Ling Ruoke left the coffee shop and went back to the hospital to get her car. Halfway there, she received a call from Huo Qingfeng. "Hello?"
Huo Qingfeng on the other end visibly breathed a sigh of relief. He thought something had happened to her and his heart almost burst. "Yuan Meng said you haven't gone back yet, what happened? You scared me to death, you know?"
"I'm sorry! I'm still on the street, I'll go back now." Ling Ruoke was also a little anxious, afraid that the colonel would overthink things.
Where are you?
"We'll be at the hospital parking lot soon; the car has been parked there."
"Come up."
"ah?"
"Come on up. I'm waiting for you!"
Ling Ruoke was stunned for a moment before she understood what he meant. She ran all the way back to his ward.
"Come here!" Huo Qingfeng's expression was not good, and he called her over with a stern face.
Ling Ruoke obediently approached. Just as she reached the bedside, the colonel forcefully pulled her into his arms. Startled, she stiffened and cried out, "Be careful of your wound!"
Huo Qingfeng completely ignored the question of whether she was injured or not, lifting her chin with his long fingers to meet her gaze. "Where did you go?"
"The coffee shop, with Cang Wei." She confessed honestly.
Huo Qingfeng's brows furrowed immediately, and he asked gruffly, "What does he want with you?" Although Cang Weiwo had set his wife free, the colonel's warning signs were still present, and he wasn't so easily convinced that Cang Weiwo had truly let go.
Ling Ruoke shifted in his arms, finding a comfortable spot to snuggle up. "Remind me to keep an eye on Guzheng, saying she'll get what she wants. If she can't make you like her and accept her again, she'll definitely try to get through to me."
As she spoke, Ling Ruoke felt a little stifled again. The colonel's rotten romantic entanglements were really annoying! If it were an ordinary person, it would be fine, but he had powerful connections, so he always managed to stir up some trouble.
"Everyone knows that, why should he meddle in other people's business!" Huo Qingfeng curled his lips, looking extremely displeased.
Ling Ruoke tugged at his clothes and said, "Yeah, so just ignore him. You should think about how to get rid of that rotten love interest of yours. Sigh, she wouldn't be the kind of woman who thinks, 'If I can't have her, no one else can either,' and then send someone to murder you, would she?"
"It's not impossible." Huo Qingfeng's brows furrowed deeply. He wasn't afraid of being assassinated, but he was afraid of his wife getting hurt. Thinking this, he couldn't help but hug her even tighter.
Ling Ruoke pouted, completely speechless.
"By the way, I agree to let Yuan Meng take the little one away from here."
Ling Ruoke paused for a moment, then immediately understood what he meant. If Yuan Meng left with the little one, it would mean they had nothing to do with each other anymore, and Gu Zheng probably wouldn't harm them. This would also be considered protecting the mother and child.
Actually, I figured it out earlier than Qingfeng, but hearing this answer now still makes me feel bad.
Just then, Yuan Meng called. Only after confirming that Ling Ruo was at the hospital did she hang up, relieved.
Ling Ruoke nestled back into Huo Qingfeng's arms and mumbled, "I feel sad."
Huo Qingfeng hugged her, his chin gently rubbing against the top of her head. He was also reluctant to part with the little one. "It's okay, we'll have one soon too, then you won't be lonely. By the way, is Fu Peigang's baby due soon?"
Ling Ruoke suddenly realized what was happening. Because the colonel was injured, and not just slightly, her mind was completely focused on him, and she had almost forgotten that Peishi was about to become a mother. She hadn't even called to check on her these past few days—how negligent of her duty!
"Oh right. My due date is in the next few days. I have to call Pei Shi!" She hurriedly pulled her phone out of her pocket, but the colonel snatched it away.
"It's very late now, pregnant women should go to bed early, let's do it tomorrow morning."
Ling Ruoke checked the time; it was almost ten o'clock, and Peishi should be asleep by now. She pouted and snuggled back into the colonel's arms. "Huo Qingfeng, when will all these troublesome things finally be resolved? I want to have a baby too. Everyone's rushing to have dragon babies this year, so let's have a little snake baby, okay?"
"Okay!" Huo Qingfeng kissed her forehead. "Wife, I'm sorry. Don't worry, I'll find a way to resolve this as soon as possible."
"Forget it." Ling Ruoke rolled her eyes at him, turned over, and lay on her back looking at the white ceiling. "When it comes to matters of the heart, no matter how capable you are, you can't just solve them as you please, because it involves two people. Besides, with a woman like Gu Zheng who's so fearless, unless you take down her backer, how are you going to deal with her?"
Huo Qingfeng remained silent. To be honest, he didn't have a good solution either. Emotional entanglements aren't a crime, and unless someone is physically harmed or killed, there are often no measures that can be taken. However, it's not entirely without options. It's just that he didn't want to go too far.
"Alright, it's late, and you're still injured. Get some rest. I'm going back now, and I'll make you something delicious to eat tomorrow morning." Ling Ruoke jumped up, really disliking this oppressive atmosphere.
Huo Qingfeng reached out and grabbed her. "Don't go back. Take a shower and come in to keep me company, okay?"
Ling Ruoke rolled her eyes and agreed. She took a cold shower in the bathroom, then came back and snuggled into the colonel's bed.
Huo Qingfeng clung to his wife like an octopus, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Go to sleep, you're tired too."
"Goodnight." Ling Ruoke snuggled against his chest, smelling the familiar scent, and soon fell asleep.
Huo Qingfeng held her close, his bright eyes remaining open in the darkness. He couldn't remain passive, nor could he allow Guzheng to harm Ruoke.
Gu Zheng's father was a high-ranking minister in the central government, a man of considerable influence. Her brother was the chief of staff of a military region, also a formidable figure. Coupled with their ancestral lineage, the Gu family was an exceptionally prominent clan. For generations, the Gu family had only one son per generation, and had never had a daughter, so Gu Zheng's birth was a tremendous surprise for them. Gu Zheng was beautiful and had a sweet tongue from a young age, deeply loved by her family. If she wanted something, even the moon in the sky, the Gu family would find a way to get it for her.
Gu Zheng was spoiled from a young age, so she naturally had quite a temper, but she wasn't a bad person. Compared to those rich girls who caused trouble and even killed people, she was quite good. Otherwise, Huo Qingfeng wouldn't have liked her back then. Of course, if Gu Zheng hadn't been so diligent in chasing after him, they might not have become a couple.
Gu Zheng's father and brother were both very ambitious, so they secretly extended their reach into areas they shouldn't have. The relevant departments had their suspicions, but they were too cunning and couldn't find any evidence, so they hesitated to take action.
Huo Qingfeng was aware of this matter. It wasn't his task, so he naturally wouldn't interfere. Moreover, the situation was complex and involved far more than just the Gu family. They must have considered this, which was why they hadn't acted rashly. But if Gu Zheng were to harbor any further ill intentions, Huo Qingfeng would have to consider extinguishing her arrogance at its source. He wouldn't act directly, but he could still subtly encourage her.
Huo Qingfeng tightened his arms around her, looking down at her face. After a long while, he lowered his head and kissed her forehead, then gently pressed her face against his neck. Like a kitten, she murmured softly, nuzzled his neck, and slept soundly.
He didn't want much; he just wanted to protect his woman and his family. That was all.
His sword-like eyes gleamed in the darkness. With a slight movement, he picked up his phone. He dialed someone's number, greeted them, and then, lowering his voice, conveyed his message. Ignoring the person on the other end who was about to ramble on, he decisively hung up.
Night deepened. In the darkness, a storm was quietly brewing.
...
The next day, Ling Ruoke called Tan Peishi early in the morning.
"Finally remembered your godson?" Tan Peishi joked with her in a good mood, then said, "I'm at the hospital. But I heard from Fu Peigang that the captain was injured, so I didn't dare bother you. How is the captain?"
"It's nothing serious, she just needs to rest for a while. Pei-shi, I'm so sorry, I'm such a bad sister!" If Qing-feng hadn't reminded her, she would have almost forgotten that Pei-shi was going to have a baby.
She then remembered that before Chen Shan came to pick her up that day, Pei Shi had called and asked her to go to the hospital with him!
Tan Peishi chuckled. "Alright, stop being so polite. You take good care of the captain, my mom's looking after me. Fu Peigang will come back when it's time to give birth." But that'll only be in the next day or two.
“That’s different. I’ll come see you later, which room?” Like her sister, Pei Shi didn’t want to miss such an important moment. Fu Peigang was a soldier and could only have one child. This meant that Tan Pei Shi would only have this one childbirth experience in her life, and she wanted to be there for her!
"..."
"Then I'll go keep Tan Peishi company and check on the company while I'm at it. Are you alright being alone?" Ling Ruoke suddenly realized that one advantage of being in B City was that there were plenty of people to keep the Colonel company. Even if the Huo family members were all busy, at least there would be a lively scene with Guzheng.
Huo Qingfeng chuckled softly. "Wife, I'm not three years old anymore."
Ling Ruoke waved her hand dismissively and said, "I know, you're almost three and a half." Then, with a grin, she moved closer to him. "So, I'm really leaving now?"
Huo Qingfeng pressed her head down with his large hand, kissed her a few times, and then released her. "Go see your godson, so he won't refuse to call you godmother when he's born."
"That's right, so I have to be more diligent. I'm off, bye-bye!" Ling Ruoke hopped to the door like a rabbit, almost bumping into someone coming in.
A whole line of Huo Qingfeng's soldiers suddenly appeared. They shouted in unison, "Hello, Sister-in-law!"
"Hello everyone." Ling Ruoke greeted them with a smile. "I have to go out for something, so you can keep your captain company for me."
"Sister-in-law, yes sir!"
Ling Ruoke was relieved; with such a large group, the colonel wouldn't be lonely. She quickly ran down the stairs, intending to drive to another hospital.
Actually, Z city is such a small place, and even if they are not in the same hospital, they are not too far apart.
When Ling Ruoke rushed up, Tan Peishi was eating fruit and watching TV. It was a singing program, and a soothing song was playing. "Godson, godmother is here!"
Tan Peishi burst out laughing. "Ling Ruoke, you're in such a hurry, you're practically an escaped madwoman!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Tan's mother tapped her. "How can you talk like that? They're just concerned about you."
"Mom, I was just joking. What can't we say to each other? Right, honey?" Tan Peishi scratched her head, feeling wronged, and loudly defended herself.
Ling Ruoke smiled and agreed, putting down what she was holding and reaching out to touch her stomach. "Godson, godmother's here, hurry up and say hello to godmother." When there was no response, she continued to touch her stomach.
Tan Peishi slapped her hand away. "He's probably still asleep. You're touching me like that, it's ticklish."
Ling Ruoke stuck out her tongue and chuckled awkwardly. "Peishi, are you nervous?"
Tan Peishi crunched on her apple, her words mumbled. "At this point, what's there to be nervous about? Besides, isn't having children for the one you love the happiest thing? What's there to be nervous about? I'm so happy about having a little one to play with soon, I don't have time to be nervous!"
Ling Ruoke scoffed, but Tan Peishi truly was enjoying this happiness; prenatal depression was a far cry from her. She ate and slept well—in her mother's words, it was like raising a pig.
Ling Ruoke touched her belly and said to it, "Godson, listen to what your mother is saying, you're really shameless!"
"Hey, hey, hey, don't corrupt my son, or I'll bite you!" Tan Peishi pointed seriously, then chuckled to herself. "Seriously, is the captain really alright?"
"It's nothing. She just took two bullets, one of which was near her heart. She needs to rest properly." Ling Ruoke was still a little annoyed that she had taken those two bullets for Guzheng.
Although she loudly proclaimed to Guzheng that it was merely a mission, even if it was a mission, that person was still Guzheng, the colonel's old flame. The thought of her man taking a bullet for his old flame was unbearable. But there was no way to dwell on it; she couldn't turn back time, nor could she hang the colonel or his old flame up and beat them to vent her anger. So, she could only endure it, unsure if she would suffer internal injuries from suppressing her feelings.
Ling Ruoke quickly sat down on the stool, grabbed an apple, and started crunching away like Tan Peishi. She loved fruit, but especially disliked apples. Her mother had tried many methods to get her to eat apples, which were supposedly the most nutritious fruit, but nothing worked; she simply rejected the taste and texture.
Tan Peishi leaned closer, examining the situation intently. "Hey, Ling Ruoke, something seems fishy going on here?"
Ling Ruoke stopped eating, her eyes darting around with an apple in her mouth. Finally, she said, "I'll tell you after you give birth to the baby. I'm afraid you'll be too loud and scare my godson."
"No way! I can already sense the signs. Aren't you deliberately keeping me in suspense? If I'm in suspense, I won't be able to eat or sleep well, and that will affect your godson. So, just tell the truth!" Tan Peishi said casually, but her expression was very serious as she leaned close to her with concern.
Ling Ruoke breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that it wasn't Fu Peigang's unwanted romantic advances, so Peishi wouldn't be too excited. "Did I tell you that my colonel's first love is back?"
"No." Tan Peishi widened her eyes and shook her head. She held the apple but didn't take a bite.
Ling Ruoke reached out and pinched Pei Shi's cheek; she had gained a lot of weight. "Don't look so serious. It's really not a big deal. The colonel has long since lost feelings for her and has always ignored her. Unfortunately, he's unfaithful while she's interested, and that woman is a shameless, slutty, and difficult one."
Tan Peishi knew her well and knew she must be in a bad mood, otherwise she wouldn't have used a word like "slut." "How about we find a few men who have just been released from prison and have them sleep with her, then see if she still has the nerve to pester your colonel."
This time, it was Ling Ruoke's turn to rant.
Tan's mother didn't hold back and gave her a flick on the forehead. "Pay attention to prenatal education. You're still heavily pregnant, and you're talking so recklessly."
“I misspoke, I misspoke. Son, just forget what you said, okay?” Tan Peishi gently patted her belly, signaling Ling Ruoke to continue.
"That's roughly what happened. The colonel's mission this time was supposed to be to protect Guzheng. But during the mission, something happened, and the colonel took two bullets for her. You know what? That woman stood in front of me like a peacock, loudly proclaiming that the colonel had taken the bullets for her. I was so angry I could have burst!"
Tan Peishi took a bite of her apple. "And what about the captain? He just did nothing and let her pester him?"
"What can he do? He can't just kill her and be done with it, can he? I know the colonel wasn't in the wrong, but I still feel so frustrated." As she spoke, she grabbed the apple and took a few more crunchy bites.
Mrs. Tan spoke up. "Ruoke, that's life. There will always be people you dislike appearing in front of you, whether you're in the throes of new love, married, or an old married couple. Just take things easy. As long as your relationship is strong enough, she won't amount to anything. Besides, she'll eventually disappear. Can she really stay forever?"
"Aunt Tan, I understand." Ling Ruoke didn't agree with this approach. Although it wouldn't affect their relationship, it did impact their lives. She couldn't tolerate it forever. Even a month or two would feel like a thorn in her throat. How could she live comfortably with such a thorn stuck in her throat?
Tan Peishi retorted loudly, "Mom, this kind of self-deception won't work. How can you feel good about someone so big provoking you and flirting with your husband all the time? If you're not happy, how can you live a comfortable life? It's not like I'm the one who interfered in someone else's marriage, why should I have to swallow my anger? I don't care, which slut dares to pester my Fu Peigang every day, I'll make her pay!"
Mrs. Tan glanced at Ling Ruoke and gave her daughter a light tap on the head. "Fine, you think you're so capable."
Ling Ruoke smiled, agreeing with Tan Peishi's suggestion. "Aunt Tan, I also think Peishi is right. We can't always give in; we have to fight back and make her leave on her own!"
"Mmm, you really are my best sister! Come on, let's discuss and see if there's any way to deal with that vixen."
"..."
As Ling Ruoke left the hospital, she repeatedly reminded Tan Peishi and her mother to inform her when she gave birth.
I drove off towards the company. It had been several days since I'd been to the office; I wondered how the kids were doing.
Ling Ruoke parked her car and went to the dessert shop across the street to order some sweet soup, asking them to send someone to deliver it to her. Upon entering the office, she saw everyone busy chatting about a celebrity's gossip, everything proceeding smoothly and efficiently.
"Comrades, anyone who wants some sweet soup, come over here quickly!"
At Ling Ruoke's command, everyone rushed over like a swarm of bees, sweetly calling out, "Sister Ruoke, you're so kind!"
Ling Ruoke took one for herself and called Xia Mo into the office. "Nothing much has happened these past few days, right?"
"Everything is normal. However, we have a mid-term summary next Monday. Lin Beibei and the others are already writing it, and I've already glanced through it. There are still some issues they're revising. Do you think we should find some time to go through it together?"
Ling Ruoke picked up the calendar from the table and marked it. "How about this, after you finalize the draft, let's go over it again together. I believe there won't be any problems, I trust your abilities."
"Thank you, Sister Ruo."
"Is everyone's work enthusiasm going well? Is anyone feeling a bit down?" Ling Ruoke always paid close attention to everyone's mood. She believed that a good boss not only cares about employees' work but also their lives. A happy life leads to enthusiasm and drive at work. Of course, to live a comfortable life, one must learn to separate work and life, otherwise, everything will fall apart.
Xia Mo sipped his sugar water and thought for a moment. "Yes, Mei Yanting."
Ling Ruoke frowned. "What's wrong with Yanting?"
"She seems unenthusiastic, like she has something weighing on her mind." After a pause, she added, "Sister Ruo, please don't be offended by what I'm saying. Someone who has suffered so much since childhood is prone to extremes if she's not broad-minded. She might magnify even the smallest things ten or a hundred times, which could lead her to do something out of control. I suggest you keep an eye on her."
"I understand, thank you. I have no further questions. Do you have any feedback?"
"No, not at the moment. I'll contact you if I do. But there are a few financial documents that need to be reviewed, so please take some time to work on them. Some of them are payroll payments, and if they're late, we'll get complaints."
"I understand. I probably won't be in the office much these next few days. Please keep an eye on everyone for me, and call me if anything happens. Thank you for your help."
Xia Mo blinked, stood up and walked out, saying what was on her mind: "Just give me a bigger bonus at the end of the year."
"No problem." Ling Ruoke felt relieved; these employees were all very capable. This year's performance was quite good, and given the current trend, a year-end bonus was definitely in order.
Turning his head, he saw Mei Yanting's location and couldn't help but sigh again. The girl was indeed not a bad person, but she was overthinking things, and that's when she started to imagine problems.
I'll finish my work first, then call the young lady in for a chat. But before I knew it, it was past closing time. Besides reviewing some financial documents, there were hundreds of emails piled up, some of which she needed to reply to. Especially some emails from clients; she had to call the relevant personnel in to understand the situation before she could reply. All this running around took up even more time.
Mei Yanting has already gone home.
In fact, she was the only one left in the office. Several people had said goodbye to her before leaving, but she hadn't paid much attention. It was almost eight o'clock; no wonder they had all gone home.
Ling Ruoke stretched and set up her computer. She quickly called the colonel to explain the situation. After hanging up, she felt thirsty and went to the break room to pour herself a glass of water.
Danger struck at that moment. The power was switched off instantly, plunging everything into darkness.
Ling Ruoke didn't even have time to put down the cup before turning around to block the attacker's attack. The cup was frosted glass, which she used directly as a weapon.
The opponent was wielding a dagger. In the darkness, it gleamed brightly. Illuminated by its light, it was clear that the person was masked, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes!
Ling Ruoke couldn't think too much and tried to concentrate on dealing with the situation, but it was still quite difficult.
The break room is located in a position not visible from the main entrance. Therefore, people from other companies passing by heard sounds of fighting coming from inside, but since it was dark and they couldn't see anyone, they whispered among themselves, speculating whether it was a thief and whether they should call the police.
The two fought fiercely, their gleaming daggers nearly piercing Ling Ruoke several times. She gritted her teeth and fought with all her might, growing increasingly anxious. Her opponent's strength far surpassed hers!
"Ugh!" Ling Ruoke groaned as she was hit in the abdomen.
The next second, the other person's dagger was pressed against her throat, its cold light gleaming.
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