There was no other reason, only that Gu Jia Ning's beauty was overwhelming, her demeanor calm and elegant, her whole being radiating a brilliance that captivated everyone's attention from the moment she appeared, making people unable to help but gaze and stare.
She received the award presented to her by the Leader and had to give an acceptance speech.
Gu Jia Ning was prepared and spoke calmly and collectedly.
While speaking, her eyes unconsciously swept across the audience; this must be her habit.
She had been scanning the crowd and intended to look away.
Unexpectedly, upon seeing a certain figure, she froze abruptly.
Near the Grand Auditorium entrance, that familiar figure, dressed in a military uniform, looking plain and simple, as if he had just arrived after a long and arduous journey, instantly captured Gu Jia Ning's full attention.
Her eyes could see no one else.
Was it him?
Was it really him?
Gu Jia Ning feared it was a hallucination caused by excessive longing.
From afar, she saw the man's lips moving silently, saying something.
Even from a distance, Gu Jia Ning easily distinguished the four words: I'm back!
He was back, he really was back!
At this moment, Gu Jia Ning was sure it wasn't a hallucination.
Sheng Ze Xi, he had truly returned.
Except, he was darker and thinner, his facial features sharper.
Since their marriage, they had never been separated.
Previously, Zhang Shuwan had asked her if she would be uncomfortable with Sheng Ze Xi away on a mission.
Her answer at the time was: Fine.
Only a few days after Sheng Ze Xi left for his mission, she was already unaccustomed to his absence; later, she missed him intensely.
Missing him and worrying about him.
Only then did Gu Jia Ning realize that, she had unknowingly placed Sheng Ze Xi completely in her heart, worrying about him constantly.
Now, seeing Sheng Ze Xi standing at the entrance of the Grand Auditorium, the suppressed longing in her heart spread like vines, almost uncontrollable.
Gu Jia Ning resisted the urge to rush down and into his arms.
She blinked, preventing tears from falling.
She quickly finished her acceptance speech.
Then, she left the stage, her gaze fixed on Sheng Ze Xi.
And Sheng Ze Xi slowly approached, his gaze following his wife on stage.
It turned out that during his mission, his little wife had been so outstanding, stunning him and everyone else.
"Wife, I'm back," Sheng Ze Xi said, reaching Gu Jia Ning.
Gu Jia Ning gazed at him, tears in her eyes, a smile playing on her lips, "You're back, it's good you're back."
Thousands of words seemed to converge in their eyes, affection swirling between them.
Perhaps because there were so many people in the Grand Auditorium, they had to restrain themselves.
Sheng Ze Xi took Gu Jia Ning's hand and sat down.
Originally, there was another person next to Gu Jia Ning, but that person knew Sheng Ze Xi and Gu Jia Ning were a couple, and now that Sheng Ze Xi was back, the lonely man gave up his seat and found another place to sit.
From afar, Zhang Shuwan saw Sheng Ze Xi return and breathed a sigh of relief, muttering, "Battalion Commander Sheng is finally back, otherwise Jia Ning would have gotten lovesickness."
On stage, the awards ceremony continued.
Finally, the Host said, "In the rescue operation for the Xinghua Village landslide, there were not only the outstanding Military Personnel, Doctors, Nurses…"
"And, our Military Dogs, they also persisted tirelessly in the heavy rain searching for survivors, making a tremendous contribution."
"They, too, deserve commendation."
"Therefore, the outstanding Military Dogs will also receive awards, so let us present these Military Dogs with honors."
…
Gu Jia Ning's eyes widened slightly, they really gave awards to the Military Dogs?
Wonderful!
Gu Jia Ning was very pleased, especially when she saw Hu Po among the Military Dogs being commended, her eyes turned red.
Hu Po, and these Military Dogs, they deserve this honor!
On stage, Hu Po looked at the medal around its neck, then looked up at Gu Jia Ning, tears welling up in its eyes.
Hu Po had never received this honor before.
Not because its performance was not outstanding, but because previously no one had given awards to Military Dogs.
And Xiao Duo told it that the reason the Military Dogs received this honor was because of Gu Jia Ning.
At this time, Xiao Duo stood beside Hu Po, his gaze also sweeping towards Gu Jia Ning, his eyes full of complex emotions.
Because Hu Po was a Military Dog, and he was Hu Po's Owner.
Therefore, he brought Hu Po onstage.
Normally, for the merits of a Military Dog, its Owner also receives an honor.
But Xiao Duo knew this honor did not belong to him.
His feelings towards Gu Jia Ning were also complex.
Initially, upon learning that Military Dogs could receive honors, Xiao Duo was very happy for Hu Po.
But when he heard that the suggestion came from Gu Jia Ning, his mood instantly became complicated.
He realized that as Hu Po's Owner and Comrade, he was very remiss in his duties.
When Hu Po and the child in his wife's womb faced danger, when they were about to face death, he chose to give up.
Even Gu Jia Ning could suggest and fight for Hu Po's deserved honor, but what about him, the so-called Owner and Comrade?
These days, he had seen Hu Po's reaction.
He knew of Hu Po's alienation towards him, and his heart ached.
Xiao Duo thought: Perhaps, he would not be able to keep Hu Po.
Finally, the awards ceremony ended, and Sheng Ze Xi took Gu Jia Ning's hand and walked towards the Family Compound.
Although he was anxious, he still considered Gu Jia Ning's pregnancy and walked slowly.
Gu Jia Ning's hand was tightly held by the man's large hand.
It was a hand completely different from a woman's: broad, calloused, and somewhat rough, yet warm in the cold spring day.
That warmth, like waves, surged towards Gu Jia Ning, enveloping her, warming her body and soul.
On the way, they both tacitly remained silent.
Until they entered the courtyard, Sheng Ze Xi quickly closed the door and pulled Gu Jia Ning into the house.
The next second, before Gu Jia Ning could react, the man turned and embraced her.
His face against her hair and cheek, eyes half-closed, inhaling his little wife's scent and temperature.
The man's low, slightly hoarse voice sounded in her ear, "Ningning, I missed you so much, so much."
Sheng Ze Xi had never missed anyone so intensely.
Before, he had been on missions, but never like this time, longing to return.
He hadn't expected this mission to take so long, more than a month.
Sheng Ze Xi realized he was becoming increasingly inseparable from Gu Jia Ning.
"