ASFTB 22: My Husband’s Name is Feng-ge

Jian Chengxi stared blankly at the message on the panel.

This was good news, of course he was happy. It was said that the original host’s husband seemed to be in the expeditionary force as well. If there was a signal, didn’t that mean there was a good chance the original host’s husband was among them, and might also return?

The doctor said to Jian Chengxi, “Why are you just standing there? Aren’t you happy?”

Jian Chengxi snapped out of it and said, “Happy, of course I’m happy.”

In truth, the doctor had seen what Jian Chengxi had been doing over the past few years. Although she couldn’t stand how Jian Chengxi had treated the child, in the past six months his concern for the child hadn’t been fake. To be honest, she could understand him. His husband was away from home, and with his good looks, it was only natural if he wanted to find someone new to rely on.

The doctor reminded him, “Chengxi, if your husband comes back, that’s a good thing. Even though Wang Zhe is the one in power in the underground city right now, if the expeditionary soldiers return, not only will His Majesty reward everyone according to their merits, but as long as your husband can earn some military credit and get a small official post, your whole family could live a good life. You and Wang Zhe should cut ties sooner rather than later…”

Jian Chengxi gave a wry smile and said, “We’ve been done for a long time.”

He had never been one to dwell on romance, but life was unpredictable.

The ex-husband who was supposed to be dead was actually coming back alive.

The doctor said to him, “Even better. Once your husband returns, your good days will truly begin.”

With his mind weighed down, Jian Chengxi left the hospital. On the way to pick up the child and head home, his thoughts drifted. The original host’s mistreatment of the child was something all the neighbors knew about. The child had been injured under his care, while the husband was out there fighting bloody battles to defend the country. When he came back and saw all this, could he tolerate it? Would he take the child away? Would he divorce him?

The system suddenly popped up: 【Host, your survival rate has increased to 15%.】

Jian Chengxi froze. “Wasn’t it 5% before? How did it go up?”

The system dutifully replied: 【This system’s score is calculated from comprehensive data and cannot be wrong.】

“Could my survival rate be related to my ex-husband?” Jian Chengxi felt like he had finally caught a trace of something. “Is it?”

The system said: 【No authorization to answer.】

“…”

What use are you, then?

When Jian Chengxi arrived at the school gates, classes had just ended. From a distance outside the gate, he saw Li Sui­sui and Li Chen coming out under the teacher’s guidance. Li Suisui was supporting her brother, who was walking with some difficulty, the two small figures leaning on each other as they made their way forward.

The glow of the setting sun spilled over them.

Jian Chengxi waved. “Daddy’s here!”

Li Suisui looked up, and when she saw Jian Chengxi, a big smile spread across her face. “Daddy!”

There was a gentle warmth in Jian Chengxi’s eyes as he opened his arms and pulled his son and daughter into a hug. “Daddy wasn’t late today.”

A smile bloomed on Li Suisui’s face. The little girl wrapped her arms around her father’s neck, her voice ringing with a crisp, childish joy. “I saw Daddy from outside the classroom. Daddy is the most handsome.”

Jian Chengxi pressed his cheek against hers. “Our Suisui is the most beautiful.”

From behind, the teacher said, “Before you arrived, the children kept looking out the window.”

Hearing this made Jian Chengxi’s heart soften, a warm feeling blooming inside him. He hugged the children in his arms even tighter and said, “Thank you for looking after them at school. I’ll take them home now.”

The teacher nodded in agreement.

On the way back, it was usually the time when Jian Chengxi would ask what they had done at school, but today he seemed unusually quiet.

Li Suisui and Li Chen exchanged a glance.

Daddy must have something on his mind.

Sure enough—

Before long, the old father couldn’t hold it in any longer. He glanced sideways at Li Suisui and asked, “Suisui, didn’t you used to say you wanted a Father? If you had a Father, would you be happy?”

Li Suisui froze.

Jian Chengxi patiently waited for the child’s answer.

He had thought the child would surely be happy, but to his surprise, Li Suisui said, “Daddy, Suisui doesn’t want a Father.”

Jian Chengxi was stunned. “Why?”

Li Suisui lowered her head, thought for a moment, and said, “Because Suisui doesn’t want a new Father. If Daddy and the new Father have new children, you won’t want me and gege anymore.”

!!

Jian Chengxi was shocked.

He never imagined the child would be this perceptive!

But…

Jian Chengxi quickly explained, “Suisui, you’re overthinking it. I’m not talking about finding a new Father—it’s your real Father. If it were him, would you be willing?”

Li Chen and Li Suisui exchanged a glance.

Jian Chengxi was full of anticipation.

The little girl threw herself into his arms and said, “Willing!”

Jian Chengxi thought to himself, as expected, how could a child not want a Father? He asked, “Do you like your Father?”

Li Suisui stayed silent.

It was the usually quiet Li Chen who spoke from within Jian Chengxi’s arms. “If Father comes back, then Daddy’s wrist won’t get hurt anymore, right?”

Jian Chengxi froze all over. Back at the clinic, he had been so busy talking to the doctor that he had forgotten to apply medicine to his hand. The marks were already faint by now, yet he hadn’t expected Li Chen to notice!

Li Suisui also turned to look, the little girl lifting her eyes to him. “Daddy, has someone been bullying you?”

Jian Chengxi swallowed the bitterness in his heart and said with a smile, “How could that be? Daddy’s a superhero, no one can bully me.”

Li Suisui hugged him tightly. “When Suisui grows up, I’ll be a powerful superhero too, just like the queen who knows black magic and poisoned apples. If anyone bullies Daddy, I’ll poison them to protect you!”

Li Chen nodded solemnly in agreement.

Jian Chengxi’s emotions churned, and listening to such dangerously alarming words left him speechless. “…”

If it really comes to that…

Ex-husband, you’d better hurry back and take care of your two kids!!

…

The next day—

News of the signal beacon from the two hundred thousand soldiers in the cosmic wormhole had spread throughout the underground city.

Even the people at the administrative office had received the news. Today, many soldiers’ families had gotten word. According to the signals detected, aside from the commander’s flagship, which remained sealed to the outside world for the safety of the high-ranking officers, the signals from the other regular warships had all returned to normal. The underground city sent out a brief notice today, instructing all family members to go to the office to collect their tickets so that, when the army returned, they could be there to welcome them home.

Early that morning, Jian Chengxi also received the news. After helping both children get dressed, he headed out.

The administrative office was packed with people, and many faces were lit with joy.

Everyone had thought they would never see their loved ones again, yet now they might actually come back. The once lifeless underground city seemed to have regained its vitality overnight. Families who received their wristbands and tickets were crying and laughing at the same time, the atmosphere brimming with excitement.

By the time it was Jian Chengxi’s turn, it was already afternoon.

The elderly woman at the office said, “Give me your family member’s information account code, and I’ll check.”

Jian Chengxi pulled up the original host’s information terminal and gave her the code.

She checked it, typed it in a few more times, then lifted her eyelids to glance at him and said, “No signal.”

Jian Chengxi froze. “What?”

The woman double-checked, then repeated, “No signal.”

Jian Chengxi’s feelings grew complicated. Though he had no real affection for the original host’s husband, he’d held onto a bit of hope yesterday. He hadn’t expected that his ex-husband had truly died a hero, it was just too tragic. He said, “Could you check again? Are you sure he’s really not there?”

The elderly woman asked, “What’s your man’s name?”

He didn’t have a photo with him, and it had been quite a while. Caught off guard by the sudden question, Jian Chengxi was momentarily at a loss. On the original host’s wristband, the note for him was simply “husband.”

Jian Chengxi vaguely recalled a character at the end of the name. He strained to remember and cautiously said, “His name is… Feng, Feng… Feng-ge…”

The elderly woman, whose hearing wasn’t what it used to be, adjusted her glasses and said, “Feng-ge? As in ‘crazy guy’?”

“…”

That… might be it.

Jian Chengxi didn’t think too much about it. “Could you just search by the keyword?”

The woman ran a search and replied, “There really is no signal for this ‘Feng-ge.’ I’m sorry, but you won’t be able to get a ticket.”

Jian Chengxi felt a twinge of disappointment.

The elderly woman spoke up then. “No need to be too upset. Even though there’s no signal from him, we won a great victory this time and drove back the Zerg. His Majesty has decided to reward the soldiers, and that day you’ll still be able to receive generous relief supplies. Although we didn’t find this ‘Crazy Guy,’ there is a commander-in-chief returning, he’s a highly decorated general who led all three armies. His name is Li Lingfeng. It was at his request that the proposal to comfort the soldiers’ families was made, so you’re benefiting from it.”

Jian Chengxi’s eyes widened. He stammered a little. “Could you say again… what’s the general’s name?”