Gu Jianing’s eyes were filled with worry.
Even without checking the weather forecast, Gu Jianing knew that the severe typhoon was about to make landfall.
The only thing was…
She didn’t know how Sheng Zexi, who was on the front lines of defense, was doing.
He hadn’t returned since leaving last night.
She understood that, as a soldier, he would undoubtedly be on the front lines of defense. But not seeing him, coupled with the dangers out there, truly worried her.
And then…
She also wondered how Xingxing and Yueyue were doing back at the military base.
At this moment, the residential area of the military base was relatively calm.
After all, the base was located on one side of Huansha Island, which wasn’t as severely affected by the typhoon.
However, due to the defensive preparations, the base had been exceptionally busy since last night.
The soldiers hurried back and forth, their expressions grave.
At the moment, Xingxing and Yueyue were at the Zhao family’s home in the residential area.
They sat on small stools by the door.
Next to them was Amber.
Yueyue hugged Amber, and together with her brother, she gazed at the pouring rain outside, her pretty little face slightly scrunched up.
“Brother, do you think Mom and Dad are okay?”
“Has Mom given birth to the babies yet? Is Dad by her side, or is he busy like the other uncles?”
Xingxing pursed his lips. “I don’t know.”
Aside from Xingxing, Yueyue, and Amber, Sister-in-law Zhao and her children were also at home.
Sister-in-law Zhao looked at the two children by the door and said, “Xingxing, Yueyue, come inside. If you stay by the door and get wet, you might catch a cold.”
These two children had been entrusted to her care, so she naturally felt responsible for them.
Besides, Sister-in-law Zhao genuinely liked Xingxing and Yueyue.
The two children were adorable, well-mannered, never threw tantrums, and never caused trouble. Who wouldn’t like such well-behaved kids?
“Okay, we’ll come in now.” Xingxing and Yueyue obediently moved inside.
Just then, a voice urgently called from outside.
“Huijuan, Huijuan, are you home? Your Weiguo has been hurt…”
Huijuan was Sister-in-law Zhao’s name.
Today, Zhao Weiguo had also gone to participate in the frontline defense efforts.
So, Sister-in-law Zhao had been equally worried.
Now, just as she was about to turn and go inside, she heard those words from outside, and her heart instantly sank.
Zhao Weiguo’s children immediately stood up, their faces tense as they looked toward the door.
Xingxing and Yueyue also wore expressions of concern.
“Stay inside. Mom will go see what’s happening.”
With that, Zhao Huijuan quickly grabbed a nearby rain hat, put it on, and rushed out in a panic.
Less than a minute later, she returned.
But her expression was visibly worse—she looked on the verge of tears and even more flustered.
She immediately turned to her eldest son and said, “Goudan, take care of your younger siblings, Xingxing, and Yueyue at home. Mom has to go out now.”
“Mom, it’s typhoon weather outside, and it’s raining. Don’t go out,” pleaded Zhao Goudan, who was eight years old and quite sensible.
“No, Mom has to go.”
“Mom… is it about Dad?” Zhao Goudan asked, connecting the dots with the earlier shout from outside.
Sister-in-law Zhao hadn’t planned to tell him.
But the child was clever and had already figured it out. And…
Facing the worried expressions of so many children in the room, Huijuan knew they were anxious too.
“Yes, just now, one of the military wives came and said your father was hit by something blown by the wind while working on the defenses. Now… now he’s in the hospital…”
At this point, Sister-in-law Zhao was on the verge of tears.
She didn’t dare say anything more.
Because that woman had told her that Zhao Weiguo had been struck hard, and after the doctor’s examination, it was found that his internal organs were severely injured. The situation was critical—even surgery couldn’t…
So, she was told to hurry to the hospital to see Zhao Weiguo one last time.
No one knew how deep her despair was upon hearing this.
She had thought that since Weiguo worked in logistics and didn’t have to go on dangerous missions like other soldiers, he wouldn’t be in life-threatening danger.
But fate had other plans.
This severe typhoon had…
Yet, no matter how panicked she was, she couldn’t tell the children.
She couldn’t let them worry.
“…So, Mom has to go to the hospital to take care of your dad. You all stay home and behave, okay?”
Xingxing frowned and stepped forward. “Auntie Zhao, the wind and rain outside are so heavy. It’s not safe for you to go alone.”
“The hospital has doctors and nurses who can take care of Uncle Zhao for now. You don’t have to go.”
Xingxing was mainly worried that Auntie Zhao might be in danger if she braved the storm to get to the hospital.
Huijuan hadn’t expected Xingxing to be so perceptive.
She couldn’t possibly say it was to see Zhao Weiguo one last time.
So she replied, “It’s fine. The wind and rain aren’t as bad here. Auntie will be okay.”
“Just promise me you’ll all stay home and not run around, alright?”
“Goudan, you’re the big brother. Take care of your younger siblings, understand?”
Zhao Goudan nodded. “Mom, I will.”
“Good, good boy.” Huijuan hugged Goudan tightly, resting her head against his.
Just then, after whispering something to Amber, Xingxing turned to Sister-in-law Zhao and said, “Auntie Zhao, if you really have to go, let Amber go with you.”
He didn’t feel comfortable letting Auntie Zhao travel alone in such terrible weather.
Over the past two days, she had been very kind to him and Yueyue.
So, out of gratitude, he wanted her to stay safe.
That’s why he had just discussed with Amber, asking the dog to accompany Auntie Zhao.
If anything happened, Amber could protect and help her.
“No, Amber is here to protect you two,” Huijuan refused.
“Auntie Zhao, we’re staying inside. Nothing will happen to us. You’re the one who needs Amber’s protection. Please take him with you.”
“Yeah, Mom, let Amber go with you. Otherwise, I’ll go with you,” Goudan insisted.
Faced with the children’s concern, Huijuan finally agreed to take Amber along.
“Amber, you must protect and help Auntie Zhao well,” Xingxing instructed the dog.
In the end, Huijuan put on her raincoat and boots, draped a protective covering over Amber, and without further hesitation, plunged into the raging storm with the dog.
After Sister-in-law Zhao left, the house fell into silence.
The children, each lost in their own worries, had no interest in playing.
Not long after she left, another voice called from outside.
“Xingxing, Yueyue, are you home?”
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