After crawling out of the hole, Pang Fufu ran on her short little legs, pitter-patter.
“Yummy, yummy…”
Baba: 【Little master, slow down. There are bad people everywhere here. You must be careful.】
Pang Fufu: “Beat bad people, strong. Hungry, want food.”
She picked up her milk bottle and took a few sips, then continued running pitter-patter toward the enticing aroma.
The Fu Family had been locked in G’s dark room. After crawling out of the hole, they found themselves in G’s backyard.
The backyard was a small garden that hadn’t been well-maintained. Weeds grew everywhere, and several decades-old towering trees blocked most of the light, making the entire garden appear damp and gloomy.
Usually, everyone went to the cafeteria through the front yard, rarely using the backyard, so the place looked somewhat desolate.
Beyond the small garden was the cafeteria. On the side facing the garden was the kitchen, where the delicious aroma was coming from.
By this time, those who were supposed to be off work had already left, while those working overtime were eating in the front hall.
The cafeteria chef had finished tidying up the kitchen and was preparing to leave.
The leftover food had been gathered in a pot, to be taken as a midnight snack by those working overtime.
After the kitchen chef and helpers left, the kitchen was completely empty.
There was a small door between the kitchen and the garden. Since hardly anyone used it, no one even knew the lock was broken, which made things convenient for little Pang Fufu.
The short, chubby little one successfully ran into the kitchen, her tiny nose twitching.
“Found it.”
She toddled straight toward the stove on her short legs and climbed up using the firewood step.
Like an oversized little mouse, she lifted the pot lid, grabbed a steamed bun from inside, and took a big bite.
The fluffy steamed bun was even bigger than her little dark face. One bite only made a small dent, but that didn’t stop the chubby little girl from feeling pleased.
“Yummy.” She squinted her big eyes into little crescent moons, enjoying the delicious taste.
Baba was immensely relieved. 【My poor little master, after living for over two years, you’ve finally eaten normal human food.】
Pang Fu was a child who loved to share. She raised her chubby little paw toward the empty air: “Baba eat.”
Baba was touched. 【Baba can’t eat, little master. You eat it. Little master, your family hasn’t eaten either. You can take it back for them.】
Pang Fufu’s eyes sparkled, and she nodded her chubby head emphatically.
Clutching the big steamed bun, she wriggled her bottom down from the stove and ran back on her short legs, mumbling to herself: “Father eat, Mother eat, Grandpa eat, Grandma eat…”
Despite her young age, her memory was excellent. After just one round of introductions, she remembered all her family members.
Baba nodded proudly, feeling a sense of shared accomplishment. The chubby child he had raised was truly remarkable.
Holding the big steamed bun high, Pang Fufu slipped back through the small hole and right into the arms of Qingqing Yin, who was blocking the entrance.
The little one was momentarily confused but then settled comfortably into her mother’s embrace, swinging her little feet.
“Mother.”
Qingqing Yin was instantly overjoyed, hugging the chubby baby and swaying gently. “Baby is back.”
Fourth Brother Fu was still pounding on the door, shouting loudly. Everyone was eating in the front hall and couldn’t hear him.
Mother and daughter were absorbed in their affectionate reunion, and neither thought to inform the father.
It was Grandma Fu, who was always attentive to her daughter-in-law, who noticed first. “Lao Si, stop pounding. Fufu is back.”
“She’s back?” Fourth Brother Fu looked and indeed she was.
He rushed over and checked his daughter’s little hands and feet. Good, nothing was missing.
“Fufu, where did you go?”
“Yummy.” The little dumpling finally remembered she had brought yummy food for everyone.
He handed over the blackened bun he was holding: “Eat yummy.”
Fourth Brother Fu’s expression changed drastically. He snatched the bun and threw it away: “Fufu, you can’t eat this. Did you eat any? Open your mouth and let Daddy see.”
He roughly pried open the chubby baby’s little mouth.
Pang Fu froze for a second, then let out a wail, crying as if the sky were falling.
Everyone was startled.
Qingqing Yin angrily pushed Fourth Brother Fu away and accused: “Bad.”
Qingqing Yin was a little princess from Hong Kong. Her family was involved in the underworld, and she had practiced martial arts since childhood.
Back when Fourth Brother Fu went to Hong Kong for business, the two met, got to know each other, fell in love, and despite her parents’ opposition, she married him and moved to the mainland.
Qingqing Yin had a cheerful, active, and playful personality. She was a natural talent for martial arts and was highly skilled.
Over the past two years, she had neglected her martial arts training due to her daughter’s disappearance, but her foundation remained. With this push, Fourth Brother Fu landed flat on his back.
Everyone…
Old Mrs. Fu held back a laugh as she picked up the bun, glaring reproachfully at Fourth Brother Fu, who had suddenly lost his wits: “Take a good look, what is this? How could you throw it away without even asking what happened, and then go prying open Fufu’s mouth? Look how scared you’ve made the child.”
The old man watched his youngest son, who had always been mature and steady since childhood, suddenly become restless, impulsive, and as jumpy as a startled bird, losing his composure over the smallest thing, and sighed inwardly.
“Lao Si, Fufu is back. This time, we won’t let anyone or anything hurt her again. Calm down, or you’ll frighten the child.”
Fourth Brother Fu closed his eyes tightly, trying to calm the unease in his heart.
Yes, he was afraid—afraid the child would leave him again, afraid he would be as useless as he was two years ago, unable to protect his wife and daughter.
He was afraid that if it happened again, he wouldn’t be able to bear it.
He took the bun Old Mrs. Fu handed to him. It wasn’t one of those Zhang Jianguo had sent over—those had long been broken into crumbs.
He had been too tense, even failing to notice this.
Seeing his daughter crying with snot and tears all over her face, he felt both regretful and heartbroken.
“Fufu, Daddy was wrong. I’m sorry. Will you forgive Daddy this time?”
Pang Fu let out a sob between cries: “Hmph… bad…” She turned her little neck to the other side, refusing.
Qingqing Yin also snorted and turned away: “Bad.”
Fourth Brother Fu rubbed his nose. He truly knew he was wrong.
“Fufu, just forgive Daddy this once, okay? Daddy promises it won’t happen again.”
“Hmph.” The little bun turned to the other side again.
“Fufu?” Fourth Brother Fu followed.
The little bun dodged again.
Father and daughter played a game of hide-and-seek around Qingqing Yin’s shoulders.
As they dodged, the little bun thought they were playing hide-and-seek and started giggling, even though snot and tears were still on her face.
Fourth Brother Fu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After playing with his daughter for a while, he reached out, asking for a hug: “Fufu, can Daddy hold you?”
For so long, he hadn’t gotten a single hug.
Pang Fu happily stretched out her little short arms and snuggled into Fourth Brother Fu’s arms. Qingqing Yin, for once, didn’t try to snatch her away.
At that moment, Fourth Brother Fu felt his life was finally complete.
“Daddy’s Fufu, Daddy loves you.”
The little bun tilted her chubby head: “Love.”
Fourth Brother Fu nuzzled her: “Yes, love. Daddy loves Fufu the most, and loves Mommy the most too.”
The little bun only half-understood, but that didn’t stop her from being happy: “Giggle…”
Old Mrs. Fu watched with moist eyes and smiled: “Our Fufu doesn’t hold grudges.”
The old man said proudly: “Everyone in our Fu Family has a big heart.”
Old Mrs. Fu pursed her lips. As if it’s all your Fu Family’s credit.
Fourth Brother Fu soothed his daughter, tore off the crust of the steamed bun and stuffed it into his own mouth, then broke off pieces of the soft center to feed bit by bit to his chubby daughter: “Fufu eat.”
Pang Fu opened her little mouth wide and gobbled the piece into her tiny mouth: “Yummy.” She happily kicked her short little legs twice, feeling a bit excited.
Fourth Brother Fu smiled and nodded: “Yes, yummy. Fufu eat more.”
“Daddy eat.” Pang Fu pushed the steamed bun toward Fourth Brother Fu’s mouth.
Fourth Brother Fu was deeply moved: “Daddy won’t eat, Fufu eat. Once you finish, you won’t be hungry anymore.”
“Eat.” Pang Fu was also a little stubborn mule, unwilling to compromise once she set her mind on something.
She forced it into Fourth Brother Fu’s mouth.
Fourth Brother Fu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.