Chapter 146: Chapter 136: An Early Encounter

Zheng Shaolian was also a bit annoyed. They’d clearly said they weren’t coming, but here they were. He had already resolved to serve out his term here until he was discharged and didn’t need their special attention. If they tried to transfer him now, he wouldn’t go.

But Zheng Shaolian was overthinking it. Gu Shaojun was definitely not here for him, nor did he have time to think about such matters. This trip down to the Wan City Military Sub-Region was for something important. Military affairs had been urgent lately, with no days off at all. He could only stay in Wancheng for three or four hours at most before leaving right after he finished his business.

On a dusty road, four cars kept their distance as they sped into the Wancheng area.

Gu Shaojun sat in the lead jeep, his sword-like brows furrowed slightly as he watched the suburban scenery flash by the window, lost in thought.

An officer next to him offered him a cigarette. Gu Shaojun waved it away. The officer chuckled. "Let’s see how long you can hold out. Guys like us all pick it up sooner or later!"

The jeep rounded a bend and went uphill. Wei Zhenqing, sitting in the front passenger seat, glanced back and smiled. "The sedan behind us is keeping up pretty close. Think those two kids can handle it?"

Gu Shaojun glanced back, his expression unchanged, but he sighed internally. ’I told them I was in a hurry and would be driving fast, but Aunt Wu and Xuanxuan just wouldn’t listen. They insisted on waiting by the roadside to follow us. They have their own work unit’s car; they could have just driven slowly. There was no need to rush like this. Xuanxuan gets motion sickness. What if she has an episode?’

’It’s my fault, too. When I went over for dinner last night, I had to open my big mouth and say I was coming to Wancheng today. Aunt Wu asked me to bring something for Uncle Tang, and I said I might not have time. The result... all three of them ended up coming along!’

’Xuanxuan convinced Hao Hao to come see their father. They’re on vacation, so they’re free to travel. Aunt Wu wanted to entrust the siblings to me, but with military duties and colleagues around, I couldn’t possibly take two kids with me. So, Aunt Wu got a car from her work unit and came along to escort them herself.’

’They insisted on following the military vehicles, claiming it was for safety. But rushing and chasing like this the whole way, not even stopping when we should have been resting... how could a regular driver compare to a military-trained one? To prevent an accident, I had no choice but to stop halfway and switch out their driver.’

’Xuanxuan is still young and a bit willful, and Aunt Wu...’ Another sharp turn blocked his view, and Gu Shaojun turned his head back with a sense of helplessness.

Meanwhile, in the last car, a black sedan, Tang Yaxuan and Tang Haocheng were fine, but Wu Xiaowen was starting to feel dizzy. She couldn’t help but glance complainingly at the young soldier driving. ’What is with Shaojun? He sends over some greenhorn soldier, claims he’s a skilled driver, but the ride is so bumpy I can’t stand it.’

Tang Haocheng was plastered to the window, looking outside. Tang Yaxuan took out some medicated oil and thoughtfully applied it for Wu Xiaowen while saying to the driver, "Can you please drive a little more steadily? Like Uncle Liu. He drives so smoothly and well, we’re always fine."

Driver Liu, sitting in the passenger seat, coughed and chuckled. "The PLA comrades are the real experts. If it were me driving, trying to keep up with the convoy at high speed on a road like this, I’m afraid we would’ve rolled into a valley long ago..."

Wu Xiaowen jumped in fright. "Well, then slow down! Safety is more important. We don’t have to follow them so closely!"

The PLA comrade driving: ...

’Now you don’t want to follow them, so what am I supposed to do? I can’t fall behind!’

Driver Liu said, "After two more turns, the road will flatten out. It’ll be fine to go faster then."

Tang Yaxuan said, "How is it fine? My mother is carsick!"

Driver Liu: ...

’I didn’t hear you complaining about being dizzy the whole trip. You only get sick now that we’re almost in Wancheng?’

Tang Yaxuan patted Wu Xiaowen’s hand reassuringly. "Mom, in a little bit, have Uncle Liu take you and Hao Hao home first. I’ll go with Brother Shaojun to the hospital to see his cousin."

"What’s there to see about that Zheng Shaolian? Don’t get close to him. Don’t forget, your grandmother hates the Zheng Brothers!"

"But he’s Brother Shaojun’s cousin, isn’t he? Brother Shaojun came all this way to see him. I should at least make an appearance and show some concern, right?"

Wu Xiaowen pressed the medicated-oil-scented handkerchief to her nose and mouth, frowning as she gave a slight nod. Her voice was muffled. "Do as you wish. Your grandmother can’t see you from this far away... I’ll go home first. Your dad will be so happy when he finds out we’re here. He’ll definitely want to treat everyone to a meal. You and Shaojun should come back early!"

"I know, Mom."

Tang Haocheng turned back from the window. "What were you just talking about? Zheng Shaolian? He came here too?"

Wu Xiaowen looked at her son lovingly. "Zheng Shaolian is serving in the army here, and he got injured, so Shaojun rushed over to see him. You shouldn’t get too close to Zheng Shaolian. Your grandmother doesn’t like him."

"Who says? During the New Year, he came to our house with the Gu family’s grandparents to pay a visit, and Grandma gave him lucky money too."

"That was just for show. The truth is, your grandmother... Ai, you’re still young. You wouldn’t understand."

"Mom, you don’t know Grandma. She’s not that unreasonable. When Brother Zheng and the others played with me and Gu Shaoqin, Grandma didn’t say anything. Sis, if you and Brother Shaojun are going to the hospital, I want to go too!"

Tang Yaxuan glanced at Wu Xiaowen’s expression and coaxed Tang Haocheng, "Hao Hao, be a good boy and listen to Mom. You shouldn’t go."

Tang Haocheng frowned. "Mom didn’t say I couldn’t go. If you don’t want me to come with you, I can just go by myself."

Wu Xiaowen quickly said, "You can’t go wandering off by yourself! This is the countryside. If you get lost, you won’t be found. Xuanxuan, just take your brother with you."

Gu Shaojun had only set aside half an hour to visit Zheng Shaolian. He didn’t know that Xiao Man was coming today. Therefore, he first went to the military sub-region to hand over some documents before he could go to the hospital. Afterward, he would return to the sub-region for a meeting and then head directly back to the provincial city.

Because of the mother and daughter’s complaints, the PLA driver had to slow down a bit. As a result, they couldn’t keep up with the cars ahead.

Tang Yaxuan, assuming Gu Shaojun was rushing to see Zheng Shaolian, directed their sedan straight through the city to stop at the entrance of Wancheng Hospital. She and Tang Haocheng got out, and after a few words of instruction from Wu Xiaowen, the sedan drove away again.

Tang Yaxuan and Tang Haocheng walked along the concrete path into the hospital and came face-to-face with a girl at a corner shaded by lush greenery. This girl was none other than Mo Xiaoman.

The three of them, who had never met face-to-face in their previous life, had now encountered each other ahead of schedule in this life, all because Xiao Man had broken free from her constraints and fought for her freedom!

The three youths were frozen on the spot!

Logically, they didn’t know each other—at least, Tang Yaxuan and Tang Haocheng didn’t know Xiao Man. But strangely, both sides just stared at each other, neither speaking nor making a move to leave.

For Xiao Man, the sudden encounter was so unexpected that she couldn’t quite process it, leaving her completely stunned. Tang Yaxuan, on the other hand, was shocked, but her shock was laced with threads of fear. Looking at the face opposite her, which bore a striking resemblance to Tang Qingyun, she vaguely guessed the truth. At this moment, she was incredibly thankful for one thing: Wu Xiaowen hadn’t come with them!

Tang Haocheng stared intently at Mo Xiaoman’s face, feeling an overwhelming sense of familiarity and closeness! What others didn’t know was that he had a peculiar hobby: he liked looking in the mirror. He was never fuzzy about his own appearance. Now, facing this girl, he was both astonished and in disbelief. ’This girl... this girl... how can she look so much like me?’

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