After the engagement banquet, Gong Zhi Jing and Ling Yu Chen did not stay long at the old house before returning to Ling Lu Mountain.
The following days were as peaceful as ever.
Gong Zhi Jing did not pay much attention to the matters online. It was only two or three days after their return.
Xia Wan Fu called her to say thank you. She guessed that the online issues had probably been brought under control.
During this time, Gong Ye had gone missing, likely off on another mission.
This always made her unable to help but worry.
Meanwhile, Gong Ye was at a secret base, training soldiers as an instructor.
In a completely enclosed training ground deep in the mountains.
Gong Ye, dressed in camouflage, lay on a rocking chair, legs crossed, drowsy.
In front of him was a group of soldiers standing at attention under the scorching sun.
For a week straight, the training had been like this every day, and this new instructor only slept.
This had left them all extremely dissatisfied.
After all, they were here for training, and it was only for a month. Seven days had already been wasted.
"Damn it, I'm not training anymore. What kind of bullsh*t training is this, making me stand around like an idiot every day."
With one person leading the way, everyone else relaxed.
"Yeah, no more training. What a joke. They just make us watch him sleep. What kind of special training is this? Isn't this insulting?"
"Exactly, it's too much. He doesn't take us seriously at all."
The chattering shouts woke Gong Ye up.
He pulled the hat covering his face down, yawned, and impatiently said, "What are you shouting about? Train if you want, leave if you don't."
Everyone fell silent, then erupted into even louder commotion, which immediately attracted the person in charge of the training base.
"Shut up, all of you!"
The person in charge's roar silenced everyone.
Seeing Gong Ye's impatient expression, he immediately changed his tune, stepping forward to appease him, "Please don't be angry. They're just a bunch of brats who don't know any better..."
The higher-ups had finally managed to invite this master, so what if he got angry and left?
After all, the soldiers this superior had trained were all remarkable individuals. It was just these foolish kids who didn't know talent when they saw it.
Gong Ye ignored him, threw off his hat, rolled up his sleeves, and looked at the noisy group.
"Come on, not all of you are convinced? Here's your chance. Come at me together. If you win, I won't train you anymore. If you lose, you'll stand at attention obediently and stop disturbing my sleep."
The group exchanged glances, but not many were truly afraid, given their youthful bravado.
The person in charge advised, "Please be careful, just don't injure them."
After saying that, he retreated far away.
Then, they all rushed forward, but without exception, they were all kicked away by Gong Ye, seemingly without any effort.
Those strong young men couldn't last a round against him.
Looking at the groaning heap on the ground, he casually brushed off the non-existent dust and said lightly, "Alright, rest for today. We'll continue tomorrow."
With that, he walked away with his hands in his pockets.
Behind him.
"Serves you right for not knowing your limits, daring to provoke him. Truly young and reckless..."
Gong Ye curled his lips, unbothered, and leisurely returned to his dorm, turned on his phone.
He missed his granddaughter.
There were several missed calls and unread messages on his phone, all from his daughter.
He glanced at the time, 10:30 AM. She should not be busy at this hour.
The video call was answered within ten seconds.
Gong Zhi Jing, holding her daughter, faced the camera with a smile.
"Dad!"
Seeing his granddaughter, Gong Ye's mouth stretched into a wide grin.
"Hi, my precious Leyou, do you miss Grandpa!"
Ling Leyou sucked on her fingers with gusto, giggling and drooling.
Gong Zhi Jing consciously withdrew from the camera's view, as her father barely paid her any attention.
This was the legendary favoritism of grandparents; she, the daughter, was unimportant.
"Leyou, my darling, you're so good. Do your hands smell so good? Are they so tasty!"
Gong Ye's affectionate demeanor was a complete contrast to his earlier sternness when disciplining.
Unfortunately, Ling Leyou couldn't understand a word he was saying and was solely focused on eating her fingers, as if her hands were the most delicious food in the world.
But Gong Ye still doted on her, radiating gentleness.
At this moment, the base commander walked in from outside, carrying good wine and cigarettes, intending to apologize to Gong Ye on behalf of the unruly trainees.
However, standing at the doorway, he froze.
Who was this person before him?
Smiling with a face full of wrinkles?
Eyes squinted into crescent moons?
Mouth stretched to his ears?
Was this the same valiant hero who had just acted with such swift and decisive power?
As soon as someone appeared at the doorway, Gong Ye noticed. The smile on his face instantly vanished, and he turned his head, asking coldly:
"Something wrong?"
"No, nothing. Please continue, continue." The commander placed the items down and quickly retreated.
Gong Ye didn't even glance at what he had left behind, continuing to dote on his precious granddaughter.
Gong Zhi Jing cautiously asked, "Dad, are you on a mission now? Please be careful."
"No, don't worry, it's not dangerous. I'll be back in over twenty days."
Seeing his leisurely demeanor, Gong Zhi Jing didn't think he was on a mission and immediately felt relieved.
Actually, she was quite scared. She had only just reconnected with her father and didn't want to lose him again.
She remembered the last time he was injured. When she was tending to his wounds, his body was covered in countless scars, which were horrifying to look at.
She actually had another plan in mind.
She wanted her father to live with them. Over time, he would surely be unwilling to live alone, and she worried he would be lonely.
He was not old yet, only in his fifties, and could find someone to spend the rest of his life with.
Her mother had passed away over twenty years ago. Was he going to remain a widower forever?
However, now was not the time to discuss this.
Although she didn't know what Gong Ye was doing, Gong Zhi Jing still couldn't forget to remind him, "Dad, please take care of yourself when you're alone."
It felt really good to be cared for.
Gong Ye's mood brightened, and he smiled, "Okay, don't worry about me. I'm doing very well."
Ever since the upheaval in his family twenty years ago, he had never experienced the warmth of having family.
There wasn't much to say between father and daughter, and the video call ended shortly.
But the smile on Gong Ye's face lingered, and he kept rewatching the videos his daughter had sent him.
The videos were all of Ling Leyou's daily life, and he could watch them repeatedly without getting tired.
After watching for a long time, he finally put down his phone. He had been sitting for too long, so he stood up to stretch his limbs, then turned off his phone.
It was almost time to start training those brats.
Although he had said they would rest for the day, he suddenly changed his mind.
He immediately blew the whistle, ordering them for an emergency assembly.