Chapter 99: It Was All Her Wishful Thinking

“Commissar Liang, I see things differently from you.”

“You interact with him primarily in his professional capacity, whereas I engage with him in his private life.”

“A person who can completely separate career from personal life is exactly what we hope to see.”

“Don’t you agree?”

Hearing this, Liang Shuhe broke into a pleased smile.

“I support this perspective.”

“Work is work, life is life.”

“If we conflate the two, both work and life would become a complete mess.”

After exchanging a few casual remarks and considering the work that had accumulated over several days, Liang Shuhe behind the desk could no longer contain his urgency.

“Comrade Shen, I have some work to attend to.”

“Would you… like to browse some books?”

As he spoke, he gestured toward the wooden shelf beside the sofa.

Hearing that he needed to work, Shen Yi’an quickly nodded, “Alright, I’ll read for a while.”

“Please focus on your work, don’t mind me.”

Seeing that she showed no signs of restlessness from being left alone, Liang Shuhe nodded with satisfaction before lowering his head to begin his tasks.

Having been away from the office for several days, he felt the piled-up work could keep him busy all night.

Watching Liang Shuhe hunched over his desk, fully absorbed in his work, Shen Yi’an felt a surge of admiration.

When it comes to work ethic, one must look to the older generation of revolutionaries.

Though his hair had turned gray and wrinkles had deepened on his face, his diligent and earnest dedication couldn’t help but command profound respect.

After a brief moment of reflection, she picked up a book from the wooden shelf.

By chance, the first book she selected was “Legends of Political Commissars.”

The accounts of fourteen political commissars’ military campaigns within its pages transported Shen Yi’an, as if she were reliving the eras they had experienced firsthand.

Passion, fervor, youth, fearlessness, pioneering spirit…

She had expected to feel drowsy, but surprisingly, it kept her thoroughly awake.

It wasn’t until a familiar voice sounded beside her that she was pulled out of the textual world, “An’an, if we don’t leave now, Political Commissar Liang will be off duty.”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an looked up and met the man’s smiling gaze, “Have you finished your report?”

The moment the question left her lips, her curved eyes stirred an involuntary flutter in his heart.

Suppressing the palpitations, Li Beichen’s fingers twitched momentarily before he restrained the urge to ruffle her hair, “Yes, the report is done.”

“Let’s go!”

“Okay!” Shen Yi’an rose to her feet with a smile.

After bidding farewell to Liang Shuhe behind the desk and notifying the Commander-in-Chief’s Office, they left the office building together.

Only after walking a considerable distance and ensuring the lingering peripheral glances had vanished did Shen Yi’an turn to the man beside her, “When did you get back?”

“The sentry at the base entrance mentioned you’d need a few more days to return. I thought ‘a few days’ meant eight or nine days.”

Hearing this, Li Beichen raised an amused eyebrow, “What, are you complaining that I came back too soon?”

“No, no!” Shen Yi’an shook her head rapidly.

“I just think being a soldier is so demanding—there’s no proper vacation to speak of.”

In response, Li Beichen simply turned and glanced at the national emblem hanging atop the office building, “For us, serving as soldiers isn’t hard at all.”

“As long as I can contribute to the nation’s prosperity, this life wouldn’t have been lived in vain.”

Meeting Shen Yi’an’s gaze, he quickly added, “My mission isn’t just defending the country—it’s also protecting you.”

“As long as you’re safe and sound, nothing else matters to me!”

Hearing this, Shen Yi’an rolled her eyes playfully. “Who needs your protection?”

“There are others who need your protection more!”

“There’s no one else but you!” Li Beichen replied swiftly and firmly, missing the deeper meaning in her words.

“Before meeting you, my only mission was to protect our homeland and guard this blue sky above us.”

“After meeting you, my mission went from one to two.”

Had she heard these words long ago, Shen Yi’an might have been deeply moved.

Now, though her eyes and brows carried joy, she couldn’t help chiding him with a glance. “Then you might have to break your promise—I didn’t come alone this time.”

“I know!” Li Beichen glanced toward the guesthouse.

“As soon as I arrived at the Base entrance, the sentry told me someone was here to see me.”

“Since they couldn’t reach me, they arranged for them to stay at the Base guesthouse.”

“I went to check—it was that fool Song Chaoxu and his wife and kids.”

When he didn’t continue, Shen Yi’an frowned. “Is that all?”

“There’s someone else?” Now Li Beichen was genuinely confused.

The kid at the Base entrance had only mentioned five people: three adults and two children.

Could there have been others who came later?

Seeing his genuine confusion, Shen Yi’an guessed that Sister Rongying had likely helped keep the secret.

Probably hoping the surprise would come from her own lips, so she could gauge this man’s reaction firsthand.

Silently calling it ‘childish,’ she nonetheless cautiously scanned their surroundings.

Finding no extra eyes on them, she moved closer and took the man’s hand.

Feeling his large palm enveloped by her soft, delicate one, Li Beichen’s rising smile couldn’t be suppressed. “Yi An, are you trying to tempt me into misconduct?”

“But this isn’t the right place, we’re at the…”

Before his imagination could run wild, he felt her guide his palm to a warm place.

Looking down, he realized it rested against his beloved’s abdomen.

He was about to say this gesture was even more inappropriate when a thunderous realization struck him.

Abdomen?

A gentle touch?

Could it be…?

The thought was so staggering that Li Beichen stood frozen, unable to process it.

Not that he couldn’t comprehend—he simply didn’t dare to believe.

How could it be?

Just once… and it happened?

No, according to his plan, he should have married her first, enjoyed their sweet time as a couple, and only then considered the next generation.

How could some impatient little rascal have arrived already?

Ah!

Li Beichen felt like screaming internally.

Shen Yi’an didn’t know his thoughts.

Seeing his hand resting motionless on her abdomen, she initially thought he was stunned because he didn’t understand.

But when she looked up and saw his dazed expression, she realized he did understand—he just couldn’t accept the reality.

The joy in her heart slowly chilled, leaving her so cold she nearly shivered.

Of course. This was all her own wishful thinking.

From the moment she learned of the pregnancy until now, she had been celebrating alone.

She had privately assumed that he also liked children, which was why she had traveled thousands of miles from Lancheng to come here.

But it turned out that not everyone would welcome the arrival of her child.

Hah, why did she feel like laughing?

Forcing a smile she thought was bright, Shen Yi’an released the man’s hand and spoke calmly, “Sorry, I was too rash.”

“But you don’t need to worry. I didn’t come here to make you take responsibility.”

“Because unmarried women can’t give birth to children alone, and they can’t get a birth permit either.”

“The reason I came to find you is to ask if you could help me get one…”

“Shen Yi’an!” Before the last few words could escape her lips, Li Beichen cut her off.

“Who told you I don’t like children? And who told you I wouldn’t take responsibility?”

“Hmm? Tell me.”

This was the first time she had heard her full name from the man’s mouth since their relationship was tacitly acknowledged.

To say she wasn’t hurt would be a lie, but Shen Yi’an tried her best to hold back her tears. “Your silence meant consent, didn’t it? And consent means you don’t like children, right?”

“I may not be super smart, but I’m not stupid either, so I won’t use the child to tie you down.”

After a brief pause, she added, “The child is mine alone. I don’t need anyone to take responsibility.”

“Before I came, my parents, brother, and sister-in-law said they would help me raise the child. All I need to do is get the birth permit and go back.”

“So, could you…”

“No!” Before Shen Yi’an could finish, Li Beichen interrupted her again.

“Why should my child be raised by others?”

“Even if it’s my in-laws, older sisters, younger sisters, older brothers, or younger brothers—no one else is allowed. Our child can only be raised by the two of us!”

Having vented his frustration and no longer caring whether his comrades or superiors might see, Li Beichen gripped the shoulders of the person before him, his gaze softening inch by inch as their eyes met.