Eating Melons in the Police Station-Chapter 110

Little Tong leaned against the bed, turning her head to shine the headlamp’s light onto Zhong Jin’s face. Clutching two movie tickets in her chubby little hand, she demanded:

"Dad, explain."

The sudden brightness made Zhong Jin squint. He raised the back of his hand to shield his eyes, his mind racing—should he confess or stubbornly deny it?

The feeling was oddly familiar.

This was almost the same process Zhong Jin and his team used when interrogating suspects at night, except now the roles were reversed.

Little Tong pried his hand away from his eyes, using her fingers to pull his eyelids open. Her big eyes were practically pressed against his face as she fired off questions:

"So, did you two go to the mall to watch a cartoon today?"

"Did you eat popcorn?"

"Did you drink soda?"

"What cartoon did you watch?"

"Start talking."

She then straightened up, crossing her arms. "I’m going to ask Mom too."

Zhong Jin knew there was no escaping this. He sat up, patted Little Tong’s head, and walked out of the master bedroom to knock on the guest room door.

"Qiu Sheng, come out for a second."

After a moment, the door opened. Qiu Sheng stood there in a silk slip dress, a lopsided silk sleep mask hanging from her head as she leaned against the doorframe, yawning widely. "What’s up?"

"Come out. We’ve been caught," Zhong Jin said.

A few minutes later, Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng sat obediently on the couch, arms resting at their sides, ready to confess their crimes.

The little chubby-cheeked girl, still wearing her mining headlamp and with her arms crossed over her round belly, asked sternly: "What cartoon did you watch?"

Zhong Jin: "It wasn’t a cartoon... it was a horror movie."

Qiu Sheng quickly added, "Sweetheart, if it were a cartoon, we would’ve taken you with us."

Little Tong: "Kids can watch horror movies too."

Zhong Jin unfolded the two tickets and pointed at the printed text:

"See here? It says ‘No children allowed, especially not kindergarteners. Absolutely no horror movies for kids.’"

A glint of intelligence flashed in Little Tong’s big eyes. "Then just don’t watch horror movies. The theater doesn’t only show those, so you still didn’t want to take me."

She raised a finger, declaring loudly and seriously: "And also, you lied."

Zhong Jin: "...Sorry."

To avoid Little Tong smelling anything suspicious, Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng hadn’t dared to eat anything at the theater—not even popcorn. They’d even brought home fried chicken to distract her.

But despite their efforts, they’d slipped up.

Who could’ve guessed their mischievous child would raid the trash in the middle of the night with a headlamp? And who knew that, despite not being able to read yet, she’d already recognized movie tickets?

Given their sincere apologies and reasonable compensation offer, Little Tong eventually forgave them. After the commotion died down, everyone went back to sleep.

But the incident had shattered her trust. Now, she refused to let either parent out of her sight. That night, Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng both slept in the master bed, with Little Tong sprawled horizontally between them—her head on Qiu Sheng’s shoulder and her feet kicking Zhong Jin’s arm.

The next morning, as Aunt Liang entered the building, she ran into the family heading out for a morning walk.

Zhong Jin, with Little Tong perched on his shoulders, greeted her: "Aunt Liang, no need to prepare breakfast today. We’re going to KFC."

Aunt Liang: "...Alright."

Little Tong tugged at Zhong Jin’s ears and cheerfully added: "Auntie, after KFC, we’re going to the movies to watch a cartoon! Then McDonald’s for lunch, and the aquarium in the afternoon for giant sausages!"

Aunt Liang shot Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng a knowing look—So you got caught?

Qiu Sheng responded with a pained smile.

Aunt Liang didn’t dare say much, afraid Little Tong would sense her involvement. If the little demon found out she’d been part of the scheme, who knew what kind of "torment" she’d inflict?

So Aunt Liang just waved casually and hurried into the elevator, careful not to get dragged into the mess.

Days passed after the movie incident. Though Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng had overcompensated to make it up to Little Tong, once trust was broken, it wasn’t easily repaired.

Her suspicion of them lingered.

If she caught them holding hands, she’d rush over to pry them apart, checking their palms for hidden snacks. Even if they weren’t hiding anything, she’d wedge herself between them, gripping one hand from each parent to keep them separated.

One night, after Little Tong had fallen asleep, Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng sneaked into the living room to share a kiss. But before their lips could meet, the chubby little troublemaker burst out of her room, prying their mouths open to inspect for concealed treats.

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Aunt Liang watched all this unfold, growing increasingly concerned.

As she prepped vegetables, she sighed and asked, "Little Tong, are you worried your parents will remarry?"

The girl immediately dropped her building blocks, ran over, and clung to Aunt Liang’s arm. "What’s ‘remarry’? They can’t do it by themselves—I want to remarry too!"

By early July, kindergarten was on summer break, marking a full year since Little Tong had entered their lives.

A year ago, she’d been the absolute treasure of Zhong Jin’s heart—so cherished he feared she’d slip away if he held her too loosely, or melt if he held her too close. Every thought of her filled him with a bittersweet ache, as if he could never love her enough.

But in just one year, Zhong Jin had changed.

Though his love for her hadn’t diminished, the approach of summer break filled him with dread for the impending 24/7 childcare marathon.

After days of relentless "torment" from Little Tong—and both Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng catching colds from each other, lying feverish in bed while their "little doctor" administered dozens of pretend injections daily—Zhong Jin was exhausted.

He finally called Qiu Chen, inviting him to Haishan to "help with the kids"... or rather, to "escape the summer heat."

Truthfully, Qiu Chen had been itching to visit his heir. If not for work and his mother’s warnings not to disturb the young couple, he’d have moved his CEO office to Haishan.

The moment he got Zhong Jin’s call, Qiu Chen delegated his tasks, packed his secretary, and set off.

On the same day Qiu Chen sent his flight details, Yu Feiyang also called Zhong Jin.

Yu Feiyang's apprentice Du Xin was also coming to Haishan, and she asked Zhong Jin and the others to pick her up.

During her senior year of university, Du Xin interned for a year at the Jing City Public Security Bureau's Forensic Evidence Center. That year, Yu Feiyang was her mentor, so it was only natural that she became his apprentice.

After graduation, Du Xin worked in the forensic department of a high-end private hospital in Jing City while preparing for the civil service exam to join the police force.

However, the competition in Jing City was too fierce. After failing the exam for several years, Du Xin grew somewhat disheartened and decided to take the exam elsewhere. She figured that since she loved forensic work, it didn’t matter where she did it.

This year, she successfully passed the exam for a position at the Haishan Forensic Evidence Center and was now coming to take up her new post.

Coincidentally, Qiu Chen was on the same flight.

When the plane arrived in Haishan, Qiu Sheng was temporarily unavailable, so Zhong Jin drove with Little Tong to pick them up.

Little Tong, dressed in loose overalls, sat on Zhong Jin’s shoulders. When she saw the impeccably suited Qiu Chen walking out, the child shook her head excitedly, her smooth, dark twin ponytails swaying in front of Zhong Jin’s eyes.

Qiu Chen had the commanding presence of a CEO—his aura was overwhelming. As he strode toward Little Tong, the crowd instinctively gave him space.

He stopped in front of Zhong Jin, stretched out his arms, and lifted Little Tong down.

His first words were, "Did you attend your online class today?"

Little Tong covered her head and sighed, "Ugh, Uncle, you’re such a buzzkill."

Qiu Chen pretended to glare at her. "Do you know how much your tutor costs per month? And you still won’t study properly."

Little Tong pinched his lips shut. "No talking for you."

Qiu Chen pulled her hand down and held it firmly as he marched toward the exit. Zhong Jin called after him, "Wait, there’s someone else."

"Who?" Qiu Chen paused, still holding the child, and turned to his secretary. "You can head back to the hotel first. I’ll call if I need anything."

Just then, Zhong Jin spotted Du Xin. She hadn’t changed much—still sporting a neat bob, a black T-shirt, denim shorts, and a large hiking backpack.

Zhong Jin raised a hand and called out, "Du Xin, over here!"

Du Xin turned toward the voice, her dark eyes crinkling as she jogged over lightly with her heavy pack.

"Captain Zhong, you didn’t have to come. My mentor insisted on it."

Zhong Jin waved it off. "No need for formalities here. Just call me Zhong Jin or ‘brother’ if you prefer."

"Got it. Thanks, Brother Zhong."

Zhong Jin then introduced Qiu Chen. "This is my friend from Jing City, Du Xin. She’s a forensic examiner."

Qiu Chen was a bit squeamish. Hearing she was a forensic examiner—and such a young woman at that—instantly filled him with immense respect.

Zhong Jin pointed at Qiu Chen. "Du Xin, this is Qiu Sheng’s older brother, Qiu Chen. You can call him ‘brother’ too."

Du Xin extended her hand cheerfully. "Hello, Brother Qiu."

Qiu Chen shook her hand politely, barely touching her fingertips before letting go. Then, remembering her profession, he subtly curled his fingers, as if he’d indirectly touched a corpse.

Finally, Zhong Jin took Little Tong back and said to Du Xin, "This is my daughter, Zhong Yuntong. Little Tong, say hello to Sister."

Anyone younger than Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng was automatically "Sister" to Little Tong—family titles were flexible.

Clasping her hands, Little Tong stared with big, dark eyes and announced loudly, "Hello, Sister! I’m Zhong Yuntong, I’m four years old, and my kindergarten closed down!"

Du Xin had heard from Yu Feiyang that Zhong Jin’s daughter was adorable, but seeing her in person melted her heart.

She dug into her massive hiking backpack and pulled out a plush dragon toy, handing it to Little Tong. "Hello, Little Tong. This is a gift from me."

Little Tong hugged it tightly and said earnestly, "Thank you, Sister. I love you."

Du ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‍Xin was stunned by the sudden declaration.

Zhong Jin explained calmly, "She’s like this. Whoever gives her treats or toys gets her love."

Du Xin laughed. "Haha."

As they walked out of the airport, Qiu Chen noticed Du Xin’s heavy backpack and offered, "Let me carry that for you."

Du Xin waved her hands sheepishly. "No need, I can manage."

Qiu Chen insisted. "I can’t let a woman carry something so heavy. Hand it over."

Unable to refuse, Du Xin slipped off the backpack and passed it to him. The moment Qiu Chen took it, the weight nearly dragged him down.

"Maybe I should take it back," Du Xin said, seeing him struggle.

"No."

Qiu Chen hoisted the bulging backpack onto his shoulder. The image of a CEO in a tailored suit lugging a hiker’s pack was comical.

Once outside, he asked, "What’s in here? It’s so heavy."

"Oh, just a human skeleton."

Qiu Chen staggered again.

Du Xin quickly clarified, "A model! Fake!"