A pair of large eyes sparkled with confusion, and a pair of small eyes showed the same confusion and doubt.
The two pairs of eyes flickered, looking at each other.
"Daddy!"
The sudden shout of "Daddy" made Ye Longlin even more bewildered.
He did have a daughter. If he hadn't experienced that disaster, she would be about this age by now.
He reached out, looking at the ceiling and the bed. He was in a hospital. The bedsheets had words written on them: Jiangnan First People's Hospital.
He looked up, and what met his eyes was Mu Hanqi standing at the door.
Mu Hanqi covered her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Xiao Qi..."
Ye Longlin called out, his voice hoarse.
Mu Hanqi rushed over and hugged Ye Longlin tightly. She didn't sob, but silently shed tears.
"Mommy, Mommy, you're squishing me."
A little one in between their chests complained discontentedly, pouting.
Upon hearing the little one, Mu Hanqi broke into a smile through her tears, sat on the edge of the bed, and clasped Ye Longlin's fingers.
Ye Longlin looked at the little one before him, examining her carefully. Regardless of anything else, her eyes really resembled his.
The little one was only one and a half years old, yet she could speak so fluently and was so sensible. This... Ye Longlin could hardly believe it.
"Churan is very good, very sensible, much more so than other children. I haven't had to worry much."
Mu Hanqi explained through sobs, her voice choked with emotion.
The little one fumbled with her hands, her small fingers stroking Mu Hanqi's face, trying to wipe away her tears. But the more she wiped, the more tears flowed, and the little one became more anxious.
"Mommy, don't cry, Mommy, don't cry."
"Waa!"
As she wiped, the little one suddenly burst into tears.
Ye Longlin: "..."
He reached out, lifted the little one onto his lap, and pretended to be stern, scaring her: "Don't cry. If you keep crying, the wolf grandma will take you away."
The little one blinked her teary eyes at Ye Longlin, broke into a smile through her tears, and nestled into his arms, saying in a childish voice, "Daddy, Yiyi won't cry, Yiyi is very good. Yiyi doesn't want the wolf grandma, Yiyi wants Mommy and Daddy."
Who could refuse such a little one? Ye Longlin also genuinely liked the child. The feeling of blood connection that emanated from her made it impossible for him to be truly angry.
This was his child, his little sunshine.
"I'm sorry."
Ye Longlin held the little one, apology in his eyes. He wasn't just saying it to the child, but more to Mu Hanqi.
"Daddy won't leave you again, okay? Daddy will stay to watch Yiyi grow up, okay?"
"Yay!"
Qin Shimeng returned after completing the discharge procedures and heard their conversation. She turned to see Ye Longlin sitting on the bed, a smile on his lips.
Ye Longlin also saw Qin Shimeng and frowned subconsciously. Mu Hanqi quickly explained, "While you were gone these past two years, Aunt Qin has been taking care of me and the baby, never leaving our side."
Hearing Mu Hanqi's words, Ye Longlin's frown eased, and he nodded slightly, "Thank you."
Qin Shimeng smiled, "You are both like my juniors. There's no need for thanks."
"I'll wait for you in the parking lot. Xiao Qi will get your clothes for you."
...
After returning the clothes, Ye Longlin exuded an even more mature masculine charm. Dressed in a gray suit, with a slight stubble on his chin, he didn't look unkempt. Instead, he exuded a mature and steady aura. He held the little one's hand in his left and Mu Hanqi's in his right. Along the way, many family members and nurses couldn't help but cast admiring glances.
He had the perfect "CEO" aura.
"Yiyi, do you want to eat something delicious? Shall Daddy take you to eat good food?"
Upon hearing his words, Ye Churan's eyes lit up. She quickly nodded, "Okay, okay! Yiyi wants ice cream, chips, beef jerky, pork jerky, puffed rice candy, shrimp crackers, Mimi..."
Mu Hanqi rolled her eyes and said exasperatedly, "Are you listing dishes here? You can't eat any of the things you just mentioned. Don't you remember getting diarrhea after eating ice cream last time?"
Ye Longlin picked up Ye Churan and said dotingly, "Don't listen to Mommy. Shall Daddy take you to eat?"
Ye Churan gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Okay, okay! Yiyi likes Daddy the most, not Mommy. Hmph."
Mu Hanqi was speechless and continued exasperatedly, "Her stomach is not good, she can't eat those things."
"It's fine, just a little."
As they spoke, they arrived at the parking lot. Qin Shimeng stood in front of a Mercedes-Benz G-wagon and waved at Ye Longlin. After handing the child to Mu Hanqi, he quickly walked over.
Qin Shimeng spoke directly, "Since you're back, it's time for me to leave. I've been here for two years, and I don't know what the situation is in the capital. I need to go back and check. I'll leave the car to you. Take good care of them, mother and daughter. These past two years weren't easy."
Ye Longlin nodded, "Don't worry, I'll return to the capital in a while. There are some things I need to understand."
"It's good that you have it handled."
After saying that, Qin Shimeng also gave Mu Hanqi some instructions before leaving.
Ye Longlin watched her leave, lost in thought.
He had noted Qin Shimeng's actions. Some things didn't need to be said. This kindness would certainly be repaid, but in what way, he wasn't sure yet.
"Do you want to eat anything?"
Ye Longlin turned back, looking at Mu Hanqi, and asked softly.
"Anything is fine."
Mu Hanqi stood in the sunlight, bathed in its warmth, finally showing a hint of a smile.
For the past two years, her heart had been constantly worried about Ye Longlin. Now that he was back, her heart had finally settled. Her two years of waiting had not been in vain.
Finally, their family was reunited. Staying here for two years had finally led to clear skies after the rain.
"Daddy, Mommy says you're a hero. What is a hero?"
Ye Churan blinked her beautiful large eyes, asking doubtfully, her index finger near her mouth, looking very cute.
Ye Longlin rested one hand on the gear lever and the other on the steering wheel, a smile playing on his lips. "A hero, a hero is someone who has contributed to the country. A hero is someone everyone recognizes and respects."
"Yay! Then Yiyi wants to be a hero too! Yiyi wants to be a hero like Daddy!"
Mu Hanqi glared at her, "At best, you'll be a bear. A hero? You're a girl, don't learn from your father!"
No one knew what her future held, or what she would become. She would choose her own path.
Perhaps even Ye Longlin couldn't imagine that in the future, Ye Churan and Fang Cunxin would be known as the Peerless Female Generals, the twin stars of the military.