“Lost?”
“Where did Little Fish run off to?”
Gu Yuan clung tightly to Gu Cheng’s phone, his brows furrowed deeply. “Daddy, I want to take this call! Can you let me listen?”
“Little Yuan! Don’t get worked up first!” Bai Wenran stopped Gu Yuan, hugging him tightly from behind. “Wait until Daddy finishes the call.”
“Have they found Little Fish yet?”
“Can Little Fish come home tonight?”
Gu Yuan stared at Gu Cheng, his bandaged hand gripping Gu Cheng’s arm tightly, growing more anxious with every passing second.
The voice on the other end rose and fell, and he couldn’t make out a word.
But from Gu Cheng’s serious expression, it was clear this was something terrible.
“Mommy, did Little Fish find out that his parents died?” Sweat beaded faintly on his forehead. The thought of Zhou Chiyu crying endlessly in grief made his heart burn like fire. He couldn’t hide his concern anymore and was on the verge of tears himself.
“Okay, I got it.” Gu Cheng hung up the phone, put his clothes back on, and instructed in a heavy voice, “Wenran, stay with Little Yuan. Dad has already sent more people to search around the kindergarten for Little Fish. I’m heading over to help now, and we’ll notify you as soon as there’s news.”
Gu Yuan was frantic, nearly going mad. He broke free from Bai Wenran’s embrace and tugged at Gu Cheng, pleading, “Daddy, take me with you.”
Gu Cheng looked down at him with heartache, stroking his hair. “Everyone and the police are searching for your little brother right now. It’s an emergency. No one would be able to look after you if you came. Can you stay home and be good?”
Bai Wenran chimed in, “That’s right, Little Yuan. Your hand is still injured, and Mommy and Daddy are worried about you too.”
Gu Yuan refused to nod, still clutching Gu Cheng’s sleeve. “But why did Little Fish get lost? What if bad people grabbed him? We’re just kids. If he can’t find his way, will he go hungry?”
“Little Yuan is right.” Ever since hearing the news, Bai Wenran’s heart had been clenched tight, and she was puzzled too. “How could he get lost with so many adults watching him?”
Besides, Zhou Chiyu was just a five-year-old child. Even if he ran, couldn’t all those adults catch up?
Gu Cheng sighed and explained, “When school let out, the crowd at the kindergarten gate was chaotic and packed. After Uncle Grandpa told Little Fish the truth about his parents’ passing, he wanted to go home to find his mom and slipped through the barriers, running off directly.”
“The adults tried to chase him, but it was already too late.”
Bai Wenran frowned. “But there are so many cars on the road…”
“Dad.” Gu Yuan had already put on his shoes and jacket, taking Gu Cheng’s hand, his tone laced with rare urgency. “I’ll be very good. Just let me go with you.”
This time, Gu Cheng hesitated for a moment before replying, “Mm.”
…
A piercing, howling gale rampaged through the streets and alleys. A chubby little figure darted miserably across the road.
Oncoming cars screeched to sudden halts, staring at the tear-streaked child in the middle of the road.
Zhou Chiyu’s dark little face was streaked with tears. He carried his schoolbag on his back and hurried along by memory, desperately searching for the way home.
He had only one thought now: he wanted to go back to his own home.
His fluffy little brown bear jacket was wrinkled and bunched up on him. He sniffled, his tear-filled eyes swollen like walnuts.
After Gu Yuan’s incident, he had cried nonstop during naptime and only stopped after Teacher Yueyue coaxed him for a long, long time.
He had cried for ages again just now, and with the wind blowing, red streaks flushed his chubby cheeks, making them ache and swell.
“Daddy and Mommy go to work, I go to kindergarten.”
“No crying, no fussing, Baby smiles bright.”
Zhou Chiyu held back his tears, humming the nursery rhyme his mom had taught him over and over.
Uncle Grandpa must have been lying to him!
His daddy and mommy were waiting for him at home!
He ran with all his might on his little legs until the elusive White Manor finally appeared before him.
That was his home!
“Daddy, Mommy, I’m here!”
He refused to believe his parents had passed away. The grown-ups must have been joking with him!
When he got home, he would scold them good and proper!
Beep beep beep…
A car braked sharply in front of Zhou Chiyu. The driver rolled down the window, glanced at the disheveled little curly-haired kid nearby, and called the police.
Zhou Chiyu had already darted through the traffic and reached the base of the Cross-Sea Bridge. He hadn’t even noticed that the lace on his right shoe had come loose.
Bang! He tripped on a step, and his right shoe flew off, instantly swept away by the gale. He paid it no mind, single-mindedly trying to reach the manor on the other side. But when he finally made it to the railing by the riverbank, he realized there was no path home.
The river water churned wildly in the wind. Zhou Chiyu pressed his face against the railing and burst into tears.
“Little mouse, squeak squeak squeak.”
“Little kitty cat, meow meow meow.”
Barefoot on the icy stone bricks, he ran back and forth but found no way up onto the Cross-Sea Bridge.
He recited the children’s songs into the wind with a faint sob, murmuring, “Little Fish won’t cry. Daddy and Mommy will come find you soon!”
