"This whole thing looks like a gang operation. I have a contact at the Beijing Police Department. Tomorrow, after you’ve visited Brother Huo, I’ll take you to the station to file a report."

Wen Ci nodded. "Okay." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Hearing the child’s story, Yu Qing was instantly filled with pity. She squatted down and handed the clothes she’d bought to Xiao Chuan, asking gently, "Isn’t it tiring to wear a coat that’s dragging on the ground?"

"A little."

Yu Qing reached out and gently ruffled his hair. "Then go get changed."

Xiao Chuan took the clothes and ran into the bathroom.

"Are you staying here again tonight?" Wen Ci asked.

Yu Qing replied, "No, I’m not. The Xue Family is having an internal medical lecture tonight. I’m planning on attending."

Ninety percent of the Xue Family, from both the direct and collateral branches, were doctors. Every month, the whole group would gather to discuss cases they had encountered.

Opportunities like this were few and far between for Yu Qing.

She didn’t want to miss it.

·

「The next day.」

It had rained all through the night, only stopping just before dawn. Wen Ci got up and dressed before the sky lightened. Xiao Chuan hadn’t wanted to sleep in the same room as her, so he had slept alone downstairs.

After she finished washing up upstairs, she carefully turned on the light in the downstairs room, walked to the bedside, and said softly, "Time to get up, Xiao Chuan. Let’s go get breakfast."

"Okay."

Xiao Chuan opened his drowsy eyes. Ever since he’d been abducted and brought to this city, he had never slept so soundly or felt so safe.

His heart filled with happiness.

Breakfast at the Beijing Military Region was also free.

Dawn came early in Beijing. The bugle call for morning exercises was already sounding from the adjacent barracks. Wen Ci held Xiao Chuan’s hand as she walked to the service window and picked up two steamed buns.

Just as they were about to leave, Wen Ci ran into the same group of aunties she had met before when she was with Huo Jingyuan.

"Isn’t that Xiao Huo’s wife?"

Wen Ci put on a smile and nodded. "Hello, Aunties."

"You only went to the Northwest for a month or so, and your kid is already this big?!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Wen Ci was about to explain, but then she realized that telling them she’d simply found a child would sound absurd, and explaining the whole story would be complicated and time-consuming.

An idea struck her. She smiled and said, "This is my neighbor’s kid from the Northwest Military Region. I brought him along during my leave to show him what the Capital looks like."

"Oh, I see."

Not wanting to get bogged down in pleasantries, Wen Ci said at an unhurried pace, "We have to get going. See you around, Aunties."

"Alright, alright."

As soon as Wen Ci left, the aunties started discussing among themselves. "Isn’t Xiao Huo’s wife Minister Jiang’s daughter? Why does she have a bit of a Northeast accent?"

"A Northeast accent is pretty normal. When I was young, I was on a medical team with an older woman who was also from the Northeast. Her way of speaking was so infectious that after a while, my own accent started to change."

·

After leaving the cafeteria, the sky was still dim. Wen Ci had originally planned to walk to the hospital, timing her arrival so she could go straight in to visit the ward.

But considering Xiao Chuan was just a little boy,

she found an old rickshaw puller instead.

On the first floor of the hospital, Wen Ci was filled with excitement. Her heart hammered against her ribs; she couldn’t wait to see Huo Jingyuan.

The early morning hospital was filled with the smell of disinfectant.

Xiao Chuan clutched Wen Ci’s hand tightly, his expression wary as he scanned his surroundings. He had been to this hospital before, and he worried he might run into the bad people who had abducted him.

Noticing Xiao Chuan’s anxiety, Wen Ci asked, "What’s wrong?"

"I’ve been to this hospital before."

"When... last week. I was sick."