So, for now, she could only wait.
However…
Gu Jianing opened the system store to see if there was anything that could help with the current situation.
But first…
Gu Jianing purchased two “Bad Luck Auras,” each lasting a month, planning to cast them on Zhang Qiumei and Lin Chushi when the opportunity arose.
Whether it was Lin Chushi obstructing Sheng Zexi’s superior from ordering a rescue due to personal grudges, or Zhang Qiumei returning to the military district—both infuriated Gu Jianing.
And when she was angry, those who provoked her wouldn’t get off easy.
Gu Jianing admitted she was never a magnanimous person.
She was petty and held grudges.
Given the chance, she would absolutely retaliate.
Gu Jianing was not someone to be trifled with.
And those under her protection? She wouldn’t let them be bullied so easily.
Meanwhile, Sheng Zexi had already hurried to the communications office and made a call to the old residence in Beijing.
In the Sheng family’s old residence…
Now, only Sheng Xinhào lived there.
It felt a bit too empty.
Sheng Xinhào thought: If only Ah Xi and his wife could bring Xingxing and Yueyue back with them…
But he also knew that even though his eldest son’s wife had performed surgery on him, his relationship with his eldest son remained strained.
The current Sheng Xinhào understood that everything was his fault.
In the past, he had been too domineering, too controlling, and too trusting of Fang Wanrong’s words.
He had been wrong.
Unfortunately, his realization had come too late.
His eldest son had long since grown disillusioned with him.
Still…
Things were better now.
Otherwise, his daughter-in-law wouldn’t have agreed to operate on him.
No one knew just how complicated Sheng Xinhào’s emotions had been when he woke up after the surgery.
The guilt he felt toward his eldest son’s family had been overwhelming.
Now, fully recovered, he had returned to work at the military district.
Originally, Sheng Xinhào should have retired, but he managed to retain his position.
And he knew that in just over half a year, his eldest son would be transferred to the Beijing Military District.
His daughter-in-law, Xingxing, and Yueyue would surely come with him.
He thought that would be a good thing.
He planned to work hard to pave the way for his eldest son from now on.
If his son ever needed help, he would be there.
Once his son reached a certain rank, he would step down.
But…
He knew his eldest son’s temperament.
Would he even need my help?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, the phone suddenly rang…
Sheng Xinhào picked up—and with just one word, he recognized his eldest son Sheng Zexi’s voice.
“I need your help with something.”
On the other end, even though Sheng Zexi’s voice sounded cold and stiff, Sheng Xinhào was still overjoyed.
“Tell me, whatever you need help with, your father will do it for you.”
Without hesitation, Sheng Zexi recounted everything that had just happened.
When Sheng Xinhào heard that Xingxing had actually taken a dog to track down criminals, his heart instantly leaped into his throat.
Xingxing—his eldest grandson!
Moreover, Sheng Xinhào knew just how intelligent his grandchildren were.
He also knew that his eldest son wouldn’t exaggerate the situation.
The gravity of the matter was clear from his tone alone.
“Alright, I’ll contact Old Lu right now. Wait for my call—you’ll hear back soon.”
“Okay.”
Hearing Sheng Xinhào agree to help so readily, Sheng Zexi’s emotions grew complicated.
Pursing his lips, Sheng Zexi finally muttered, “Thank you.”
Sheng Xinhào’s eyes reddened slightly. “I’m your father—what’s there to thank me for?”
“Enough talk. I’ll call Old Lu now.”
With that, the call ended abruptly.
Sheng Zexi remained standing there, lost in thought.
Less than a minute later, the phone rang again.
It was Sheng Xinhào calling back.
“Old Lu has already agreed.” Knowing how anxious Sheng Zexi must be, Sheng Xinhào cut straight to the point.
Sheng Zexi’s tense heart finally eased.
“Good. Thank you.”
Sheng Xinhào wanted to say that between father and son, there was no need for thanks.
But remembering all the things he had done in the past, the words stuck in his throat.
And Sheng Zexi, aside from expressing gratitude, didn’t know what else to say.
For a brief moment, silence hung heavily over the call.
In the end, it was Sheng Xinhào who spoke first.
“Go ahead and handle your business. I won’t keep you any longer.”
“When you have time… bring Xingxing and Yueyue, and your wife, back home for a visit.”
Lately, Xingxing and Yueyue had been calling him occasionally.
Hearing the soft voices of the two children over the phone, Sheng Xinhào missed them terribly and he longed to see them again.
Sheng Zexi: “…We’ll see.”
“I’m hanging up now.”
Back in Beijing, Sheng Xinhào wasn’t angered by his son’s noncommittal response.
He felt that this request for help marked the beginning of a thaw in their strained relationship.
He would work hard to make amends, to do better.
He would hold onto hope—for the day Sheng Zexi would willingly bring his wife and children home.
Meanwhile, after hanging up, Sheng Zexi stood frozen for a couple of seconds before shaking off his thoughts.
Right now, the priority was catching those criminals and locating the buried explosives!
With less than six and a half hours until midnight and darkness already creeping in, they were racing against time.
So he immediately headed for his superior’s office—only to run into an equally fired-up Chen Han halfway there.
“Zexi, great news! General Lu called me—he approved it! The orders just came through.”
“Let’s move, now!”
Relieved, Sheng Zexi nodded. “Good.”
But before leaving, he needed to update Gu Jianing.
He knew how worried she was about their son.
Soon, he found her still waiting where he’d left her and shared the news.
“Can’t I really go with you?” Gu Jianing asked, her eyes pleading.
Under any other circumstances, that look would’ve melted Sheng Zexi’s resolve—he could rarely refuse her anything when she gazed at him like that.
But…
“Ningning, you know how ruthless those criminals are. At seven months pregnant, if anything happened to you…”
“Plus, I’d be distracted the entire time.”
“I know you’re worried about Xingxing, and about the people of Huansha Island.”
“But trust me—I’ll give everything I’ve got. I’ll bring Xingxing and Leiting back safely.”
“I swear it.”
“Please, stay here with Yueyue and wait for us. Okay?”
Gu Jianing hesitated, then finally nodded.
She knew her presence would only divide his focus.
No matter how frantic with worry she was, she had to restrain herself—for their sake.
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