Chapter 16: The High-Profile Zhong Youliang

Zhong Youliang carried little Zhong Ling to his friend’s house.

“Yo, Captain Zhong! Where did you abduct such a pretty little girl from?” His cheeky friend Cheng Qian teased with a grin.

“Uncle, I wasn’t abducted. I’m Daddy’s daughter.” Little Zhong Ling pouted and replied seriously.

“Oh? So you’re Captain Zhong’s daughter? Nice to meet you, I’m Uncle Cheng.” Cheng Qian laughed and played along.

Now that Cheng Qian knew she was Zhong Youliang’s daughter, Zhong Ling relaxed her pout and cheerfully said, “Hello, Uncle Cheng! I’m Zhong Ling. You can call me Lingling!”

Cheng Qian, who had two sons, was instantly smitten with the soft and adorable little girl.

“Youliang, let me hold her for a bit,” Cheng Qian said, already reaching out.

“No way. This is my daughter. If you want to hold someone, go hug your own sons.” Zhong Youliang refused immediately. After all, Cheng Qian used to flaunt his two sons in front of him every day. Now that he had a daughter, he was determined to show her off too.

“Seriously, Captain Zhong? We’ve been such good friends, and you won’t even let me hold your daughter? You’ve carried my boys plenty of times, you know.” Cheng Qian looked shocked at Zhong Youliang’s reaction.

“Enough nonsense. You were always showing off your sons to him. If it were me, I wouldn’t let you hold her either,” said Cheng Qian’s wife, Liang Xiao, rolling her eyes at her dramatic husband. She turned to Zhong Ling with a smile and held out her hands.

“Hello Lingling, I’m Auntie Liang. Can I give you a hug?” Liang Xiao, a dashing and spirited military woman, immediately won little Zhong Ling’s affection.

Zhong Ling stretched out her little arms and allowed Liang Xiao to hold her. Liang Xiao had wanted a daughter for her second child, but it turned out to be another boy. Holding the soft, cuddly Lingling, she felt her heart melt.

“Man, you’re really lucky. Just one kid, and she’s this adorable and sweet. I’m so jealous,” Cheng Qian grumbled, half teasing, half genuinely envious.

“Lingling’s mother raised her well,” Zhong Youliang said with a gentle smile when he mentioned his wife.

“If your wife’s so great, then bring her over for dinner tonight. I’ll tell my wife to prepare a nice welcome meal for them.” Cheng Qian was surprised to hear that Zhong Youliang had a wife and daughter, especially since he had been away on missions for so long. But mostly, he was happy for his friend.

Zhong Youliang had planned for this. He’d already asked his wife to prepare food ahead of time for when they visited the base.

“Alright, I’ll take you up on that.” Zhong Youliang didn’t stand on ceremony—it was a brotherly bond between them.

“Great, leave Lingling here, and go get your wife,” Cheng Qian said, clearly eager to have some bonding time with the little girl.

“Lingling, Daddy’s going to get Mommy so we can eat dinner together. Can you stay here with Uncle and Auntie?” Zhong Youliang asked gently.

Although Zhong Ling was a little reluctant, she remembered how nice Auntie Liang was, so she nodded. “Just make sure you come back soon!”

Zhong Youliang nodded and left. Seeing him go, Lingling looked a little down.

“Lingling, your two older brothers will come and play with you soon. Sound good?” Cheng Qian quickly tried to cheer her up.

“I get two older brothers? Back home I have five! They’re all super good to me,” Lingling said excitedly. She had regretted not being able to bring her brothers with her to visit her dad, but now, to her delight, there were more big brothers here.

“Alright then, Uncle Cheng will go get them to play with you right now!” Cheng Qian said, hurrying off to find his boys.

Soon, the two Cheng boys were playing happily with Zhong Ling, lifting her spirits.

Meanwhile, Zhong Youliang arrived home and opened the door to find He Yashu quietly sitting in the little garden.

“Yashu,” he called softly.

He Yashu looked up, confused to see he’d returned without Lingling.

“My comrade is throwing a dinner to welcome you both. Lingling is already at their house—I came to get you,” Zhong Youliang explained.

“Alright, I’ll go change and we can head over,” He Yashu replied, preparing to freshen up.

“Yashu… all these years, have you resented me?” Zhong Youliang asked, pain flashing in his eyes at her quiet demeanor.

“No. We just haven’t seen each other in so long… I don’t know what to say to you.” After sending her last letter, He Yashu had already let go of the original feelings she once had.

“As long as you’re willing to give me a chance to make it up to you, that’s enough for me.” Hearing her answer, Zhong Youliang smiled warmly.

He Yashu blushed a little and quickly went inside to change.