Isn't he asking me to marry him?

  On Friday, during rush hour, the road from the airport to downtown was congested as usual.

  Gu Beichen, sitting in the back seat, frequently lifted his wrist to check the time. Driver Feng Qing didn't even dare to take a deep breath, and both eyes stared straight at the GPS navigation, trying to find a relatively smoother road.

  "Go to the hospital directly." Gu Beichen, sitting upright with a calm expression, gave the instruction in a gentle tone, slowly rolling down the car window. Although he let out a long sigh, his eyebrows and eyes were still filled with fatigue.

  Just finished a 17-hour special training mission, didn't even have time to wash my face before rushing to the airport, plus more than three hours of flight, even Iron Man can't handle it.

  The red light ahead hadn't even entered the two-digit countdown, so Gu Beichen simply rolled down the window all the way, taking a breath of fresh air while also taking a look at what new changes had taken place in G City's bustling downtown area.

  Not far away is a pedestrian street specializing in all kinds of snacks, crowded with people, very lively.

  Suddenly, a soft cry came from not far away: "Halt!"

  Following the sound, I saw a little girl wearing blue sportswear chasing after a tall and thin man. When she got close enough, the girl quickly made a beautiful side kick, kicking the man to the ground.

  "Good footwork." Gu Bei Chen couldn't help but praise in his heart.

  About half a minute later, the little girl snatched the wallet back from the tall thin man and returned it to its owner. "There are many people here, so it's safer to carry your wallet close to you. Not every time will you be lucky enough to meet me."

  This little girl looks like a minor, but she's actually lecturing people with a straight face.

  "It's almost time for the green light." The countdown for the red light was about to reach single digits, and Feng Qing reminded him in a low voice.

  Gu Bei Chen only then withdrew his gaze from outside the window, the car window had slowly closed, but he unconsciously turned his head to take a look outside, unfortunately, that heroic and chivalrous little girl was already gone without a trace.

  This little girl is much quicker than those new recruits in the female soldier squad.

  After passing through the most congested section of the downtown area, the car was still able to move relatively smoothly and arrived at the G City Armed Police Corps Hospital in less than twenty minutes.

  Because it was a military hospital, Gu Bei Chen's shoulder badge naturally attracted the attention of the hospital staff. As soon as he walked in the door, someone came up to him and saluted, "Hello."

  Gu Beichen politely returned the salute, his expression serious but without any airs of a superior officer. "Excuse me, where is the oncology ward?"

  "On the seventh floor of the inpatient department, I'll take you there." The doctor in white coat still had a cautious expression and carefully led the way for the officer.

  "It's all right, I'm here on personal business today." Gu Bei Chen smiled faintly and declined the doctor's kindness.

  It happened to coincide with visiting hours, and the elevator in the inpatient department was particularly busy. Gu Bei Chen decisively chose to walk up the stairs.

  But he didn't think that someone shared the same 'hobby' as him, and was moving so fast. Just a moment ago, he could still hear footsteps downstairs, but in just a few seconds, that person had already 'flown' to his rooftop.

  Isn't this... the little girl I saw by the road just now?

  No wonder people always sigh that the world is too small, today he deeply felt this point.

  However, Gu Beichen probably would never have thought of it. Now, it has just begun.

  Mr. Gu did not expect his son to rush to the hospital directly after getting off the plane. The moment he opened the door, he was stunned for a moment, "You... didn't go home to see Xiao Xiao first?"

  "The traffic jam is terrible." Gu Bei Chen responded lightly, his gaze passing over the old man and looking towards the inner room, "How's Uncle Ye doing?"

  "Not too good, most of the time he's been in a coma, let's wait for his granddaughter to come and see if she can wake him up for a moment." Old Master Gu said with worry.

  Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives. As soon as Grandfather Gu's voice fell, a small figure flashed in at the door, "Grandpa Gu, you're here."

  It's her!

  Gu Beichen didn't turn his head back, but he recognized this voice.

  At this moment, he no longer has the mood to marvel at how small the world is. What he wants to marvel at is... the wonder of fate.

  "Shan Shan has arrived. Come over, let me introduce you, this is my son, Gu Bei Chen, just back from the troops." Old man Gu was quite enthusiastic at this moment, completely gone was his earlier solemnity.

  Ye Shanshan first noticed the person in front of her... wow, what a handsome and dignified appearance, much more impressive than the instructor during military training.

  Ye Shanshan hastily ran over after washing her face and, looking very embarrassed, wiped her hands behind her back before extending one out to him. "Hello, Mr. Gu."

  The title came a bit suddenly, but Gu Beichen still stretched out his hand and shook hands with this heroic and vigorous little girl.

  Whoa, it felt like there was a small mountain standing in front of her, and Ye Shanshan instinctively took two steps back, intimidated by the powerful aura.

  Mr. Gu smiled and stepped forward to help, "No need to be so polite."

  "Grandfather Gu, big brother Gu, please sit down first, I'll go take a look at grandfather." Hmm, this is confusing, it's both "grandfather" and "big brother", the generation seems to be mixed up, should I call him "uncle" instead?

  Ye Shanshan entered the inner room of the ward, leaving only Gu's father and son in the outer rest room.

  The father and son stared at each other for nearly ten seconds, neither of them willing to speak first.

  "It's her." Finally, it was old Master Gu, who had spent his whole life on horseback, who couldn't help but lose his composure.

  Gu Bei Chen, who had always maintained a tough and serious image, showed a rarely seen terrified expression, "Dad, you're not mistaken, are you? This kid... seems to be underage."

  "Don't worry about this, Shanshan just turned 18 last month." Old Master Gu patted his son's shoulder lightly, and his expression returned to its usual stern calmness.

  Gu Beichen was silent. He knew that his family had always regarded his lifelong event as a top priority, but... marrying an eighteen-year-old girl was not within his expectations.

  "Your uncle Ye can't hold on for much longer, and once he's gone, Xiao Xiao will be a helpless orphan." Unable to think of anything else, Old Master Gu could only change his approach to gain sympathy.

  "Gu Beichen reacted extremely quickly, 'Our family can adopt her.'"

  "Our family doesn't lack daughters, what we lack is a daughter-in-law." Old Master Gu responded calmly.

  The Gu family originally had five siblings, but two of Gu Beichen's older brothers had gloriously sacrificed their lives for the country, leaving only him and his sister and younger sister. The old man was in such a hurry to arrange his lifelong event because he hoped that after getting married, he would have something to hold onto, and the family could find an opportunity to transfer him back to G City. Now the Gu family has only one left, and the old man is indeed kind-hearted.

  "Even if I were to lack something, I couldn't find someone as small as this." By generation, Shanshan should be calling Gu Beichen "Uncle", just because of this, he can't accept this marriage.

  "You'd better go find someone of the right age for me!" Old Master Gu finally couldn't hold back his temper and lashed out, adding another jab at the end: "I just don't know if I and your mom can wait that long!"

  Gu Bei Chen continued to remain silent, his ink-like eyes deepening by a few shades.

  "You should think about it for me and your mom's sake, but also for Xiaoxiao's sake. The child is already in elementary school and understands more and more..."

  "Don't even mention it!" Gu Bei Chen bluntly interrupted the old man's cold words, "Who knows if the little girl is willing or not."

  Finding an 18-year-old mother for six-year-old Xiaoxiao, what's going on here?

  This remark hit the sore spot of Old Master Gu. Shanshan was just eighteen years old, and it was already a stretch for her to marry an older man more than ten years her senior; what's more, he had a child, making this union even less likely to succeed.

  At this time, a conversation like handing over a will was taking place in the sickroom next door.

  "Shan Shan, Master Gu's son, you... have you seen him?" Old Master Ye was already in the late stages of lung cancer, spending most of his time in a daze, and when he was briefly lucid, he had to endure excruciating pain. Even a short sentence left him gasping for breath.

  "Ah, I see. He's tall and handsome." Although Ye Shanshan was feeling a sharp pain in her heart, she still put on an optimistic smile for her grandfather to see, because she knew that if he saw her upset, he would be even more pained.

  "Do you still remember Grandpa...the story he told you that day with Old Man Gu?"

  Ye Shanshan handed Grandpa a towel to wipe his face, tilting her head in contemplation. After thinking for a while, she finally found a clue: "Is it that... story about pointing to the belly as a marriage proposal?"

  Good grief, what era is this? How can there still be such an old-fashioned story?!

  Ye Lao Yezi smiled with difficulty and comfort, "Bei Chen is the only son of Gu's family, you... are my only descendant in the Ye family, so..."

  "Grandpa... You're not saying I have to marry him, are you?" Grandpa was panting heavily, but Ye Shanshan didn't bother to help him catch his breath. Looking at her expression, she seemed to be frightened.

  "Now that I'm leaving, you'll be all alone... cough... I don't feel at ease."

  Those words "I know how to take care of myself" had already reached the tip of her tongue, but seeing Grandpa's pale face and expectant eyes, Ye Shanshan still swallowed them back, thinking of a relatively tactful excuse: "Grandpa Gu's family is so well-off, are we... overreaching?"

  "You take care of your grandfather's family, without these door and window concepts. Besides, if it wasn't for me... back then when I blocked that bullet for your grandfather, he might have... been glorious long ago." Comrades shouldn't be calculating these things, but Ye Lao can't bear to leave his granddaughter alone in the world like this. The Gu family is the only support he can think of.

  The kindness of elders will be repaid by the next generation. Alas, it's really a dog-blooded affair.

  Seeing his granddaughter hesitate to respond, Old Master Ye's eyes gradually dimmed. "I know, you... are still young. If you really don't want to, I won't force you."

  "Grandpa, don't think that way. I... didn't mean to be unwilling, it's just... afraid of making Gu... Big Brother Gu troubled." This generation gap is always a bit hard to get past.

  Shan Shan's father passed away when she was eight years old, and her mother remarried, after which there was no news from her. For the past ten years, it has been just her and her grandfather relying on each other for survival. How could the most filial and sensible Shan Shan bear to let her grandfather leave this world with worries?

  "It's best if you think that way, but... there's something I need to tell you first." The obedient granddaughter seemed to nod in agreement, but Old Master Ye still couldn't be at ease.

  "You said it."

  "Bei Chen's family... has a six-year-old daughter." Old Master Ye was already breathing heavily, and his tone was particularly strained when he said this.

  Boom...

  Stepmother!!!