Chapter 24: The Last Meeting

Tongtong sat cross-legged on the bed like a little professor.

Her small hands held a medical book larger than her face, and her soft, milky voice was as serious as an old scholar’s.

“Comrade Yu Wanqin, please recite from memory the acupuncture points.”

Yu Wanqin nervously swallowed.

Even though this was her own daughter, she felt the tension of facing an examiner.

Fortunately, her memory was good, and she recited the content word for word without missing a beat.

Tongtong nodded with a wooden expression, then quizzed her on several other topics.

Yu Wanqin answered each one fluently.

Only then did Tongtong break into a smile, her expression soft and sweet: “Mom is amazing!”

Yu Wanqin secretly let out a sigh of relief, imitating her daughter’s usual little proud demeanor by lifting her chin: “Of course! Just look at whose mom I am!”

Both mother and daughter laughed.

Tongtong jumped off the bed, stood on tiptoe to reach the silver needle kit on the table: “Mom, let’s practice acupuncture today. I’ll be your patient!”

Yu Wanqin was both amused and exasperated—how could she bear to use her own daughter for practice?

But her daughter insisted, and she had no choice.

She could only agree.

Throughout the process, she was as careful as possible, afraid of making any mistakes.

It had to be said that under Tongtong’s intensive training during this period, she, who already had some medical knowledge, had made rapid progress.

She believed it wouldn’t be long before she could stand tall and draw a clear line with Lin Zhiguo.

Thinking of this, Yu Wanqin studied even more seriously, continuing late into the night.

Tongtong had long since fallen into a deep sleep, her little face flushed.

With a gentle smile on her lips, Yu Wanqin tucked her daughter in before lying down beside her.

In the middle of the night, thunder and rain raged.

The mother and daughter were awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

Yu Wanqin’s heart pounded fiercely.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen.

She quickly put on her clothes and got out of bed, opening the door to find two drenched, trembling children standing outside.

Along with Gu Yanbin’s guard, Xiao Zhou.

“Is Lin Tongtong here?”

Tongtong rubbed her eyes and sat up, her soft hair disheveled, looking bewilderedly at the situation at the door.

“What’s wrong?”

Gu Jingnan burst into tears with a loud wail, crying out: “Tongtong! My dad is in trouble!”

Tongtong’s heart tightened.

Xiao Zhou quickly added: “The hospital called and said Division Commander Gu wants to see the children! Please come with me!”

Tongtong’s pupils contracted: “Take me there quickly!”

The situation was urgent.

Yu Wanqin didn’t hesitate; she threw on a coat, picked up the child, and hurriedly followed behind.

Xiao Zhou led the two children, his legs moving swiftly.

A Jeep was waiting outside the compound.

After they got in, it sped all the way to the Military District Hospital.

In the car.

Si Muchen’s face was deathly pale.

His eyes were dark and turbulent.

If one looked closely, his hands were trembling violently at his sides.

He was too afraid.

Three years ago, on a rainy night just like this, he had received news of his grandfather’s death.

His father was sent to the labor camp, and his grandmother, overwhelmed with anger and grief, passed away that very night.

His mother also left.

From then on, he became all alone.

He was afraid that the misfortune clinging to him hadn’t been completely dispelled, afraid that he would bring disaster to the loved ones around him once again.

Si Muchen retreated into his own small world once more.

Terrifying scenes involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

This time, even the System fell silent guiltily.

In the boundless darkness, a pair of soft, warm little hands suddenly grasped his palm.

Tongtong looked worriedly at Si Muchen, who was lost in some emotion, and gently squeezed his hand.

Her voice was soft and sticky, yet full of strength: “Godfather will definitely be okay!”

She had already quickly begun sorting through the medicines in her space, pulling out all the drugs she might need.

Godfather was so good—she absolutely wouldn’t let anything happen to him!

Si Muchen trembled all over.

He lowered his head to meet the little girl’s dark, shining eyes, pursed his lips, and nodded gently: “Mm.”

The car soon arrived at the entrance of the Military District Hospital.

Xiao Zhou jumped out of the car, carrying one child in each hand and with Tongtong on his back, and took off running.

Yu Wanqin chased after them, panting heavily.

They reached the door of the operating room.

The corridor was terrifyingly quiet.

Many people were already waiting outside, all Military Officers from the army.

Tongtong’s little brows were tightly furrowed, her heart pounding wildly.

“Clang!”

The door to the operating room was suddenly pushed open.

A doctor in surgical scrubs walked out, removed his mask, revealing a gentle and refined face, his eyes filled with deep sorrow.

His gaze swept over the crowd, and he sighed: “I’m sorry, we did our best.”

“Dean Su…” The tall Military Officer standing nearby choked up, wanting to say more.

Dean Su shook his head helplessly, indicating there was nothing more he could do.

“The bullet is right in the center of the heart. With our current capabilities, we can’t remove it without causing further damage—it would only hasten the patient’s death.”

“Let the children go in to see him one last time…” He paused, looking at the grief-stricken Yu Wanqin, and hesitated: “Are you Ms. Yu Wanqin?”

Yu Wanqin nodded numbly.

Only then did Dean Su say: “Commander Gu seems to have something to say to you.”

He had seen the photo that fell from Commander Gu’s arms, which looked exactly like this lady, though the person in the photo was younger.

Yu Wanqin was stunned.

She was somewhat confused and inexplicably nervous.

She had only met Commander Gu a few times—what could he possibly have to say to her?

Tongtong held her mother’s hand and walked into the operating room with some urgency.

The strong smell of disinfectant mixed with the scent of blood made Tongtong very uncomfortable.

As soon as the operating room door closed, she let go of her mother’s hand and ran over with quick, light steps.

On the hospital bed, the tall figure’s breathing was so faint it was almost imperceptible.

The clothes over his chest were soaked with large patches of dark red, and there were multiple wounds all over his body, a shocking sight. His handsome, stern face was now weak and pale, almost transparent.

Gu Yanbin struggled to open his eyes, his gaze first landing on Yu Wanqin’s face.

It lingered there for a moment, filled with extreme complexity.

Too many emotions churned within, but in the end, he said nothing, just painfully shifted his gaze away.

He looked at the three children.

“Jingnan, Dad might not be able to protect you anymore.”

Gu Jingnan was already sobbing uncontrollably, crying like a fountain of tears.

“Muchen…”

“Don’t you dare speak! Weren’t you supposed to take care of me for my mom? What kind of nonsense are you talking now!” Si Muchen turned his face away, a single tear silently sliding down.

Gu Yanbin sighed, finally resting his gaze on Tongtong.

“Good Tongtong…”

Tongtong knew what he wanted to say, but she was one step ahead, covering his mouth with her small hand. Her milky voice carried an unprecedented determination.

Her voice was crisp and clear: “Daddy! You’re not allowed to speak! Tongtong can heal you!”

Gu Yanbin smiled bitterly, thinking she was just speaking like a child.

Yu Wanqin furrowed her brows, wanting to say something.

Tongtong didn’t care whether they believed her or not. She grasped his hand and began frantically channeling her healing ability. Her little brain, comparable to a supercomputer, started rapidly processing as she began retrieving medical knowledge.

The top priority was to first determine the condition.

Her space contained the most advanced examination equipment and surgical instruments—there was still hope!