One day in October, Xue Xingzhou suddenly brought soone to see He Lang.
Daya was in the office reporting the month’s performance to He Lang when she heard a knock and turned to look.
"He Lang, look who’s here!"
Xue Xingzhou pushed the door open and ca in, followed by a young man with a ramrod-straight posture who looked full of energy.
"Gu Kai Zhi."
When He Lang saw it was Gu Kai Zhi, he instantly stood up, smiling as he walked over and extended his hand.
The two n shook hands.
He Lang smiled at Gu Kai Zhi. "What a rare guest! What brings you to Beijing City?"
Gu Kai Zhi smiled a little shyly. "Brother He, I’m in Beijing City for a mission."
Xue Xingzhou explained, "He’s here in Beijing City on a mission, and it happens to be the sa case our State Security has been busy with recently, so our two sides are cooperating. He ca to State Security today to coordinate, and that’s how we ran into each other. He should be staying in Beijing City for a while, so I brought him over to see you."
He Lang laughed. "That’s wonderful! I’ve been hoping you’d co to Beijing City. Shiyi has ntioned Uncle Gu so many tis. Since you’re here, you should stay with us. I insist on treating you well. I’m so grateful for your help with Shiyi last ti. My wife was abroad then, but after she ca back and found out, she’s been wanting to et you and thank you in person. Co on, co ho with ."
Gu Kai Zhi politely declined, "Brother He, several of my comrades ca with , so I can’t stay at your ho. Besides, our superiors have already arranged accommodations for us."
He Lang looked at Xue Xingzhou, who nodded.
"Well, since you have a place to stay, you still have to eat, right? Let treat you to a al. I’ll bring my family along, too. Shiyi has been clamoring to see you."
Gu Kai Zhi nodded. "Okay, I can go. My other comrades aren’t with ; they’ve already made other arrangents."
He Lang slung an arm around Gu Kai Zhi’s shoulder and said with a laugh, "As long as you can make it, that’s what matters. Let’s go, let’s go."
As they were walking out the door, he suddenly rembered sothing and turned to look at a stunned Daya. "Daya, you co too."
Gu Kai Zhi followed He Lang’s gaze and t Daya’s eyes. Her pupils trembled slightly as she nodded and agreed.
He Lang was already leading Gu Kai Zhi downstairs. Daya ca out, closed the office door, and followed them.
As they walked, He Lang told Gu Kai Zhi about his supermarket.
It was almost quitting ti, so He Lang first took them to a restaurant and got a private room. Then, he rode his motorcycle to pick up Xue Yue and the children.
After He Lang left, Xue Xingzhou poured Gu Kai Zhi so water and introduced Daya. "She’s He Lang’s niece."
Daya stood up and extended her hand to Gu Kai Zhi. "Hello, Mr. Gu. My na is An Xin. Thank you for what you did for Shiyi."
Gu Kai Zhi stood and shook her hand. When their eyes t, they both quickly looked down.
Watching them, Xue Xingzhou smiled and asked casually, "Daya, you changed your na?"
Daya nodded. "It’s more convenient for work. ’Daya’ has beco my nickna; my family still calls that. But a nickna isn’t always suitable for formal occasions."
Xue Xingzhou smiled. "An Xin... Hmm, that’s a nice na. I hear you’re managing the finances for He Lang now?"
"Yes, I studied accounting."
Xue Xingzhou glanced at Gu Kai Zhi out of the corner of his eye and saw him sitting upright, staring at the cup in front of him.
"That’s great. How old are you this year?"
"Nineteen."
Xue Xingzhou clicked his tongue. "Only nineteen and already managing so much money for He Lang. Daya, you’re pretty capable."
Daya knew Xue Xingzhou was teasing her, so she just smiled.
Xue Xingzhou then changed the subject, turning to Gu Kai Zhi. "Kai Zhi, you must be married by now, right?"
Hearing this, Daya also looked at Gu Kai Zhi.
Gu Kai Zhi’s eyelids twitched. "Not yet. You know how busy it is in the military. Besides, I’m only a platoon leader, so my family isn’t eligible to live on base with . Even if I got married, we’d have to live apart. I don’t want to hold anyone back."
"I don’t agree with that. You’re defending our country—how is that holding soone back? Then again, it takes a special kind of person to be a military wife. The good thing is you’re still young. You’ll et the right person sooner or later. Who knows, by then you might have been promoted to battalion commander."
Gu Kai Zhi replied with a smile, "I’ll take that as a good on then, Brother Xue."
For the rest of the ti, it was mainly Xue Xingzhou talking with Gu Kai Zhi. When Daya saw their cups were empty, she stood up and refilled them.
Seeing this, Gu Kai Zhi said to Daya, "Thank you."
Daya smiled. "You’re welco."
Watching them, Xue Xingzhou couldn’t help but grin.
He Lang and his family arrived quickly.
"Brother Gu, you must have been waiting anxiously, huh?"
Gu Kai Zhi stood up. "Not at all."
"Uncle Gu!"
As soon as Shiyi saw Gu Kai Zhi, he ran over to him. Gu Kai Zhi patted his head.
Xue Yue ca in, and upon seeing Gu Kai Zhi, she said with a smile, "Mr. Gu, I’m Shiyi’s mother, Xue Yue. I’m so grateful for what happened last ti. If you hadn’t helped, I don’t know what we would have done. You’re our family’s savior. I’ve always regretted not being able to thank you in person, and now I’ve finally t you. You’re truly a fine young man."
Gu Kai Zhi said, a little bashfully, "Sister-in-law, please don’t praise like that, you’re making blush. I’m a soldier; serving the people is my duty."
Xue Xingzhou laughed. "Alright, everyone, sit down. We’re all getting hungry from the wait."
He Lang nodded. "Right, right." He quickly called a waiter over.
"Brother Gu, what do you want to eat? Order whatever you like."
Gu Kai Zhi said, "I’m not a picky eater. You guys go ahead and order."
Xue Xingzhou noticed Gu Kai Zhi’s reserve, so he took the nu. "I’m starving. Co on, if you won’t order, I will."
Xue Yue asked Xue Xingzhou, "Why is it just you? Your wife and Tun Tun didn’t co?"
"I ca straight from work, so I didn’t call them. Don’t worry about it. I’ll just get so takeout for them on my way back."
"That works too."
Shiyi insisted on sitting next to Gu Kai Zhi and started making introductions. "Uncle Gu, this is my big sister. You can just call her Ruanruan. And that’s my Big Sister Daya."
Gu Kai Zhi nodded.
"Uncle Gu, it’s been so long, I’ve missed you! Did you miss ?"
Gu Kai Zhi said with a smile, "I did."
Shiyi’s eyes instantly widened. "Then why didn’t you call ? Didn’t I give you my ho phone number?"
Gu Kai Zhi paused. "Well, uh... Uncle Gu is busy with work. There’s training and missions."
Shiyi blinked. "Oh, so that’s why. I knew it! Uncle Gu would never forget about ."
Gu Kai Zhi: "..."
He Lang chuckled. "Brother Gu, is your base far from Beijing City?"
"Not far."
"No wonder you’re here in Beijing City for a mission."
During the conversation, Xue Yue asked about Gu Kai Zhi’s marital status. When she heard he wasn’t married, she asked, "You don’t have a girlfriend? How about I introduce you to soone?"
Gu Kai Zhi repeated the sa explanation he had given Xue Xingzhou earlier.
He Lang nodded. "Brother Gu is right. Marrying a wife is like gambling. You can’t just place your bet carelessly. You have to read the situation clearly to hit the jackpot. If you bet randomly and get it wrong, you could lose badly."
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