Chapter 14 Did your dad sleep with your mom in his arms last night?

Since becoming a mother, Lin Suisui had rarely enjoyed a full night’s sleep, and with Doubao being sick, she woke up multiple times throughout the night. Every time she woke, the first thing she did was feel his forehead—only when she found his temperature normal would she relax. Then she’d check his back; if his clothes were soaked with sweat, she’d pick him up and change him.

She handled everything herself through the night. Even though she knew Huo Changzheng was sleeping right across from her, she never thought to ask him for help. Still, each time she got up, she had a strange feeling that he was already awake, just keeping silent. She chalked it up to him being worried about their son.

By morning, Doubao’s fever hadn’t returned, which usually meant the fever had completely broken.

Huo Changzheng brought back breakfast from the cafeteria. For once, he wasn’t in a rush to go out for training, so the three of them sat down to share their first breakfast as a family.

“You were up all night. Get some proper sleep later,” Huo Changzheng said while eating. “I’ll take Doubao with me to the base.”

Last night had indeed been exhausting, and now that Doubao had recovered, Lin Suisui could finally breathe a little. If someone offered to take care of the child so she could get some rest, of course she’d welcome it. But she still hesitated, worried it might affect his work. “I don’t know… what if people start talking? It might not be worth it.”

“It’s fine. I took the day off.” Huo Changzheng continued, “This kid gets sick too easily. His constitution is too weak—we need to toughen him up. My son doesn’t have to be a genius, but he sure as hell isn’t going to be a weakling.”

“I’m not a weakling!” Doubao instantly protested, puffing up like a little angry pufferfish.

“Talk is cheap,” Huo Changzheng said, using reverse psychology. “Prove it. Or are you too scared to come to the base with me?”

“Who’s scared?” Doubao put his hands on his hips defiantly. “Let’s go! I’m not afraid of anything!”

Lin Suisui couldn’t help but laugh watching the two of them bicker like children. “Alright, as long as it doesn’t interfere with anything, and if Doubao wants to go, let him.”

“Mommy, I’ll go!” Doubao said with heroic resolve. “I’ll train super hard and get really strong so I can protect you!”

“Just protecting yourself would be impressive enough,” Huo Changzheng scoffed. “Your mom doesn’t need you to worry about her.”

“If I don’t protect Mommy, who will?” Doubao shot back.

“I will,” Huo Changzheng said. After speaking, he looked up at Lin Suisui. She was quietly eating her breakfast, as if she hadn’t heard anything.

But she had. The moment he said it, her heart warmed for a split second. But then she reminded herself—he probably only said that to humor Doubao. Their relationship had always been a fluke, with Doubao at the center of it all. She couldn’t read too much into a casual remark, or she’d end up the butt of the joke.

After breakfast, Doubao followed Huo Changzheng out. Lin Suisui, ever the worrywart, packed a change of clothes and a thermos of water just in case he sweated too much, and then sent them off.

It was Doubao’s first time at the base. His little hand gripped Huo Changzheng’s tightly, his big eyes darting around curiously, fascinated by everything.

Of course, just as he was curious about the soldiers, they were equally curious about the deputy commander’s son.

Doubao was placed with the new recruits and told to run with them. Naturally, his little legs couldn’t keep up with the tall soldiers in front, but Huo Changzheng stayed beside him, jogging slowly and patiently.

Song Xiao had been looking for a chance to talk to Huo Changzheng and showed up at his office first thing in the morning, only to be told he was out on the training field… running with his son.

“I’ve never seen Huo Commander so patient,” said Xu Zhenzhen, Song Xiao’s best friend. “That country wife of his sure knows how to use their son to keep him tied down.”

Huo Changzheng was famously strict, the kind of officer whose name alone could strike fear into rookies. Watching him jog slowly beside his son, showing no impatience at all, made Song Xiao’s fists clench tightly.

“It’s just a kid. If he wants one, I can give him a few myself,” Song Xiao said, her jealousy twisting her features. If looks could kill, Doubao would have been full of holes by now.

“Sure, you could give him kids, but his wife is already here. What can you do now?” Xu Zhenzhen warned. “Even if you want to fight for him, they’d have to get divorced first, or people will tear you apart.”

“Hmph. That hillbilly girl? She’s no match for me,” Song Xiao sneered with contempt.

Still, Doubao was just a kid—and one who’d had a fever the day before—so Huo Changzheng didn’t push him too hard. After just two laps, he let him rest, planning to gradually increase the intensity later.

The boy’s endurance wasn’t bad though. Two laps in, and he didn’t even complain of being tired.

“Doubao, stay here and rest for a bit. I’m going to the office to grab some water. Don’t wander off, alright?”

“Okay, Daddy. I’m fine—go quick!”

“I’ll be right back.” With that, Huo Changzheng jogged off toward the office. Doubao took small sips from the water bottle his mom had packed.

Suddenly, he noticed a shadow fall over him. Looking up, he saw Song Xiao standing there, smiling.

But her smile felt cold, like a knife wrapped in silk. Doubao’s instincts kicked in—he instantly became wary, though he kept a sweet, innocent face.

“Hello, auntie. Do you need something?” he asked politely.

“Au… Auntie?” Song Xiao’s face turned red, then white. Her smile froze on her face. No matter how hard she tried to stay calm, her clenched-teeth voice still betrayed her frustration. “Do I really look that old?”

“A bit old,” Doubao said seriously after thinking it over. “My mom said that when addressing an older woman, I should call her ‘Auntie’ with the word ‘Big’ in front to show respect. Do you not like me calling you ‘Big Auntie’? I can call you ‘Ma’am’ instead if you’d like.”

“…” If it weren’t for the fact that the child in front of her was only four years old, Song Xiaozhen would’ve thought he was doing it on purpose. She was so angry she almost lost control. If it had been someone else’s kid, she would’ve already cursed them out. But this child was Huo Changzheng’s precious son—she had to hold it in for now. Once she became his stepmother, he’d be in for it.

Forcing herself to put on a kind smile, she asked, “Doubao, why did you suddenly come to the base with your dad today?”

“I had a fever yesterday. Dad said my body is too weak and needs strengthening, so he brought me here,” Doubao replied with an honest, all-telling tone.

“A fever? Are you feeling better now?” Song Xiao asked with a concerned look.

“It’s gone now,” Doubao said. “But I was still scared last night, and so was my mom. Luckily, Dad held us both while we slept, and then we weren’t scared anymore.”

“What? Your dad held your mom while sleeping last night?” Song Xiao looked shocked.

She hadn’t shown up lately, but she kept tabs on everything about Huo Changzheng. She knew he’d been living in a different dorm and hadn’t shared a room with Lin Suisui for some time—his dislike for her was obvious, and that had boosted her confidence.

“Yeah,” Doubao blinked innocently at her. “Auntie, why do you look so weird? Don’t your mom and dad hold hands, hug, and kiss too?”

“…”