Upon closer inspection, the man's features were quite handsome, marred only by the frightening scar on his face.
Had he been a few years younger, he would have been a great heartthrob.
No wonder Xia Wantang was so beautiful, though it seemed unrelated to her biological father, as they didn't resemble each other at all.
Xia Wantang invited him, "Dad, stay for dinner, let's spend the New Year together."
Ling Junye chimed in, "Yes, in-law, you didn't stay last night, you can't leave today."
Just as Gong Ye was about to say something, a person rushed in through the door, panting, his face a mixture of panic and helplessness.
"Boss, your wound was just stitched up last night, can't you stay put in the hospital and recuperate properly?" Qi Jun was on the verge of tears, almost begging on his knees.
Behind him were several men in military uniforms.
Xia Wantang's face changed drastically, her pupils suddenly constricted, and her voice trembled slightly, "Dad, you're injured?"
She didn't know what Gong Ye did, but based on his description, it was definitely something with a high risk factor, so his injuries must be significant.
Moreover, the urgency and anxiety of the newcomer only confirmed her suspicions.
Gong Ye glared at Qi Jun and snapped impatiently, "Get lost, I'm fine."
But when facing Xia Wantang, his expression was exceptionally gentle, "Don't listen to them exaggerating, I'm alright."
Qi Jun put on a mournful face, relying on Xia Wantang's presence, and directly complained, "Miss, you talk to him, he was shot in the abdomen, the bullet was removed last week, and he never rests properly. Yesterday he insisted on..."
"Shut up." Gong Ye narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing, his voice icy, his eyes full of threat.
Qi Jun flinched and immediately fell silent.
Xia Wantang's temper flared too. She put her hands on her hips and roared, "You continue."
Gong Ye tried to argue a few more words, but Xia Wantang pulled him to sit on the sofa. She frowned sternly and said, "Sit down."
The man, who was usually unquestioned and exuded a tough aura, was now subdued by her scolding, not daring to utter a sound.
Qi Jun's eyes lit up, seeing Xia Wantang as a savior.
Finally, someone could control this troublesome man.
Xia Wantang's heart had been pounding since she heard the words "shot" and "bullet."
Her gaze darkened as she stared at Qi Jun, who shivered inwardly.
As expected of the boss's daughter, her presence was not to be trifled with! Without a moment's delay, he recounted everything Gong Ye had done.
It turned out that a week ago.
After Gong Ye ambushed the leader, he was unfortunately shot in the abdomen. Fortunately, a rescue helicopter arrived in time and transported him to the nearest hospital for surgery.
He was supposed to be bedridden for at least half a month, but he had only rested for a week before insisting on returning to China.
There was nothing they could do but comply.
Upon returning to the country, he eagerly met Xia Wantang.
Then, in a moment of madness, he went to the cemetery and stayed for half the night, cleaning the tombstone and tracing the inscription. After all this exertion, he successfully reopened his wound.
He was rushed to the hospital overnight, his wound stitched and disinfected.
However, the next morning, before dawn, he had run off again. A group of leaders who came to pay their respects missed him again, including a very high-ranking official.
Xia Wantang's eyes turned red, but her expression grew colder, and her words were filled with indignation.
"Nonsense, you just recognized me, and now you're going to abandon me again?"
Gong Ye, who had been avoiding her gaze, panicked at her words.
"I didn't, I I..."
He was speechless.
But this injury was truly nothing to him.
He had endured worse injuries before, and to complete his missions, he couldn't afford to rest.
Xia Wantang took a deep breath and said sternly, "Go back to the hospital to recuperate!!"
Inside, she was consumed by fear, afraid of losing him.
If she had never received anything, she wouldn't have longed for it, but now that she had tasted sweetness, how could she bear to lose it again?
Gong Ye looked at her, and this similar face in his mind made him feel as if Lu Yunzhi was scolding him.
Ling Yuchen suggested, "Let's go to the hospital first to get it checked. If his condition allows, we can let Dad recover at home."
Old Master Ling nodded, "Yes, recuperate at home. That way, it'll be convenient for someone to take care of him. How can a hospital compare to home!"
"Let's eat first. After the meal, Dad and Yu Chen will go offer sacrifices to the ancestors, and I'll accompany my father back to the hospital for a check-up."
Xia Wantang's stern expression did not soften, and the others dared not say more.
The breakfast was relatively harmonious.
Afterwards, Ling Yu Chen and Ling Jun Ye went to pay their respects to the ancestors, while Zhu Yunfei and Xia Wantang accompanied Gong Ye back to the hospital.
With Xia Wantang present, Gong Ye was unusually obedient, allowing the doctor to examine him thoroughly. Fortunately, the wound had only slightly oozed blood and had not reopened.
After the IV drip for inflammation, he could go home to recuperate.
At home, he needed to apply medication daily, take anti-inflammatory drugs, follow a strict diet, and rest in bed.
Xia Wantang noted down all the instructions.
Watching him lie in bed with an IV drip, she sat beside him and peeled an apple.
Gong Ye was unaccustomed to lying there, feeling restless and uncomfortable.
Qi Jun stood at the foot of the bed, tears of excitement welling up, "This is the first time I've seen Boss so obediently lying in bed with an IV drip. Miss is truly amazing."
Gong Ye shot him dagger-like glares.
But Qi Jun was unfazed, knowing that with Xia Wantang there, Gong Ye couldn't do anything to him.
The more he spoke, the tighter Xia Wantang's expression became, her red lips pursed, her face grim.
Gong Ye lay on the bed, feeling powerless.
There was nothing he could do, as there were only two women in this world who could render him completely helpless.
One was Lu Yunzhi, and the other was Gong Zhi Jing.
Xia Wantang handed him the peeled apple, not caring if he liked it or not; after all, the doctor had said he needed to eat more fruit.
Gong Ye obediently took it and ate it bite by bite.
Xia Wantang's expression finally softened considerably.
Zhu Yunfei looked at the three bottles of saline solution, knowing it wouldn't be finished in less than half a morning.
She looked at Xia Wantang with concern and said, "Darling, there's another bed here, why don't you get some sleep? You didn't sleep last night either!"
Xia Wantang didn't force herself to stay awake. She did feel sore and tired.
She lay down on the adjacent bed and propped up her lower back with a pillow, finally feeling more comfortable.
Gong Ye had never intended to trouble her.
He had only wanted to see her on New Year's Day, spend the holiday with her properly, and then return to the hospital to recuperate.
He hadn't expected things to turn out this way.
But it was also because of this that he could feel his daughter's love for him.
His hardened heart softened to an unbearable degree.
His mission was complete, and he would never have to leave again.
For the first half of his life, he had guarded the nation; for the second half, he would guard his home.
From now on, he would guard her, his daughter.