Yao Chunhua wanted them to know—their little sister had been bullied.
So, as her brothers, they needed to strive to become stronger, strong enough to stand up for their sister in the future.
Gu Yunting didn’t know how the others felt after hearing this.
But as he listened, his fists clenched, and his lips pressed tightly together.
An unprecedented ambition surged in his heart.
He would work hard to become stronger, strong enough to protect everyone he cared about!
Now, watching his little sister’s retreating figure, Gu Yunting’s eyes were filled with determination.
He also believed that the next time they met, he would be an even stronger version of himself!
…
As for her brothers’ newfound ambition, Gu Jianing knew nothing about it.
She didn’t even know that her mother had specifically called her brothers to talk about what had happened to her.
This time, they boarded the plane again.
Haicheng was relatively close to the capital.
Two hours later, the plane landed.
Xingxing and Yueyue had visited the capital a year ago. Back then, their grandfather Sheng Xinhao had taken them around, so the city wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to them.
“Should we stay at the Sang family’s place first? Once the courtyard house is ready, we can move there?” Sheng Zexi suggested.
“Sure,” Gu Jianing agreed.
This time, they took a taxi.
Soon, the taxi stopped at the entrance of the military compound—it couldn’t go any further.
The guards at the gate naturally recognized Sheng Zexi and Gu Jianing.
But protocol still had to be followed.
After the necessary checks, they walked toward the Sang family’s residence inside the compound.
…
Meanwhile, at the Sang household…
Grandpa Sang happened to be off duty today and was watering the flowers with Grandma Sang.
As he worked, Grandpa Sang heard his wife sigh beside him.
Well, this was already her fifth sigh of the day.
“What’s wrong?” Grandpa Sang couldn’t help but ask.
Grandma Sang said, “I was just thinking… if only my leg hadn’t been injured at such a bad time. If I could’ve gone to take care of Ningning during her postpartum period, maybe so many things wouldn’t have happened. My Xingxing and Yueyue… they were actually thrown into the sea. Just thinking about it…”
Grandma Sang clutched her chest, tears silently streaming down her face.
Grandpa Sang sighed too. “Ah, who could’ve predicted such an accident?”
“Besides, it was the bad guys who targeted them. Even if you’d been there, they might’ve found another way.”
“In any case, it’s all in the past now. The villains have been punished, and Ningning, Xingxing, and Yueyue are all safe and sound.”
“But it was the ocean… and during such a fierce typhoon. Xingxing and Yueyue must’ve been terrified. A’Xi and Ningning kept it from us. If Sheng Xinhao hadn’t accidentally let it slip, we still wouldn’t know.” Grandma Sang’s heart ached at the thought of how scared the children must have been when they were thrown into the sea.
“Great-grandpa! Great-grandma!”
Just as Grandma Sang wiped her tears, two childish voices suddenly rang out.
Grandpa Sang and Grandma Sang froze.
“Old man, am I hearing things? Did I just hear Xingxing and Yueyue’s voices?”
“I heard it too!”
“What?”
“Great-grandpa! Great-grandma!”
This time, the voices calling them came even clearer from outside.
The elderly couple turned their heads and saw two little figures running toward them—it was none other than Xingxing and Yueyue, the very children they had just been talking about!
“Xingxing? Yueyue? You’re back?!”
“Oh, slow down, slow down!”
Though they said this, the old couple didn’t stop moving either. They crouched down and each scooped up one of the children, hugging them tightly.
“Xingxing, Yueyue, come, let Great-grandma take a good look at you!”
“Oh dear, you’ve lost weight, both of you!”
“No, Great-grandma! I’ve been eating more at every meal lately, and I’ve gained some chub!” Yueyue said, even stretching out her plump little arm to show Grandma Sang.
Xingxing also nodded in agreement, indicating that he, too, had grown taller and put on some weight.
“Grandpa, Grandma, don’t worry. Zexi and I would never neglect them,” Gu Jianing teased as she walked in, carrying Tuantuan in her arms.
Grandma Sang looked Gu Jianing up and down, relieved to see her rosy complexion.
“Of course I know you wouldn’t neglect them—they’re your own children! I just missed them, that’s all.”
“Great-grandpa, Great-grandma, we missed you too!”
“Good, good.”
Sheng Zexi’s luggage was brought in by the guard, Xiao Zhang.
Watching the scene, Sheng Zexi sighed playfully, “Ever since I got married, Grandpa and Grandma have found new favorites. I’m no longer your most beloved grandson.”
Grandpa Sang and Grandma Sang burst into laughter at his words.
Grandma Sang shot him a mock glare. “What kind of father gets jealous of his own wife and children?”
At this, Gu Jianing, Xingxing, and Yueyue all covered their mouths and giggled.
Of course, Sheng Zexi was only joking. He knew that his grandparents’ love for his family was an extension of their love for him.
“Are you back for a reassignment?” Grandpa Sang asked, eyeing his tall, grown-up grandson.
“Yes, I’ve been transferred back to the capital’s military district.”
“That’s wonderful! Now we’ll get to see you much more often.”
“But you should’ve let us know in advance. I could’ve sent Xiao Zhang to pick you up. Though, your rooms have always been kept ready—you can move in anytime.”
Sheng Zexi grinned. “We just wanted to surprise you!”
Truthfully, they’d forgotten because the flight from Haicheng to the capital was only two hours—too quick to bother with prior arrangements.
“And this must be Tuantuan? Oh my, what a beautiful little one—even more adorable than his older siblings!”
“You’ve raised him well. Look at those chubby little arms and legs, like sections of tender lotus root!”
Grandma Sang was already captivated by the tiny bundle in Gu Jianing’s arms.
Tuantuan was wide awake, giggling happily as Grandma Sang played with him.
From the moment he was born, Tuantuan had been a cheerful, easygoing baby—a perfect blend of his siblings’ temperaments.
Yueyue was outgoing to the extreme, her little mouth never stopping.
Xingxing, on the other hand, was reserved, speaking only when asked and often spending entire days silently absorbed in picture books. Even as a baby, he had been serious, rarely smiling no matter how others tried to coax him.
The return of their grandson’s family filled Grandpa and Grandma Sang with joy. After the initial round of greetings, they immediately began arranging a feast.
That evening, at the Hua family’s residence in the compound, Hua Zhenrong heard from his family that Sheng Zexi and his family had returned.
Without even taking off his military cap, he rushed straight to the Sang house.
From a distance, he saw Sheng Zexi holding a beautiful little child in his arms—the baby was happily gazing at the flowers.
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