Several times, when Fang Wanrong neglected her because of the fake Ah Rui, it was Sheng Xinhao who stepped in to help her.
So, in Fang Manping’s heart, Sheng Xinhao was like half a father to her.
This time, her mother was imprisoned, and her uncle divorced her mother.
No matter how thick-skinned Fang Manping was, she couldn’t continue living in the Sheng family.
So, she moved out.
But before she left, her uncle had given her many things.
These things would ensure she could live comfortably without working, even though she was reluctant to accept them.
In the end, at her uncle’s insistence, she couldn’t refuse and accepted half of them.
Her uncle had been very kind to her, and now that he was undergoing surgery, how could she not come?
Sheng Zexi glanced at Fang Manping but ultimately said nothing more.
The two of them waited outside together.
An hour later, the light in the operating room turned off, and the door was pushed open from the inside.
Gu Jianing also walked out.
Both Sheng Zexi and Fang Manping stood up immediately.
Gu Jianing was surprised to see Fang Manping. She was aware of Fang Manping’s actions during the recent incident where Xingxing and Yueyue were nearly abducted.
“Ningning, how did it go?” Sheng Zexi asked.
Gu Jianing removed her mask and smiled. “The surgery was successful. He just needs to rest well in the hospital for a while, and he’ll recover.”
Sheng Zexi and Fang Manping both let out a sigh of relief.
…
Sheng Xinhao woke up the next day.
When he opened his eyes, he realized he was in the hospital.
He also remembered fainting in the cemetery.
As he tried to sit up, Fang Manping and his guard, Xiao Chen, immediately approached.
“Sir/Uncle, you mustn’t move recklessly.”
Only then did Sheng Xinhao notice Xiao Chen and Fang Manping—though seeing Xiao Chen wasn’t a surprise, but Fang Manping’s presence shocked him.
“Manping, why are you here?”
Xiao Chen quickly explained, “Sir, Miss Manping has been here guarding you since your surgery yesterday.”
The guard’s words made Sheng Xinhao frown slightly.
“Yesterday? Surgery?”
At this point, Sheng Xinhao looked at his arm and noticed the difference.
“What exactly happened?”
How did he end up having surgery?
Besides, he remembered that the doctors at the military hospital hadn’t dared to operate on his arm—the risks were too high, which was why they had opted for conservative treatment all these years.
And the only person who could perform the surgery…
“Dr. Gu performed the surgery for you…”
Under Xiao Chen’s explanation, Sheng Xinhao finally understood everything.
It turned out that after he fainted in the cemetery yesterday, Xiao Chen had called Ah Xi.
Ah Xi and his wife had turned back midway.
Gu Jianing had immediately come to the hospital and performed the surgery on him right away.
“Sir, you have no idea how much admiration and respect the military hospital doctors have for Dr. Gu.”
“Dr. Gu’s surgical skills are truly remarkable.”
Sheng Xinhao was well aware of his daughter-in-law’s medical expertise.
He just hadn’t expected that, despite their strained relationship-and his previous refusal to acknowledge her-she would still set aside past grievances and come back to perform the surgery for him.
Sheng Xinhao truly felt that, in the past, he had lived in a way even less magnanimous than the younger generation.
“Sir, Dr. Gu said your surgery was very successful. You just need to rest and recover properly,” Xiao Chen reported.
Sheng Xinhao gave a quiet “Mm,” then asked, “Where are they now?”
“Uncle, Brother and Sister-in-law took the train back last night,” Fang Manping replied.
After Gu Jianing completed the surgery, considering that Sheng Zexi needed to return to his unit urgently, they had rebooked the train for that same evening.
As for Sheng Xinhao, he still hadn’t woken up at the time.
Fang Manping offered to stay behind and take turns with Xiao Chen to care for him—after all, she had just finished her college entrance exams and had nothing pressing to do.
Sheng Zexi agreed.
So, last night, the family boarded the train once again.
“They should arrive at Huansha Island by tonight,” Xiao Chen added.
After Xiao Chen and Fang Manping left the room, Sheng Xinhao lay in bed with a heavy heart.
Once again, he realized how wrong he had been before.
Staring at his arm, he thought that even though it was now healed, it was time for him to step down.
Only by retiring could higher-ups promote Ah Xi more freely.
Truthfully, the main reason Sheng Xinhao had suppressed Sheng Zexi before wasn’t just because his son had defied him.
It was also because, as long as he remained in a high-ranking position, the higher-ups couldn’t promote Sheng Zexi too quickly—there had been an implicit cap on his son’s advancement.
Sheng Xinhao had simply gone along with it.
But now, he was old, while Ah Xi was still young and capable.
It was time to make up for what he owed his son.
Sheng Xinhao decided to submit his retirement report soon.
He only hoped that Ah Xi’s path forward would be smooth.
…
Meanwhile, after a day and night on the train, Gu Jianing, Sheng Zexi, and their two children finally returned to Huansha Island by evening.
Since they arrived late, it wasn’t until the next day that the military family quarters learned of their return.
As for where they had gone, few knew the details.
“I heard the military district is about to start assigning jobs to military wives these days. Do you think Deputy regimental commander Sheng’s wife came back just in time to snatch a good position?”
“Very likely.”
“Hey, have any of you seen Commander Sheng’s wife?”
“I have, I have! My goodness, she’s stunning—even after having two kids and now pregnant again, she looks like a young girl, so youthful and beautiful.”
“Bet Commander Sheng only married her for her looks.”
“I don’t care about looks. I just don’t want her competing with me for jobs.”
The family quarters buzzed with gossip about job assignments and Gu Jianing.
After all, job allocations for military wives were partly determined by their husbands’ ranks.
Higher-ranking officers’ wives naturally got priority and better positions.
When Zhang Qiumei overheard these discussions, she sneered.
Only useless women relied on their husbands’ status for work.
A truly capable woman would earn her place through her own abilities.
Still… was Gu Jianing really that beautiful?
Curious, Zhang Qiumei made a point of stalking Gu Jianing to see for herself.
And sure enough, she managed to catch a glimpse.
That evening, after dinner, Sheng Zexi and Gu Jianing walked hand-in-hand with Xingxing and Yueyue, followed by Amber and her family of five, all out for a leisurely stroll.
The sight made Zhang Qiumei’s eyes burn with envy.
Were Sheng Zexi and Gu Jianing really that close? Walking together like this, with their children…
How she wished she were the one beside Sheng Zexi, with children of their own.
“Sister, someone is following and secretly watching us from behind,” Amber alerted Gu Jianing upon noticing Zhang Qiumei.
Leave a Reply