In the end, Jiang Chi bought six skewers of barbecue for Chaochao, and he ate two of them himself.

Finally, he wiped the cumin off Chaochao's lips and said, "You go in first."

Chaochao, still wanting more, asked, "What about my brother?"

"I'll clean up the mess."

After Jiang Chi threw the trash into the community's garbage bin, completely destroying the evidence, he leisurely returned to the Huo family.

It was getting late, and Aunt Ning took Chaochao to wash up and prepare for bed.

When Jiang Chi returned, he saw Huo Qin standing tall and elegant on the west side of the living room. He walked over in confusion, but stopped very cautiously three meters to the side of the man.

For no other reason than to make it easier to escape.

"Uncle, what are you doing?"

Huo Qin's gaze was calm, his voice slow and deliberate, yet tinged with a hint of sarcasm: "Enjoy the scenery."

What scenery is worth seeing so late at night?

Jiang Chi followed his gaze and saw a beautifully maintained garden outside a huge floor-to-ceiling window, dotted with twinkling lights, quiet and serene.

It seems... kind of good-looking?

This place looks familiar...?

His body stiffened, and his gaze glazed over for a moment. Just then, his uncle, who had his back to him, slowly turned to the side, his dark eyes locking onto him.

Jiang Chi: "..."

Jiang Chi: "…………"

After a second of silence.

"Um... Uncle, I'll go upstairs first!"

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Chi was no longer where he was, rushing up the stairs in the blink of an eye with the speed of a desperate escape.

As I ran, I admired my own foresight.

That was close! I almost got my hand broken!

Inside the room, Jiang Chi had finished showering and was lying in bed when his uncle's death knell finally arrived.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems my uncle isn't going to pursue the matter.

Suddenly, the door opened.

Startled, Jiang Chi, who was about to lie down, sat up in a second.

After recognizing the person at the door, "Chao Chao?"

He subconsciously glanced at the little dumpling's hands, checking for any suspicious items.

Beside the door, Chaochao, still half-asleep, hugged her little rabbit. She was clearly tired, but she still forced her eyes open to look at Jiang Chi. "Brother...don't be afraid of ghosts...Chaochao, come...come to keep you company..."

The little dumpling mumbled something as it climbed onto the bed, pulled back the covers, and lay down next to Jiang Chi.

Jiang Chi: "...Actually, no—"

The words of polite refusal were on the tip of his tongue, but he hesitated for several seconds before silently swallowing them back.

He reached out and tucked the corner of the blanket in, then silently lay down next to the warm little bundle of joy.

Even though she was still holding the little rabbit in one hand, Chaochao rolled over, squinted her eyes, and reached out her other little hand to pat Jiang Chi: "Brother."

She couldn't help but yawn, then said, "Don't be afraid, brother... I'm here..."

Jiang Chi turned to the side, his gaze quietly falling on the little dumpling's flattened baby fat side.

He was just saying it casually, but the children always took it seriously and kept it in their hearts.

Actually, his fear of ghosts wasn't entirely unfounded. When he was a child, he was often home alone, and he was always worried that scary things would crawl out from under the bed, behind the curtains, or in the closet. He could only cower under the covers in fear and pray that someone would come and keep him company. Later, he prayed that the night would pass quickly.

Unexpectedly, the child's plea from over a decade ago has finally been heard.

bite--

[Character Jiang Chi, his corruption level has reached a safe threshold]

Looking at the little dumpling's soft, round face, Jiang Chi finally couldn't resist reaching out and gently pinching it. Suddenly, he thought of Huo Qin, "...Chao Chao, did you tell your uncle about sleeping with me tonight?"

Chaochao yawned again, "...I...I already said that..."

Master bedroom.

Huo Qin, who had just finished showering, walked out of the bathroom and raised an eyebrow when he didn't see Chaochao on the bed.

Suddenly, he found a note on the bedside table.

The drawing was crooked and messy on the small piece of paper.

【Daddy, I'm going to find my brother (-^〇^-)】

Huo Qin: "..."

Huo Qin: "…………"

After staring at it for a full ten seconds, the man slowly tightened his long fingers, crumpling the paper strip with a blank expression. Halfway through, he suddenly remembered that it was written by Chaochao.

Huo Qin paused for a moment, lowered his eyes, unfolded the paper again, and put it in the drawer.

...

In another room on the same floor.

Jiang Chi felt a weight lifted from his heart upon hearing this.

No need to worry about being chased by your uncle with a knife in the middle of the night.

Sleepy Chaochao tugged at Jiang Chi's sleeve, her big eyes welling up with tears, "Brother, tell me... a story..."

Jiang Chi: "..."

You come to sleep with me, but you expect me to tell you stories?

Then, Jiang Chi... of course, he still spoke.

This time, he told a normal fairy tale, but before he even got to the ending, the little dumpling was already fast asleep.

Jiang Chi's lips curved into a smile, and a clear tenderness was visible in his beautiful peach blossom eyes.

He was about to turn over and turn off the light when he suddenly stopped.

He noticed a long, dark shadow crawling up the blanket.

Jiang Chi: "..."

Could it really have crawled out from under the bed, in the closet, or behind the curtains...?

Jiang Chi hesitated and turned his head, only to see Huo Qin standing by the bed, his deep eyes looking down at him coldly.

Jiang Chi's neck stiffened instantly, and he didn't dare to breathe.

This is even more terrifying!!!

Fortunately.

Huo Qin glanced at him without emotion, then bent down and scooped up the sleeping little dumpling and carried him away.

She even took the little bunny from the blanket.

Jiang Chi, who was once again all alone in the blink of an eye: "..."

It was like a dream.

I was still terrified when I woke up.