An An had received Qin Ningyi's assurance on the phone yesterday that he would return today. He was originally waiting for Qin Ningyi with Shen Feng by the elevator. To his surprise, when the elevator door opened, he saw the mother he had been yearning for!
Overcome with excitement, he forgot his usual composure and rushed forward with Shen Feng.
"Woof woof—" Shen Feng, seeing An An's agitation, barked a couple of times in response.
Huo Rou crouched down, looking at her son whose cheeks had become even thinner. With a pang of heartache, she picked him up. "Yes, Mom is back. I'm sorry to have kept An An waiting for so long."
Chen Long watched the scene unfold, somewhat bewildered.
This child was calling Huo Rou 'Mom'!
But his appearance was undeniably that of Qin Ningyi when he was little. He remembered it clearly; back then, among all the people in the compound, his son had always loved trailing behind Qin Ningyi.
So, they had a child together?
Seeing the disbelief in his father's eyes, Chen Guo Chao quickly stepped back a few paces, silently clasping his hands together: Yes, Dad, they have a child.
After talking with An An for a while, Huo Rou finally remembered something important she had overlooked.
She raised her eyes and cautiously glanced at Chen Long. "Uncle Chen..."
"He is..."
Seeing Huo Rou's difficulty in speaking, An An immediately stepped forward. "Grandpa Chen, hello. I'm An An."
As he introduced himself, he opened his arms towards Chen Long.
Anyone who made his mother so hesitant must be very important to her. And if they were important to Mom, they were important to An An! Yes! He needed to build a good relationship.
"Can I have a hug?" An An looked at Chen Long with teary eyes.
Chen Long awkwardly extended his hand. "Yes... yes, you can."
The child's small, soft arms wrapped around his neck. The feeling was quite different from holding his own son when he was young. "An An..."
"Yes!" An An responded generously.
The child's soft, clingy manner made Chen Long forget the label of "Qin family's son." His face and heart were filled with smiles.
An An nuzzled his head into Chen Long's shoulder and secretly winked at Huo Rou.
Mission accomplished!
Huo Rou looked at him with amusement, raised an eyebrow, and gave him a thumbs-up.
Shen Feng, mimicking An An, trotted around Chen Long. After a few words with An An, Chen Long's attention was drawn to Shen Feng.
In fact, when the two figures rushed towards him earlier, his first sight had been of Shen Feng.
"It..." Chen Long reached out and petted Shen Feng's head, feeling its goodwill and intelligence. His eyes suddenly reddened, and his voice choked. "Xiao You, it is..."
Huo Rou smiled. "Yes."
She knew what Chen Long was about to ask.
Chen Long, as her father's most capable subordinate, was likely the only one who could guess Shen Feng's origins at first sight.
"It's Shen Bing's child."
As Huo Rou finished speaking, Chen Long's palm gently rested on Shen Feng's head.
His movements were gentle, his fingers still trembling slightly.
"What's its name?"
"Shen Feng."
Upon hearing the name Shen Feng, a light flickered in Chen Long's eyes.
He let out a hearty laugh. "A good name!"
Huo Rou smiled. The scene was so familiar!
Years ago, her father had taken her to see Shen Bing and asked her to rename it. At that time, the little her watched an animated show called "Shen Bing Xiao Jiang" every day, so "Shen Bing" slipped out of her mouth.
Her father had also excitedly picked her up, spun her around, and laughed, "A good name!"
Chen Long was captivated by Shen Feng, who seemed even more human than Shen Bing had been back then. His eyes, which had just regained their calm, reddened again.
"Brother An An, Great Grandpa sent me to ask if you've picked them up yet? Hurry back!" Ruan Ruan ran out from a room, her small face flushed.
Chen Long's expression turned a little subtle.
An An was undoubtedly Qin Ningyi's son, so his great-grandpa must be Qin Han?
This...
"Yes!" An An turned his head, his eyes sparkling. "Grandpa Chen, An An will introduce you to my great-grandpa."
Chen Long couldn't refuse.
They entered the room.
Qin Han was the first to call out his name. "Chen Long!"
"Elder Qin, hello!" Chen Long addressed him as usual but did not approach the hospital bed.
Distant and polite.
"We haven't seen each other for so many years since you went to Changnan!" Old Master Qin was very happy to see him. "How have you been all these years?"
"All right." Chen Long glanced at the equipment beside him. "What is this?"
He did not wish to know about the Qin family's affairs. Those around him had sensed this, so he had not heard about Old Master Qin's situation this time.
Upon hearing his question, Old Master Qin narrowed his eyes. He looked at An An nestled in Chen Long's arms and Huo Rou smiling faintly beside Chen Long, then pondered for a moment.
"You came with Xiao Rou, didn't you?"
"Yes, we met on the way and I brought them over." Chen Long did not deny it; Qin Han was indeed not his primary purpose for this visit.
Qin Han realized the subtle atmosphere. He glanced at Qin Ningyi, and after receiving a signal from him, he proactively brought up past events.
From the compound, they unknowingly drifted to the "Feng Huo Assault Team," and then to that mission.