Gu Tinglin looked at Jiang Ning. “The only thing I can do is to arrange you into the Fire Seed Plan. I hope you can accept it.” 

Jiang Ning refused. “Thank you for your kindness, but I don’t need it.” 

She didn’t look at the paternity test report; it must be correct if he brought it out. 

Family ties, she didn’t have it when she needed it most. Now, they were just causing unnecessary complications. 

“You don’t need to feel guilty or apologize,” Jiang Ning said calmly, “You didn’t accompany me as I grew up, but you didn’t harm me either. So, I don’t hate you. On the contrary, from an ordinary person’s perspective, I admire the contributions you’ve made to the base over the years.” 

“Blood ties are no longer important to me.” 

“I won’t carry burdens, and I don’t want you to bear mental shackles either. Let’s just not interfere with each other.” 

Her words were calm and ruthless, without any resentment or pretense. 

A person is only truly strong when they have no demands on others. 

This made Gu Tinglin feel relieved, but he couldn’t help feeling lost. She shared his blood, but she was still a stranger to him. 

But he didn’t force it, as long as Jiang Ning lived well. 

Next, he talked about the issue of Song Yaling and her daughter. He did not ask Jiang Ning for her opinion but made a decision on his own. 

Whether Jiang Ning acknowledged it or not, Song Yaling was her biological mother, a woman who gave her life. 

Song Yaling’s crimes were unforgivable, but Gu Tinglin also knows Jiang Ning’s character very well. She will not let the mother and daughter go. 

If they are just driven out of the base, Jiang Ning will kill them all on impulse. 

It seemed like revenge, but it would actually be a lifelong burden. 

He didn’t want Jiang Ning to bear the sin of killing her mother, so he sent Song Yaling to the Jiacheng Base overnight. 

Xiao Tang would handle the official base handover, and the crimes committed by the mother and daughter at the military base would be processed according to the relevant procedures. 

Life and death were their own responsibility. 

Jiang Ning frowned slightly at his actions but didn’t say anything. 

In the face of natural disasters, dying instantly was the best relief. 

Song Yaling and Chen Yanfei are just two parasites. Without men, they have no ability to protect themselves. Living is the best torture for them. 

Jiang Ning had seen many miserable women who were unable to protect themselves. They used their bodies to exchange food but were treated like animals by the devil. They were repeatedly humiliated, abused, and beaten. In the end, they were left as mere scraps. 

So, this result was also quite good. 

To be frank, Jiang Ning would not recognize Gu Tinglin, and Gu Tinglin accepted it calmly. 

He looked at his daughter, unable to look away for a long time, and sighed deeply. “Take care of yourself. The natural disaster will pass, so never lose hope.” 

Jiang Ning got up and left but stopped at the door again. “Did you give Song Yaling a jade pendant before?” 

Gu Tinglin did give it. 

It was passed down from the ancestors of the Gu family. At that time, Song Yaling pestered and cried to prevent him from going on a mission, but military orders could not be violated. 

The two had already talked about marriage in private, and Gu Tinglin promised her that he would come back to get a marriage certificate after completing the mission. 

In order to express his sincerity, he gave her the ancestral jade pendant. 

Jiang Ning seemed a bit dazed, and after a long silence, “That jade pendant accompanied me while I grew up. It accidentally broke later. Sorry, I can’t return it to its owner.” 

It was a pity the jade pendant was gone, but heaven had already given him the best gift. 

Gu Tinglin smiled. “It’s okay, as long as you are healthy and safe.” 

Jiang Ning thought for a moment, “You really don’t need to feel guilty, because you’ve already left the best for me.” 

Even though she didn’t want to acknowledge the relationship, she had to admit that without the protection of the space, she might have already been dead. 

The space has already recognized its master, so returning it is impossible. 

Gu Tinglin may not know the secret of the jade pendant, but Jiang Ning has gained real benefits. 

She looked at Gu Tinglin and cleared her throat, “Don’t always put public affairs before personal ones. You’re a living person too; it’s not wrong to consider yourself more. Only by surviving and living well can you shoulder greater responsibilities.” 

Was she concerned about him? A warm feeling surged in Gu Tinglin’s heart, “Alright.” 

Jiang Ning took a deep breath and turned to leave. 

On the way back to Area B, she stared out of the car window, lost in thought. 

Back at Area B, Jiang Ning sat on the balcony, sipping the fruit wine she brewed herself, “The jade pendant is a family heirloom of the Gu family. Gu Tinglin didn’t know there was a space inside it.” 

Huo Yishen asked, “What are your plans?” 

What plans could she have? She couldn’t return the space to Gu Tinglin, “I feel a bit uncomfortable, like I owe him something.” 

After sleeping in the same bed for many years, Huo Yishen still understood her. 

Though she didn’t acknowledge her relationship with Gu Tinglin, she had already accepted him in her heart. 

Even though she appeared cold and ruthless during the disasters, no one could truly be heartless. 

She still had a longing for familial bonds. 

But reality was harsh, and Song Yaling was selfish, unlike Gu Tinglin. Before meeting Jiang Ning, he didn’t know of her existence.  

In the face of natural disasters, he has to take care of the overall situation, so he naturally has no time to take care of his small family, but he secretly does everything he can. 

If there was no love, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths. 

But Jiang Ning’s choice wasn’t wrong. Even if she acknowledged Gu Tinglin, what could he do? 

Will he put down the responsibilities on his shoulders, live only for his small family, and do everything possible to compensate Jiang Ning? 

Gu Tinglin can’t do it, and Jiang Ning can’t ask him to do so. 

After discussing it, neither of them feels burdened, and it’s better to do what’s best to support their choices. 

Life went on like this, with all essential supplies kept in the space. 

The furniture in the yard was all worn-out; if a collision were to happen, she wouldn’t feel sorry for throwing it away. 

But the expected disaster didn’t come, instead a stranger arrived at their small yard. 

She looked to be in her late thirties, with neat short hair, wearing a simple loose shirt and a pair of army green trousers. 

She seemed mature and composed but appeared a bit uneasy. 

She hesitated for a long time before knocking on the gate. 

Jiang Ning stood on the second floor and watched, with no intention of going downstairs. 

But the other party seemed to be very persistent and waited at the door. 

Huo Yishen reminded, “Judging from her posture, she should be an auxiliary soldier.” 

Auxiliary soldiers, strictly speaking, are not real soldiers. 

For example, employees of arsenals, doctors of military hospitals, artists of military art troupes, and so on. 

The visitor has waited for so long; she must have something important to discuss. 

Jiang Ning went downstairs and opened the door. “Do you have something to ask us?” 

The visitor looked up and was a little surprised when she saw Jiang Ning’s facial features clearly, but she quickly regained her composure. “Are you Jiang Ning?” 

Jiang Ning didn’t speak. 

The other party looked embarrassed and explained, “Hello, I am Shu Xueqing, the head nurse of the inpatient department of the base hospital.” 

Jiang Ning asked again, “What do you want to talk to me about?” 

“Your father… Chief Gu is sick and hospitalized. Did you know that?” 

Shu Xueqing quickly changed the subject, but Jiang Ning’s ears were sharp, and she immediately stared at her vigilantly. “Who are you?”