Without another word, Zhai Sheng held Er Bao in one arm and fished San Bao out from Qiao Nan’s embrace. He sat cross-legged to form a circle, placing San Bao’s legs inside the circle, while she sat on his thigh, leaning against his abs.
San Bao frowned, showing her displeasure.
She turned around and realized that it was her papa who took her out from her mama’s embrace. San Bao pressed her lips, feeling aggrieved. She sniffed but stopped herself from crying.
San Bao was close to everyone in the house except for Zhai Sheng, her father.
Zhai Sheng would always pull a straight face and he seldom smiled. San Bao could tell that he was not to be trifled with.
San Bao would cry and smile as she wished in front of the old master. She would lose her temper when she was angry and she would pull at the old master’s beard or grab her grandpa’s hat. She could do whatever she wanted, but she became a timid girl when she was with her serious and solemn papa.
However, San Bao did not give up easily. She sniffed, losing her interest in the teething rusk. She directed her big and sparkling eyes at Qiao Nan, looking pitifully at her. She reached out her hands toward Qiao Nan, wanting her mama to carry her.
Qiao Nan was amused by San Bao’s behavior. She kissed her on the cheeks. “My dear chubby daughter, I have to give a call to your godmother. I will carry you later, okay?”
San Bao pouted her lips, puffing her cheeks. There was a look of displeasure on her face. They were bullying her as she could not speak!
Er Bao reached out his hands to pull at San Bao. As the elder brother, he was telling her that he would accompany her. He also disliked the man who was carrying him. The man pulled a long face and did not like to smile. His body was hard and they did not feel comfortable when they leaned against him.
“Go and make the phone call. I will look after Da Bao.” Miao Jing carried Da Bao in her arms, feeling contented. Hua Hua did not even dare to take the babies from Zhai Sheng.
“Alright, Mom. It has been hard on you. Brother Zhai has a lot to learn about taking care of the triplets. You and Sister Zhai Hua can make use of this opportunity to teach Brother Zhai.” Qiao Nan felt that it was a good idea for Zhai Sheng to spend more time with the triplets. Zhai Sheng was seldom at home. Now that he was at home, if possible, Qiao Nan would like him to be with the triplets twenty-four hours a day.
After making sure that the triplets were well-taken care of, Qiao Nan went back to her room and used her cell phone to give Shi Qing a call. “You finally have the time to contact me? Where have you been in the past year?!” Qiao Nan was angry. “Did you know that we would be worried as we could not reach you in the past year? Are you crazy or did you have a fabulous time that you forgot about us?”
Upon hearing the familiar voice of Qiao Nan, Shi Qing turned teary-eyed and her voice became strained. “Qiao Nan, don’t be angry with me. I have three bullet scars. The doctor said that it will not fade away. The scars are so ugly.” Shi Qing was still reeling from shock at what she had done in the past year.
She was just a freshman at college when she was assigned the mission.
It was a special mission. No one else but she was suitable for the mission. Otherwise, she would not have been assigned such a dangerous mission at such a young age. There were several times she almost lost her life.
Qiao Nan jumped up from the bed when she heard that Shi Qing sustained three bullet wounds. “Where have you been? Why would you sustain such serious injuries? Apart from the bullet scars, are you injured in any other way? The teachers at your school must be crazy! Was there no one else to go on a mission? Why would they have students do it?”
Qiao Nan kept scolding the teachers.
Shi Qing was merely a freshman in college. She could not understand why she would have the chance to do such dangerous missions and sustain three bullet shots. She almost lost her life.
Qiao Nan almost wanted to ask whether all the special forces were dead and Shi Qing was the only one who could go for the mission.
“Don’t worry. There was no other alternative. The higher-ups had considered it carefully before they came to the decision for me to take up the mission. The candidate for the mission has to be of similar age to me. To be honest, it is not easy to find someone of my age that had been through training. The candidate must be brave and meticulous, and the person must be willing to make sacrifices. I am one in a million, a rare talent. You should be happy and proud of me!”
Shi Qing put her bullet wounds aside. She was very proud of her performance this time. “I heard that you have given birth to triplets. Not only will I have godsons, but I will have a goddaughter as well. It’s just nice that I can give them my medal!” This was the most meaningful present.
Perhaps it was because she was a mother, but Qiao Nan’s temper had changed. She had been worried sick for Shi Qing. She had not been keeping in touch with them for the past year, and Qiao Nan feared that something serious had happened to her.
Apart from sounding hoarse in the beginning, Shi Qing was not sorry at all. Instead, she boasted about her dangerous achievements. Qiao Nan had the impulse to hold her by the neck and give her a smack on her bottom. “Are you foolish? Is the medal as important as your life? When you said that you have bullet wounds, for a moment, I thought that the triplets will be without their godmother!”
Qiao Nan was shouting into the phone, and she only had harsh words for her. But Shi Qing knew that Qiao Nan was concerned and worried for her. “Don’t do this to me. Didn’t I come back safe and sound? If I had notified you beforehand, I would want to go all the way to the capital to take a look at my godsons and goddaughter. I assure you that my limbs and arms are still attached and I am as healthy as before. There is nothing wrong with me. I have returned safely.”
There were several times when Shi Qing felt that she could not persist any longer, particularly when she was injured and drowsy. She thought that she would die before her parents.
She did not know how she managed to survive until the end. Nevertheless, it turned out well. She returned alive and she had achieved military achievements.
“Hehehe…” Shi Qing seemed to become more and more foolish. Apart from sneering at her, Qiao Nan did not know what else to say. “Let me tell you. The triplets do not have a good temper. They are four months old. We shall see if they want to acknowledge you as their godmother. Don’t worry. If they ignore you, I will definitely not help you.”
Qiao Nan had no hold over Shi Qing except for the triplets. She knew that Shi Qing would be anxious at the mention of the triplets.
Although Shi Qing had never seen them since they were born, they were the only people that she feared.
