.
(!)
For the latest and fastest chapters, please visit <NieShu Novel Network www.NieS>. Reading is a pleasure, and we suggest you bookmark it.
Chapter 469 Call Me Dad
Please remember our website domain name <www.NieS>, or search for "NieShu Novel Network" on Baidu.
The atmosphere in the restaurant was somewhat somber. After seeing Gu Zhuofei, Xiao Guli huddled in Lin Yao's arms and refused to move. He even kept his head down while eating, unable to attract the interest of the delicious food on the table. He just kept eating the food in his bowl. Fortunately, everyone cared about him and kept putting food on his plate so that he wouldn't just eat the rice.
The sensible girl didn't say anything, quietly picking up food to eat. She didn't even exaggerate the praise for the delicious food, only occasionally picking up a few bites of what she thought was very tasty for Xiao Guli. She vaguely sensed that something was wrong with the complicated relationships among the people in the room, but she obediently didn't get involved or ask about it.
Since the little ones weren't causing trouble, the adults ate their afternoon meal in silence. Even General Xia didn't say a word. The information he had just heard weighed heavily on his mind like a giant millstone. At that moment, he just wanted to smash his bowl and chopsticks and overturn the table. He couldn't taste the food at all, and he didn't even touch the wine that Gu Zhuofei had specially poured for him. He simply had no interest in drinking.
"Sister Zhuofei, General Xiao has accepted a mission and will be setting sail in a few days. This mission is somewhat dangerous."
Lin Yao casually picked up a few bites of food and ate. His previous anger had subsided, but the dull atmosphere in the restaurant made him very uncomfortable. Seeing everyone awkwardly and mechanically picking up food and eating rice, he felt even worse. He thought to himself that Japan had now used a large number of "poisonous people" to provoke them, and it seemed that they had even used submarines. Otherwise, it would have been unlikely that the destroyer would have been so easily slaughtered.
Given this, it's hard to say how the navy, which has been in peacetime for so long, will behave. Xiao Deli's personal command of the war is certainly very dangerous. What if this is the last time the Guli family will reunite? Wouldn't it be too much to be so somber? So Lin Yao simply used his "sound transmission" skill to convey Xiao Deli's mission in the most concise way possible, which also didn't violate Xiao Deli's military secrecy principles, even though it was conveyed through Lin Yao's words.
Gu Zhuofei shuddered, her hand, which was picking up food, suddenly trembled, and a chopstick fell onto the table with a clatter, bouncing merrily among the bowls and plates of different heights, bringing a cheerful sound to the dull dining room.
Looking at Gu Zhuofei, who was staring at him with questioning eyes, Lin Yao slowly nodded, giving an affirmative answer. Given his status, saying such a thing should be enough to get Gu Zhuofei's attention.
Tears instantly filled Gu Zhuofei's bright eyes. Gritting her teeth, this strong-willed and independent woman jumped up from her seat. After a moment's hesitation, she grabbed the chopsticks that had fallen among the dishes. She forked the largest crucian carp in the bowl and placed it in Xiao Deli's bowl, who was sitting diagonally opposite her. Then she sat down abruptly, without saying a word, but her actions revealed her reluctance and longing.
Five years is not enough to wear away the love in a person's heart, even if the other person has done something unforgivable.
"Thank you... I'm sorry..."
Xiao Deli's voice was very low, so low that it was almost inaudible, like a dream. But Gu Zhuofei heard it clearly and felt the emotions in her lover's heart. Tears welled up and flowed uncontrollably, dripping onto the tablecloth, her chest, and the heart of the man filled with guilt.
"I'm full, I'm going outside to take a look."
Xia Yuwen felt very uncomfortable. There was still more than half of the rice in her bowl. She put down her chopsticks and quietly got up to leave.
"I...I'm done eating. I'll go with Sister Wenwen to take a look."
Dika had sensed something was wrong long ago. Given her personality, she disliked this kind of gloomy atmosphere. Seeing Gu Zhuofei crying made her very sad. When she saw Xia Yuwen about to go out, she quickly got up and left as if she were escaping. However, she had eaten her meal quickly and there was no rice left in her bowl.
"Sweetie, Mommy's got some food for you. Shall we go outside and look at the dogs?"
Alina quickly found a lame excuse to take her daughter away. Of course, there were no dogs in the military compound, neither military dogs nor pet dogs. She just understood Gu Zhuofei's thoughts and wanted to give the couple some space to have a good talk.
Just as Lin Yao was about to make an excuse to leave, General Xia's booming voice rang out, "What are you all doing leaving? Everyone sit down and eat! You! And you! You two get the hell up in the room upstairs and have a good chat, don't disturb everyone's meal!"
"Damn it! Even eating is so boring, I'm going to get sick from being cooped up like this!"
General Xia's imposing presence clearly carried considerable weight in the hearts of Xiao Deli and Gu Zhuofei. Of course, it was also possible that the couple were both concerned for each other and could not bear to give up the brief time they could spend together before the great danger, so as not to leave any regrets in their lives. Thus, as soon as General Xia finished speaking, the two reacted.
Gu Zhuofei gritted her teeth, lowered her head, turned and stood up from the side of the chair, rushing towards the stairwell and disappearing in an instant. Xiao Deli's face was rather gloomy. He glanced responsibly at Gu Li, who was still nestled in Lin Yao's arms, head down, eating his rice. He gritted his teeth, stood up from the chair, whispered "thank you" to Lin Yao, and then strode towards the stairwell to pursue his beloved.
"Lili, if you listen to Daddy, let's play a game, okay?"
After hesitating for a long time and carefully considering the impact of this matter on Xiao Guli, Lin Yao decided not to let this suffering family leave behind the most tragic regret.
"Um, Dad, what game?"
Xiao Guli slightly raised his head, quickly glanced at Gu Zhuofei and realized she was no longer at the table, then his voice naturally became louder.
"Call him Uncle Xiao and Dad in a little while, just once, okay? He's quite pitiful. If you call him Dad just once, he'll be very happy."
Lin Yao felt that lying to children was really difficult. He couldn't make up lies that were too easy to be exposed, lest the little guy remember them well and hold him accountable later, which would greatly affect his image in the child's eyes. But now time was of the essence. If he didn't get Xiao Guli to call Xiao Deli "Dad" now, he might never have the chance in his life.
When Lin Yao first heard about Xiao Deli's mission, he had considered giving him a few drops of "human nuclear energy" to grant him some self-defense capabilities. However, after discussing it with Xiao Cao, they decided to abandon this plan, since Xiao Deli wouldn't be fighting on land but on a warship or submarine, where even dozens of drops of "human nuclear energy" wouldn't be of any use.
If the enemy uses modern weaponry to sink the command ship where Xiao Deli is located, even if he unleashes his "human nuclear power," it will be useless; drowning and being eaten by sharks will be the inevitable outcome. If the enemy infiltrates the command ship stealthily, given the "poisonous people's" cold-blooded and reckless nature, killing all the other officers and soldiers on board will be the inevitable result, even if Xiao Deli can kill many of the invading "poisonous people." His unfamiliarity with the use of "human nuclear power" will not save him either.
Judging from the fate of the previous destroyer, there could only be one outcome in the end—Xiao Deli would fight to the death with all the "poisonous people" until he was exhausted, or Xiao Deli would be lucky enough to kill all the "poisonous people" and then die of exhaustion, starvation or depression on a ship with no instruments or equipment available and unable to be started, with severe injuries all over his body and severe weakness after the outbreak of "human nuclear power".
In short, if the command ship suffers a fatal blow, Xiao Deli's sacrifice is inevitable. Unless the other side wants to take a high-ranking hostage, Lin Yao will not generously equip himself with "human core force" and corresponding precious pills. Moreover, if an ordinary person uses human core force, they must be equipped with a super "life-saving pill". The number of "life-saving pills" required in the latter hypothetical situation will reach an extremely terrifying level. Lin Yao will not choose this method, even if Xiao Deli is Xiao Guli's biological father.
Lin Yao cherishes both the "human core energy," which can save a life with just a drop, and the "life-saving pill," which is equally precious and can save lives. These things should be given priority to his relatives and friends, as well as those who can become his comrades-in-arms to fight against the "Morning Mist." Xiao Deli obviously does not belong to this category, so Lin Yao will not consider giving him any.
If a rear admiral-level naval fleet commander is worth protecting and saving, then the life of any soldier is equally worth protecting and saving. This almost indiscriminate assistance can only lead to one result: Lin Yao becomes the army's private pharmacist. He is powerless to prevent potential crises caused by major decisions that could result in the deaths of a large number of soldiers and civilians, and can only watch helplessly as the situation deteriorates step by step. This is a situation that Lin Yao absolutely cannot accept. Therefore, he has become somewhat cold-blooded in his adherence to principles in this regard.
Whether Xiao Guli will harbor resentment towards Lin Yao's current decision when he grows up is beyond Lin Yao's consideration.
So far, Lin Yao has only developed personal feelings for Xiao Guli. He has no particular feelings of liking or disliking for General Xiao Li'ao and Major General Xiao Deli. Even though they are Xiao Guli's grandfather and father, Lin Yao does not feel that he should give them special treatment because their identities are very special, so special that they can affect the fate of hundreds of thousands or even millions of people.
"If Xiao Li'ao doesn't support my position, and hundreds of thousands more people die in the future, then his son should be buried with him. I have no obligation to help them, and I don't care if Xiao Guli complains later," Lin Yao thought to himself. He was determined not to use his special abilities to help this family; at most, he would mediate their relationship using the methods and means of an ordinary person.
After a long while, once everyone in the restaurant had finished eating all the dishes on the table and cleared away the dishes, Xiao Deli and Gu Zhuofei appeared together at the bottom of the stairs. Judging from their faces, both of them had been crying. However, it wasn't obvious because of Xiao Deli's dark skin. If it weren't for his slightly swollen eyes, it would be hard to tell that he had been crying. Gu Zhuofei, on the other hand, had changed drastically. Her skin was pale from nervousness, and her eyes were swollen like two peaches. All these signs indicated that this woman had gone through something.
"Lin Yao..."
Gu Zhuofei stood in front of Lin Yao, her face showing some difficulty. Looking at Xiao Guli, who had lowered his head again, she hesitated to speak. She bit her lip several times but couldn't bring herself to say what was on her mind. She didn't know what the outcome would be. The choice between her husband and her son was like a knife to her heart.
Lin Yao nodded without speaking, patted the head of the little Guli in his arms, and softened his tone, "Lili, what did you promise your father? A real man should try his best to keep his word."
"Go Lili!" Nannan stood beside him, her face full of excitement, her little fists clenched high as she cheered for Xiao Guli, even though she didn't know about the agreement between Lin Yao and Xiao Guli.
"Um."
Xiao Guli slowly raised his head, and even trembled when he saw Gu Zhuofei's legs. He then carefully searched for the military uniform in front of him, and after finding it, he quickly raised his head, looked at Xiao Deli's face, and said softly, "Dad."
Ah~~~