"No—you—can't—drink—it!"

The system is shouting for slow-motion replay.

"Slurp."

Chaochao pouted and took a small sip, then licked her lips and commented with narrowed eyes, "Sweet and fragrant..."

The crashed system fled in panic.

—Oh no, oh no, oh no!!!

Ji Shize and Lingling each took a sip of the pink peach wine from their small cups. The children squatted by the low tree, feeling a surge of heat rushing into their heads.

Lingling shook her head, her eyes staring blankly ahead. She smacked her lips, "This... peach flavored... hiccup chocolate... it's alright..."

Ji Shize choked on his first sip, his cheeks flushing red as if he'd applied heavy blush. He stood up unsteadily, saying slowly and deliberately, "It's just...cough cough...too spicy! I cough cough..."

Dad... he wouldn't really want to hurt him, would he...? He knows perfectly well that he doesn't eat spicy food...

At this moment, Ji Shize, whose face was flushed from the spiciness, lowered his trust in his father by a notch.

The scene shifts to Chaochao holding up an empty cup, tilting her head back and opening her mouth to catch the last drop: "Ah..."

Never waste anything, that's Little Dumpling's life philosophy!

Having given up hope, the system could only huddle in a corner, trying to comfort itself: "It's okay, it's okay, this peach wine doesn't seem to have a high alcohol content, drinking a little shouldn't be a problem... right? Waaaaah..."

After taking a sip and four or five drops of peach wine, Chaochao, having had her fill, put the cup back on her portable water bottle.

The two older siblings beside her began to sway and wander around the tree. The little dumpling squatted by the pit, abandoning the shovel, and used her little hands to scatter handfuls of the shoveled sand back into the pit, covering the sandalwood box with yellow soil. She dutifully restored the scene, muttering as she buried it: "Can't see the light...can't see the light...it will make your teeth fall out..."

In the end, it seems that the youngest one, Chaochao, is the most clear-headed and knows how to clean up the aftermath of the crime scene.

The three children who were "strolling" in the yard finally went home.

Mr. Ji went to the company right after finishing dinner; there was urgent work for him to handle.

In the living room, Shi Ze's mother, who was following a fitness video, was doing shoulder stretches with a resistance band. When she saw Ji Shi Ze, whose face was flushed, she asked in surprise, "Where did you guys go to play? You look so tired?"

She thought Ji Shize's rosy complexion was due to running around.

Ji Shize didn't respond to his mother. The little boy's eyes glazed over, and he drifted away like the wind: "...I want water...water..."

Confused, Shi Ze's mother wanted to ask Lingling, but then she saw that the child had already slumped on the sofa and was fast asleep.

Shi Ze's mother: "???"

What's going on? Everyone's seeing ghosts!

The woman reluctantly turned her gaze to the last child.

Her older siblings had all moved elsewhere, leaving only Chaochao in the entrance hall.

She stood there blankly, carrying a small bag and a water bottle on her shoulder, her soft, cuddly figure blinking very slowly.

Shi Ze's mother looked worried and finally stopped what she was doing: "Chao Chao? Do you know what happened to your older brothers and sisters?"

After waiting for a full ten seconds, she saw the little dumpling slowly shake its head with the speed of a sloth: "I don't know..."

Shi Ze's mother approached the little girl with concern, squatted down in front of her, and waved her hand: "Chao Chao... Chao Chao?"

Chaochao, who was feeling dizzy, suddenly smelled a familiar perfume. She blinked hard, and after seeing the woman in front of her, she immediately snuggled sweetly into her arms: "Chaochao likes Shize-jie~"

Seeing this, the woman finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had been so frightened that she thought the children had gone mad. She hugged Chaochao in her arms and said gently, "Auntie is not Sister Shize, but Brother Shize's mother... It's getting late, shall Auntie ask Chaochao's family to take her home?"

When the children were brought to play, the Huo family instructed them to notify them to pick them up once the game was over.

Chaochao slowly climbed out of the woman's embrace, obediently nodding, "Okay~"

Shi Ze's mother patted the little dumpling's head, about to praise her as a "good child," when suddenly her brows furrowed. She... thought she had just smelled a faint scent of alcohol.

Outside the French windows, shadowy figures moved about; servants were exterminating mosquitoes in the garden.

Immediately understanding, Shi Ze's mother took Chao Chao's hand and walked outside: "Chao Chao, you can come and play with Brother Shi Ze anytime, and of course you can play with your sister too."

As she finished speaking, the young and beautiful woman smiled playfully. She had only had a few puffs of milk today and now she had to part ways with the little dumpling. It would be a lie to say she wasn't disappointed.

She finally understood why Ji Shize had been begging her to have a little sister after returning from the Huo family last time.

The steward of the Ji family had already called the Huo family when the madam asked the question. They waited at the gate for about a minute before the Huo family driver slowed down and stopped in front of them.

The driver opened the door, and Chaochao skillfully climbed into the car, waving goodbye to Shize's mother through the window.

The car started slowly. Chaochao tilted her head and looked out the window at the fleeting shadows of trees. A belated blush finally crept onto her fair cheeks. The little girl slowly realized that she hadn't said goodbye to Brother Shize and Sister Lingling yet...

The Huo family driver glanced frequently at the young master in the back seat through the rearview mirror. In the mirror, Miss Chaochao had already waved at the car window at least five times...

Waving is normal, but the problem is they're driving on a deserted road!

The driver felt a chill run down his spine. He licked his lips and asked, "Miss Chaochao... who are you greeting?"

Chaochao, who was smiling at the car window, slowly turned her head when she heard the voice, her soft, childlike voice filled with confusion: "Uncle, which one are you talking about...?"

Is it Lingling or Brother Shize?

driver:"……"

With a deathly pale face, he silently pressed the accelerator harder. At this moment, he had already assumed that Miss Chaochao had seen something bad, and his heart was already filled with tears.

The old folks are right about not walking at night!

Please don't come any closer! He's just an ordinary person!

In just ten minutes, the journey was shortened by nearly half. Chaochao felt as if she had just opened her eyes and was back at her doorstep.

The driver took a deep breath and opened the door for her. Chaochao unbuckled the child seat belt. Chaochao, who was used to getting out of the car by herself, was a little clumsy at this moment, but the driver, who was silently chanting the Great Compassion Mantra in his heart, regretfully did not notice.

"Uncle, be careful on the road! Go to bed early!"

The little dumpling stood by the car door, flashing a big smile at the driver, its soft, babyish voice trailing off.

Upon hearing Miss Chaochao's heartwarming advice, the driver felt a jolt of unease. Did this mean that something might be lurking on the road and that it was not advisable to go out at night...?

"Thank you, Miss Chaochao."

After a look of utter despair on his face, the driver boarded the car with a death wish.

"Oh, it's Miss Chaochao back!"