Chapter 227: “zhaozhao Doesn’t Want Me To Get Hurt”
The two cubs unpacked the package with careful movements, their noses sweating with tension.
Lin Zhao found it amusing. “Don’t worry, open it boldly. What’s there to be nervous about?”
Based on her understanding of the cubs’ father, if it was really what the twins wanted, it would definitely be wrapped in multiple layers. After all, he had a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder and wouldn’t allow… the thing sent to his sons to arrive damaged.
Her persuasion was useless. Yu Bao still unpacked slowly. Heng Bao was anxious but it didn’t help; using a bit more force would earn him a glare from his brother.
Heng Bao felt aggrieved. Heng Bao sighed.
Brother was so fierce.
Yu Bao stiffly used his hands and feet to help, causing sweat to bead on his forehead.
Lin Zhao saw Heng Bao too intimidated by Yu Bao to make a sound and couldn’t help laughing out loud.
The two little brothers squatted on the ground, looking up at Mommy.
Yu Bao was a bit embarrassed. “Mommy, what are you laughing at?”
His expression showed a hint of shyness.
“Laughing at how cute you are.” Lin Zhao’s gaze was soft.
Meeting such a gaze, Yu Bao felt warm all over and couldn’t help curving his lips into a cute smile.
Heng Bao looked at Mommy, then at brother, not knowing what they were laughing at, but he started grinning too.
Qian Bao watched solemnly with his little face. Yao Bao squeezed in beside her brothers, making trouble while helping.
Yu Bao took a deep breath.
Today was the twins’ birthday. Song Yunjin and his sister shared the same principle—let Yu Bao and Heng Bao have a smooth and happy one.
He pulled away the disruptive Yao Bao, placed her on his neck, nervously protected her with both hands, and took her to see the already withered flowers.
Yu Bao visibly relaxed.
Heng Bao also said, “The little troublemaker is finally gone.”
Yu Bao thought the same but said, “Don’t talk about little sister like that.”
They were brothers and had to be tolerant of their younger siblings.
Heng Bao listened to his brother. “…Okay, I won’t say it.”
Lin Zhao watched Da Zai teach Er Zai without saying anything.
As long as the general direction was right, let them be.
While verbally guiding Heng Bao, Yu Bao didn’t stop his hands, peeling away the layers of the securely wrapped gift box.
In a short time, he had peeled off three layers.
He was very patient, and his emotions were unusually stable. Seeing it would take half a day to finish, he fetched a small stool, sat down, and slowly undid it.
Lin Zhao spoke up. “Need help?”
“No need, I can do it.” Yu Bao felt the fun and wasn’t anxious at all, unpacking slowly.
He felt it would definitely come out eventually.
Heng Bao was influenced by his brother’s calmness and no longer fidgeted, helping lightly and carefully. Yu Bao didn’t mind him and gave him a chance to work together. After a while, Heng Bao completely settled down, his facial impatience vanishing entirely.
Lin Zhao sighed. Having an emotionally stable cub was truly great.
Her gaze shifted to Qian Bao. This one was stable too, even more than his big brother.
She stretched out her arm and pulled the little one into her bosom.
“Mommy?” Qian Bao’s black-and-white eyes were puzzled, calling out in his milky voice.
“It’s nothing, just want to hug cubby.” Lin Zhao’s voice was gentle. She lowered her head, rubbing her nose tip against the little one’s nose tip, her words laced with laughter. “How are you so good, too cute.”
Qian Bao’s eyes grew misty. He lowered his gaze, his long lashes trembling lightly a few times, revealing a shy and bashful smile.
He didn’t move, nestling obediently in Lin Zhao’s bosom, a flash of joy in his serene brows and eyes.
Clearly, being close to Mommy made the little friend very happy.
Heng Bao watched enviously and unceremoniously made his request. “Mommy, I want to sleep with you tonight!”
Afraid Lin Zhao wouldn’t agree, he added, “You said it—little birthday stars can make any request. I want to sleep with you, want to hear you tell stories. You haven’t told us stories in so long!”
“?
Nonsense.
Lin Zhao retorted inwardly.
Back in the county, which night did she not tell them stories? Which night did she not coax them to sleep before returning to her own room?
Talking nonsense.
Yu Bao’s movements paused slightly, and he also looked at Mommy expectantly.
He wanted to too…
Seeing this, Lin Zhao compromised. “Alright, just one night.” She added.
Sleeping alone on a big bed was just too comfortable!
She didn’t want to share!!
Gu Chenghuai: “…?”
Heng Bao wasn’t greedy. “Okay, we’ll move back tomorrow morning.”
Lin Zhao nearly rolled her eyes.
No need to use words like “move back”—wasn’t it just bringing over a pillow?
Yu Bao said, “One night is enough. Mommy has to go to work and needs good rest.”
Feeling something hard, his eyes suddenly lit up. His voice grew louder, rising lightly. “It’s out.”
By now, the ground was covered with newspaper.
Heng Bao excitedly looked over. “What is it, what is it?!”
Yu Bao unpacked even more carefully.
He removed the surface newspaper and saw a paper box.
“It’s a paper box!” he said.
Then he carefully opened it.
The box bottom was lined with soft wheat straw, and on top sat a toy big car, made of plastic by the look of it.
Heng Bao excitedly touched it, his movements light, his tone soaring to the sky.
“It’s a car! A big car!! The car I thought of!!!” He shouted happily. “Daddy keeps his word, he really sent back the car!”
As he spoke, he picked up the toy car, hugged it to his chest, his smile brighter than the sun.
“I like this birthday gift, super super like it!!”
Yu Bao saw it wasn’t his and felt a little disappointed, but looking at Heng Bao’s happy smile, that feeling quickly faded, and he was happy for his brother instead.
“Heng Bao, this car is so grand!” he praised.
Heng Bao didn’t forget his brother. He placed his beloved car down and asked Da Huang to watch it for him, then helped Yu Bao unpack the other boxes.
Next, they unpacked a box the same size as the one with the toy car.
The brothers collaborated and soon reached the final layer.
Heng Bao didn’t open it himself, urging Yu Bao. “Bro, open it quick. It must be your airplane! I don’t even know what an airplane looks like!”
Yu Bao’s heart pounded. He was very nervous.
His excited face was flushed red.
He opened the box, and inside was something white with a bit of red.
It was indeed an airplane.
But.
To the current Yu Bao, it was very unfamiliar.
After all, he had never seen an airplane and didn’t know what it looked like. Even if he had seen one in a movie, when the real airplane model appeared before him, he still couldn’t equate them.
“Mommy?” Yu Bao’s eyes were helpless.
Lin Zhao smiled. “Weren’t you always desperate for it? This is the airplane.”
Qian Bao in Mommy’s bosom spoke up. “It has wings.”
“Qian Bao has sharp eyes, spotted the wings at a glance.” Lin Zhao rubbed his soft little face, her tone gently indulgent.
Yu Bao took out the little airplane, his gaze inching over it, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
“Daddy is so good,” he said.
He missed Daddy.
Gu Chenghuai also missed his wife and children.
After completing the task, he returned to the military region, first reporting to the leader, then going to the hospital for medication.
Worried about his fourth brother-in-law and Zhaozhao finding out he was injured, Gu Chenghuai had planned to quietly get bandaged and then call his wife.
He wondered if they had received the package. Calculating the time, today was Yu Bao and Heng Bao’s birthday—how were they spending it…?
Who knew, just entering the hospital, he so unluckily ran into Meng Jiusi.
“…Fourth Bro.” Gu Chenghuai had nowhere to hide and honestly greeted him.
Meng Jiusi’s gaze fell on his brother-in-law’s face.
He looked truly disheveled.
Hair and beard grown out, two scratches at his brow tail, clothes dirty and smelly, looking down-and-out, yet his arm muscles were even more solid, his brows and eyes deeper.
“Where are you hurt?” Meng Jiusi pocketed his fountain pen in his white coat, scanning his brother-in-law.
Gu Chenghuai calmly said, “Arm scratched, nothing serious, just need some medicine.”
After describing the injury, his gaze sincerely met Meng Jiusi’s, his words earnest. “It’ll heal in half a month. Fourth Bro, don’t tell Zhaozhao.”
Meng Jiusi knew what mattered and had no intention of saying more.
“I won’t.”
Telling his sister would only add to her worries.
He gave Gu Chenghuai a look. “Go to my office, I’ll check it.”
This was his own brother-in-law; he wouldn’t rest easy without seeing the injury himself.
“Trouble for Fourth Bro.” Gu Chenghuai, needing the favor, obediently followed.
Meng Jiusi glanced at him. “Why be polite with family.”
Gu Chenghuai smiled, the smile softening the fierceness on his face. “Habit.”
Both had long legs, walking swiftly, soon arriving at Meng Jiusi’s office.
Gu Chenghuai glanced around, sat casually, placed his injured arm on the table, voice low and strong. “Looks like Fourth Bro has adapted.”
He didn’t ask if the other had run into trouble. This was Leader Ning’s man; no fool would rush to offend him.
“It’s been over a month, of course I’ve adapted.” Meng Jiusi fetched the medicine box and signaled his brother-in-law with his eyes. “Roll up your sleeve.”
Gu Chenghuai rolled up his sleeve, revealing the gauze-wrapped arm.
The white bandage was already soaked red with blood.
Meng Jiusi had been at the troops for about a month but still wasn’t used to these soldiers’… awesomeness, their invincible pain tolerance. Each bore the heaviest wounds like they didn’t hurt, always thinking of training, leaving him both helpless and admiring.
He unwrapped the bloodied gauze and saw a deep, bone-visible wound. His brows immediately furrowed.
“This is a little scratch?” Meng Jiusi disapprovingly stared at his brother-in-law. “What counts as a serious injury for you? Would you dare say this to Zhaozhao?”
Gu Chenghuai touched his nose. “…No.”
Imagining his wife’s reaction, his tough heart turned sweet and soft.
“Zhaozhao wouldn’t bear for me to get hurt.” His voice softened by more than two degrees.
Meng Jiusi’s fingers trembled, nearly poking the wound.
Showing off, rippling with joy.
He ignored it.
Gu Chenghuai continued, “Every time I go home to visit relatives, Zhaozhao counts the scars on me. If there’s one more… she’ll sulk and ignore me for a day.”
“Does Fourth Bro know why it’s just one day?” he asked seriously.
Meng Jiusi: “…No.”
Nor did he care that much.
Gu Chenghuai’s lips curved uncontrollably. “Because Zhaozhao cherishes time with me. She says… she doesn’t want to waste it on sulking.”
“…”
Meng Jiusi was showered with affection, wanting to stuff gauze in his brother-in-law’s mouth.
Back at the brigade, he was normal—steady and reliable, not talkative. Who knew once familiar, he’d be a show-off king, one who loved flaunting his love.
Bullying him for being single?
(；＿)
Meng Jiusi thought of a counter. He looked at him half-smiling. “When Zhaozhao brings the four kids to accompany the army, if you so much as scratch your finger, she’ll know. How will you handle it then?”
Gu Chenghuai’s expression stiffened for a moment, responding with silence.
“…Hurry up, I’m anxious to call wife and kids,” he said.
Meng Jiusi smiled, focused on applying medicine, skillfully wrapping it with gauze.
Just then, Jing Mo brought his little brother over.
The two little brothers were used to it, formally knocking before coming right in.
Upon entering, they saw the messy uncle, then looked closer—uncle was injured.
“Uncle, you’re back from the mission.” Jing Mo greeted.
“Mm.” Gu Chenghuai nodded. “Next time, candy for you two.”
Jing Mo didn’t stand on ceremony with his real uncle, smiling. “Great.”
Seeing them again, Gu Chenghuai noticed his wife’s two maternal nephews had changed a lot, from previously gloomy and silent youths to somewhat more cheerful.
Indeed, environment greatly affects children’s growth.
Guang Bai climbed onto another chair, took Daddy’s enamel mug, started drinking water, eyes on uncle.
“Uncle, are you hurt?” The little friend asked in his adorably milky voice.
Meng Jiusi never skimped on his kids. After coming to the military region, he bought them milk powder, malt extract, date cake… bought meat every few days to supplement Jing Mo and Guang Bai’s nutrition.
In a short time, the two boys had gained weight, especially Guang Bai—his little face fleshed out, looking fair and tender, wearing new clothes, not at all like the pitiful child Gu Chenghuai first saw.
Gu Chenghuai’s gaze was gentle, his words soft. “Just scraped skin.”
Jing Mo: !! Liar.
He saw the bloodied gauze! Uncle was injured!! He was lying to the kid!!!
Guang Bai pulled a White Rabbit Toffee from his pocket and offered it. “Uncle, eat candy. Candy heals fast.”
Gu Chenghuai was slightly stunned, smiling helplessly.
Where did that logic come from?
“You eat it yourself…”
Before he finished, Guang Bai stood on tiptoe, placed the candy on the table, and pushed it over with his short little hand.
Meeting uncle’s deep eyes, he shrank back, fingers curling lightly, head lowering.
Gu Chenghuai couldn’t describe his feelings.
Fourth brother-in-law had raised these two kids very well.
As good as his Yu Bao and Heng Bao.
“…Thanks, Xiao Bai.” His voice was hoarse, accepting the little friend’s intention and thanking his nephew.
Guang Bai showed a shy smile, voice soft. “No… no need to thank.”
Meng Jiusi washed his hands, ruffled his son’s head, face with a clear smile, encouraging Xiao Bai.
The little one pounced into Daddy’s bosom, smiling with curved brows and eyes.
Meng Jiusi held him, gently patting his son’s back, looked at Gu Chenghuai. “Lunch together this afternoon?”
Brother-in-law had lost blood and needed supplementing.
He had bought meat early that morning.
Gu Chenghuai didn’t stand on ceremony. “Sure.”
He was anxious to call his wife and didn’t delay, pulled down his sleeve, said something and left.
Out of the hospital, he jogged toward the telephone place.
Sun Yeli finished treating his wound and saw Gu Chenghuai, about to call him to head back to the dormitory together, but before he could speak, the man ran off, vanishing from sight in an instant.
“…In a rush for meal?”
It wasn’t mealtime yet.
A flash of insight hit him.
—Definitely going to call.
On the mission road, he had mentioned it, hadn’t even had time to tell his wife, wondering if he could make it back before the sons’ birthday…?!!
Sun Yeli didn’t chase, yawned, and went back to the dormitory alone.
Back at the military region, Gu Chenghuai fully relaxed, full of thoughts of his wife, missing his comrade’s voice.
He went straight to the telephone place.
Dialed the number, heart racing.
Would he reach them?
