“What should I do now?” Gu Jianing murmured to herself.
Since it was confirmed that Li Shuyao was an enemy spy, she would undoubtedly need to be arrested.
But right now, apart from Gu Jianing, no one else knew about this. And how could she ensure Li Shuyao was apprehended?
After all, Li Shuyao was a member of the Li family.
If she filed an anonymous report, there was a risk it might not be taken seriously—or worse, she herself could be exposed and put in danger.
“If only Brother Xi were here, maybe he’d know what to do…” Gu Jianing thought it over and decided she should call Sheng Zexi to ask for his advice.
But she’d have to carefully consider how to phrase it.
After all, calls to the military district were monitored. It wouldn’t be wise to outright state her suspicions.
What if they asked how she knew? How would she answer?
She couldn’t very well say she could understand animals’ speech.
Gu Jianing carried two major secrets: the “Childbearing System” and her “rebirth.”
Her ability to understand animals came as a reward from the Childbearing System.
If this skill were exposed, her deepest secrets might not remain hidden.
So, if possible, she’d rather not reveal it.
Gu Jianing pondered how to subtly hint at the situation so Sheng Zexi would understand, then used the Sang family’s phone to call the Northwest Military District.
However, in the afternoon, Sheng Zexi was likely in training and didn’t answer.
“Alright, could you please let him know when his training ends? Ask him to call me back no matter how late it is—I have something urgent to discuss,” Gu Jianing finally said.
“Understood, Dr. Gu.”
Just then, Gu Jianing heard movement at the door.
She looked up to see Grandpa Sang walking in with two people—a man and a woman, both around thirty years old.
“Xiao Qin, Xiao Du, come on in,” Grandpa Sang greeted them warmly while making introductions.
“This is my wife, and this is my granddaughter-in-law, Gu Jianing.”
“This is a newly arrived research couple from the institute, Xiao Qin and Xiao Du. They’re quite talented and promising.”
Gu Jianing and Grandma Sang exchanged greetings with the young couple.
Gu Jianing couldn’t help but study them.
After all, this was the first time since she’d been staying with the Sang family that Grandpa Sang had brought guests home.
Grandpa Sang wasn’t particularly sociable, especially given how busy he was with research.
So, life in the Sang household was usually very quiet.
But today, Grandpa Sang had actually invited guests over, and he seemed quite amiable toward them.
This made Gu Jianing curious, and she scrutinized them more closely.
As she did, her brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of confusion flickered in her eyes.
“Dr. Gu, is there something wrong?” asked the man Grandpa Sang had called Xiao Qin.
Gu Jianing snapped out of her thoughts and quickly apologized, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. I just thought you looked familiar.”
She said they looked familiar, but in truth, the couple gave her a strong sense of déjà vu—as if she’d seen them somewhere before but couldn’t quite place them.
“Oh, I see,” the couple replied, brushing it off.
As Grandma Sang brewed tea, the couple chatted with Grandpa Sang.
It was then that Gu Jianing learned they had come from the southeastern region.
Previously, they had been researchers at a weapons research institute in the southeastern region. Now that they were in the capital, it was likely related to the project Grandpa Sang had mentioned a few days ago.
Gu Jianing didn’t plan to listen further and was about to get up and return to her room to rest.
But just then, she overheard the women sigh with a hint of sadness: “I just hope the project finishes soon so I can go back and see my son Xiaotian and daughter Qingqing, as well as my grandmother. I don’t even know how they’re doing.”
“It’s been over eight years since I last saw them. I miss them every single day.”
This heartfelt remark instantly made Gu Jianing, who had been about to leave, freeze in her tracks.
Xiaotian, Qingqing, grandmother?!
Gu Jianing’s eyes lit up—yes, she remembered now!
No wonder this couple had looked so familiar, as if she’d seen them somewhere before.
Now that she thought about it, they bore a striking resemblance to Qin Tian and Qin Qing.
Or rather, Qin Tian and Qin Qing resembled them.
So, this couple before her must be Qin Tian’s parents.
Gu Jianing turned back and asked, “Excuse me for asking, but are you Comrade Qin Zhihong and Du Lan?”
Qin Zhihong and Du Lan had found it odd when Gu Jianing, who was about to leave, suddenly turned around. Now, hearing her question, they were even more puzzled.
Qin Zhihong nodded. “Yes, my full name is Qin Zhihong, and this is my wife, Du Lan.”
But there was clear confusion in his eyes.
Gu Jianing let out a relieved sigh. “Then there’s no mistake.”
She sat back down and, under everyone’s bewildered gazes, said to Qin Zhihong and Du Lan, “My husband is a soldier, and I followed him as a military dependent.”
“Right now, I’m in the capital for personal reasons.”
“Before this, I was stationed with my husband in the Northwest, near a military district close to Qin Village.”
At first, Qin Zhihong and Du Lan were still confused by Gu Jianing’s words.
But when she mentioned being stationed near the Northwest Military District and Qin Village, their hearts skipped a beat.
Especially Du Lan, who immediately stood up.
Her eyes burned with urgency as she stared at Gu Jianing. “You know Qin Village? Then do you… do you know…?”
Before Du Lan could finish, Gu Jianing answered for her, “I happen to know Grandma Qin, as well as Qin Tian and Qin Qing.”
The moment these words were spoken, Qin Zhihong and Du Lan were overcome with joy.
Tears welled up in their eyes.
After more than eight years, they had finally received news of their family.
“Dr. Gu, how is my grandmother? And my son and daughter? Are they doing alright?”
“Yes, Dr. Gu, if you know anything about them, please tell us.”
The couple was desperate for any information about their family.
“Are they… are they living well? Have they… have they…?” Have they resented us?
Gu Jianing recalled the life Qin Tian and the others had been living and sighed. “These years… they haven’t had it easy.”
That was the truth.
The moment these words left her mouth, Du Lan’s tears spilled over, and she began sobbing.
Qin Zhihong quickly moved to comfort his wife. “Dr. Gu, what exactly happened? Can you tell us in detail?”
Gu Jianing recounted, “I remember the first time I met Qin Tian was at a market.”
“It was the middle of winter, freezing cold.”
“The siblings had to gather herbs from the mountains to sell for money, just to buy food and firewood for the winter.”
“The second time I saw him, Qin Tian came to the Northwest Military District begging for help. Grandma Qin was sick—she had tuberculosis. And someone from the village named Qin De was trying to arrange an apprenticeship for Qin Tian at a woodworking factory in another city…”
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