en Yao refused without even thinking, “How could I trouble President Xing to personally send her back? It’s better if I pick her up myself.”
“Wen Xin is having a great time playing with Xu Ziyang. I’ll make sure she gets home safely—you don’t need to worry.”
Wen Yao wanted to say something more, but realized he had already hung up again.
Five years had passed, and he still had the habit of hanging up first.
Couldn’t he at least wait for her to finish speaking?
At that moment, the bus stopped at the station.
With no other choice, Wen Yao got on and found a seat by the window. Watching the bustling traffic of the city, her face was filled with worry.
After transferring buses three times, she finally arrived at Jingxiang Old Street. By then, it was already dark.
Wen Yao got off the bus and walked into the dim alley. Distracted, she didn’t notice that someone was sneaking up behind her.
Taking advantage of her inattention, the man lunged forward from behind and grabbed her tightly.
Wen Yao’s face turned pale with fright. Just as she opened her mouth to scream for help, a hand clamped tightly over her mouth. The strong smell of alcohol made her feel dizzy.
A strange man’s voice came from behind her. “Be good. Once I’m done, I’ll let you go.”
There were no streetlights in the alley—it was very dark. In contrast, the lights from a nearby residential area seemed especially bright.
Wen Yao felt the man dragging her away. As fear surged through her, her legs went weak.
Suddenly, she remembered something Xing Yu had taught her—if someone grabs you from behind and your hands can’t fight back, stomp hard on their foot.
She lifted her foot and stomped hard on the man’s foot behind her. He cried out in pain, his grip loosening.
Taking the chance, Wen Yao stomped on his other foot, then shoved him with all her strength. After knocking him down, she ran toward the residential area without looking back.
When she finally reached her rented home, she locked the door and gasped for breath, her heart still filled with fear.
Right—call the police!
Her hands trembling, Wen Yao took out her phone and dialed 110. “I… I want to report a crime.”
Jincheng, an upscale district
Wen Xin hugged one German Shepherd with one arm while resting her other hand on the head of another. She looked up at Xing Yu excitedly. “Uncle Xing, are they police dogs?”
“They are—retired police dogs,” Xing Yu replied, looking at Xuanwu lying on the ground and Xianyue sitting beside him.
When he had just returned, a batch of police dogs had happened to retire.
Since he met all the requirements, he adopted two of them.
German Shepherds often looked fierce, and most children would be scared of them.
Wen Xin was the exception.
“You know about police dogs?”
“Yes! I’ve seen them on TV. Police dogs are really cool and impressive.” Wen Xin wished her hands were bigger so she could hug them both.
“Uncle Xing, what are their names?”
“The one lying down is Xuanwu, and the one sitting is Xianyue.”
Wen Xin looked at Xuanwu and gently rubbed his upright ears. “Such nice names.”
Seeing how she clung to them and didn’t want to let go, Xing Yu asked, “Do you like them that much?”
“I do.” Wen Xin seemed to think of something. “The neighbor auntie said big dogs eat a lot, and you have to walk them every day. Mom works hard earning money alone—she doesn’t have extra money for dog food or time to walk a dog.”
After thinking for a moment, she added, “When I grow up, I’ll earn money with Mom, and then we’ll have money to buy dog food.”
Hearing this, Xing Yu once again realized how thoughtful Wen Xin was—she knew how to consider and think things through.
Most children her age would cry and demand whatever they wanted.
Wen Xin suddenly looked up and smiled at Xu Ziyang. “Xu Ziyang, come and touch them too—they’re not fierce.”
Xu Ziyang stood still, too scared to move. Two such big and intimidating dogs—if Wen Xin hadn’t been there, he would have already cried.
He nervously hid his hands behind his back. “They’ll bite my hands.”
“They won’t! They’re police dogs—they only bite bad people.” Afraid he wouldn’t believe her, Wen Xin looked up at Xing Yu for confirmation. “Uncle Xing, they only bite bad people, right?”
Looking at Wen Xin’s innocent face, Xing Yu nodded. “Yes, Xin Xin is right. Xuanwu and Xianyue only bite bad people.”
“Uncle Xing wouldn’t lie to us.” Wen Xin held his hand behind his back and walked toward Xianyue.
Xu Ziyang was still scared, but with Wen Xin holding his hand, he felt a little less afraid and carefully shuffled forward.
Wen Xin guided his hand to touch Xianyue’s head. “See? I didn’t lie to you. It won’t bite you.”
Xu Ziyang was surprised to find that the big dog didn’t bite him, and he wasn’t as afraid anymore.
Xing Yu had thought that Wen Xin looked soft and cute on the outside, so she must be timid. Unexpectedly, she was actually very brave and quick to understand things.
Even at such a young age, after learning about police dogs from TV, she believed that police dogs only bite bad people.
Xuanwu and Xianyue also seemed to enjoy playing with Wen Xin and Xu Ziyang.
The two little ones held balls in their hands, throwing them far away for the dogs to fetch. Then they would throw them again, and the dogs would bring them back—over and over, having a great time.
Xing Yu picked up his cup, took a sip of water, then set it down. He glanced at his watch—it was already 8:30. Time had passed quickly.
When it was time to send Wen Xin and Xu Ziyang home, the two children were reluctant to part with Xuanwu and Xianyue.
“When there’s time, I’ll bring you back to play again.”
Wen Xin excitedly grabbed Xing Yu’s hand. “Really? Uncle Xing, can I come play again next time?”
“Mm. If you want to come, you can call me.” Only after saying this did Xing Yu realize Wen Xin wasn’t wearing a smartwatch.
He then looked at Xu Ziyang—he wasn’t wearing one either.
Xing Yu first sent Xu Ziyang back to his grandmother’s house, then drove Wen Xin home. The two places weren’t far apart—just over ten minutes away.
The black Cayenne stopped steadily at the entrance of Jingxiang Old Street. Xing Yu got out, carrying the packaged desserts, then picked Wen Xin up.
He noticed a police car parked not far away.
He withdrew his gaze. “Xin Xin, do you remember where your home is?”
“I do.” Wen Xin raised her finger and pointed toward a nearby alley. “There’s an alley up ahead. Go in there.”
Carrying Wen Xin, Xing Yu walked to the alley entrance she pointed to. “Is it here?”
“Yes. There are houses inside the alley. Mommy and I live there.” After speaking, Wen Xin let out a yawn.
A trace of doubt flashed in Xing Yu’s eyes. Last time, Wen Yao had taken a different street.
Could it be that she did it on purpose?
He hadn’t expected Wen Yao to be so cautious—was she afraid he’d find out where she lived?
Xing Yu looked into the alley. There wasn’t a single streetlight—it was dark and unsafe.
Holding Wen Xin, he walked in, following her directions, until they reached an old five-story walk-up building.
When they got to the fourth floor, they saw two police officers coming down.
Xing Yu stepped back, letting them pass first, then went up to the door of Unit 2 on the fifth floor and knocked.
Wen Yao was still shaken. When she suddenly heard the knock, she thought the police had returned. She went to open the door—only to see Xing Yu standing outside, holding Xin Xin in his arms.
“President Xing.”
Xing Yu: “Are you going to let me stand outside while we talk?”
Wen Yao snapped back to her senses and stepped aside. “President Xing, please come in.”
Xing Yu carried Wen Xin inside and glanced around. The apartment was small—a one-bedroom, one-living-room layout. The kitchen was right by the entrance, making it feel cramped.
He was about to put Wen Xin down when he realized she had fallen asleep against his shoulder.
After playing with Xuanwu and Xianyue for so long, she must have been exhausted.
Wen Yao closed the door and walked over. Seeing her daughter asleep on his shoulder, she reached out her arms. “President Xing, give Xin Xin to me.”
“Mm.” Xing Yu carefully transferred Wen Xin into her arms. Watching her carry the child into the bedroom, he placed the desserts on the table.
After settling her daughter in the bedroom, Wen Yao came out and saw Xing Yu standing in the living room. Dressed in a custom-tailored suit, he seemed completely out of place in the worn-down apartment.
She went to the kitchen, took out a clean glass, poured a cup of water, and brought it over.
Catching sight of the ID card on the glass coffee table, her heart tightened.
She had needed it earlier for making a statement and hadn’t had time to put it away.
The photo on the ID was taken during her college days—a 140-pound version of herself with thick bangs.
All it would take was for Xing Yu to lower his head, and he would see it.