After being separated from my family, I became a darling of the military region thanks to my medical

That large bowl of beef noodles, including the broth, was gone in less than two minutes.

The boy licked the bowl clean, cleaner than if it had been washed, and his hands were still trembling slightly when he put it down. It wasn't out of fear, but because his stomach had suddenly been cramped from too much food.

He didn't wipe his mouth or say thank you. He just took two steps back, leaned against the corner of the wall, and stared intently at Ye Zhen with his clear black and white eyes. His body was taut like a fully drawn bow.

He could dash out the moment Ye Zhen made even the slightest unusual move.

"Sister-in-law, let's go." Gu Linlin looked at the child's collar, which was so dirty that its color was unrecognizable, and shrank back in disgust. "These kinds of alleyway hustlers, once you get involved with them, they're like a leech that you can't shake off."

Song Sisi also advised, "Yes, sister-in-law, you've already done more than enough by giving money and treating us to noodles. These days, there are so many migrant workers, we can't possibly manage them all."

Ye Zhen didn't move.

She stood there, her hands in the pockets of her military overcoat, her gaze passing over the layers of grease and grime, looking directly into the boy's eyes.

That look in his eyes was the lonely, ruthless gaze of a wild beast licking its wounds alone in the wilderness.

"What's your name?" Ye Zhen asked, her voice cool but without a hint of sarcasm.

The boy's Adam's apple bobbed, and perhaps feeling indebted to the man for his generosity, he finally managed to squeeze out two words through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse as if sandpaper had been rubbed against his skin: "Stone."

"Where are your parents?"

"They're all dead."

Simple, direct, and without playing the victim.

Gu Linlin rolled her eyes: "Bad luck! Sister-in-law, let's hurry up..."

"Come with me," Ye Zhen interrupted Gu Linlin.

Those three words, like a nail, stood firm in this noisy noodle shop.

Gu Linlin's jaw nearly dropped in shock: "What?! Sister-in-law, are you crazy? You're going to take him back to the compound?"

Song Sisi also became anxious: "Sister-in-law, this isn't a kitten or puppy. If we take this big boy home, what if he doesn't keep things clean..."

"I take responsibility for my decision." Ye Zhen turned around, the hem of her coat drawing a clean arc in the air. She didn't even glance back at the boy. "If you want a different way of life, come with me. If you don't want to leave, then continue stealing swill here."

After saying that, she lifted the heavy cotton curtain and went out.

A cold wind blew in.

The boy stood frozen in place, a flicker of confusion crossing his wild eyes for a fleeting moment. He looked at the slender yet upright figure, gritted his teeth, and like a stray dog ​​that had been beaten but still longed for warmth, lowered his head and silently followed.

……

By the time we arrived at the entrance of the Gu family's courtyard, it was already getting dark.

Gu Zheng was sitting at the octagonal table in the main room, holding a well-worn copy of "The Self-Cultivation of a Son-in-Law in the New Era." Upon hearing the noise, he immediately shoved the book under his bottom and got up to greet them.

"Wife, come back..."

Before he could finish speaking, Gu Zheng frowned.

Behind Ye Zhen followed a "mud monkey" who was about 1.5 meters tall.

He reeked of rottenness, his hair was a mess like a bird's nest, and the moment his eyes saw Gu Zheng, his pupils contracted sharply, and he instantly went into a defensive stance.

That's an instinctive reaction when encountering a natural enemy.

Gu Zheng narrowed his eyes, and a bit of the murderous aura that had rolled out of the sea of ​​blood unconsciously seeped out from his body.

"Where did you pick this up?" Gu Zheng pointed at the stone, his tone unfriendly. "Your smell overpowers the fragrance of the plum blossoms in our yard."

Ye Zhen changed into slippers, took off her coat and hung it on the hanger, her tone as indifferent as if she were talking about buying some scallions tonight: "I picked them up at the noodle shop. They looked alright."

Gu Zheng raised an eyebrow: "Pleasant to look at?"

He sized up the filthy young man, whose features were almost unrecognizable, and chuckled in exasperation, "Wife, isn't your aesthetic sense a bit too advanced?"

"Go boil some water." Ye Zhen ignored his teasing, rolled up her sweater sleeves, and walked towards the bathroom. "Find him some clothes. If you don't have any, use your old training uniforms that you can't fit into anymore."

Gu Zheng stood still, his tongue touching the roof of his mouth, watching Ye Zhen's busy back, and then looking at the little wolf cub staring at him warily.

"Fine." Gu Zheng chuckled and strode to the stone.

He was so tall, a towering 1.88 meters, that his presence loomed over Shi Tou like a mountain. Shi Tou instinctively tried to back away, but Gu Zheng grabbed him by the back of his collar with one hand and lifted him up like a chick.

"Kid, you're in luck." Gu Zheng tossed the man towards the bathroom. "Since my wife has spoken, you'd better get yourself clean. If you dare to dirty her eyes, I'll throw you back into the Shichahai Sea to feed the fish."

Half an hour later.

As Shi Tou stood helplessly in the main room wearing an empty gray autumn shirt, Gu Zheng was carrying two steaming bowls of dumplings out of the kitchen.

Gu Zheng was stunned when he saw the cleaned stone.

Although he was extremely thin, this kid had an exceptionally good physique. Broad shoulders, long arms, and a determined look in his eyes—he was a promising martial arts candidate.

"Sit down." Gu Zheng placed a bowl of dumplings on the table.

Shi Tou didn't move, his gaze fixed on Ye Zhen, who was wiping her hands.

Only after Ye Zhen nodded did he cautiously sit down, halfway on his bottom, and pick up his chopsticks, but dared not take any food.

"Eat." Gu Zheng peeled a clove of garlic for himself, his tone impatient. "In the Gu family, if you're not enthusiastic about eating, you've got a problem with your brain."

The meal was eaten in unusual quiet.

Ye Zhen put down her chopsticks after Shi Tou finished the last sip of dumpling soup.

She looked at Gu Zheng with a serious expression, even with the solemnity one would show before going into surgery.

"Gu Zheng".

Gu Zheng was chewing garlic when he heard this. He looked up, his eyes softening. "What's wrong? Want to compliment my dumpling-making skills?"

"I want to keep this child." Ye Zhen looked directly into his eyes, without beating around the bush or testing him. "It's not a whim, nor is it an overflow of sympathy. I want to give him a home."

The air in the main room froze for a second.

Shi Tou suddenly raised his head and looked at Ye Zhen in disbelief. For the first time, panic and helplessness welled up in his eyes, which had always pretended to be fierce.

He's an unwanted bastard, a thief everyone hates. Give him a home? Is this woman insane?

Gu Zheng didn't speak.

He slowly swallowed the dumpling in his mouth and took a tissue to wipe his mouth.

Those deep, sharp eyes swept over Ye Zhen's face before landing on the tense boy beside her, who was as stiff as a stone.

He knew Ye Zhen's personality. Seemingly aloof, but actually fiercely protective. This child must possess some quality that touched the softest spot in her heart. Perhaps, she saw a reflection of her past self, isolated and helpless, in this boy?

Gu Zheng felt a pang of pain in his heart.

He pulled the chair back, making a "sizzle" sound.

Gu Zheng stood up, walked behind Ye Zhen, wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and rested his chin naturally in the crook of her neck, a posture of complete possession and protection.

"young married woman."

Gu Zheng's voice was deep, with a touch of nonchalant laziness, yet it carried immense weight.

"You're in charge here. Whether you want to raise cats, dogs, or wolf cubs, it's up to you. If you're happy, even if you tear a hole in the sky, I'll patch it up for you."

Ye Zhen's tense back instantly relaxed.

Gu Zheng turned his head and looked at the shocked Shi Tou. A signature roguish smile appeared on his lips, but his eyes became sharp as knives.

"Kid, did you hear that? Now that you've entered this door, you're a member of the Gu family."

Gu Zheng reached out and gave Shi Tou's still dripping head a hard rub, so hard he almost shoved him into the table.

"However, we don't support idlers in our family. Dr. Ye is only responsible for saving lives, not for taking care of children."

Gu Zheng pointed to himself, grinning broadly and revealing a set of gleaming white teeth, looking like a big bad wolf ready to devour someone:

"Starting tomorrow, get up at five. Follow me for morning exercises, weighted runs, and combat training. Since your name is Stone, you'd better be tough. Don't go out and embarrass me."

"We're not adding a pair of chopsticks to our household," Gu Zheng patted Shi Tou's shoulder, making the boy tremble. "We're adding a soldier."