left in the thermos himself in two bites. "Wife, let's go home." He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, another woman would come along and give him a second glance. Women were such a hassle, except, of course, for his wife.
"Okay." Ling Ruoke had eaten quite a lot, so she decided to walk around to digest.
So the husband helped his wife walk away slowly in the morning light, leaving behind a heartwarming silhouette.
In a corner of the hospital, a slender figure stood quietly, silently watching them. Her face was turned eastward, bathed in sunlight, making her expression unreadable. She simply kept watching them until they disappeared from her sight.
Huo Qingfeng took his wife home and, after several attempts to calm her down, confirmed that she was no longer angry before returning to training. His wife was his precious treasure; if she was unhappy, he couldn't concentrate on anything.
Ling Ruoke was well aware of this. Whether it was training or a mission, both were extremely dangerous, especially missions, where even a 0.1-second moment of distraction could cost you your life. This understanding was ingrained in Ling Ruoke's mind, so she never argued with him. Even if there was something disagreement, she would always resolve it immediately. She knew that nothing was more important than him returning alive from a mission!
This incident was quickly forgotten in Ling Ruoke's life. But for Huo Qingfeng, the mere sight of a woman would set off alarm bells.
In the blink of an eye, another half month has passed. Ling Ruoke's belly is getting bigger and bigger, and the baby is very lively. He no longer throws tantrums at his father. The father and son's favorite game is to touch each other's toes through her belly, and they probably forget all about it when they play.
In his spare time, Huo Qingfeng's favorite thing to do is to touch his wife's belly, tease the baby by making it kick here and there, and talk to it. Of course, he still stubbornly believes that it is a girl.
"My darling daughter, be a good girl and don't bother Mommy. After you come out, Daddy will love you very, very much. If you're naughty and bother Mommy, Daddy will spank your little bottom..."
Ling Ruoke let him be silly; after all, only she had the privilege of seeing him act so foolishly. Sometimes she would play with him, but more often she would read a book or watch TV, letting the father and son do whatever they wanted. Her intuition told her it was a boy, but she didn't dare tell the colonel.
Time flew by, and soon even He Jingwen's marriage certificate was issued. He and Li Jun got their marriage certificate as quickly as possible; from their blind date to their wedding, it only took a month—truly a whirlwind romance.
After getting their marriage certificate, He Jingwen took leave to accompany Li Jun back to his hometown for the wedding banquet. They had agreed that He Jingwen would accompany Li Jun to his military post, but Li Jun was still working. Ling Ruoke was willing to let him go, but some handover was necessary. Fortunately, there wasn't much to do after the New Year, so it didn't take as long as usual, which would have taken a whole month.
And so, Li Jun also joined the army.
Ling Ruoke now had a companion. Li Jun, who already liked her boss and was their matchmaker, was even more grateful. The young woman treated Ruoke like a nanny every day, going out of her way to cook delicious meals for her and taking meticulous care of her.
Ling Ruo knew that He Jingwen's family wasn't well-off either; his salary was enough to live on, but Li Jun was bored with being idle. She had originally planned to talk to her about finding a job. Unexpectedly, he already had his own ideas.
It turns out that Li Jun used to do cross-stitch for shops in her spare time to earn money. Now that she's with the military, she's at home all day and has taken up her old trade again. She doesn't earn a huge amount from each cross-stitch, but it's not cheap either; it just requires a keen eye. However, she's patient, so she's not afraid.
With Li Jun by her side, Ling Ruoke's life became much more comfortable. After all, the two were about the same age, already familiar with each other, and could talk to each other.
Huo Qingfeng also said that He Jingwen had become radiant since marrying Li Jun. Li Jun was gentle and devoted to her husband, very considerate. For He Jingwen, who had experienced betrayal and divorce, this was like sweet rain after a drought; she was naturally nourished upon encountering it.
At the same time, Huo Qingfeng also had a good impression of Li Jun. Not only could he keep his wife company, but he could also take care of her. He was originally very worried about Ruo Ke being home alone, fearing that something might happen and no one would know. After all, a service officer is a man, and sometimes it's not convenient for him. Now that Li Jun was there, all the problems were solved.
The two women would often cook a delicious meal together, and He Jingwen frequently ate at their house. As a result, the relationship between the two men deepened.
During this time, something else happened that greatly surprised Ling Ruoke.
The Gu family is under investigation!
Ling Ruoke wasn't entirely clear on the specifics, but she'd heard it was quite serious. The Gu family's power was not to be underestimated, and the fact that they were being investigated suggested that their actions were likely far from minor.
Huo Qingfeng didn't know whether he genuinely didn't know or couldn't reveal it, but he didn't tell her much. Knowing it might involve some confidential information, she didn't ask further; she wasn't a gossipy person to begin with.
When Ling Ruoke called Yang Ziyun, she told her about this. Yang Ziyun replied, "If you walk at night a lot, you're bound to see ghosts. It's not surprising."
There was nothing wrong with Yang Ziyun's words, but Ling Ruoke was puzzled by her tone; Yang Ziyun seemed completely unsurprised. Then she thought, her father-in-law is a general; perhaps Yang Ziyun is well-informed and knew about it even before she did. With that thought, she felt relieved.
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