Chapter 403: Rekindling Hope

"Xiaokang, you are so good; if others don't want you, Sister-in-law wants you. When I return to Beijing, how about you come do business with me?" An Yinan said softly.

The child just couldn't find the way home.

But his original family was not his home.

He had always thought the Military was his home.

But given his current situation, he could no longer remain in the Military.

She wanted to give him a home, a place where he could find an exit when he felt lost.

After Xiaokang cried his heart out, all his emotions were vented.

He did not regret saving Er Dan; even if he knew the current outcome, if he were allowed to choose again, he would still go to save Er Dan.

"Sister-in-law." Xiaokang had cried enough, and his emotions were mostly vented.

At this moment, he felt a bit embarrassed instead; he had dirtied Sister-in-law's clothes with his tears.

An Yinan laughed, "What are you thinking about? Aside from dirt, my clothes are just covered in blood."

She actually tried to find ways to change her inner clothes every day, but for her outer clothes, this was truly the only set she had.

Her backpack really couldn't hold too many things, and she didn't want to be too conspicuous either.

"Sister-in-law, thank you." Xiaokang said very solemnly.

Back when they were in the Military District, Sister-in-law had always been taking care of them.

Later, after Sister-in-law left, they never ate those delicious things again.

After the incident this time, everyone told him to be strong, saying that such things were unavoidable on the battlefield.

He had joined the army, so how could he not know these things?

It was just the feeling of grievance, the feeling of being blocked in his heart, and the feeling of not knowing where to go in the future.

Sister-in-law understood it all!

An Yinan smiled, seeing that he had calmed down.

"Thank you for what? Work for me in the future and earn more money for me." An Yinan was not joking; she said it very seriously.

Xiaokang nodded solemnly; the man he had always called Father was not his kin.

But Sister-in-law always would be.

His own life had been pulled back by Sister-in-law.

He would sell his life for Sister-in-law in the future.

"You all can come over." An Yinan looked at the few people blocking the doorway.

She had known they were there when they arrived, but she needed to let Xiaokang think things through on his own; if he had been interrupted this time, who knew when this child would have been able to open his heart.

Now that Xiaokang had thought it through, his future life would be brilliant—a kind child with a sense of responsibility.

"We are returning to the City to rest and will leave early tomorrow morning; we came to check on Xiaokang," Chen Xun explained.

An Yinan stood up, "I am here to conduct a psychological evaluation."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xun was startled.

"Is there a psychological problem? Did something happen? Or is there something that made you uncomfortable?" Chen Xun was a bit anxious.

Soldiers in their Military knew that when they first fired a gun to kill someone, they all needed to undergo a psychological evaluation, for fear of leaving some seed in their hearts that would create hidden dangers for the future.

Some people might never dare to hold a gun again in their entire lives.

"Don't be anxious." An Yinan couldn't help but laugh or cry, and she comforted him.

"Nothing is wrong with me, but the person in charge asked our entire group to undergo a psychological evaluation; I assume it's routine?"

An Yinan didn't know what was going on either, and she had even handed over her own treatment area to someone else.

They had specifically asked her to come over and wait.

And they hadn't even explained the reason.

She was very confused too, okay!

Hearing this, Chen Xun finally let out a sigh of relief.

In his anxiety, he was nothing like his usual self, appearing as if he didn't care about anything, only issuing orders every time; he never said a single word of concern!

"I think I know a little, but due to professional ethics, I can't say!" Xie Yuanyuan said proudly.

Finally, one day, she was able to say, "I can't say!" to this group of people.

In the past, it was always them saying it to her.

An Yinan smiled; looking at Yuanyuan's expression, she knew it wasn't a big deal, nor was it a bad thing.

Otherwise, she would probably be more anxious than herself!

"Right, since you're here, let me tell you something." An Yinan looked at Chen Xun and Zhang Qian.

Xiaokang was a soldier under their command, and their signatures would be on his future discharge paperwork.

"What is it?"

"Is there something involving me?"

The more she got to know him, the more she realized that Zhang Qian was truly unreliable at times.

"When I return to Beijing, I will take Xiaokang with me; his physical condition is not suitable for returning to the Northeast Camp."

His body was still weak, and he had been carrying things in his heart before.

He needed at least a year of recuperation before he could handle the harsh four seasons of the Military District.

"Alright, I will report to the Chief, and then we will have to wait for the Military District's transfer order," Chen Xun said.

An Yinan nodded; in the Military District, orders were like mountains, but everyone she had come into contact with had a human touch.

The human touch she experienced in the Military was even richer than in other places.

"Good!" An Yinan agreed, then looked at Zhang Qian, "Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang, what do you say?"

Zhang Qian felt helpless, "Are you saying you're going to drag me into this no matter what?"

Taking someone away directly did not conform to procedure.

However, special cases require special handling, which necessitates filing an application with the higher-ups.

If the higher-ups approved it, it would naturally conform to procedure.

Two people applying together would surely be faster than just one.

"So, what do you say?" An Yinan raised an eyebrow.

This was her specific expression whenever she was provoked or was provoking others.

Zhang Qian thought for a moment, "Three meals!"

Although he would agree in the end, if he didn't seek benefits for himself now, when would he?

That was food made by An Yinan; just thinking about it now made his mouth water.

At the mention of cooking, An Yinan suddenly realized that it seemed she hadn't cooked in a long time.

She had been busy the whole time, either with shop matters, school matters, treating patients, or translating; in any case, she hadn't done it herself for a long time.

"Deal." The two of them clapped their hands together.

Xiaokang looked at everyone; he had already come to terms with things, and his face no longer held the misery of before.

"I'm sorry." Er Dan spoke up at this moment.

He had always wanted to say it, but every time he saw Xiaokang's condition, he couldn't bring himself to utter this flimsy apology.

Could his single "I'm sorry" bring back Xiaokang's leg?

Er Dan felt very guilty; if he had been more careful, if he had avoided the danger, would Xiaokang not have had his leg blown off?

Xiaokang patted his arm, "I can't stand up, so I can't comfort you!"

"But saving you was something I did willingly; I would have saved anyone, so you don't need to blame yourself." He hadn't spoken for a long time, and his throat was very dry, yet he still comforted Er Dan.

In his eyes, Er Dan was a bit stubborn; if he didn't speak his mind clearly, he didn't know what kind of wild thoughts Er Dan might have.

"Er Dan, from now on you must protect yourself; I cannot walk with you any further, as I have a new path to take."

Everything Xiaokang said at this moment was accompanied by a smile.

He had found a new path; before, there had been a cliff ahead, but now there was a brand-new road.

He never once considered himself a burden.

He wouldn't be; he could learn, and in the future, he would definitely help his sister-in-law.