Meanwhile, Guoguo happily circled around Gu Jianing.
Grandma Sang also got out of the car and saw Zhang Shuwan and Guoguo.
“Oh, you must be Shuwan, right? And this is Guoguo. Our Ning girl often talks about you two…”
Grandma Sang had heard about Zhang Shuwan and Guoguo from Gu Jianing.
Being a natural at socializing, Grandma Sang immediately struck up a conversation with Zhang Shuwan.
“Let’s not stand at the door—everyone, come inside,” Sheng Zexi said.
“Ah, right, let’s all go in.”
Gu Jianing stepped into the house and looked around.
She had been away for over a month, but everything inside seemed unchanged.
Moreover, it was spotless and tidy, clearly showing that Sheng Zexi had been cleaning and organizing the whole time.
Then again, even before, it had always been Sheng Zexi who took care of the household chores.
He was well aware that Gu Jianing could be a bit lazy.
And he indulged her in that laziness.
To Sheng Zexi, Gu Jianing was his wife, and a wife deserved to be pampered.
As for household chores—since they were shared responsibilities, if one person didn’t do them, the other would.
But Sheng Zexi believed that as a man, he should take on more of the burden.
For many small tasks that didn’t necessarily require Gu Jianing’s attention, he would just handle them himself whenever he had time.
Meanwhile, Grandma Sang led Zhang Shuwan and Guoguo inside and gave them some gifts she had brought from the capital.
“Oh, we can’t accept these.”
“Of course you can! These are specially for Ning’s good friends. You’re her closest friend—you have to take them.”
“Besides, a good neighbor is better than a distant relative. I was hoping you could look out for our Ning girl in the future.”
“Of course! Jianing and I will always support each other.”
“Ah, your belly is so big—are you due soon?”
“I’m carrying twins. Actually, I owe this pregnancy to Jianing…”
…
While Grandma Sang and Zhang Shuwan were engrossed in their lively conversation,
Sheng Zexi had already taken Gu Jianing back to their room.
Almost as soon as they entered, before Gu Jianing could say a word, Sheng Zexi pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Wife, I missed you. So, so much.”
Sheng Zexi buried his face in the slender, fair curve of Gu Jianing’s neck, breathing in her scent.
Only with his wife back in his arms did his heart finally settle.
“Zexi, I missed you too.”
Gu Jianing hugged him back just as tightly.
For those in love, longing is mutual.
During this time apart, her yearning for Sheng Zexi was no less than his for her.
Now, held in his embrace, she felt the same sense of peace.
True contentment is found at home.
Indeed, home is where loved ones are.
“How have you been this whole time? Were you okay? Did you eat well? How was your sleep…?” Sheng Zexi asked.
Gu Jianing didn’t interrupt him, quietly listening as he spoke.
Only after he finished did she chuckle and say, “Haven’t you already asked all this over the phone?”
Yes, he had asked—every single call included these questions.
But hearing her answers over the phone was nothing like seeing her in person and asking again.
“You’re a deputy regimental commander, yet you seem so silly right now,” Gu Jianing teased, cupping the man’s face in her hands.
Sheng Zexi gazed at her tenderly. “That’s right. In front of you, I’m just a fool.”
From the moment he met her, his heart had followed her, and his thoughts revolved around her.
But he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Then let me tell you—I’ve been doing great, so don’t worry. Look, both the baby and I are perfectly fine.” Gu Jianing even twirled around to show him.
Seeing her response and her rosy complexion, Sheng Zexi finally felt completely at ease.
But he still refused to let go of her.
Gu Jianing allowed him to hold her, though she couldn’t resist teasing, “Ah, if the military district found out that the famously stern ‘Jade-Faced Yama’ Deputy Commander Sheng is actually this clingy with his wife, your reputation would be ruined.”
“Let it be ruined. I don’t care what others think. All I need is my wife,” Sheng Zexi declared, utterly unashamed—even proud.
Gu Jianing burst into laughter.
“Alright, alright, you can have your wife.”
“Has the baby been giving you trouble lately?” Sheng Zexi asked.
“Not too much. Do you want to ask them yourself?” Gu Jianing suggested casually.
To her surprise, Sheng Zexi took her seriously.
He immediately placed his large hand gently on her rounded belly and asked, “Little one, have you been bothering Mommy lately?”
“Carrying you is hard work for her—you can’t make things difficult for her, understand?”
Sheng Zexi had only meant it as a lighthearted remark, but just as he finished speaking, he felt a slight bulge under his palm—as if a tiny foot had kicked him.
He froze in shock.
“Ningning, Ningning—the baby—the baby just kicked me!”
“Yep, they kicked you. Because they heard their daddy’s voice and wanted to respond,” Gu Jianing said, equally amazed.
It must be said that the two babies she was carrying seemed to have inherited her laid-back temperament—they rarely moved much.
So, up until now, Sheng Zexi had never actually felt them move.
Even Gu Jianing herself had only felt the occasional flutter.
Yet now, the babies had suddenly kicked—could they really have heard Sheng Zexi’s voice and responded to their father?
Was it really that magical?
In any case, first-time father Sheng was utterly stunned by the sensation of fetal movement.
It took him a long moment to recover, and then a goofy grin spread across his face as he continued talking to the babies, growing more and more animated.
Watching this scene, Gu Jianing felt that there could be no greater happiness than this.
The two lingered in their room for a while, but eventually, mindful of the others in the living room, they emerged.
When they came out, Zhang Shuwan was still chatting enthusiastically with Grandma Sang, while Guoguo happily munched on snacks, clearly fond of the elderly woman.
However, Grandma Sang, after all, was no longer young, and the day-and-night train ride had left her exhausted.
So, after a while, Sheng Zexi settled her into a room to rest.
Zhang Shuwan wanted to keep talking with Gu Jianing, but she also worried about overexerting her, so she eventually left with Guoguo.
After all, now that her dear friend was back, they could chat anytime.
Gu Jianing was indeed a little tired and went to rest as well.
While she slept, news of her return spread throughout the Northwest Military District in just one afternoon.
Everyone had been eagerly awaiting Gu Jianing’s homecoming.
After all, her trip to the capital had made her famous nationwide.
Now, she was widely recognized as the Northwest Military District’s miracle doctor.
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