Su Li had a loud voice, was never shy around strangers, and always craved attention.
Zhou Chen hadn't looked at him for just a moment, and he was already unhappy.
Su Lang glanced over and said, "Station Chief Zhou, just put him down on the floor. Don't bother with him."
Zhou Chen would have liked to put him down, but Su Li kept clinging to his neck, refusing to let go.
Jiang Chengzhou walked over, pried Su Li's little hands off, and lifted the kid out of Zhou Chen's arms, setting him down on the floor.
Zhou Chen worried Su Li might cry, but the moment his limbs touched the ground, he crawled off to find his siblings.
Jiang Chengzhou was impatient with him; whenever Su Li got close, he would scoop him up and move him aside.
Su Li didn't seem to notice his brother's annoyance at all and would crawl back over again a moment later.
Lin Zhilan and Su Lang stayed in the kitchen the whole time, the two easygoing parents paying no attention to the three children's interactions.
Zhou Chen had been staying here for over a week, and Linlin had gradually grown familiar with him, seeing him as a trustworthy elder.
Although Zhou Chen tried his best to hide it, Jiang Chengzhou had already noticed that this Uncle Zhou's gaze always followed Linlin.
Jiang Chengzhou felt a bit wary, but since his aunt and uncle hadn't said anything, he couldn't be rude to an elder.
Still, every time Zhou Chen took Linlin to the supply co-op or out to play, he would stay close by his sister's side.
Zhou Chen didn't say anything about it; in fact, he felt it was reassuring.
It was a good thing for Linlin to have a brother like this growing up with her.
It wasn't until the day before Zhou Chen left that he took Jiang Chengzhou and Linlin to the Southern Department Store in Yangcheng, buying Linlin clothes, snacks, and toys.
If Linlin so much as glanced at something a couple of times, Zhou Chen would insist on buying it for her.
In the end, Linlin didn't dare to say anything or even want anything, saying that her mom and dad would buy it for her.
Jiang Chengzhou saw a flicker of disappointment in Zhou Chen's eyes and thought it was a bit strange.
Even stranger was that his aunt and uncle simply accepted it all.
They didn't refuse Zhou Chen at all.
Jiang Chengzhou sensed something was off.
He decided to talk to his aunt.
Lin Zhilan was at her desk writing a manuscript when she heard a knock. Without looking up, she said, "Come in."
"Aunt, it's me."
Lin Zhilan put down her pen, turned with a smile, and asked, "What's wrong? Is there something you want to tell me?"
Jiang Chengzhou's expression was serious. He closed the door and walked over to her.
"Aunt, who exactly is Uncle Zhou?"
Lin Zhilan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Why the sudden question? Didn't I tell you before? He's the police station chief."
"That's not what I'm asking," Jiang Chengzhou paused. "He just appeared out of nowhere, suddenly becoming Su Li's godfather. You're definitely keeping something from me."
Lin Zhilan sighed and gestured for him to sit on the chair next to her.
"Chengzhou, you know I was married once before, right?"
"Yes."
Jiang Chengzhou did know.
By the time Lin Zhilan arrived at the island, he was old enough to understand. He knew his aunt had been married before, and he knew Linlin wasn't his uncle's biological daughter.
"Station Chief Zhou is Linlin's biological father."
Jiang Chengzhou was startled and looked at his aunt intently. "Is he going to take Linlin away?"
"No, neither your uncle nor I would ever allow that."
Jiang Chengzhou lowered his eyes. "I wouldn't allow it either."
Lin Zhilan touched his head and smiled. "Aunt needs to thank you. Thank you for being so good to your sister and little brother."
Jiang Chengzhou awkwardly opened his mouth. "I'm the older brother. It's my duty."
Jiang Chengzhou had his doubts resolved. He chatted with Lin Zhilan for a bit and was about to leave, but paused at the door.
"Aunt, do you like my uncle?"
Lin Zhilan was startled for a moment, then showed a warm smile. "I do."
"Like who?"
Su Lang walked in holding Su Li, who had just been bathed, catching only Lin Zhilan's last words.
Jiang Chengzhou pinched his little brother's chubby cheek and said to his uncle, "Try harder."
Don't drive my aunt away.
Su Lang was baffled. Watching Jiang Chengzhou's retreating figure, he said, "Zhilan, has that boy lost his mind?"
"Ah!" Su Li screamed loudly at his father.
Su Lang frowned and tossed this Loudspeaker Spirit onto the bed.
The Loudspeaker Spirit refused to back down. He rolled over, got up, and tried to climb down, but Su Lang caught him with one hand.
"Ah!" Unable to break free, Su Li resorted to his trademark move: yelling.
Lin Zhilan covered her ears. "Su Lang, is your son Zhang Fei reincarnated?"
Su Lang had always called his son the Loudspeaker Spirit in his head but never dared to say it aloud for fear of getting scolded.
Turns out his wife was even more acerbic, calling their son Zhang Fei reincarnated.
Su Lang couldn't help but laugh. He picked Su Li up and headed out. "Come on, Zhang Fei, Dad's taking you to rout Cao's army."
Full of nonsense, Lin Zhilan wrinkled her nose and silently cursed the two of them in her mind.
Zhou Chen came quickly and left just as quickly. But he often sent things over, so the children wouldn't forget him.
Once Su Li was fully weaned, Lin Zhilan went back to juggling work at the hospital and school.
Aside from that little nuisance Su Li being a bit hard to handle, it seemed everything was back on track.
Until Lin Zhilan received a call from Deng Jing.
On the other end of the line, Deng Jing was crying, saying that Su Jue had come back, but he had been carried back.
When Deng Jing heard the news, she was sent directly to the hospital to sign a critical condition notice.
Lin Zhilan listened to how frantic she was and quickly comforted her. "Second Sister-in-law, don't panic. First, tell me about Second Brother's condition."
Deng Jing sniffled. "I can't explain it clearly right now. The doctor said it's pulmonary edema caused by hypoxia. He's still in emergency surgery."
Deng Jing was panicking badly.
There were also two armed soldiers guarding the operating room doors, and she couldn't get any answers.
She had no idea what had happened and could only anxiously wait outside.
It wasn't until the doctor saw how flustered she was and asked if she had any other family that Deng Jing remembered to call Lin Zhilan.
Lin Zhilan glanced at her watch and soothed her. "Second Sister-in-law, don't worry. I'll ask for leave right now. Wait for me at the hospital."
Deng Jing burst into tears on the other end of the phone.
Lin Zhilan hung up, went back to the Chinese Medicine Department, took off her white coat, said a quick goodbye to Ye Congshan, and immediately ran home.
Linlin and Jiang Chengzhou hadn't finished school yet. Xu Yueyun and Su Bingcheng were at home watching Su Li.
Xu Yueyun was in much better health now, but Lin Zhilan still didn't dare to casually tell her such big news. She only said she had urgent business and needed to travel.
Xu Yueyun hurriedly helped her pack.
"Mommy!" Su Li stumbled over and hugged her leg.
Lin Zhilan crouched down and kissed his cheek. "Li Li, stay home with Grandma and Grandpa and your brother and sister. Mommy will be back in a few days."
Su Li nodded vaguely and leaned against the bedpost, watching her pack her clothes.
There was an evening boat departing the island.
Lin Zhilan was in a hurry to leave and couldn't wait for Su Lang to come back.
"Mom, if Su Lang asks, tell him to wait for me at the telephone room. As soon as I get to Yangcheng train station, I'll call him."
