Yuanyuan cried with such genuine emotion that it would sadden any listener and move anyone to tears, let alone Tuantuan, who had always cherished his younger brother.
Hearing his brother’s voice, Tuantuan finally confirmed it wasn’t a scammer on the other end.
Tuantuan’s eyes immediately reddened. At just four years old, hearing his brother and mother’s voices in an unfamiliar, distant place, how could he not feel scared and wronged?
“Yuanyuan…”
But after choking back sobs twice, Tuantuan stifled his tears and instead made an effort to comfort his brother.
“Don’t be afraid, Yuanyuan. Gege will be back soon. You and Mother behave well at home.”
“Gege won’t become anyone else’s son. Gege only wants you and Mother.”
Tuantuan fiercely wiped the tears from his eyes, comforting with resilience.
He truly embodied the demeanor of an elder brother, even in this moment reminding his brother to take good care of their mother, never mentioning his own fears of being away from home.
“Waaah, Gege, when are you coming back then?”
“Mother can talk now. Mother’s voice is so nice—it must be all because Gege taught her…”
Yuanyuan began to ramble. He loved clinging to his brother, and whenever he was with him, he had endless things to say.
However, the top priority was to get him back. As long as he could return, there would be plenty of chances to talk later.
So, Xia Mingyu took the phone back and said urgently,
“Tuantuan, there’s an adult with you, right?”
“Give the phone to the adult. Mother wants to talk to him and ask him to help bring you back.”
“You need to be good and listen, and not cause any trouble for them, understand?”
No matter how anxious she was, when speaking to the child, her voice remained gentle and pleasant.
With such a lovely voice, how bad could she be?
Si Konghuai raised an eyebrow, unconsciously beginning to imagine what the owner of that voice might look like.
“Okay, Mother. I’m being very good. You don’t need to worry about me. This uncle looks a lot like me, and he really likes me. He even bought me food.”
Tuantuan nodded obediently, though it was unclear whether he said this to comfort Xia Mingyu or out of genuine self-admiration.
Still, he wasn’t wrong—Si Konghuai did indeed like him a lot.
Smart, quick-witted, sensible, and adorable—no one could resist a child like that.
Si Konghuai took the phone again, pausing for a couple of seconds before speaking. It was rare for him to feel somewhat nervous.
“Comrade Xia, hello. My name is Si Konghuai. I will bring Tuantuan back at 7 PM tonight.”
“He was brought here by a man named Liu Hai. I’ve already handed him over to the Public Security Bureau.”
“The Jing City Public Security Bureau will coordinate with your local bureau to take statements. We will absolutely not let any human trafficker go unpunished.”
Si Konghuai stood straight, his words firm and resolute, as if reporting a mission to his superior.
Though, truth be told, there weren’t many people who could qualify as his superior these days.
“Alright, thank you so much, Comrade Si Kong. Without you, I wouldn’t know what to do.”
“I could also buy a ticket to come pick up Tuantuan. Would it be too much trouble for you to bring him back?”
“Or perhaps the Jing City police could help send Tuantuan back?”
Xia Mingyu expressed her gratitude before suggesting several alternative solutions.
“No need. I happen to be heading over to find Lu Ning. I’ll bring Tuantuan back on the way. Please don’t feel burdened.”
“You have Yuanyuan with you, and all that traveling would be inconvenient. Most importantly, it would be hard on the child.”
Si Konghuai declined Xia Mingyu’s suggestion in a low voice.
To prevent her from feeling burdened, he proactively mentioned having matters to discuss with Lu Ning.
Hearing this, Xia Mingyu indeed felt relieved, her psychological burden lightening somewhat.
“Thank you.”
Unsure of what else to say, Xia Mingyu could only repeatedly express her gratitude.
This time, encountering kind-hearted people had turned a potential crisis into safety.
She would never give Qiao Hongye another chance to send her child away. She must find a way to divorce Qiao Hongye!
Nearby, Lu Ning couldn’t help but curl his lips. What business could there possibly be with him? He was about to return to Jing Shi anyway.
He really was like a brick—moved wherever needed!
No one paid attention to Lu Ning’s inner thoughts.
After the two settled matters regarding Tuantuan, though reluctant, Xia Mingyu took the initiative to suggest hanging up the phone.
After all, phone calls were expensive.
Since Si Konghuai had called her, he was paying even more on his end.
Xia Mingyu felt embarrassed letting him bear such high costs.
She secretly thought that when Si Konghuai arrived, not only would she treat him to a proper meal to express her gratitude, but she would also reimburse him for his travel and phone expenses!
“Well, shall we leave it at that for now?”
Xia Mingyu asked softly.
Her voice was like a feather, lightly brushing against Si Konghuai’s heart.
“Wait.”
Si Konghuai instinctively called out to stop her.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Xia Mingyu waited curiously for him to continue, but after a moment of silence, she thought there might be an issue with the phone connection.
She couldn’t help but say “hello” a few more times.
“Nothing. We’ll talk when we meet. Tuantuan is with me, don’t worry.”
Si Konghuai spoke in a low voice, his handsome and stern face rarely showing a hesitant expression.
Forget it—such matters were hard to explain over the phone. It would be better to discuss them in person.
Moreover, he wasn’t even sure what he had done that night five years ago.
Back then, after completing a mission, he had accidentally eaten poisonous mushrooms.
He remembered that by the time he realized something was wrong, it was already nighttime.
He had randomly entered someone’s courtyard, hoping to ask for help.
But after going in, he had no memory of what happened. When he woke up again, he was already by the roadside.
The mushroom toxin had also dissipated.
At the time, he was in a hurry to return and report on his mission, so he didn’t investigate further.
He thought that entering someone’s courtyard was just a hallucination—that he had collapsed by the roadside and fallen into a delusion.
After a night, the mushroom toxin wore off, and he regained clarity.
So, for five years, he had never dwelled on these details—until he met Tuantuan.
If what he saw that day wasn’t an illusion, then what vile thing had he done to Xia Mingyu…
Si Konghuai’s breath hitched, not daring to imagine how much pain Xia Mingyu had endured over these five years.
He was utterly inhuman!
“Alright, then I’ll entrust Tuantuan to you.”
Xia Mingyu had no idea that her child’s biological father was right before her.
Completely unaware, she gently hung up the phone.
Si Konghuai was a high-ranking official, and he had also gone through proper channels at the Public Security Bureau. Tuantuan would surely be returned safely.
At the latest, she would see her child tomorrow morning!
Xia Mingyu’s mood relaxed slightly, and she finally managed a smile.
“Comrade Lu, I must also thank you for your help. Without you, Tuantuan wouldn’t have been found so quickly.”
“Otherwise, why don’t you come home with us and stay overnight? It works out perfectly—Comrade Si Kong will bring Tuantuan back tomorrow, and we can all have a meal together.”
“My skills are passable, please don’t look down on them. This is all I can offer.”
Xia Mingyu sincerely invited Lu Ning.
Lu Ning felt tempted. Staying at Xia Mingyu’s place would allow him to witness Si Konghuai and the others’ drama firsthand tomorrow.
“Well…”
“Uncle, come with us! I can give you shoulder massages too, I’m really good at it!”
Yuanyuan hugged Lu Ning’s leg, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
He had understood everything. While he felt a little reluctant to part with this generous uncle who was somewhat of a easy mark, his main intention was to use him as a hostage.
If that other uncle didn’t return his brother, then he wouldn’t let this Uncle Donkey leave either!
“Alright, I’ll trouble you for one night then.”
Lu Ning smiled slightly and readily agreed.
Whatever, getting first-hand information tomorrow is what matters most!
“Great! Let’s go home!”
Yuanyuan cheered and bounced up, holding Xia Mingyu’s hand as he walked ahead, signaling Lu Ning to follow.
Xia Mingyu looked at the lively and adorable Yuanyuan, her picturesque eyes filled with deep contentment.
After divorcing Qiao Hongye, she would take Tuan Tuan Yuan Yuan back to live in her previous small house.
She could reclaim the room she had rented out to educated youth.
Though without that income, raising children would become more challenging.
Should she dig up some treasures…
Xia Mingyu pressed her lips together, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Si Konghuai brought Tuantuan home.
Sikong Old Master was idly practicing tai chi in the courtyard.
Catching sight of a tall figure entering, he immediately knew it was his unfilial descendant.
Just as Sikong Old Master was about to scold him, he turned and spotted the child in Si Konghuai’s arms. His pupils contracted in shock.
Before he could speak, the fair, soft, and adorable little bunny waved at him with an endearing smile.
“Hello, grandpa”
“Sorry to bother you, but Tuantuan needs to stay at your place for a while”
Alive! Moving, talking, calling him grandpa!
The old master who always claimed to be aged suddenly dashed forward with lightning speed, leaving afterimages in his wake.
He snatched Tuantuan over, holding him tightly in his arms, tears streaming down his wrinkled face.
“Heavens! I knew at first glance – this is my own great-grandson!”