Chapter 88 "I'll keep watch!"
The children in the story had amnesia, but then their memories were restored.
Before he tiptoed and pushed open the doorknob of the ward, he whispered to Zhu Qing, "Qingzai is teaching children to lie."
Zhu Qing was speechless for a moment.
She was completely controlled by this child.
In the rehabilitation ward, Sheng Peirong, having already learned that she was about to be discharged, leaned against the window in a daze.
Academician Luo informed her of the test results in advance, so she waited. She thought that the discharge procedures would not be completed until her daughter finished all the moving matters, but unexpectedly, Zhu Qing appeared at the ward door with Fangfang on the same day.
They were also anxious to take her back and didn't want to wait even one more day.
For years, Sheng Peirong has been living in a ward at the Jianuoan Sanatorium. Her accumulated belongings have long been moved away, leaving only a suitcase and her quietly waiting.
The little hands of the suitcase struggled to pull the handle, circling around it, determined to help.
The little figure darted back and forth in front of Zhu Qing, occasionally slipping in front of her. Zhu Qing almost tripped over him several times, so she simply picked him up and put him on her suitcase.
"Sit tight," Zhu Qing said. "Don't make things worse!"
"Wow—" Shengfang cheered, raising her little hand high, "Suitcase flying car!"
He knew it; Qingzai was indeed a superb driver.
“Blooming…” Zhu Qing seized the opportunity to get closer to him, “I didn’t teach you to talk big.”
"Okay."
Honesty is the most important thing!
"Okay, okay."
"besides--"
"Qingzai," Sheng Fang blinked, "you seem guilty."
Zhu Qing was speechless and could only resort to force, rubbing his chubby little face.
Nurse Dai, standing nearby, smiled and shook her head, helping to put the last few items into the bag.
Sheng Peirong sat in her wheelchair, turning her head to look at the closed ward door.
Once inside the elevator, a "ding" sounded, and the wheelchair was pushed out. This time, it wasn't for Kangfuke.
Zhu Qing put the suitcase into the trunk, placed the child inside into the back seat, and then carefully helped her mother into the car by the arm of her mother.
Over the years, Sheng Peirong had become shockingly thin. Fortunately, after two months of rehabilitation, with the meticulous care of the hospital staff and Aunt Ping, her complexion had improved considerably. She was able to use some strength to support herself while holding onto the car door.
The passenger seat offered excellent visibility. Sheng Peirong slowly fastened her seatbelt and looked back.
Nurse Dai gave instructions on post-discharge matters, all the trivial details of which were on the documents and put into a folder, but she still patiently went over them again. The clattering sound of the wheelchair folding and the heartwarming instructions drifted gently into the car through the winter breeze.
Sheng Peirong didn't know what had happened during her years in a coma, but she clearly remembered that the day she moved in was also like this. At that time, she was utterly despondent, and as her physical and mental condition deteriorated day by day, she thought she would spend the rest of her life here. Unexpectedly, now, her daughter was adjusting her seatbelt, and her younger brother was humming a cute children's song in the back seat.
The car started moving slowly.
In the rearview mirror, the gate of the Canoan Sanatorium receded into the distance, eventually disappearing around the corner.
"I'll miss Sister Mandy, Sister Lulu, Nurse Dai, and Nurse Shen..." said Shengfang. "Qingzai, we should give them a banner!"
Sheng Peirong chuckled.
Would you say that no one knows a sister better than her brother?
Several days earlier, Sheng Peirong had privately discussed this matter with her daughter.
In addition to commissioning a banner to express her gratitude, she also discussed with her lawyer in detail the plan to establish a special fund to support the rehabilitation and treatment of more patients in a vegetative state.
"You little rascal," Zhu Qing laughed, "how do you know everything?"
"You're so disrespectful," Fangfang retorted in a childish voice. "But I'm your uncle."
"I'm still an adult!"
"Sister, please do something about your daughter..."
The uncle and nephew were bickering in each other's ears.
Sheng Peirong turned her face to the side, basking in the warm sunshine.
She seemed to have seen this road home a million times in her dreams.
...
The black SUV slowly drove into the tree-lined road of Kadoorie Hill.
Along the way, Sheng Peirong pressed her face against the car window, finding everything new and exciting. Before, when she sat in the car, she was always buried in piles of documents dealing with official business, rarely looking up. Now, as her gaze carefully swept over every blade of grass and tree along the roadside, she realized just how beautiful the scenery outside the window truly was.
"Mom, we're home," Zhu Qing said softly.
Sheng Peirong followed her gaze and looked into the distance.
In front of the detached villa, Aunt Ping stood at the door, her figure particularly conspicuous. She was always calm and patient, but this time she paced back and forth on the steps until she heard the engine, at which point she immediately jogged over to meet it.
"You're back, you're finally back..." Aunt Ping's voice trembled as she hurriedly opened the car door, not forgetting to shield Sheng Peirong's head with her hand, "Be careful not to bump your head."
As soon as she finished speaking, Aunt Ping remembered that she had forgotten to bring a shawl for the young lady. Just as she was about to turn around and run back into the house, her trembling hand was grasped.
"Aunt Ping," Sheng Peirong said with a smile, "I'm all better now, so please don't treat me like a patient anymore."
Sheng Peirong's wheelchair rolled across the gleaming floor, reflecting her image. The home was so tastefully furnished; her daughter pushed her around, while her little brother followed, kicking his short legs. Sheng Peirong still felt dazed; she had woken from a long sleep, yet it felt as if she were still dreaming.
The wheelchair was pushed to Sheng Peirong's room.
There is no elevator in this building. Aunt Ping laughed and said, "It seems that the young master is worrying too much. The young lady can't go upstairs yet."
Shengfang tilted her little head and smiled sweetly.
The master bedroom is spacious and bright, with a breathtaking view from the window.
On the bedside table, the familiar photo frame stood quietly—it was the one Zhu Qing had brought back a few days earlier, and in the photo, that gentle, jade-like smile was forever frozen in time. Sheng Peirong's fingertips traced the photo frame, landing on her husband's face, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Zhu Qing squatted down in front of Sheng Peirong, looking up at her like a child.
She said her mother probably didn't know that she made a promise to herself the night before the surgery.
If she wakes up, her family—
We need to take another family photo.
“Just put it here.” Sheng Fang pointed to the spot next to the family photo. “Put it next to my brother-in-law’s photo so he won’t be lonely.”
"Okay, okay... let's take another family photo." Sheng Peirong tilted her head back slightly, forcing back her tears.
On such a joyous day, tears should not fall.
"Coco," Sheng Peirong suddenly spoke up, "would you like to sleep with Mommy tonight?"
Before the words were even finished, a small figure darted out first.
"No way!" Sheng Fangbao said, hands on her hips, her face scrunched up like a little bun. "Big sister just got back and she's already trying to steal Qingzai!"
Shengfang is a sensible child; her older sister was just discharged from the hospital, so she should give way to her.
So what should we do?
"Unless the three of us are together."
"In that case... I wouldn't have needed to buy the house if I had known."
"Anyway, Fangfang is so small, she can sleep anywhere—"
Laughter filled the room.
Sheng Peirong sniffed: "Aunt Ping, what did you stew that smells so good?"
"Oh dear!" Aunt Ping slapped her forehead. "I almost forgot!"
The sound of Aunt Ping hurrying away was the rhythmic tapping of indoor slippers on the wooden floor, a sound full of life.
Sheng Peirong is grateful for everything she has now.
At this moment, the warmth was stretched out infinitely, never enough, never too short.
...
The slow-cooked soup in the copper pot was bubbling and boiling, and the rising steam blurred the smiling faces of the family.
This was their first family reunion dinner in their new home, and they ate it exceptionally slowly and for an exceptionally long time.
Aunt Ping had already flipped through several pages of her notebook, noting down the things she needed to prepare for the upcoming gathering.
Barbecue grill, folding chair, ice bucket... There are just too many things to buy after moving into a new house.
“Let’s go on a big shopping trip to the supermarket together!” Fangfang said, holding up her chopsticks.
"My daughter loves lychee soda," Zhu Qing said. "My sister-in-law likes to eat—"
"Remember to buy cotton candy for Fangfang!" Shengfang reminded her.
Aunt Ping is still taking notes.
Her reading glasses slipped down to the tip of her nose. She raised her hand to push them up, then continued writing, even more focused than when she was in class.
"Qingqing, do Haozai and Jiale like to eat meat?" Aunt Ping murmured. "I'll go to the market a day in advance to buy fresh meat to marinate, and then..."
Sheng Peirong quietly pulled her younger brother aside: "Are all the colleagues coming?"
"Of course, not one is missing."
"Dr. Cheng is here too?"
Shengfang mysteriously raised her index finger and gently shook it: "He went to pursue further studies."
Sheng Peirong was clearly taken aback.
"Big sister," Sheng Fang shook her head, "how come you know nothing about this?"
Sheng Peirong looked at her daughter's profile under the warm yellow light.
This clueless Coco—while all the other kindergarteners were gearing up for their impending date, and Fangfang had already made a "secret deal" with Dr. Cheng, she alone never stopped moving forward. Perhaps Coco had walked too far alone, so far that she had forgotten how to stop. Coco had to adapt to the unexpected surge of family affection while also dealing with the endless stream of cases at the police station, never letting her guard down. Therefore, there were many problems she didn't have time to think about, no time to consider.
“That’s only right.” Sheng Peirong nodded. “Young people should prioritize their careers.”
“That’s right!” Fangfang immediately chimed in.
This little kid always manages to easily get along with adults.
No matter what the topic is, he can always join in the conversation with great enthusiasm. Although sometimes his words are incoherent and he talks nonsense, his serious little demeanor makes him seem genuinely authentic.
Not long after, Zhu Qing came over.
She gently placed a handmade pen holder on Sheng Peirong's bedside table.
Sheng Peirong looked at the strangely shaped pen holder with a puzzled expression: "This is..."
"Fangfang made this herself." Zhu Qing's lips curled up slightly. "I used it for a while, now I'll lend it to you."
"..." Sheng Peirong gently touched the two long black strips on the pen holder with her fingertips. "And this one?"
"Cockroach antennae!" Fangfang gestured with her two little hands near her ears, mimicking the movement of antennae, then her hands fluttered like tiny wings. "A flying cockroach!"
Sheng Peirong stared at the crooked and ugly pen holder, her lips twitching, and she managed to force a slightly stiff smile.
Aunt Ping, standing outside the door, was laughing so hard that tears were almost streaming down her face.
With great difficulty, Qingqing finally managed to send the pen holder away.
The mother and daughter looked at each other with expressions of "get away from me," while Fangfang looked on with delight.
It turns out they all like it so much, they're about to fight over it.
"It's a pity there's only one." Sheng Fang proudly puffed out her little chest, her smile sparkling. "You all enjoy sharing!"
...
On his first night in his new home, Fangfang hugged his teddy bear and nestled between his older sister and niece.
The night was quiet, and the mother and daughter talked softly. The little one turned to the left and then to the right, her big eyes sparkling, and a smile always on her lips.
Sheng Fang hugged the teddy bear and excitedly held it up in front of Sheng Peirong.
“This is what Qingzai and I won at the Liyuan Amusement Park. Qingzai just 'whoosh'—” Shengfang’s little hand drew an arc in the air, “and won it back.”
"Big sister, do you know what it's called?"
Not to mention his older sister, even Zhu Qing didn't know that this little bear had a name.
“Its name is ‘Uncle Bear’.” Sheng Fang held the toy bear’s face and examined it carefully. “Because ‘Uncle Bear’ looks like Uncle Li.”
From then on, Zhu Qing could no longer look directly at this "Uncle Bear".
"Is Uncle Li also a colleague of yours at the police station?"
"Yes! You'll see him on Saturday."
The three of them chatted casually like that.
As night deepened, the chirping of insects outside the window gradually subsided, but the moonlight remained bright.
In Fangfang's eyes, the moonlight was like a nightlight that would never go out, reminding him not to fall asleep.
But Zhu Qing's hand gently stroked his forehead.
She told Fangfang that it was okay even if she fell asleep. Because from now on, they would have countless nights like this.
The child's upper and lower eyelids started to fight, and the fight got worse and worse.
Finally, he accidentally fell asleep, rolled over and lay flat on his stomach, with the teddy bear under his belly.
"Poor Uncle Xiong," Zhu Qing said with a smile.
“I’ll definitely see for myself then.” Sheng Peirong couldn’t help but chuckle. “Just how similar are the Uncle Li and ‘Uncle Xiong’ that you’re talking about?”
...
The children have been eagerly anticipating this day, and it's finally here.
Police colleagues who had been reassigned to other shifts arrived one after another, carrying various gifts—knowing that their family didn't accept red envelopes, Xu Jiale and Haozai simply brought a money tree and shouted from afar—
Where would be a suitable place to put this tree?
Aunt Ping quickly stepped forward: "Just put it in the yard."
Little Sun muttered to himself, "Does their family even need to attract wealth?"
Liang Qikai laughed upon hearing this: "Good question."
Zhu Qing and Sheng Fang stood outside the door to welcome the guests.
Fangfang was already very familiar with such situations. As a result, his niece also learned Fangfang's way of entertaining guests.
"Come on—" she coughed lightly, the rest of her sentence disappearing without a trace.
Zhu Qing's tongue was practically tied in knots.
The little girl, Shengfang, naturally picked up where she left off: "Just come and play, why bring a gift?"
Even when making polite remarks, the young master of the Sheng family spoke with extraordinary sincerity and enthusiasm, unlike the social niceties he usually displayed.
He truly is the most responsible elder in this family.
This discovery made Zhu Qing firmly grasp the hand of the children in the room.
When greeting guests, he must stand beside her, otherwise his niece cannot handle it alone.
The group chatted and laughed as they walked inside.
"Let me really experience this mansion!"
"Even more impressive than the one Mr. Yung owned in Repulse Bay..."
The laughter stopped abruptly upon entering the living room.
When they saw Sheng Peirong sitting upright on the sofa, they all lowered their voices.
Several young police officers secretly sized up the legendary eldest daughter of the Sheng family.
During the investigation of the case involving the skeletons halfway up the mountain, they heard Sheng Peirong's name every day, and now, she was right in front of them. Even though she had just recovered from her illness, her innate aura still made people involuntarily restrain their playfulness.
"Make yourselves at home!" Fangfang greeted them, bouncing around excitedly. "Don't be shy."
Sheng Peirong also showed a kind smile.
She wanted to know everything about her daughter—Coco's work, colleagues, friends…
Sheng Peirong recognized many people. The sweet-smiling Zeng Yongshan, the lean and capable Xu Jiale, the gentle and polite Liang Sir, and the ever-joking Haozai. Finally, her gaze lingered on Uncle Li's face, secretly comparing the resemblance to the "Bear Uncle" in the bedroom.
This Uncle Li doesn't look like that "Uncle Bear".
What kind of discerning eye does her younger brother have?
The atmosphere quickly warmed up again.
When Mo Zhenbang arrived with his wife Lü Qiyun and their daughter, he first greeted Sheng Peirong.
Sheng Peirong usually heard from her daughter how considerate this boss was of his subordinates, and at this moment she recognized him at a glance.
During the pleasantries, Inspector Mo mentioned Zhu Qing's outstanding performance when she first joined the police force, much like a homeroom teacher praising his most proud student.
Sheng Peirong's smile deepened.
Of course she knew the dangers of being a police officer, but whenever Coco talked about cases, her eyes would light up like stars—how could a mother not be proud?
Without Aunt Ping's help, the young people quickly set up the barbecue grill.
Laughter and cheerful voices drifted with the smoke. Sheng Fang, her little belly round from eating, ran around holding a skewer of grilled meat, only to be caught by Zhu Qing.
"Shengfang, hold onto the skewer and don't run!" Zhu Qing picked up the child. "It's dangerous."
The child handed the slip of paper to Zhu Qing, turned around, and continued running.
"Little girl!" He cupped his little hand to his mouth. "Let's run together!"
Mo Sir's daughter, Nannan, shook her head while drinking lychee soda.
Big girls don't play with little ones.
"Little girl! Come play!"
"Then... let's play once."
Although she's called a big kid, Nannan has only been in school for a short time.
Following in the footsteps of the blooming flowers, she became more and more engrossed in the game, and the children's laughter echoed throughout the courtyard.
Not long after, Sheng Fang sat down next to Zhu Qing, fuming.
She usually lets her niece win when they play tag, which makes the little one misunderstand and think he's fast. But now, facing Nannan, he's met his match and is out of breath in no time.
"Let it go." Nannan stood in front of him. "Aren't you done playing? I can let you have it."
The young master of the Sheng family opened his eyes wide upon hearing this.
What kind of talk is that!
The tiny baby hid behind Qingzai, looking aggrieved and resentful.
In the study, Sheng Peirong watched this scene through the floor-to-ceiling window.
Aunt Ping brought over some carefully selected barbecue: "The doctor said we still need to be careful with our diet and can only have a little bit."
There were ten skewers of barbecue on the plate, containing every kind of ingredient, but no chili powder was added. The uncle and nephew grilled them themselves.
"These young people have all become Qingqing's friends now."
“When we first moved in and guests came, the young master had to help us take care of them. My colleagues were more familiar with him. Now it’s much better. We’re as close as family.”
After chatting for a long time, Aunt Ping suddenly noticed that the plate in front of Sheng Peirong was almost empty.
"You can't eat so much!" she hurriedly advised.
“Aunt Ping, you have no idea how bland and tasteless the nutritional meals at the sanatorium are. I’ve been eating them for at least ten years.”
The afternoon sun slanted into the study.
Aunt Ping smiled helplessly.
“You’ve been working hard lately, don’t clean up tonight,” Sheng Peirong said. “I’ll hire a helper to clean tomorrow.”
"How can that be? I'll do it." Aunt Ping quickly waved her hand: "There's no reason to hire a maid for a maid..."
Sheng Peirong gently held Aunt Ping's calloused hand.
Sheng Peirong never brought it up herself, but she knew all too well that Aunt Ping had been incredibly kind to the family and the two children all these years. Now everything needed to get back on track—a driver would be hired, but not many helpers. She and her husband had never liked having too many people in the house when they lived alone, but now Aunt Ping was just right. However, the house was quite large, so they would still need to hire someone to clean regularly; otherwise, Aunt Ping simply couldn't manage on her own.
Many issues haven't been fully considered yet.
But now that Sheng Peirong has returned, the burden of these accumulated trivial matters should no longer fall on her daughter's shoulders.
The cheerful laughter of Fangfang, a child, drifted in from outside the window.
Sheng Peirong looked towards the courtyard, suddenly feeling a sense of urgency. Once she felt better, she wanted to return to the company.
It's unacceptable to watch Fangfang go to school, Keke go to work, Aunt Ping busy with chores, while I'm doing nothing.
"Darling! Are you a speedster?" Sheng Fang plopped down on the lawn.
"Fangfang, you run so slowly."
The little boy stopped arguing and slowly lay down on the lawn.
I hate big kids!
...
Winter twilight always arrives quietly.
Zeng Yongshan and Zhu Qing leaned side by side against the railing of the second-floor terrace, looking down at their colleagues who were chatting and laughing in twos and threes in the courtyard.
Zeng Yongshan still clearly remembers that she once brought up Liang Qikai on the terrace of Zhu Qing's house.
For months, Zhu Qing never deliberately inquired about their progress. But Zeng Yongshan's every moment of attraction and hesitation was never concealed.
After the Zhou Yongsheng case was settled, she finally had an open and honest conversation with Liang Qikai. He had always been hesitant, until this time when he heard the psychological term "rescue personality," and realized the answer was so simple.
They finally opened up to each other.
Just like Zhu Qing had told me before, no matter what, don't wrong yourself.
“Actually, being just colleagues isn’t so bad,” Zeng Yongshan said again, her tone filled with relief.
Zhu Qing looked at the group of people playing in the courtyard downstairs and nodded gently.
Although Inspector Leung was a bit annoying as the original male lead, he was still reliable as a colleague.
A truly healthy relationship should not be one of anxiety, hesitation, and testing.
The romantic relationship between the original female lead and the original male lead did not follow the plot.
Those subtle, tentative advances eventually settled into a perfectly appropriate distance, and they returned to being just ordinary friends.
No one knows what the future holds, but one thing is certain: their lives should never be bound by so-called plot lines.
Laughter came from downstairs again.
"What are they talking about..." Zeng Yongshan looked up, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
"Let's go." Zhu Qing straightened up and tilted her head towards the stairwell. "Let's go down and take a look."
In the courtyard, Shengfang ran around wildly, clutching his Ultraman doll, his little face flushed.
While having a great time, he suddenly remembered something and dashed off to the living room with his short legs.
The young master of the Sheng family asked Aunt Ping to help him find the kindergarten's contact list.
Qingzai has so many friends, and today they had a lively housewarming party. Tomorrow it will be his turn to be the host.
Shengfang held her contact list, sat on the sofa swinging her little feet, her fingers tracing familiar names one by one, and dialed a number.
"Wait, is that coconut flakes?"
"How about coming over to my house for a party tomorrow?"
"Jinbao, Jinbao! Will you come to my house to play after school tomorrow?"
"Don't agree on your own, ask your daddy and mommy first!"
Shengfang was truly afraid of these silly children.
Before accepting an invitation, you should ask the adults in your family first. How can you just agree to it without asking?
"Jinbao," Shengfang said maturely, "Give the phone to your mommy, I'll talk to her myself."
When Zhu Qing came downstairs, she overheard Xiaobudian making arrangements for the party with his friends on the phone, and then seriously discussing the school bus arrangements with their parents.
Fangfang arranged everything perfectly, her sweet little voice filled with joy.
"As expected of an elder," Zeng Yongshan said in a low voice, "So organized and logical."
Fangfang put the contact list aside.
The last phone call was to A-Juan.
"Good evening, I'd like to invite A-Juan to my housewarming party."
On the other end of the phone, A-Juan's mother was overjoyed—
This is the first invitation my son has received since he started school!
"See you tomorrow." Fangfang held the receiver, reminding him, "It's a deal, don't be late!"
Aunt Ping then began to draft a new menu.
Next, we need to carefully prepare the children's meals.
Time slipped away second by second amidst laughter.
As the gathering drew to a close, Mo Zhenbang looked at the joyful scene filling the courtyard and couldn't help but sigh.
"That's wonderful," he said. "If only every day could be this peaceful..."
The moment he finished speaking, more than a dozen death stares were cast upon him—
Mo Zhenbang cleared his throat: "Never mind what I said."
Around nine o'clock, Nannan started rubbing her eyes.
The children were still full of energy and reluctantly saw their guests off.
After seeing off the last guest, Aunt Ping habitually rolled up her sleeves to tidy up.
"Don't move!" Fangfang, with her sharp eyes, caught her red-handed and spread her little arms to block her.
The eldest sister said that Aunt Ping has been working too hard these days, and that they should hire a professional to do the cleaning from now on.
The uncle and nephew strictly followed Sheng Peirong's instructions, each supporting Aunt Ping's arm and escorting her back to her room.
"I'll just wipe the table..."
"no!"
With a "click," the door slammed shut.
Shengfang went on alert, pressing her ear against the door: "I'll keep watch."
The corridor fell silent.
Two minutes later, the sound of the doorknob being turned was heard.
Aunt Ping tiptoed out and met the gazes of Zhu Qing and the young master who were waiting in the corridor.
"Don't even think about it—" Sheng Fang pointed to her bright, sparkling eyes, "You can't escape Officer Fang's eyes!"
...
The next morning, after the family finished breakfast, they put the children on their backpacks.
"Qingzai, let's go."
Moving to Kadoorie Hill brought an unexpected surprise to the children.
Zhu Qing agreed that she would take him to school in Kowloon Tong whenever she wasn't busy, and would only let him take the school bus when she was busy.
Climb onto the back seat and put your two chubby little hands together.
I hope Qingzai can take him to school every day.
"Oh right," Shengfang poked her little head forward, "we haven't had Typhoon Shelter Crab yet!"
During this month-long period of leisure, one task after another was put on the agenda.
Aside from the Typhoon Shelter Crab, I haven't had a chance to try it yet.
I'll take you after school tomorrow.
Shengfang extended her short little finger: "Pinky promise."
After saying goodbye to the children at the entrance of Weston Kindergarten, Zhu Qing drove to Yau Ma Tei Police Station.
After moving to a new home, the journey to the police station is no longer just a few minutes away, but the walk is leisurely and has its own unique charm.
At the police station, everyone was busy sorting through old case files.
Weng Zhaolin would occasionally come out of his office with his hands behind his back, stroll around for a while, and then return to his office in a good mood.
Lunch was the same as usual at the police station cafeteria. Sister Xiao hadn't developed any new dishes. A few people counted the few shrimps scattered in the shrimp fried rice and brought it to the order counter to express their dissatisfaction.
Discussions and jokes filled the air, and time slipped away amidst the banter.
It's almost five o'clock.
"No surprises again—" Haozai stretched, but before he could finish speaking, the phone rang suddenly.
He still looked relaxed when he answered the phone.
But after just one minute of the call, when he hung up, Haozai's expression turned serious.
A body was found at the Tin Hau Temple.
All eyes turned to Mo Zhenbang.
Who was talking nonsense yesterday?
"What are you still standing there for?" Mo Zhenbang awkwardly touched his nose. "Let's go."
At 5:05 p.m., the incense at Tin Hau Temple was still burning.
The pilgrims had not yet dispersed when they were gathered together to complete their statements, and they were all talking amongst themselves.
"Officer, could someone really be dead?"
"I don't know, I just heard someone say that a body was found..."
“Madam, how long are you going to take this statement? I’m in a hurry to get home and cook.”
The cordon was set up in front of the side hall of the Tin Hau Temple.
"I just learned that the main hall is always full of worshippers, but the side hall has been abandoned for a long time," Zeng Yongshan reported, flipping through her notebook. "The body was found behind the offering table."
Zhu Qing put on her police badge, bent down, and crawled through the police cordon.
Behind the offering table, a male corpse lay kneeling in worship, the incense in his hand burned out, leaving only three short, charred incense sticks, with ashes scattered around.
"Boss!" Xu Jiale called out, "The forensic doctor is here."
Everyone turned around and saw forensic doctor Ye walking over with his examination kit in his hand, greeting everyone.
Zhu Qing looked away, her attention drawn to a corner of paper peeking out from under the cushion.
She crouched down and gently pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.
It was written in childish, crooked pencil marks—
"An amazing dad."
...
Aunt Ping was in charge of interviewing the domestic helpers. After the job was finally decided, she joked with the young lady that she had become a "boss".
With the help of the domestic helpers, the house was quickly tidied up. Following Sheng Peirong's instructions, Aunt Ping went to the Causeway Bay Children's Market and selected a large ball pit.
Workers inflated the ball pit and filled it with colorful balls.
Sheng Peirong sat in her wheelchair, looking out at the courtyard through the French windows, imagining the surprised look on her younger brother's face when he returned.
However, at this moment, facing the children playing and laughing all over the yard, Sheng Peirong deeply realized—
The children were overjoyed.
The house had turned into a kindergarten playground, with children running around and jumping about.
She silently dialed her daughter's number.
Such a situation is probably only something Zhu Qing could handle.
Coco, when are you coming home?
"I've taken on a new case, so I'll be a little late today," came the busy voice from the other end of the phone.
After hanging up the phone, Sheng Peirong turned her gaze to the dining table.
Aunt Ping knows children's tastes best and prepared baby meals for them. Golden-fried fries and crispy chicken legs are all things that children love to eat. Their little hands and mouths were greasy from eating, and smiles bloomed on everyone's faces.
"That's great..."
"Fangfang, shall we come and play every day from now on?"
Shengfang nodded vigorously: "No problem!"
The children's room on the second floor was originally filled with all kinds of toys.
But these energetic little guests were unlikely to stay put in one place. Soon, toy parts were scattered all over the spiral staircase, the living room sofa, behind the curtains...
In every corner, there was a nest of baby sparrows, their chirping so loudly that Sheng Peirong wanted to scream for help.
But it was also on this day that she met all of her younger brother's good friends.
Coconut Baby was absolutely gorgeous; as she turned, her tutu seemed to dance with her light steps. Jinbao, dressed in a crisp little shirt and vest, had her buttons undone after eating, revealing her white little belly. Ajuan, wearing round-framed glasses, looked like a little scholar, pacing around in circles, seemingly checking something. Finally, she stood in front of the ball pit and, like a diver, plunged in.
There were also Daming, Xiaomei... a total of thirteen children in the class, and Fangfang invited them all without exception, even though a few children couldn't come because of their extracurricular classes.
The children's innocent laughter mingled in the courtyard, creating a beautiful melody.
Sheng Peirong watched as the ocean balls flew everywhere.
With a "thud," Ah Juan's ocean ball hit Little Coconut's forehead.
"You bad guy!" Coconut stomped her foot angrily.
Not to be outdone, A-Juan picked up even more balls: "Then what kind of egg are you?"
"Of course I'm a good egg!"
Everyone was arguing about who was good and who was bad, and in the end they even forgot the reason for the argument.
The children noisily divided themselves into groups, with the good eggs and the bad eggs forming two small lines.
Amid the chaos, someone shouted, "Shengfang, what kind of egg are you?"
Shengfang Baby shook her head, her little face full of disdain: "Who wants to be an egg!"
Sheng Peirong smiled with satisfaction.
No wonder he's her younger brother.
"I'm not an egg." Fangfang's eyes revealed a shrewdness that seemed to see through everything. "I'm a villain."
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