Chapter 55: The Daughter Takes After Her Father
The familiar cheerful voice caught Yu Wanqin’s attention.
She immediately spotted her daughter, dressed in a milky blue princess dress, fluttering over like a little butterfly.
Yu Wanqin quickened her steps in her high heels and caught her daughter as she came barreling over.
“Mommy!” Tongtong buried herself in her mother’s embrace, rubbing her little head against her. “Mommy, you’re finally back! Tongtong missed you so much!”
Yu Wanqin lifted the child in her arms, gauging her weight.
Hmm… she’s heavier.
It seemed she had been eating well over the past month. Relieved, Yu Wanqin breathed in the milky scent of her daughter, her eyes reddening. “Mommy missed Tongtong too!”
Several doctors who had attended the training with her followed behind.
Seeing the plump and adorable Tongtong, they couldn’t help but shower her with praise. “Doctor Yu, is this your daughter? No wonder you talk about her every day. She’s so pretty, just like a New Year painting doll.”
Tongtong nestled in her mother’s fragrant embrace, her eyes crinkling into happy slits. With sweet words, she addressed each of the adults as “uncle” or “auntie,” delighting everyone.
Gu Yanbin stepped forward, naturally taking Yu Wanqin’s luggage. His voice was deep and gentle. “You must be tired from the journey. Welcome home.”
His tall, handsome figure stood out prominently in the crowd.
His eyes, usually stern and imposing, now held a touch of tenderness.
Someone couldn’t help but exclaim, “Doctor Yu, is this your husband? He’s so handsome, no wonder your daughter is so beautiful. It seems her father’s looks are just as impressive.”
“Exactly! The two of you standing together are like a perfect match, a golden couple!”
“That’s right! I always thought Tongtong takes after her father. Look at her eyes and little mouth—they’re exactly like his.”
Gu Yanbin’s heart warmed.
He couldn’t help but take a closer look at Tongtong’s features. For some reason, the more he looked, the more he saw the resemblance.
Hmm… these doctors have sharp eyes. No wonder they were selected for the training.
Unconsciously, he straightened his posture.
The tenderness in his eyes seemed to overflow.
Yu Wanqin, however, felt somewhat awkward and quickly waved her hands to explain. “No! Everyone has misunderstood… This is Commander Gu. He brought the child here.”
Gu Yanbin sighed inwardly but nodded seriously, responding stiffly, “That’s right!”
Realizing their mistake, the others apologized awkwardly, quickly picked up their luggage, and bid Yu Wanqin farewell.
“Thank you, Commander Gu. Sorry for the trouble,” Yu Wanqin said with an apologetic smile.
Gu Yanbin gazed at her. After two months apart, she seemed more confident, her eyes carrying a gentle glow that came from accumulated knowledge, making her even more captivating.
His eyes deepened, and he cleared his throat softly. “Let’s go home first. Tongtong has been talking about you all morning.”
Gu Jingnan chimed in eagerly, “Auntie Yu! And me! I’ve been talking about you for days too!”
Yu Wanqin smiled, her eyes crinkling, and ruffled Gu Jingnan’s hair. “Jingnan, you’ve grown taller.”
Gu Jingnan immediately grinned widely.
Yu Wanqin’s gaze fell on the quiet Si Muchen. The little boy wore a cool expression, but his eyes clearly held anticipation.
She smiled and ruffled his hair as well. “Muchen has grown taller too, and even put on a little weight. It suits you.”
Si Muchen’s eyes lit up. He lowered his head and said softly, “Tongtong told me to eat meat every day.”
Tongtong nodded obediently, seeking praise: “Yes! Tongtong made sure brother ate his food and meat! Grow tall!”
“So good!” Yu Wanqin beamed, generously giving her daughter a loud kiss.
The group chatted and laughed as they prepared to get into the car.
But then they heard an unpleasant voice: “Wanqin!”
Everyone turned to see Lin Zhiguo limping over, carrying a bag of shriveled, nearly rotten apples.
His injuries hadn’t fully healed yet; his face was sallow, making him look ten years older.
At first glance, Yu Wanqin almost didn’t recognize him.
“Lin Zhiguo?” she frowned.
Lin Zhiguo’s eyes were red: “Wanqin, you’re finally back. You have no idea what I’ve been through these past two weeks while injured.”
As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Tongtong, trying to play the victim.
“Ah! I’m injured, and there’s no one around to even bring me tea or water. Tongtong is never home… Ah… But now that you’re back, let’s go home.”
What did he mean by that?
Just because Mother was back, she had to go serve him?
Tongtong’s little face fell, pouting unhappily: “Mom, before, eldest aunt told Lin Jiaojiao to push me into the water, and Daddy made me apologize to them.”
Yu Wanqin’s expression immediately darkened, her gaze icy as she stared at Lin Zhiguo.
Her daughter was her Achilles’ heel.
She had no idea that while she was away, that despicable pair had dared to lay a hand on her daughter!
Lin Zhiguo panicked, quickly waving his hands: “That was a misunderstanding. I asked Jiaojiao; she didn’t mean to.”
“Oh, since you’re so partial to them, why don’t you have them take care of you?” Yu Wanqin’s eyes were full of mockery. “Lin Zhiguo, I haven’t settled things with you yet about what happened between us, but if you dare touch my daughter, I’ll fight you to the death!”
With that, she couldn’t be bothered to spare Lin Zhiguo another glance, simply picked up Tongtong and got into the car.
Lin Zhiguo anxiously chased after them but was deftly blocked by Gu Yanbin: “Deputy Battalion Commander Lin, there’s no room in the car.”
Lin Zhiguo’s face turned livid: “Yu Wanqin is my wife!”
“I know, no one said she isn’t. It’s just that the car really is full,” Gu Yanbin shrugged helplessly, then nimbly jumped into the driver’s seat, closed the door, and started the engine in one smooth motion.
The car sped away.
Lin Zhiguo choked on a mouthful of exhaust fumes, hopping mad and cursing loudly.
Si Muchen sat in the back seat, glancing back with dark, somber eyes.
[System, misfortune transfer, target: Lin Zhiguo!]
Ding! Target transferred! Energy value consumed: 0.5!
The System cheerfully executed the command.
As Lin Zhiguo cursed and stumbled back, someone bumped into him hard.
He lost his balance completely and fell flat on his face.
His still-unhealed wounds were jolted, and the pain made his vision blur.
Just as he was about to look up and curse, he realized the person who bumped him had already run far away.
A bad feeling struck him; he patted his pocket and found it slashed open—his wallet was gone!
He had run into a pickpocket!
And they had the nerve to steal from him!
Lin Zhiguo was furious but couldn’t get up due to the pain from his wounds.
After struggling for a long time to report it at the police station, there was no trace of the thief to be found. He could only resign himself to his bad luck!
…
Yu Wanqin and the others didn’t give the incident another thought.
The car raced all the way back to the compound.
Along the way, everyone greeted her warmly, even more enthusiastically than before.
They had heard that Yu Wanqin, upon returning from Jingshi, would be working at the Military District Hospital.
Being a doctor—how impressive!
Yu Wanqin responded to everyone with a smile.
Once back home, she first distributed the specialty goods brought from Jingshi to Liu Lan’s family, who had always taken care of her daughter, as well as neighbors like Grandma Wang and Sister-in-Law Zhu, thanking them for their usual care.
Everyone held the exquisite pastries, praising Yu Wanqin endlessly, saying she was capable and courteous.
Just as Yu Wanqin was busy chatting with the neighbors, Li Xue pulled her thin and small daughter, He Zhaodi, and shamelessly approached.
“Wanqin is back? Oh my, these must be the good things brought from Jingshi, right? How rare!”