Huo Qingfeng received a new mission. This time, the destination was the turbulent country of X, a war-torn nation rife with danger, murder, and hatred.
This mission was extremely challenging. So before the mission, the captain gave the team members two days off, allowing them to spend some more time with their families.
Huo Qingfeng had just returned home and hadn't even finished cleaning when his mother appeared. He was slightly surprised.
If it were the general's father, that would be possible, after all, he's his superior. Every soldier keeps their mouth shut about military matters. Even if the general knew about his new mission, he would absolutely not tell the old lady its details.
Yang Ziyun stood by the door, somewhat taken aback as she watched her son kneeling on the floor, carefully wiping it with a rag. She increasingly realized that she didn't understand her child. Or rather, ever since he met Ling Ruoke, he wasn't the child she knew.
"Mom, why are you here?" Huo Qingfeng was also a little surprised, as the old lady had been going to Z City too frequently lately.
Yang Ziyun stepped aside slightly, and a small figure ran out from behind her.
"Daddy!" he called out loudly, the sound lingering. The little guy jumped onto him, very excited. "Daddy, I missed you so much!"
Huo Qingfeng grabbed the rag, his arms outstretched, unable to move. "Daddy misses you too." He nuzzled his forehead.
"Fu'an, come down first and let Daddy wash his hands, okay?" It had been a while since he'd seen the little guy, and he missed him quite a bit.
"Okay!" The little guy kissed him and let go of his hands.
Huo Qingfeng washed his hands and came out. As usual, he picked him up and tossed him into the air. The ceiling wasn't high enough, so he didn't dare to use too much force, afraid of hitting the ceiling.
As usual, the little guy enjoyed this feeling very much, laughing happily.
After the father and son finally finished their game that they always played when they met, Yang Ziyun finally had a chance to speak. "You two have a good time together. I'm going to visit your Aunt Rong at the Gu family's house."
"Oh," Huo Qingfeng responded without saying anything. He knew that she and the Gu family wouldn't give up until they had paired him up with Gu Miaomiao.
After his mother left, Huo Qingfeng sat down on the sofa with the little one in his arms. Looking closely, he noticed the little guy was thinner than when they were in Z City. He reached out and pinched his less chubby cheeks. "Little guy, did you miss Mommy?"
Without Ruoke's care, both father and son have lost weight. Without his protection, is his Ruoke alright?
Thinking about it this way, his mood immediately became heavy.
"Yes!" The little one pouted, and large tears began to fall one by one. He squeezed his big eyes shut and burst into loud sobs.
Since being brought back to City B, he cried for his mother almost every day. Sometimes he would throw tantrums and refuse to eat no matter what. Yang Ziyun tried her best to soothe him. But almost every night before bed, he would throw a tantrum, and even the general's scolding didn't work. Because of this, the little guy lost a lot of weight; his chubby little body in City Z became much slimmer, and his face lost its soft baby fat.
Huo Qingfeng held his small body in his arms, gently patting his back and nuzzling his head with his chin. The little guy missed his mother, and he missed his wife too.
"Daddy, where did Mommy go? When is Mommy coming home?" The little girl sobbed, her eyes red and watery, looking pitiful.
Huo Qingfeng pressed his forehead against his son's; both father and son missed that gentle woman. "Soon. As long as Xiao Fu'an behaves well, Mommy will come home after finishing her business. Then, Daddy and Mommy will go to Grandpa and Grandma's to pick up Xiao Fu'an, and we'll live together again like before."
"Really?" He hiccuped, his lips pursed.
Huo Qingfeng smiled and touched his cheek. "Really, Daddy promises you." He also needed that gentle person, and he would find her no matter what.
He recently confirmed that Ruoke was indeed not in Cang Weiwo's hands. Although there were no concrete leads yet, all the investigative signs indicated that she should be safe. This put his mind at ease, as he had been constantly worried about her being harmed.
"Then Fu'an will be a good boy and listen to his parents. Daddy and Mommy, hurry up and come pick Fu'an up!" The little guy stretched out his little hand, wanting to make a pinky promise with his daddy.
Huo Qingfeng reached out and pulled him close, then kissed his forehead. "Mmm, soon."
The little one snuggled into his arms, hugging his neck, her little face pressed against his.
Huo Qingfeng breathed a sigh of relief. Normally, the little guy was the most mischievous, always making his mother laugh. Now that Ruo Ke wasn't around, even the child seemed a bit listless.
Honey, neither of us can live without you!
For the rest of the time, the father and son worked together to scrub the floor and wash the furniture, waiting for their loved one to return to a clean home. The little guy grabbed the rag and tried to do a good job, sticking his bottom out and wiping and mopping here and there, making more of a mess than a help. But he was in high spirits, so Huo Qingfeng let him be.
After finishing the spring cleaning, the father and son took a bath together. The little guy hadn't seen his dad in a long time, and although mommy wasn't there, he was in a great mood. He crawled around in the bathtub, busy as a bee. He was also babbling incoherently, in a language only he could understand.
Huo Qingfeng simply closed his eyes and let him do as he pleased. Anyway, he couldn't climb out of the bathtub.
"Daddy, Daddy..." The little guy seemed to remember something again, babbling as he climbed up from between his daddy's legs onto his body. Just as his little feet made their way to a certain part of his daddy's body, a scream echoed from the bathroom.
"Huo Fu'an!" Huo Qingfeng's face turned green with pain. The little guy didn't weigh much, but he had stepped on a man's most vulnerable spot!
Little Fu'an had no idea what trouble he had gotten himself into. He looked at his dad with his big, bright eyes, tilting his head in confusion. His expression was utterly innocent.
Once the excruciating pain subsided, Huo Qingfeng grabbed the little guy, pressed him against his knee, and gave him a few slaps on his bottom. He controlled his strength, so it didn't hurt.
The little guy is usually very spoiled and rarely gets hit, plus it doesn't hurt at all. In fact, sometimes when he misbehaves, Mommy will hit him like this. Because she's gentle, she's not really angry, and the little guy doesn't see it as punishment, but as a game! So when Daddy hit him this time, he just grinned and quacked like a little duck.
Huo Qingfeng held him and sat him down, looking at his excited state, somewhat bewildered. The world of children is truly incomprehensible; he was even happy after being hit.
He suddenly remembered that he often couldn't be by their side. Did Ruoke always bathe with him like this every night, the two of them playing and laughing happily in the tub?
He remembered that every time he called, he could hear the joyful laughter of the mother and child. It seemed their life was always filled with happiness. At first, he worried that he couldn't be with Ruoke and that she would be lonely. But she never said anything; every time she came back, she never uttered a single complaint. Ruoke's gentleness and thoughtfulness were always evident in the small details of life. Later, after the baby was born, he felt much more at ease whenever he heard their laughter, because the little one was there for her.
Huo Qingfeng's heart softened, and he lifted the little guy up, letting his feet rest on his chest. He looked down and nuzzled the little guy's belly.
Sure enough, the little guy started laughing out loud, his little body wiggling and swaying, filling the bathroom with joyful laughter and livening up the quiet night.
"Daddy, Daddy, it itches, oh it itches..."
"..."
The father and son got out of the bathtub when the water was almost cold and then moved to the bed.
As a result, the little guy was so engrossed in playing that he didn't want to sleep at all. Even though it was bedtime, he was still clamoring for his dad to play with him.
"Sleep well, Fu'an." Huo Qingfeng gently kissed the little guy's face, then held him and fell asleep. It felt wonderful to sleep with a soft, cuddly little bundle of flesh. He finally understood why so many people liked to sleep with plush toys.
However, Fu'an was not sleepy at all, his big, black gem-like eyes blinking rapidly.
Hearing Daddy's breathing gradually steady, the little guy gently moved his chubby body and shuffled off the bed. Barefoot, he dared not make a sound with shoes on; his natural paw pads were the best soundproofing.
Where to go? I don't know, I'll just sneak out first...
Huo Qingfeng was just about to fall asleep, not quite asleep yet. In his drowsy state, he felt something empty in his arms, and when he touched it again, he found it was indeed empty.
Opening his eyes, he saw a small figure tiptoeing towards the door. "Fu'an! Where are you going!"
The little figure trembled immediately in fright.
Huo Qingfeng jumped down and caught the little guy who had jumped out of bed on the spot. He then locked the door, completely cutting off the little guy's escape route.
I tossed the little guy onto the bed and gave him two symbolic slaps on his smooth, chubby bottom. "Sleep!"
"Daddy, I can't sleep, I can't sleep." The little guy twisted his little body, pouted, and whine and begged not to sleep.
"You have to sleep even if you can't!" Huo Qingfeng was very domineering, acting like a fascist, with no room for negotiation on democracy, and very tough.
Huo Qingfeng picked up the little guy and let him lie on his chest, gently patting his back rhythmically. The little guy babbled in words only he could understand, and after a while, his big eyes slowly closed. As he was falling asleep, he mumbled "Mommy."
He really misses his mommy!
A sense of melancholy was stirred in Huo Qingfeng's heart by the little one, keeping him awake for a long time. He could only listen to the even breathing and occasional murmurs behind his back in the darkness, contemplating Ruoke's life and feelings while he was away.
It seems that no matter what I do or think, it all ends up revolving around Ruoke. Just like the little one, no matter how much fun he has, once he falls asleep, he still wants to find his mommy.
Honey, you've cast a curse on us! If you don't come back soon, we'll go crazy.
...
The child woke up early, which coincided with Huo Qingfeng's biological clock. So after washing up, the little guy was caught by his dad and taken out for a run.
The little guy didn't like running, but under his dad's sharp gaze, he could only run like a little kitten, his legs short and slow. He was already slow, and Huo Qingfeng had to slow down even more while strolling leisurely. He had to keep up closely, afraid the little guy would fall while running.
"Fu'an, run!"
Daddy's strong voice urged him on, but little Fu'an was having a hard time; his two short legs weren't enough. He was panting heavily, sweat beading on his forehead, but Daddy kept urging him to run faster.
As I ran around the corner, a little puppy appeared on the grass ahead. It was a brown poodle, still very small, about the same size as DouDou when she was a puppy.
Whether it was because Xiao Fu'an missed Dou Dou or because he was incredibly bold, he ignored his dad's presence, turned his short legs, and ran straight into the grass, pouncing directly on the little dog.
The puppy was so frightened that it ran away, and he himself fell forward due to inertia.
As Ruo Ke had said, you shouldn't pull a child's hands or feet too hard, as it can easily dislocate them. Huo Qingfeng had no choice but to stretch out his long arm to block in front of his chest, and then he himself fell sideways onto the grass.
Little Fu'an was startled, but not hurt or in pain. He rolled over and landed on his back like a turtle, his head resting on his father's strong arm. His big, dark eyes looked at his father's handsome face.
Huo Qingfeng bent down to check on him. Although he knew in his heart that he was probably not injured, he was still worried.
"Daddy, um, my tummy hurts!" The little guy gasped for breath, his chest heaving rapidly, and Grandma's baby voice suddenly shouted loudly.
"Did he run too fast?" Huo Qingfeng hurriedly checked. Although he had a good relationship with the little guy, he rarely took care of him personally.
He lifted the little guy's clothes and poked his snow-white belly with his finger. After a moment, Huo Qingfeng, with his sharp eyes, saw through the little guy's little trick.
"Get up! Run another lap!"
"Daddy, my legs hurt! My legs hurt!" The little guy's pain shifted quickly. In short, he was determined not to run anymore; he was too tired!
"I think your bottom hurts! Get up! You've only run one lap!" With a strong push, he lifted the little guy off the ground. "Run!"
Little Fu'an looked extremely pitiful. His big, dark eyes were brimming with tears.
"..."
After finishing his painful run, Xiao Fu'an finally got a taste of sweetness. His dad bought him three egg tarts from the cake shop outside the neighborhood. You see, he hadn't had these kinds of snacks in a long time because his mom wasn't home.
With food, he naturally forgot his pain. The little guy wiggled his short legs in front of him, looking around this corner and squatting down at that bend; no one knew what he was doing.
Huo Qingfeng followed behind, letting him make a fuss.
However, he remembered the way home, walked accurately downstairs, and even turned back to give his dad a sweet smile. "Daddy, hurry, hurry!"
Huo Qingfeng took a long stride and arrived beside him.
The little guy grabbed his dad's trouser leg and started climbing the stairs. He took each step with a sound, as if it were very tiring.
Huo Qingfeng was amused by him. He guessed that the little guy usually clung to Ruoke's trouser leg like this when going up the stairs. Almost all of his habits were formed by Ruoke. Ruoke loved him very much, but she didn't spoil him excessively.
Once inside, the little guy skipped off to the bathroom. A moment later, he came running out, tugging at his towel. "Daddy, dry me off!" he cried, sticking his big head out, waiting for his dad to dry him.
Huo Qingfeng paused for a moment before taking the towel. He knelt down to wipe Huo Qingfeng's face and hands, then lifted Huo Qingfeng's tracksuit to dry the sweat from Huo Qingfeng's body. "All done."
With a soft "smack," the little guy kissed him on the cheek, then grinned and ran off.
Huo Qingfeng couldn't describe his feelings. He turned around and watched the little guy toddle to the sofa. He put the egg tart he was holding on the table, climbed onto the sofa, picked up the remote control with his chubby little hands, and skillfully pressed the channels. Once he found the channel he wanted, he put the remote down, grabbed the egg tart, and ate it while watching the program.
Huo Qingfeng sighed inwardly, thinking how wonderful it would be if he could raise this little guy. He didn't dislike children, but he was extremely annoyed by those who were always crying and disobedient. But this little guy rarely cried and could do many things on his own, which was very heartwarming.
Huo Qingfeng took a can of drink from the refrigerator and a carton of milk for the little guy, then sat down next to him.
"Thank you, Daddy." The little guy put down the egg tart he was holding and took the milk with his chubby little hands. The milk was in a small carton, so it wasn't too heavy. His chubby hands skillfully pulled off the straw, tore off the plastic film, and then inserted it into the opening. Once it was done, he held the carton in both hands and sipped the milk, his two big, dark grape-like eyes fixed on the TV screen.
Huo Qingfeng stroked his big head, realizing for the first time that he, too, possessed such fatherly love. He suddenly wondered what his and Ruoke's child would be like.
In my mind, a vague image began to automatically form; it resembled him here, and her there...
They were engrossed in imagining their future child when the phone suddenly rang.
The little guy jumped off the sofa as if by reflex and ran to answer the phone. He held the receiver with his two chubby hands, adjusting it crookedly to his ear.
Huo Qingfeng withdrew his outstretched hand and looked at the little guy with a smile.
"Hello...uh-huh, Grandma...Dad..."
If Huo Qingfeng weren't so aloof, he probably would have burst out laughing. The little guy babbled for a long time, but no one knew what he was trying to say, let alone guess what the other person had said.
"Daddy, Grandma's on the phone..." The little guy stared with his big, dark eyes, holding the phone out to him.
Huo Qingfeng took the phone with one hand and wrapped the other arm around the little guy's waist, lifting him back to his original spot. "Hello?"
“Qingfeng…” Yang Ziyun’s voice was somewhat excited.
Huo Qingfeng frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled. "Mom, what do you want to see me about?"
"Qingfeng, Miaomiao is pregnant!" Yang Ziyun finally shouted loudly, her emotions extremely excited.
"Oh, then congratulate her for me. Mom, is there anything else?" He was slightly surprised, but then he understood.
There was a pause on the other end, followed by a shout. "Qingfeng, how dare you speak like that? What do you mean, 'congratulating her on your behalf'? Don't forget, that's your child!"
Huo Qingfeng's voice turned cold. "Mom, that child has nothing to do with me. As for whose child it is, you can ask Gu Miaomiao yourselves."
He hung up the phone and put the receiver aside.
After watching TV with the little guy for a while, Huo Qingfeng went into the room and turned on the computer.
I don't know how much time passed, but then there was a loud banging on the door, and it seemed like someone was shouting.
When Huo Qingfeng went out, the little guy was already tiptoeing to open the door. Through the security door, he saw the people outside: the Gu family and his mother.
Huo Qingfeng didn't open the door immediately. Instead, he looked at his mother in the crowd, his suppressed emotions almost bursting out. He still couldn't understand why his mother never cared about what he wanted, and why she always seemed to thrive on chaos.
"Mr. Gu, you should know my character. I've said it before, Gu Miaomiao's child isn't mine, and I never had that kind of relationship with her." He understood that among all these people, Mr. Gu was the most clear-headed. He just hoped that Mr. Gu wouldn't let his concern cloud his judgment.
If I had known, I should have kicked Gu Miaomiao out that night.
Rong Xiumei was about to explode when she was stopped by Old Gu's gesture. "Young Huo, open the door first. It won't sound good if so many people are making noise in the hallway."
Huo Qingfeng had no choice but to open the door.
It was Old Master Gu who spoke first. "Young Huo, I heard from them that you got drunk that day and accidentally had a relationship with Miao Miao. Is that not true?"
Huo Qingfeng was certain that they hadn't told Old Master Gu that they had instigated Gu Miaomiao to take advantage of him while he was drunk to force him into marriage.
Huo Qingfeng took out a cigarette, lit it, his brows furrowed, but his tone was firm. "Mr. Gu, I didn't touch her at all, I'm absolutely certain! So, the child in Miao Miao's belly is definitely not mine."
Rong Xiumei immediately jumped out, pointing at him and spouting nonsense like a shrew. "Huo Qingfeng, what you're saying is so irresponsible! That morning, we all saw you sleeping with Miaomiao. You were so drunk you didn't even know who you were. How do you know you didn't touch Miaomiao? How do you know? You were so drunk, who would believe you didn't do anything?"
"I know, because I can't get an erection with her at all!" Huo Qingfeng shouted impatiently, straining his neck.
Although soldiers are known for spouting nonsense, the two women were truly stunned by these words.
...
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