While Gu Tingxiao was taking action based on the latest information, most of the morning's lessons at Little Star Kindergarten had already passed.

"Teacher DouDou, is AnAn not here today?"

"Oh right, Teacher DouDou, why hasn't AnAn arrived yet?"

"Su, Su, where's An'an?"

In Little Raindrop's class, a child pointed to the empty seat and asked Teacher DouDou.

The Gu family's commotion was so significant that when Teacher Dou called the Gu residence in Yujinwan this morning, she already sensed something was amiss.

However, in order not to scare the other children, Teacher DouDou did not tell the truth.

"An'an has something to do at home today and can't come, so please don't worry."

The children seemed thoughtful, and some even envied An'an for not having to come to kindergarten.

Only the curly-haired, blue-eyed little boy sitting against the wall remained silent.

Why did my silly child not come to kindergarten?

Zhong Jiayi felt quite uncomfortable because of the empty space.

They come and go as they please; how can there be such unruly children in a kindergarten?

When get out of class ended, Zhong Jiayi went to the office and found Teacher Dou Dou.

"Teacher DouDou."

"Hmm? Jia Yi?"

While organizing materials, Teacher DouDou heard an unexpected sound.

Looking down, who else could it be but Zhong Jiayi, dressed in light blue casual wear, standing next to the desk?

This little tyrant usually doesn't bother anyone even when he needs something, so why is he in the office today?

Surprised, Teacher Dou put down the documents in her hand, squatted down, and asked softly, "Is there something you need from me?"

"Why didn't Gu Anman come to kindergarten?"

Zhong Jiayi's sweet, childlike voice sounded cool, as if she hadn't come after him to ask because she was worried.

"It's a family matter for An'an. An'an will come back after it's all over."

Zhong Jiayi observed Teacher Dou Dou's expression, a hint of suspicion flashing in his clear, icy blue eyes.

"Teacher DouDou, a parent is looking for you."

A teacher called out from the office doorway.

Teacher DouDou remembered that there was an impromptu meeting with parents today.

The other person is always busy and doesn't have time, so it was really difficult to make an appointment.

We can't keep them waiting.

"Jiayi, you can go back to your classroom later. The teacher has to go now."

Zhong Jiayi remained silent, and after watching Teacher Dou Dou leave the office, he tiptoed to Teacher Dou Dou's desk.

He realized that Teacher DouDou was lying, because Teacher DouDou hadn't looked him in the eye when she spoke.

The Zhong family members are born with this kind of keen sense that belongs to soldiers who are good at criminal investigation.

Zhong Jiayi glanced at the folder filled with various documents, and after a quick scan, pulled out a thick folder marked in blue from the pile of folders.

Opening the document, one finds information about the homes of the kindergarten children.

There will be a phone number inside.

Zhong Jiayi flipped to the page with his silly deskmate, quickly wrote down two strings of numbers, and then silently closed the folder, returning to Little Raindrop's class as if nothing had happened.

When Zhong Jiayi got home that evening, she entered the number she had written down into the telephone in the living room.

"beep--"

"beep--"

"Hello, who is this?"

A domestic helper answered the phone.

After a few seconds of silence, Zhong Jiayi, who was holding the phone, said, "I'm Gu Anman's classmate. I'm looking for her."

The young lady's classmate?

Kindergarten children?

Aunt Zhang, who answered the phone, thought for a moment before realizing what Zhong Jiayi was talking about. Because at home, she was always called "Little Miss An'an" and "Baby An'an." When she first heard the name Gu Anman, Aunt Zhang didn't remember who she was.

Unfortunately, the young lady's safety was still uncertain, and Aunt Zhang had no interest in asking Zhong Jiayi why she had called or where she had gotten the Gu family's phone number.

"Miss is not home right now."

Mr. Gu didn't go home today, but Assistant Zhou came once to pick up some things. She knows that Xiao Anman had an accident.

Why don't you tell the truth?

Zhong Jiayi hated questions that didn't lead to anything, especially when the person answering him sounded a little weak.

"Has something happened to her?"

How did you know?

Aunt Zhang on the other end of the phone was startled by Zhong Jiayi's shocking words.

That's enough; it confirms the worst-case scenario.

There's no need to call that number that belonged to Gu Tingxiao that I wrote down anymore.

"What are you doing?"

Zhong Jiarui, still sweating after a day of training, saw his son, who was holding the phone with a serious expression in his otherwise tidy living room, and unusually asked him a question.

elder brother?!

Zhong Jiayi's blue eyes lit up immediately, and then he put down the phone.

...

Has something happened to that adorable little dumpling I saw in kindergarten who always smiled at me so sweetly?

After listening to Zhong Jiayi's account, the expression on the short-haired boy's face gradually became serious.

Contrary to Zhong Jiayi's expectations, his first reaction was whether the little dumpling had been implicated by her father.

After all, the bigger the tree, the more the wind will blow. The Gu family is currently at its peak, and there are quite a few people who are envious.

Zhong Jiayi found it somewhat unbelievable that he had spoken such a long string of words to Zhong Jiarui for the first time, but that was not the most important thing right now.

"I understand. You don't need to worry about this. I'll handle it."

Zhong Jiarui's brows furrowed slightly, and he spoke in a calm tone.

The conversation between the two brothers, who were far apart in age, in the Zhong family mansion did not end there. However, on the other side of Ancheng, Xiao Anman, who was being held under Xuan Yin's armpit, had been successfully taken out of the heavily monitored area.

With a steamed bun in his mouth and Xiao Anman wrapped in his T-shirt in his hand, Xuan Yin moved freely through the alleys, more agile than a cat.

Xiao Anman's stomach started rumbling uncontrollably after not eating all day.

"Gurgle~"

"Gurgle~"

Xuan Yin, who was closest to her, heard everything clearly. He took a bite out of the bun and held it in front of Xiao Anman.

"Little one, do you refuse to eat unless you see Gu Tingxiao?"

The aroma of the food eagerly wafted into Xiao Anman's nose.

Xiao An, who was so hungry that she had no strength left, felt like she was about to get a fever again.

Not only was I feeling dizzy, but I also started experiencing some hallucinations.

The fragrant chicken legs were lined up and spinning around in front of me.

There were also sweet and soft pastries dancing around the big chicken leg.

Ouch, Daddy, where are you? An'an is so hungry.

For some reason, even though Xiao Anman's starvation to death had nothing to do with him, he was a little embarrassed to use such a stupid hostage to blackmail Pei Gu.

"Hey? Are you trying to starve yourself to death to threaten me?"