Xiao Hai, unaware of what had happened, still had his mouth full of food. He only knew that Ye Yun was going to take him out, so he obediently nodded.

Ye Yun put down her chopsticks.

He wiped his hands with a damp towel and then wiped the grease from Xiao Hai's mouth.

She helped Xiao Hai up and instructed Gu Yingying, "You take the child to eat slowly, we'll be right back."

"Okay, come back as soon as possible."

Knowing that Ye Yun was going to pick up Lao Mao, Gu Yingying had no objection. She even assumed that Ye Yun was just too scared to go out by herself and wanted someone to accompany her.

"Come on, Dongdong, let's finish it both!"

When Ye Yun left, Gu Yingying was still instigating Dongdong to do bad things with her.

At the factory gate.

Xun Xiangbin stood at the factory gate, holding a sealed cardboard box, looking anxious and eagerly waiting.

Finally, Ye Yun's figure appeared ahead.

However, there was a child of about four years old following Ye Yun, who was being led by the hand by Ye Yun and walking towards him step by step.

It was getting dark, and Xun Xiangbin couldn't see the child's face clearly, so he unconsciously pushed up his glasses.

It wasn't until Ye Yun led the child closer that he suddenly saw the child's face clearly under the warm glow of the incandescent light at the door.

His expression froze for a moment.

"Mr. Xun."

Ye Yun led Xiao Hai to the door, a perfectly curved smile playing on her lips as she looked at Xun Xiangbin.

Looking at Xun Xiangbin's stunned face upon seeing Xiao Hai, her smile didn't reach her eyes.

Xiao Hai isn't used to making eye contact with strangers.

Feeling frightened by Xun Xiangbin's gaze, he gripped Ye Yun's hand tightly and instinctively hid behind her.

Only half of its little head peeked out, its big, bewildered eyes secretly observing Xun Xiangbin.

Xun Xiangbin stared at the child in astonishment.

After a long pause, he finally moved his lips and stammered, "Director Ye, I don't know who this is..."

"A child from a distant relative's family."

Ye Yun still wore a polite smile and answered calmly and fluently, leaving Xun Xiangbin with no fault to find.

Xun Xiangbin stared at Xiao Hai for two more seconds, then moved his lips as if to ask more questions.

Why is Mr. Xun asking these questions?

Before he could ask, Ye Yun spoke first, her smiling tone carrying a subtle sense of pressure.

Realizing his lapse in composure, Xun Xiangbin quickly forced a smile and said, "It's nothing, I just felt this child looked familiar, he resembles an old friend..."

Recalling what Ye Yun had said by the stinky ditch at noon, he couldn't help but purse his lips.

There are many people in this world who look alike.

Ye Yun scoffed, a hint of mockery creeping into her gaze: "Mr. Xun went to the countryside before, not far from our place. He might even be in the production brigade of my distant relative. This child looks familiar to you; he might be the child of someone you know. Don't you think so?"

"Yes, yes..."

Xun Xiangbin wasn't sure if he understood Ye Yun's words, he only knew that it should be so.

This child looks a lot like the Luo family, vaguely... he even looks a bit like him. No, he must be mistaken.

"By the way, Director Ye, I've brought the old cat over for you."

Xun Xiangbin seemed to only then remember the important reason for coming here tonight, and quickly picked up the cardboard box in his hands and handed it to Ye Yun.

She added, "This old cat searched for kittens all day and was so tired that it didn't have any strength left. When I put it in the box, it didn't resist at all. It was hard to carry on my old bicycle, so I sealed the box with tape and poked a few holes to let it breathe in, in case it ran away."

"To be on the safe side, you should wait until you're inside, close the door, and then let it out."

At this point, he added, "Old cats are harder to raise than kittens. Keep it indoors for a few days to let it get used to the environment and know that this is its new home. Then keep feeding it, and it will naturally recognize you as its owner."

Does it bite?

A tender voice rang out; it was Xiao Hai, who had been quietly waiting without making a sound.

Ye Yun couldn't help but lower her eyes.

Xiao Hai still held her hand tightly, his brow furrowed with worry, and said, "Uncle Chen said that cats with bad tempers can bite, Aunt Yun, I don't want you to get hurt."

Ye Yun felt a warmth in her heart. "You said it yourself, Uncle Chen was talking about a cat with a bad temper."

She gently patted Xiao Hai's head and gestured to him with her eyes toward the cardboard box, "Do you want to help Aunt Yun carry it back?"

Xiao Hai looked at his little hands, then at the cardboard box in Xun Xiangbin's hand, a deep sense of unease appearing between his tender eyes.

The cardboard box was for storing wine; it was a bit too big, and his small arms seemed unable to hold it.

"Director Ye, let me take it in for you."

Xun Xiangbin spoke up.

Seeing that Ye Yun was physically unwell and had a child with her, he felt it was only right and proper for him to take her inside, considering that she was a pregnant woman and a child.

"No."

Ye Yun refused decisively.

She gave the security guard next to her a wink, and the guard immediately stepped forward and took the cardboard box from Xun Xiangbin's hands.

Ye Yun lowered her eyes, raised her hand and gently touched Xiao Hai's head, saying meaningfully, "Our Xiao Hai is still young, and he can't take on such a heavy responsibility yet."

Xiao Hai seemed to understand but not quite, but he still obediently nodded emphatically:

"Aunt Yun is right no matter what she says."

Ye Yun couldn't help but laugh.

She withdrew her gaze from the child, looked up, gave Chen Zhenxing a meaningful look, and then turned and left with the child in her hand.

The security guard followed behind her carrying a cardboard box.

Xun Xiangbin remained standing, gazing intently in the direction Ye Yun had led the child away.

For some reason, his gaze was inexplicably drawn to the children Ye Yun had brought, and he found himself following them involuntarily, even feeling a pang of reluctance.

This feeling terrified him.

The child in front seemed to notice his gaze, and although Ye Yun was leading the way, he turned around and glanced at him.

This glance froze Xun Xiangbin's expression.

In the dim light, he seemed to see an old friend from his memories, and his face turned deathly pale.

"This, how is this possible..."

...

"You're back?"

The curtain was lifted, and Gu Yingying saw Ye Yun returning with Xiao Hai. She gave her a perfunctory greeting.

The security guard followed them into the house.

She placed the cardboard box next to the kitten box by the stove, and the security guard tactfully said goodbye before leaving. Before leaving, Ye Yun warmly handed him a braised chicken leg.

Perhaps the commotion was a bit too loud.

The kittens, who were sleeping soundly together, suddenly cried out uncomfortably, and the others followed suit with whimpering sounds.

Now, the previously quiet cardboard box was filled with a loud flapping sound.

"Meow..."

As if hearing the kittens' cries, the old cat in the cardboard box was no longer calm and let out a mournful cry.

It scratched at the cardboard box with its claws, tearing a hole in the tape seal.

Whoosh~

A tabby head popped out.