Chapter 23 You Brought It Back
"It's dangerous here, where are your family members?"
An Zhi sobbed and raised her little face with tearful eyes.
In the backlight, only the outline of a tall boy with straight and neat shoulders can be seen.
The lines on Gu Jinyan's face were tense.
He saw the tear marks crisscrossing the little girl's face. Her little hands were wiping her face in vain, but the more she wiped, the dirtier it became, and her tears flowed even more violently.
A suppressed sob came from her throat, her big eyes were filled with panic and helplessness, and she couldn't utter a word.
Like a fledgling in a storm.
Gu Jinyan quickly looked around.
She was alone in the corner of the broken wall, and there was no one who looked like a guardian on the chaotic street.
He made a prompt decision and said in a slower voice, "I'll take you to a safe place first."
He squatted on one knee in front of An Zhi, his eyes level with hers. His tall figure blocked the glaring light from the smoke and dust that came at him at an angle.
He stretched out his arms and held the little ball firmly in his arms. He had a light, clean scent of soap mixed with the dry smell of clothes dried in the sun.
Just like what she tasted and smelled when she was collecting clothes drying in the yard before she traveled through time.
An Zhi subconsciously relaxed in this sudden, clean, warm embrace. She leaned on Gu Jinyan's shoulder, her sobs gradually fading, leaving only a faint tremor of fatigue.
The moment she leaned in, the small mushroom deep in her clothes, which had been silent for a long time, trembled slightly at the edge of its cap, as if with an unheard, tired sigh, and then melted back into her body.
Gu Jinyan was completely unaware.
He adjusted his posture to allow An Zhi to lean more steadily, and protected the back of her head with one hand to avoid being injured by flying gravel.
He turned around and walked steadily and quickly towards his father's temporary safe spot, quickly blending into the shadows on the other side of the chaotic street.
**
Quinn finally squeezed out of the chaos in front of the shop, and his expensive coat was a little messy.
He held high in his hand three ice cream balls of different colors, the tops of which had begun to melt and drip.
Quickly return to the corner of the broken wall.
Empty.
There were only a few fresh tear marks mixed with dust on the ground, which were particularly glaring on the dirty ground.
Click.
The melted ice cream fell to the ground, and the colorful syrup shattered in the dust, like a broken, ridiculous dream.
Quinn's handsome face instantly became gloomy and distorted.
Just two minutes ago—
The uncontrollable mental force was like a lit barrel of explosives, spiraling out of control.
Boom——!!!
The only remaining cracked window panes in the surrounding shops shattered completely.
Countless glass fragments were thrown out by an invisible force and shot onto the street like a rainstorm.
“Who is it???”
Quinn's outburst instantly drowned out all the noise in the entire block, filled with disbelief and utterly offended rage:
“Who the hell did this?!
Where is my cub?
Someone is trying to steal my cub——!!!"
Several Zergs were disturbed by the sound and surrounded them from the shadows with malicious intent...
**
Gu Jinyan, holding the sleeping An Zhi, passed through the slightly chaotic defense line formed by civilian armed forces outside the temporary safe warehouse.
The heavy iron door was pushed open by the guard in front of him.
Inside the door was a different scene.
Although still a skeleton of a warehouse, it was quickly organized. Supplies were stacked in orderly sections, the wounded were concentrated in a specific area to be treated by temporarily summoned medical staff, and terrified civilians were guided to a relatively safe corner. Several small gang leaders were gathered in one place.
At the center of the crowd was Gu Changfeng.
He changed into a set of casual clothes with exquisite texture and a well-tailored fit, with his jacket casually draped over his arm. He wore only a well-ironed shirt with the cuffs rolled up to his forearms, exposing his wrists.
With his usual gentle smile that made people feel like spring breeze, he was saying something to the anxious little leader in front of him.
A few words eased the little leader's anxiety. The other party nodded repeatedly and hurriedly took his men to carry out the order.
Gu Changfeng then raised his eyes and habitually swept his gaze towards the door, ready to face the next problem that needed him to "solve".
His gaze naturally fell on his son who had just walked in.
A little girl curled up in her son's arms, her face stained with tears and dust, sleeping defenselessly.
The usual smile in Gu Changfeng's eyes, which seemed to be able to see through everything and had a hint of nonchalantness, disappeared quickly like the receding tide the moment he saw An Zhi's face clearly.
Gu Jinyan held An Zhi in his arms and walked straight towards his father without stopping.
He keenly caught the change in his father's eyes.
Gu Jinyan subconsciously tightened his arms around An Zhi, slightly turning his shoulders to the side, creating a tighter protective posture, separating the sleeping little body in his arms from his father's gaze, which had suddenly become extremely penetrating.
He walked up to Gu Changfeng and stood a few steps away.
"Father." Gu Jinyan's voice was as cold and steady as ever.
Gu Changfeng's gaze finally moved away from An Zhi's face and fell on his son's face.
"Are you back?"
There was no change in Gu Changfeng's voice, it was still that comforting and gentle tone, as if his son had just come back from a walk.
His eyes swept over Gu Jinyan's combat uniform, which was covered in dust and Zerg slime, and with just the right amount of concern, he asked, "Are you okay?"
"No." Gu Jinyan said concisely.
He lowered his head to look at An Zhi in his arms. She rubbed against his neck, whimpering softly like a kitten.
He looked up at his father again, "Found him on the street, alone, terrified."
Gu Changfeng nodded slightly, his face still gentle, but his eyes slid towards An Zhi again.
The blood pulse monitor on my wrist was hot.
He took a step forward, his movements natural, as if he simply wanted to see more clearly.
His gaze, like an invisible thread, carefully traced An Zhi's tightly closed eyes, slightly curled eyelashes, and small nose tip, and finally landed on her slightly open lips with a hint of grievance.
"Poor little fellow..."
Gu Changfeng sighed lightly and stretched out his hand to brush away the dust on An Zhi's cheek.
Just when his slender fingers were about to touch An Zhi's skin——
Gu Jinyan held An Zhi's arm and took a half step back very slightly but very firmly.
This action completely brought An Zhi under his absolute protection, separating him from his father's outstretched hand.
Gu Changfeng's hand stopped in mid-air.
The eyes of father and son met silently in the air.
Gu Changfeng raised his eyebrows. Didn’t this kid not bring the detector with him when he went out?
The inquiry in Gu Changfeng's eyes was replaced by a very faint, almost imperceptible amusement and understanding, and the gentle curve at the corner of his lips deepened a little.
He calmly withdrew his hand.
"She looks quite frightened." Gu Changfeng's voice remained gentle, without any displeasure at being rejected. His gaze returned to Gu Jinyan's face, with a hint of inquiry, "How do you plan to accommodate her? The conditions here are limited."
Gu Jinyan did not hesitate at all and said in a decisive voice:
"I'll take her back to Light Chaser."
Gu Changfeng's eyebrows moved slightly, and the amusement in his eyes deepened.
He looked at his son holding the little girl as if he was guarding the most precious and fragile thing in the world, and saw the unshakable determination in his son's eyes and a strong desire to protect her that he himself might not have fully realized.
Gu Changfeng suddenly laughed softly.
His laughter was clear and gentle, and it sounded particularly pleasant in the slightly noisy warehouse, but it made several small leaders who were eavesdropping nearby shudder inexplicably.
He raised his hand and gently smoothed out a wrinkle on his son's shoulder. When he looked up again, there was a gentle, elder-like tolerance in his eyes, as if the confrontation just now had never happened.
"Okay."
Gu Changfeng smiled and nodded, his tone as relaxed as if he was talking about the weather.
"The environment on 'Light Chaser' is indeed better."
He changed the subject very naturally, his voice still gentle, but with unquestionable control, and instructed a government official next to him:
"We've got a little guest, so we have to leave first."
He paused, his eyes swept over An Zhi's sleeping face again, and added:
"Block the news. No one is allowed to enter or leave this warehouse until we leave this garbage planet.
I hope you can keep your mouth shut about everything about this young lady."
Gu Changfeng's gaze finally fell on Gu Jinyan. Seeing his posture like a big bird protecting its cubs, the smile on his lips deepened:
"Since you brought it back..."
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