Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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The guard was puzzled. “What’s wrong with Xiao Zhuo?”
Tang Tang gestured for him not to worry, “Xiao Zhuo will definitely find a way to get Grandpa to come back with us.”
The guard was a little skeptical. After all, he had followed the old man since he joined the army, for over ten years now. He knew the old man’s temper very well. If he were willing to back down, he wouldn’t be in this situation with Ji Yan now. He had never backed down in all these years; how could he be easily persuaded by a three- or four-year-old child? The guard was worried that Ji Xiaozhuo would be sad, upset, and lose face after being rejected by the old man. Children also have pride.
However, before the guard could finish worrying, things went beyond his expectations. Ji Xiaozhuo wasn’t rejected at all. In just three minutes, the little guy opened the car door and jumped out, his little hand still holding the big hand of the old man who had been sleeping inside.
Ji Xiaozhuo waved her little hand at the group, “Mommy, I’ve already talked to Great-Grandpa, let’s take him home now!”
Tang Tang subconsciously looked at Grandpa Ji, who was being led by Ji Xiaozhuo.
Grandpa Ji’s face was expressionless, still very serious, and his gaze had a powerful intimidating quality. A timid person would definitely not dare to look him in the eye for too long, but Tang Tang wasn’t very afraid, because she noticed that Ji Yan’s features were very similar to Grandpa Ji’s, and their expressions and temperaments were also very similar. Perhaps because she wasn’t afraid of Ji Yan, she naturally wasn’t afraid of Grandpa Ji either.
Tang Tang gave Grandpa Ji her most sincere smile and greeted him, “Hello Grandpa, I’m Tang Tang.”
Grandpa Ji didn’t respond much, only giving her a few indifferent glances before turning his head away and pulling Ji Xiaozhuo out first, clearly not wanting to acknowledge her.
Tang Tang blinked. It seemed Grandpa Ji was indeed dissatisfied with her as his granddaughter-in-law, not even bothering to speak to her.
Sighing inwardly, Tang Tang took Wen Nuo’s hand and followed the old man and child.
The guard, worried that Tang Tang might be upset— after all, she had kindly invited him to her home to rest, only to be met with a cold shoulder— would upset anyone. He worried that she might clash with the old man. So, he whispered to Tang Tang, “Um, don’t be angry. Grandpa’s just like that; he never smiles at anyone.”
Tang Tang smiled and shook her head. “It’s okay, I’m not angry. Old people are all like that.”
Seeing that Tang Tang genuinely didn’t care, and that her smile wasn’t fake, the guard turned to look at her curiously. He had been so worried about Ji Yan and the old man the past few days that he hadn’t noticed her. Now, looking closely, he was surprised to find that she seemed different than before. Not only had her appearance changed considerably, but her entire demeanor had changed the most.
The guard couldn’t help but recall his few previous encounters with Tang Tang. She always seemed drunk, her eyes filled with hatred and resentment, like a hysterical madwoman. Not only did the old man dislike her, but even he, an outsider, found her unpleasant and disliked her intensely.
But now, Tang Tang was smiling, spoke softly, and although not beautiful, she gave off a comfortable, very pleasant feeling, making one want to be close to her.
When did such a drastic change occur?
Also, weren’t Ji Yan and Tang Tang said to have a bad relationship? How come it doesn’t seem like that now? He clearly saw Tang Tang waiting outside the ICU for Ji Yan those few days, without sleep or rest, her worry and heartache genuine.
When did they become so affectionate?
Tang Tang led the group back to the rented house, got new slippers for the old man and the guard, and then poured two glasses of hot water. “Grandpa, you can rest for a bit. I won’t make you any tea so it won’t affect your sleep.”
Grandpa Ji didn’t say anything, but he picked up the cup and took a sip, which was a courtesy.
Tang Tang breathed a sigh of relief. She wanted to invite the old man to her room for a nap, but then she remembered what the guard had said about the old man not eating much these past few days. Upon closer inspection, the old man was indeed much thinner and seemed to have aged considerably since the first time she saw him. The old man had clearly been very worried about Ji Yan lately.
Her heart softened. Even though she knew the old man didn’t like her, Tang Tang tentatively asked, “Grandpa, I made a lot of soup for lunch. Would you like to try some? Drinking some soup before bed will help you sleep better.”
Just as the old man was about to refuse, Ji Xiaozhuo, remembering what his mother had said about how hard his great-grandfather had been working these past few days, immediately jumped into his arms, blinking his big eyes at him. “Great-Grandpa, my mom’s soup is so delicious! It’s such a waste if you don’t try some. Look how thin you’ve become these past few days. If you don’t eat, you won’t be handsome. Look how handsome I am, it’s because I eat a lot. Don’t you want to be as handsome as me?”
Grandpa Ji swallowed the words he was about to say, his serious face breaking into a hearty laugh. His shake of the head turned into a nod. “Alright, alright, to be as handsome as Xiao Zhuo, Great-Grandpa will have some soup.”
“Okay! Great-Grandpa, that’s a good boy!” Ji Xiaozhuo kissed the old man on the cheek and immediately turned to wink at Tang Tang.
Tang Tang couldn’t help but chuckle, giving him an approving look before going to the kitchen to reheat the soup in the pot. After thinking for a moment, she quickly used the leftover ingredients from lunch to make two appetizing and spleen-strengthening dishes, which she then brought out along with the soup.
“Grandpa, I made two appetizers. Please try them. If you like them, eat more; if not, that’s fine too.”
Grandpa Ji glanced at the dishes on the table but didn’t touch them, only slowly drinking the soup in front of him without saying a word.
Tang Tang didn’t mind, handing the guard a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks, urging him to eat as well.
“Thank you, you’re too kind.” The guard, surprised that he had been given food, couldn’t help but admire her thoughtfulness. He took the bowl and chopsticks, afraid that the old man would lose face if he didn’t eat, and simply started eating himself, even though he wasn’t hungry.
However, after taking a bite of the dish, a hint of surprise flashed in the guard’s eyes. The food was truly delicious, refreshing and palatable. Even someone who wasn’t hungry could eat it, but now his appetite was whetted. He hadn’t expected Ji Yan’s wife to cook so well; it seemed she wasn’t without merit, they just hadn’t noticed it before. Thinking this, he lowered his head and ate faster.
Tang Tang didn’t disturb him, going to the room to change the old man’s sheets and a more comfortable blanket so he could sleep more comfortably.
“Sir, I think Ji Yan’s wife is different from before. She’s become quite good. Putting everything else aside, her cooking skills alone are excellent,” the guard whispered to the old man while Tang Tang was away.
Grandpa Ji snorted, “Did I not feed you or what? You were bought off with just one meal?”
The guard was used to the old man’s temper and calmly continued eating, saying as he ate, “It’s not just about one meal. You’ve seen it yourself these past few days. She’s very concerned about Ji Yan. Her eyes were red from worrying, but she didn’t leave his side for a moment. She did everything herself. What woman could do that?”
“You believed her after just a few days?” The old man glared at him. “I think if you were on the battlefield, you’d be fooled by a spy with just a few words. You’d leak all the information!”
Since it had escalated to the battlefield, the guard immediately lowered his head and stopped talking, focusing on his meal. But just as he was about to pick up some food with his chopsticks, the old man suddenly took the plate away. “Did you skip lunch or something? You eat so much! Who can afford to feed you at this rate!”
“You’re not eating, so it’s a waste if I don’t eat either,” the guard muttered, trying to pick up his chopsticks again, but once again he missed.
The old man glared, “Who said I wouldn’t eat? I didn’t eat lunch.” With that, he started eating.
The guard silently put down his chopsticks, helpless against this tsundere old man. If he wanted to eat, he should just say so; why be so awkward?
When Tang Tang finished making the bed and came out to tell the old man to go to sleep, she found all the food on the table had been cleared away, including the bowl of rice she had served him. She looked at the guard with a puzzled expression.
This guard could eat quite a lot, huh?
The guard understood the meaning in Tang Tang’s eyes and felt frustrated, but for the sake of the old man’s pride, he held back and didn’t explain. Let her misunderstand; it’s not a big deal for a man to have a good appetite.
Tang Tang said to the old man, “Grandpa, the bed is made for you. Please go in and get some sleep. Can I have the two children keep you company?”
The old man nodded solemnly, stood up, and walked straight into the room without looking to either side.
Tang Tang pulled the two children into the room and said to the two little ones, “Why don’t you two stay with Great-Grandpa for a nap?”
Ji Xiaozhuo naturally wouldn’t refuse. He took off his coat and pants, kicked off his shoes, and quickly climbed onto the bed, slipping under the covers. He lay down on Grandpa Ji’s left side, holding his big hand as if coaxing a child, “Great-Grandpa, I’ll sleep with you.”
Grandpa Ji’s previously serious face immediately broke into an undisguised smile, his face crinkling with wrinkles. He patted Ji Xiaozhuo’s little head, “Okay, you sleep with Great-Grandpa.”
Ji Xiaozhuo then stretched his head and urged Wen Nuo, who was still standing on the floor, “Nuo Nuo, come up here quickly, let’s sleep with Great-Grandpa together.”
Wen Nuo was actually a little afraid of this seemingly fierce grandfather, but she always obeyed Ji Xiaozhuo’s orders. So, suppressing her fear, she took off her shoes and climbed into bed with him. However, she didn’t dare sleep on the other side of Grandpa Ji, but instead lay down on the other side of Ji Xiaozhuo, immediately closing her eyes obediently.
Ji Xiaozhuo was satisfied, he then took her hand and held it tightly, turning his head to Grandpa Ji and saying, “Great-Grandpa, please close your eyes, we’re going to sleep now.”
Grandpa Ji obediently closed his eyes, very well-behaved.
Tang Tang suddenly remembered a saying: “Everything has its counter.”
Quietly closing the door and leaving, Tang Tang said to the guard who was standing watch in the living room, unwilling to go to sleep, “Grandpa and the two little ones are asleep. Could you please look after them for a while? I want to go to the hospital to see Ji Yan.”
“Go now?” The guard hesitated for a moment, but seeing Tang Tang’s bloodshot eyes, he couldn’t help but advise, “You should rest for a while too. You’ll be able to take better care of Ji Yan if you’re well-rested. Everything will be fine over there. We’ll call if anything happens.”
Tang Tang shook her head, wrote down her phone number, and handed it to him. “I’m not going to sleep. I can’t rest easy without watching over Ji Yan. Please take care of things here. Just call me if anything happens.”
“Okay then.” It was clear she was genuinely worried; even if she forced herself to stay home, she might not be able to sleep. Reassured that someone was watching the children, Tang Tang quickly returned to the hospital. The ward was quiet; Ji Yan and Sun Yi both seemed to be asleep.
Tang Tang tiptoed to Ji Yan’s bedside. Seeing him sleeping soundly, she smiled slightly, reached out to touch his forehead— his temperature was normal— before carefully lifting the blanket to check his chest. Confirming the wound was alright, she moved a chair over and sat down, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at him.
After a few seconds, she couldn’t help but gently place her hand on his cheek, feeling its warmth, then slowly moved her hand to his neck, carefully feeling his throbbing pulse.
At this moment, she was finally certain he was truly alive, not dreaming.
Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes, silently dripping down her cheeks to the floor, but she didn’t want to wipe them away. Now that no one could see, she could finally let go of her fear and timidity, letting the tears she had been holding back flow.
Since he left home for his mission, she had been on tenterhooks every day, hoping for his return every single day, but she never expected him to return in such a terrible state. No one could understand the tearing pain she felt when she saw him on the stretcher; it was the first time she had ever experienced such heart-wrenching agony.
During the three days he was in a coma, every time she closed her eyes on the bench, she would immediately dream of him. In her dreams, he would wake up, overcome the danger, and regain his health. But when she excitedly reached out to touch him, she would suddenly wake up, realizing she was dreaming, and he would still be lying unconscious in the intensive care unit.
That feeling of disappointment terrified her, so much so that she dared not sleep. Even after he actually woke up, she was still constantly afraid that she was dreaming, afraid that she would wake up to find him still unconscious.
But now, she was finally certain.
Thank goodness, he was alright.
“Why are you crying?”
A warm, large hand covered her tear-streaked cheek, startling her awake from her tear-blurred vision. Realizing he was awake, she frantically tried to wipe away her tears, but couldn’t get them all out quickly. In her panic, she stood up, intending to run to the bathroom.
She couldn’t let him see her like this.
“Tang Tang, come back.” Ji Yan’s voice was soft, but it brooked no argument.
Tang Tang stopped in her tracks, hesitated for a moment, then obediently turned around and walked back to the bedside, keeping her head down, not daring to look at him.
Ji Yan sighed, took her hand and stroked it soothingly, speaking softly and coaxingly, “Come closer, let me see you.”
Tang Tang wanted to shake her head, but couldn’t bear to refuse him. She secretly glanced at Sun Yi, who was still fast asleep with his back to them, before slowly squatting down and bringing her cheek close to his.
Ji Yan reached out and held the back of her head, pressing her face closer to his with a little force, and their breaths instantly touched. He gently licked away the tears that were still wet on her face and in her eyes with his warm lips, little by little, with heartache and pity. “It’s my fault, I’m sorry for making you sad. I’ll protect myself next time and try not to get hurt again, okay? Don’t cry.”
Tang Tang sniffed, suppressing the urge to cry again, and whispered to him with a wronged tone, “I was really afraid you wouldn’t wake up.”
“No, with you all here, how could I bear not waking up? Look, I’m awake now. Be good, don’t cry.” Ji Yan knew that he had really scared her this time. She must have been pretending to be calm for so many days, only daring to cry when no one was around. But it was good that she cried; once she cried, everything would be alright.
“Okay, okay, I won’t cry anymore.” Tang Tang nodded vigorously, feeling much lighter because of the tears. The worry and fear in her heart finally dissipated.
Seeing that she had truly stopped crying, Ji Yan’s clenched heart relaxed. Seeing her eyes red like a little rabbit’s, he felt an overwhelming urge to kiss her. Thinking this, he suddenly pressed the back of her head against his lips, capturing hers in a kiss.
Tang Tang’s eyes widened, and realizing what he was doing, she immediately tried to pull away.
No, no, there are other people here! How could he do this!
But Ji Yan wouldn’t allow her to retreat. There was no reason to let go of the sweet flesh he had taken in his mouth. Heaven knows how much he had missed her these past few days; it had hurt him to the core. If the occasion hadn’t prevented it, he would have pinned her down.
Now, he could only use a kiss to ease his longing.
“Don’t move, I missed you so much, let me kiss you,” Ji Yan whispered, only Tang Tang could hear. These shy words from someone usually so serious were incredibly powerful, instantly making Tang Tang blush and halting her struggles.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ji Yan pried open her teeth and thrust his tongue inside, entwining it with hers. He sucked and licked her with abandon, their kisses brimming with sensuality, making her blush and her heart race. However, this time he deliberately controlled his strength, making no suggestive sounds so no one could hear.
Tang Tang couldn’t withstand Ji Yan’s actions. She couldn’t last more than two seconds before collapsing beside him, her body going limp, letting him do as he pleased. Her eyes welled up with tears again, but this time they weren’t from crying.
Ji Yan quickly released her after this kiss, closing his eyes and taking two deep breaths. He couldn’t kiss her any longer, or things would get complicated.
Tang Tang’s face was flushed from the kiss. As soon as she was released, she scrambled to her feet, giving him a playful glare. Then, cautiously and fearfully, she glanced back at Sun Yi behind her. Seeing that he was still sound asleep, she patted her chest.
Thank goodness, otherwise, she would have been terribly embarrassed.
Ji Yan couldn’t help but laugh at her thieving expression. How adorable his little girl was! But if she knew Sun Yi had been awake for a while, would she be so embarrassed she’d bury herself in her hair?
Meanwhile, Sun Yi, clearly awake but forced to pretend to be asleep, was inwardly weeping bitterly. What kind of life was this? He was injured and had to endure this emotional torment too.
Suddenly, he really wanted a girlfriend.
Next time his mother introduced him to a girl, he’d better go meet her.
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