My Husband, a Marshal: Conquering the Stars with My Culinary Arts-Chapter 653 - 220: Another Dimension_2

"In a while, we’ll handle the discharge procedures." Du Xixi took the meal box, scooped a spoonful of perfectly warm white porridge into her mouth. The light white porridge, paired with slightly salty pickles, should have been just the right kind of deliciousness. However, as she ate, it lacked the usual flavor for Du Xixi.

She ate spoonful by spoonful, and in no time, she’d consumed more than half of the boxed porridge. Yet, her movements appeared somewhat stiff, even the tiny trace of porridge at the corner of her mouth was casually wiped away with her thumb.

Usually, Du Xixi was meticulous, always finding a towel to wet with water before wiping it off. But today, she suddenly became "less particular about details."

Lian Miaomiao’s brow slightly furrowed. It was apparent that she thought Du Xixi’s demeanor was overly composed, but not knowing what else to do, she merely nodded in agreement, rapidly consuming three pan-fried buns to fill her stomach, then hurried out to find someone to arrange the discharge procedures.

After Lian Miaomiao left, Du Xixi was left alone in the ward. Her speed of eating porridge finally slowed, and her stiff lips formed a bitter smile: "Ke Lian..."

Previously, there was always someone by Du Xixi’s side. Though she was fragile, she still endeavored not to make everyone worry about her. But now, with even Lian Miaomiao gone, she finally shed her last mask, pouring all her worries about Ke Lian into this barely audible call.

In truth, didn’t she know that Chen Yin’s earlier words were more to comfort her? The mere mention of the wormhole’s ferocity was enough to terrify anyone, yet Ke Lian and his group were all sucked in... Survival by a hair’s breadth would be luckier than this.

Du Xixi closed her eyes briefly. Footsteps approached again from outside; Lian Miaomiao had returned. When the ward door opened, the Du Xixi that Lian Miaomiao saw still bore that light smile, seemingly indifferent.

Before lunch, Du Xixi and Lian Miaomiao had returned to the Ke Family. Ke Xing was in the yard with the two children, basking in the sun. The winter sun on them wasn’t scorching, but rather warm and comforting.

"You’re back?" Ke Xing, holding a grandchild in each hand, spoke to Du Xixi, his voice involuntarily softened. Yet Du Xixi noticed clearly that there seemed to be more gray at Ke Xing’s temples. Ke Lian’s incident had also struck him profoundly, though he masked it better than Du Xixi.

"I’m sorry to have worried you." Du Xixi smiled gently, though her efforts couldn’t make that smile reach her eyes. However, considering the special circumstances, Ke Xing paid it no mind. Instead, he waved to 2569, asking 2569 to take Du Xixi inside to rest, "You’re still carrying a child; go rest for now, don’t tire yourself out."

Lian Miaomiao had already obediently taken a few pieces of clothing that Du Xixi wore during her hospital stay inside. Du Xixi merely smiled, nodded at Ke Xing, then was helped inside by 2569. Indeed, when one’s heart is weary, the body tires even faster.

Once Du Xixi was inside, it seemed like she didn’t eat anything, but instead went straight upstairs to her room. Ke Xing sighed, reaching out to pat the heads of his two grandchildren, who were now clueless and very naive.

"Grandpa, Daddy!" Er Er, though usually quiet, said something now with unexpected sharpness. He only asked because he hadn’t seen Ke Lian for a long time and missed him. Yet, in Ke Xing’s ears, those four words struck his heart heavily, causing a deep ache.

Ke Xing took a long time to respond, hesitating with an open mouth. Er Er became dissatisfied, furrowing his small brows. But before he could ask further, Yiyi lifted his head, grabbing onto Ke Xing’s leg: "Grandpa, ask Mommy! Ask Mommy where Daddy is!"

To the child Yiyi, if they wanted to know where daddy was, all they had to do was ask Du Xixi. Du Xixi would definitely know Ke Lian’s whereabouts.

Yet those words made Ke Xing even sadder. The father, who had already "lost" his son, suddenly choked up, crouching down to embrace his two grandchildren. He had endured so many days, but at this moment, he finally couldn’t hold back.

Yiyi and Er Er knew nothing. But seeing Ke Xing cry, the two little ones became frantic. One mimicked how Ke Xing usually comforted them by patting his back, while the other reached out to wipe Ke Xing’s tears. They were both comforting Ke Xing in their own way.