Thinking about this, Qin Xiaoyu sighed. She regretted leaving her opinion and wanted to go back and change it, but then she thought, he deserved it for being so cheeky!

She bought an ice pop for Hanhan and her younger sister, and the two children immediately beamed with joy.

Perhaps one day, I can truly unlock the lock on my little sister's heart. Qin Xiaoyu sighed inwardly.

On the eve of National Day, so many people came to get their hair cut and permed that the door was packed, and Master Wang was so exhausted that he didn't even have time to drink water. Qin Xiaoyu was now practically a pro; she was smart and eager to learn, and had mastered most of the skills, which came in handy. Master Wang didn't have time to think about anything else and immediately gave her a new pair of clippers to start using.

With this opportunity to practice, Qin Xiaoyu's skills improved by leaps and bounds. The two of them worked until 10:30 p.m. before finally seeing off the last customer. Qin Xiaoyu tidied up whenever she had a spare moment, so the house remained clean.

"Go back now. Oh, it's raining so hard. I'll find you a raincoat."

As soon as Qin Xiaoyu left Master Wang's house, she pedaled her bicycle very fast. Today was a holiday, so she left early in the afternoon and cooked two dishes for the children. Now, Hanhan was probably still eagerly waiting for her to go back.

Back then, paved roads were scarce; most were dirt roads that turned into muddy ditches after rain. Qin Xiaoyu was exhausted that day, her arms aching so badly she could barely hold onto the handlebars, and she nearly fell several times. By the time she got home, she was covered in mud.

There was someone at the door; it was Tang Long, who had just returned from outside. His sister-in-law opened the door while cursing, and Qin Xiaoyu followed her into the yard.

Her house was dark, and her heart sank.

Hanhan is a bit timid. Every time she comes back, the lights are on. What's wrong? She groped her way into the house, turned on the light, and softly called out, "Hanhan."

No one answered; the room was empty.

Could it be that she went upstairs to watch TV? Qin Xiaoyu hurriedly turned around and ran to Grandma Hanhan's door.

"I haven't seen them, and there's been no sound. I assumed they were asleep." That was all the information I got from Hanhan's grandfather when he answered the door.

Qin Xiaoyu felt a chill run down her spine, a sense of foreboding creeping in. Without thinking twice, she ran to the old woman's door and pounded on it. The old woman, dressed in her clothes, answered, her face full of displeasure, giving the same reply: she didn't see the two children.