Chapter 38: Little Sister is an Angel

Lin Zhiguo looked up in shock, thinking of yesterday’s events, and couldn’t help but turn pale with fear.

Regiment Commander Yang scratched his head, pacing back and forth in the office, speaking earnestly: “You’re at a critical period for promotion to officer now. Don’t let family matters affect your work, understand?”

Lin Zhiguo was also utterly frustrated. He looked at Regiment Commander Yang gratefully and assured him: “Don’t worry, Regiment Commander, I’ll handle it properly. Thank you for the reminder.”

A glint flashed in Regiment Commander Yang’s eyes. After some thought, he gave Lin Zhiguo a meaningful look: “As for your wife… tell her to come see me when she has time. I’ll do some ideological work with her!”

Lin Zhiguo opened his mouth, but meeting Regiment Commander Yang’s unyielding gaze, he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

His expression turned somewhat unpleasant, but he could only agree sullenly: “Yes! I understand!”

Only then did Regiment Commander Yang smile, patting his shoulder: “I knew you were a good comrade, understanding gratitude. It hasn’t been in vain, all these years I’ve helped you!”

He turned and took two cans of malt milk powder from a drawer, saying cheerfully: “I specifically got these for your wife to nourish her health. Take them to her for me.”

Lin Zhiguo pursed his lips, giving Regiment Commander Yang a deep look before taking the malt milk powder.

Once he left Regiment Commander Yang’s office, he frowned in disgust.

His hand holding the malt milk powder tightened slightly, and finally, with a gloomy face, he strode away.

He didn’t deliver those two cans of malt milk powder to Shen Wei.

Instead, he took them directly to Yu Wanqin’s house, wanting to ask her how exactly she had gotten to know the Commander’s wife, and see if she could help put in a good word.

If Commander Liu really held a grudge against him, his chances of promotion would likely be hopeless.

Carrying the items, he walked to his own doorstep, only to find an iron general guarding the door.

His neighbor Auntie Zhu peeked out: “Deputy Battalion Commander Lin, looking for Wanqin? She went to Jingshi Medical University for a study exchange. It’ll be two months. You didn’t know?”

“Medical University?”

Lin Zhiguo was completely stunned, his hand holding the items frozen mid-air, his face alternating between pale and flushed.

His wife went to attend training at a medical university? When did this happen?

How did he not know anything about it?

After thanking Auntie Zhu, Lin Zhiguo walked back somewhat despondently.

He felt both angry and panicked inside.

It felt like things had spiraled out of control, completely beyond his grasp.

Just how many more things was Yu Wanqin hiding from him, and did she even consider him her husband at all!

Lin Zhiguo, filled with pent-up anger and nowhere to vent it, finally kicked hard at the old ginkgo tree in the yard, only to be jolted pale by the recoil.

“Damn it!”

He cursed, feeling like the whole world had wronged him.

Yet it never occurred to him that he had never done anything for his wife and child, even going so far as to abandon them in their hometown for three years without a care.

Allowing his family to mistreat and oppress them.

Why should Yu Wanqin devote herself wholeheartedly to him?

Lin Zhiguo returned, utterly dejected.

When Tongtong came back, she heard from the old ginkgo about Scumbag Dad’s visit.

She snorted with her little nose, not taking it to heart.

She asked Grandpa Tree to keep an eye out for her and inform her if any trouble arose.

Then she put the matter out of her mind.

Now, she had two unwavering daily tasks:

First, toddling on her short legs to her godfather’s house, supervising him like a little inspector to rest properly and take his medicine on time, managing Gu Yanbin so obediently that he felt sweet inside.

Another more important matter was to go to the Commander’s house to find Brother Xinxin.

Although she had been frightened by Lin Ruihu that day, Tongtong had secretly used her special ability to soothe his spiritual energy. As a result, Xinxin’s condition had actually stabilized somewhat compared to before, though he had become even more dependent on Tongtong.

Old Lady He Xiulan watched as her grandson’s eyes only lit up a little when Tongtong came over, feeling both bittersweet and grateful.

She simply invited Tongtong to come to their house for lunch every day.

When Tongtong went home and told Liu Lan about it, Liu Lan was naturally more than willing. Being on good terms with the Commander’s family meant that she and her daughter wouldn’t have to worry about being bullied in the compound in the future!

So, every morning after visiting her godfather, Tongtong would sling her little water bottle over her shoulder and trot off toward the Commander’s small courtyard.

“Brother Xinxin! Tongtong is here!”

Her clear, childish voice flew in before she even arrived.

Xinxin, who had been huddled in a corner, brightened up as soon as he heard her voice and unconsciously stood up, walking toward her.

Tongtong fluttered over like a little bird, took Xinxin’s hand, her dimpled cheeks soft and sweet.

She asked him with a smile, “Did you eat well today, brother?”

Xinxin obediently nodded.

“So good!” Tongtong stretched out her soft, chubby little hand and quickly popped a chocolate into his mouth, then looked at him expectantly. “Is it yummy?”

Xinxin’s little brow furrowed tightly.

It tasted bitter… he didn’t really like it.

But meeting his little sister’s big eyes, he nodded with difficulty. “…Yummy.”

Only then was Tongtong satisfied.

He Xiulan came out of the house, watching the two children play together with a happy smile, and even made them a bowl of egg drop soup to drink.

Tongtong had originally been telling Xinxin a story.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Xinxin unconsciously tracing patterns on the ground with his fingertips.

A spark of inspiration flashed in her little head. She pulled out a small notebook and a short pencil from her treasured cloth bag, placed them on the low table in front of Xinxin, and said softly, “Brother Xinxin, want to draw? Drawing is so much fun!”

Then she demonstrated for Xinxin.

Xinxin’s blank gaze fell on the notebook, and he tilted his head.

After a long while, he slowly reached out and picked up the pencil.

Lowering his head in thought, the pencil tip quickly scratched across the paper, the lines shifting from awkward and chaotic to smooth and precise.

At that moment, it was as if the whole world was shut out…

Tongtong leaned over to look and gasped in surprise, her little mouth hanging open!

What was drawn on the paper was actually a little bird flying past outside the window. Though it was just black and white lines, it was incredibly lifelike, even capturing the layered texture of the feathers!

It was just like a photograph!

“Wow!” Tongtong couldn’t help but exclaim, her big, dark eyes sparkling as she praised, “Brother Xinxin! You’re amazing!”

“Are you Magic Brush Ma Liang? It looks so real! Even better than the pictures in the storybooks! You’re definitely going to be a great painter someday! You’ll paint for Chairman Mao!”

No wonder they say autistic children must have some special talent in certain areas.

So Brother Xinxin is good at drawing!

Tongtong’s generous praise and her starry-eyed admiration brought a faint blush to Xinxin’s pale cheeks.

He hesitated for a moment, then flipped to a new page.

Lowering his head again, he began to draw, the pencil scratching softly across the paper.

On the drawing paper…

A little girl in a pale pink floral dress ran freely through the fields, her rosy cheeks adorned with shallow dimples. Her large, dark eyes sparkled like black grapes, bright and dazzling, radiating innocence and vitality. A pair of tiny wings sprouted from her back, making her look as adorable as a little fairy who had descended to the mortal world.

This was the scene Xinxin had imagined.

In his eyes, his little sister was the angel who had saved him.

When he handed the drawing to Tongtong, she gazed at the vivid little figure on the paper and couldn’t help but adore it!

“So pretty!”

“Grandma! Grandma! Come quick! Brother Xinxin drew Tongtong to life!”

Holding the drawing, she fluttered like a joyful little butterfly, dashing off to find He Xiulan.