Chapter 43 "This day will happen every year..."
A reassuring voice came from the other end of the phone.
Zhu Qing quickly jotted down the key points of care. Hearing rustling noises coming from the children's room, she rushed over and saw Fang Fang stretching out her little hand with difficulty, half of her body hanging over the edge of the bed, her little face flushed and drooping.
He's just feeling a little unwell; he can still manage.
There's no need to see a forensic doctor...
"Be good and don't move."
She straightened the child again, made him lie down properly, and then rummaged through the first-aid kit.
Aunt Ping also prepared the first-aid kit, with children's medicines neatly arranged, including the fever reducer that Dr. Cheng had mentioned.
Dr. Cheng's recommended dosage is more conservative, determined entirely by Fangfang's height and weight, and is a full third less than the dosage specified in the instructions.
Zhu Qing poured the medicine into the measuring cup according to the graduation mark. The overly sweet aroma made her even more uneasy.
She held the measuring cup to her lips: "Have some strawberry juice."
Shengfang's face was burning hot, and she could barely lift her eyes. It was touching that the child still remembered to correct her niece's mistakes at this time.
He was still a shrewd little boy, his small voice trembling: "This is medicine."
Dr. Cheng said that there's no need to panic if a child has a fever; you can first observe changes in their temperature. If the high fever persists even after taking antipyretics, then consider seeking medical attention.
This was Zhu Qing's first time taking care of a sick child. Knowing she couldn't leave, she checked his forehead every few minutes. The burning heat came through her palms, and his breathing was rapid and hot.
She suddenly realized that this was probably the first time Fangfang hadn't received professional and attentive care while having a fever. Back in the Sheng family, if the young master had a headache or fever, the family doctor would be there immediately, Marissa would stay by his bedside all night taking his temperature and changing ice packs, and the nutritionist would specially cook a nourishing porridge with medicinal herbs.
Unlike now, she was the only one in the dimly lit children's room.
Fangfang lay in bed, her little hand holding hers, enduring the hardship.
Zhu Qing rubbed her head, which was covered in frizz.
Poor thing.
"Qingzai," Fangfang suddenly spoke, her voice very soft, "what did you do when you had a fever as a child?"
Zhu Qing paused for a moment, unable to recall the circumstances of her illness.
She scored full marks in all sections of the police academy's physical fitness test, seemingly possessing a constitution that rarely fell ill since childhood. Deep in her memory, the only time she was sick was on a cold winter night. She slept by the window, her blanket not thick enough, and shivered uncontrollably all night, huddled under the covers. The orphanage had a clinic, and Director Guo's rough palm touched her forehead, handing her a white pill. After swallowing the pill with warm water, little Zhu Qing lay on her bunk bed, drifting in and out of sleep, listening to the sounds of the other children coming and going.
At that time, Xin Xin had not yet left with her parents. At lunchtime, she ladled a bowl of porridge into a small bowl and carefully carried it back with her little hands, which were red from the cold.
It was just a bowl of plain porridge, with no toppings whatsoever, bland and tasteless, but Zhu Qing still obediently swallowed it mouthful by mouthful. Because her older sister, Xin Xin, said that she would only get better if she ate her fill.
Those are all things of the past; there was heartache, but also warmth.
Zhu Qing downplayed the issue, saying, "Taking medicine will make me feel better."
Fangfang felt weak all over and leaned against Zhu Qing, resting her little head on her.
Were you pitiful when you were a child?
My uncle is sick, and my niece is with him. Even though she has to go to work early tomorrow morning, she will stay by his side and not let her guard down for a moment.
But what about her niece's illness? Sheng Fang thought of that cold orphanage and gently patted her with her little hand.
Qingzai is such a pitiful person.
"Worry about yourself first." Zhu Qing smoothed his sweat-dampened hair.
Once you sweat, the fever should gradually subside.
"Qingzai, are you going to kindergarten tomorrow?"
"No, we'll stay home and rest."
The listless little boy, Fangfang, had a faint glimmer of light in his eyes.
The kids have it tough too; even now, they're still thinking about this.
"That's great." Sheng Fang felt relieved and hugged Qingzi's arms with both hands, like a koala hugging a tree, feeling a great sense of security.
The food was burning and smoldering.
Zhu Qing hugged Fangfang and gave the little stove a hug.
Little Stove thought, Qingzai thought this was to cool him down, but it didn't.
My niece isn't cold at all; she's very warm.
"Thank you, Qingzai," Shengfang said in her childish voice.
"Qingzai, I feel a little hot."
"You're sweating, don't kick off the blanket, or you'll catch a cold."
"Qingzai, can my feet come out of the blanket?"
"..."
"Tap tap tap tap, feet appear!" Fangfang lifted her little feet.
The child, who had a fever, gradually became more talkative, and it was clear he was more energetic than before. Dr. Cheng had said on the phone earlier that the child's fever would gradually subside about thirty minutes to an hour after taking the medication. At this moment, Zhu Qing touched his forehead with the back of her hand, and it was indeed no longer burning hot.
She took out alcohol from the first-aid kit, disinfected the thermometer, and put it in his mouth: "Take it again and see if it's gone down."
The thermometer was ice-cold, and the smell of alcohol hadn't dissipated yet.
Fangfang scrunched up her little face and shook her head: "Qingzai, I'm drunk."
"..." Zhu Qing pinched his cheek, "I think you're completely healed."
His fever hasn't completely subsided, but at least the medication can control his temperature, so there's no need to go to the hospital.
Fangfang slept for a while and then woke up, then fell asleep again. While yawning in a daze, her stomach rumbled.
"Wait a minute," Zhu Qing said, "I'll go make you something to eat."
Shengfang looked at her with a troubled expression: "You?"
At this time, it was just him and Qingzai at home, so she had to cook for them herself.
Fangfang was a little cold, so she curled up in bed, only her soft little face showing. He overheard Zhu Qing calling Aunt Ping, asking her how to make preserved egg and lean pork congee.
Aunt Ping is also having a terrible time; she lives in a haunted house and received a terrifying phone call in the middle of the night.
Fangfang shook her head like a rattle drum, it was terrifying!
A three-year-old child with a fever should not be taken lightly. This night will be difficult, and we must remain vigilant at all times.
Madam, who doesn't know much about taking care of people, has strong external support. In addition to Aunt Ping guiding her step by step on the phone about the secrets of cooking porridge, Dr. Cheng also keeps in touch and provides professional advice at any time.
“The condition may relapse,” Cheng Xinglang explained. “Recovery takes time, so don’t worry too much.”
After hanging up the phone, Zhu Qing ran back to the kitchen and cooked porridge according to Aunt Ping's instructions. The clay pot gradually made a "bubbling" sound. Wearing heat-resistant gloves, she lifted the lid and the aroma of rice filled the air with the rising steam.
Are you hungry? It smells amazing.
It turned out that she wasn't hallucinating from hunger.
This pot of porridge was cooked perfectly!
Fangfang is a three-and-a-half-year-old child. Qingzai usually doesn't allow Aunt Ping to feed him. No matter how slowly or messy he eats, he can't develop the bad habit of expecting to be fed.
But today, Qingzai upgraded his treatment.
The child is sitting in bed with his mouth open.
"ah--"
Qingzai actually fed him.
Sick babies love to whine, but they are also surprisingly sensible. Their little mouths open and close, and their little bellies are round from eating.
Qingzai patiently fed him a mouthful of porridge: "Are you feeling any better?"
A thin layer of sweat appeared on Shengfang's back.
He said contentedly, "I wish I had a fever every day."
Zhu Qing: "Quiet."
Shengfang covered her mouth: "Shut your little crow's beak!"
...
The next morning, Aunt Ping arrived early, carrying chicken, duck, fish and meat. It was as if she had brought the entire market to give the young master a good nourishment.
When Aunt Ping received the call last night, she was eager to leave immediately, but Zhu Qing said that Fangfang's fever had already subsided and it was the middle of the night, so there was no rush to come over.
At this moment, Aunt Ping took out her key, opened the door, and tiptoed into the house.
The house looked like it had been the site of a battle. Zhu Qing searched for the first-aid kit, looked for Dr. Cheng's phone number, and then cooked porridge. The battlefield left behind hadn't been cleaned up yet. She didn't know when the young master had fallen asleep. Zhu Qing was next to him, and the uncle and nephew had each found a spot on the small children's bed and were lying in a starfish position.
Seeing their peaceful sleeping faces, Aunt Ping finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She quietly tidied up the living room.
Last night's battle was even more intense than she had imagined. It seems that she not only needs to nourish the young master's body, but also the young lady's body.
Even though Aunt Ping closed the glass door to the kitchen and tried to be as quiet as possible, it was impossible to keep it completely quiet while making breakfast. The sounds of clattering and the aroma wafted through every corner of the room. Fangfang stretched, rubbed her sleepy eyes, got out of bed, and ran to the kitchen.
"Aunt Ping, shh!"
Qingzai is still sleeping.
The uncle gently closed the door to the children's room and heard his niece's muffled voice—
"Shengfang, put on your slippers."
Fangfang looked down at her little feet.
As expected of the perceptive Madam, she knew he was barefoot even before she opened her eyes.
In this hot weather, how could you possibly catch a cold by going barefoot?
Fangfang wanted to argue, but his niece was so sleepy that he had no choice but to obediently put on his slippers.
As soon as he came up, Aunt Ping immediately handed him a thermometer, and after confirming that his temperature was normal, her brow completely relaxed.
"Young master, are you done?"
"Okay!"
The little schoolbag was still in the entryway. Aunt Ping said, "Let's have breakfast. After breakfast, we'll go to kindergarten."
Shengfang closed her eyes and lay back down on the floor.
When Zhu Qing came out of the room, she saw the child throwing a tantrum.
“I need to ask the kindergarten for a week off.” Zhu Qing scratched her messy hair. “Dr. Cheng said that if it’s a viral cold, the infectious period may last about a week. Kindergarten children have weak immune systems, so it’s best to wait until they are fully recovered before sending them back.”
The flower on the floor opened one eye, then the other, and tried to suppress a laugh by pursing its lips, but its tiny teeth betrayed it.
The little one has moved from the floor to the sofa.
He crossed his hands behind his head, casually crossed his little feet, and fiddled with the remote control.
Zhu Qing shook her head.
I didn't want to go to school, so I got sick from it. Now that I don't have to go to school, I'm all better.
...
The uncle knew that Qingzai had taken care of him for a long time last night and hadn't gotten enough sleep.
The TV said that lack of sleep is bad; your body can't handle it.
He counted on his fingers carefully and decided to urge his niece to catch up on sleep tonight.
When Zhu Qing returned and heard Fang Fang say this, she found it quite touching.
The child is so small, yet so thoughtful...
However, she was sent back to her room before eight o'clock.
Is something wrong with the situation?
"It's so early, even a ninety-year-old woman can't sleep," Zhu Qing protested.
Shengfang, carrying a small stool in one hand and a feather duster in the other, shooed the person towards the bedroom: "I'll lull you to sleep."
Zhu Qing: ...
When did an antique feather duster suddenly appear in my house?
"I cleaned this up last week..." Aunt Ping coughed lightly and poked her head out from the kitchen. "It works well."
Shengfang is like a professional little housekeeper, supervising Qingzai and reminding her that she must go to bed early tonight.
Actually, Zhu Qing didn't have to listen to him.
But if she doesn't listen, he'll keep chattering and chattering in her ear.
"It's better to avoid trouble," Zhu Qing thought helplessly as she crawled into bed.
Before she could even choose a pose, she suddenly felt a gentle pat on her shoulder.
Zhu Qing was taken aback.
Fangfang placed her little hands on her shoulders and patted them rhythmically, mimicking how adults lull children to sleep.
He said that Marissa used to coax him like that.
However, Marissa had a lot of strength; she slapped him so hard that his arms and legs almost fell apart.
Qingzai lay on her side, listening to her uncle's rambling in her ear.
Those fragments of memory, faded by time, resurface in the baby's rambling words.
The young master's memories include Marissa chasing him all over the garden to feed him, and the tutor pushing up his old-fashioned gold-rimmed glasses, not daring to say a word unrelated to the lessons.
Zhu Qing's memories include curling up with her older sister Xin Xin on a worn-out mat in the orphanage's storage room, counting raindrops through the window cracks, and receiving old dolls donated by kind-hearted people in society.
For some reason, at this moment, these scattered fragments have come together.
Fate is amazing; now, the two of them live under the same roof.
They became an inseparable family.
They're family.
Does patiently patting a child really have a hypnotic effect?
Zhu Qing was exhausted after staying up too late last night and spending the whole day sorting through old case files. Her eyelids were drooping and she was feeling drowsy.
"Qingzai... let me celebrate your birthday."
"You don't have a birthday, so let's pretend it's a birthday!"
Shengfang still harbors resentment that Qingzai didn't have a birthday.
His niece, who had been living away from home for decades—
He didn't even blow out the birthday candles!
Shengfang decided that when it was Qingzai's birthday, he would prepare something special, like a birthday cake, a birthday hat, and a very presentable birthday gift.
Moreover, he wanted to sing a birthday song for his niece.
“This birthday song is different, Aunt Ping taught me. Wishing you happiness and longevity as long as the heavens—” Fangfang started singing, “Celebrating your happy birthday.”
"May every year have this day, may every year have this morning..." Sheng Fang sat on a small stool, craning her neck to look at Qingzai, and asked incredulously, "Asleep?"
I fell asleep at eight o'clock.
She goes to bed earlier than a 90-year-old woman!
...
Weng Zhaolin treated everyone to afternoon tea all day, using egg tarts and egg waffles to shut up the Major Crimes B team.
In contrast, Mo Zhenbang was much more generous, organizing everyone to go to Lantau Island for a barbecue.
According to the rules, after the case closure report meeting, the team can apply for a collective 24-hour rest period.
Inspector Mo suggested setting off on Wednesday afternoon to avoid the weekend tourist rush.
Xiao Sun: "Boss, I won't go. I've been working a lot of overtime lately, and Ling is about to break up with me. I'll stay in the team and work overtime this time, since there's some urgent paperwork that needs to be handled."
“Bring her along,” Zeng Yongshan said. “It’s more fun with more people.”
Xiao Sun laughed and said, "She doesn't get off work until six o'clock today, so I have to pick her up and take her out for a nice meal to make up for it. Have fun, I'll treat you next time."
In just a few words, the itinerary was arranged. Mr. Mo's arrangements were always thoughtful, and no colleague was dissatisfied.
Zhu Qing opened her mouth, but before she could say anything to refuse, she heard that her uncle had already agreed on her behalf.
Zeng Yongshan is very efficient. She called her home directly and agreed to the idea of a barbecue on Lantau Island without hesitation for even a second.
“I went to Sham Shui Po Market to buy pork chops, and also picked up a grill and charcoal.”
"I'll prepare the beer—"
"Keep it chilled all night, and remember to bring plenty of ice!"
"Also, bring a bag of marshmallows for the kids. The roasted marshmallows are plump and stretchy, and one child can eat a whole bag by himself."
When Zhu Qing returned home, Sheng Fang and her children were skewering honey-glazed chicken wings and short ribs with bamboo skewers.
Aunt Ping cleaned the ingredients very well and said with a smile, "The pork chops and lamb in the market are all frozen. They're nowhere near as fresh as the ones we prepare ourselves."
"I know you don't like eating vegetables, but you still have to eat some."
The task of stringing the corn was also entirely entrusted to Sheng Fang.
Aunt Ping is very thoughtful. Knowing that it's troublesome to eat corn cut into sections, she broke off the corn kernels and strung them into strings, so that everyone would eat them.
Shengfang, who had been busy until now, finally understood Aunt Ping's intention, and her fingers were aching: "Let them eat it or not, it's up to them!"
All the ingredients were prepared on metal trays placed on the dining table.
Zhu Qing washed her hands and sat down next to Sheng Fang to help him.
"Qingzai, what time are we leaving tomorrow?"
"afternoon."
When the time comes, Inspector Leung will drive his family car out, and Tsang Wing-shan, Chuk Ching, and Fong Fong will ride with him along the route, which is the most convenient way.
"Is Nannan going?"
"My daughter has to go to school tomorrow," Zhu Qing said.
Every child needs to go to school.
Besides blooming.
But he himself was quite at ease and didn't care at all.
"Old Li—" Sheng Fang blinked her sincere eyes, "Is Uncle going?"
"Everyone in the group went except for Xiao Sun."
"Is John going too?"
"You're not allowed to call Inspector Weng!" Zhu Qing immediately warned, "Otherwise you'll become the enemy of the entire B team!"
Qingzai's words sounded like a threat.
However, he did manage to intimidate Shengfang. He'd offended the entire Group B, becoming their public enemy. What would happen if they didn't take him along when they went out?
Sheng Fang nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, I won't tell!"
On the other hand, wouldn't Zhaolin have known that the entire team had taken a break?
John isn't stupid!
But no matter what, after spending so much time with Qingzai, Fangfang finally got a chance to go out and have fun.
All night long, he excitedly hummed the theme song of the cartoon. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the little backpack was still in the entrance hall. He walked over with his hands behind his back and slowly squatted down.
He carried his schoolbag in both hands and ran to Aunt Ping's room with a "tap tap tap" sound.
With a "bang," the door was slammed shut.
Take it further away!
...
The children had been looking forward to their trip to Lantau Island all night.
But no one knew how it was arranged; they woke up early in the morning and couldn't leave yet, they had to wait a long time.
It wasted the whole morning; it was such a waste of such good weather.
Shengfang kept repeating "BBQ," to the point that Zhu Qing's ears were practically calloused.
"My little darling," Aunt Ping said, patting the young master's shoulders. "Look how scorching the sun is outside. Are we going to go out now to roast meat or to roast you?"
The little one ran around in the living room, round and round.
Finally, after lunch, Qingzai's cell phone rang.
Shengfang was already sitting in the entryway putting on her shoes: "Let's go."
Zhu Qing pressed her temples.
From now on, she will never tell him in advance if she is going out.
After leaving his home, Inspector Leung first picked up Zhu Qing and Sheng Fang on his way, and then went around to Zeng Yongshan's house.
“This car is my dad’s prized possession; he’s the one who drives it all the time.” Liang Qikai gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands and joked to the uncle and nephew in the back seat, “You two better hold on tight and fasten your seatbelts.”
Zhu Qing carefully placed the barbecue ingredients that Aunt Ping had packed away.
She also brought two small boxes of her secret sauce, making sure not to spill them.
Shengfang: "So, Inspector Leung is a road hazard!"
"That's not it—" Liang Qikai was a little embarrassed and was about to deny it when he saw Zai Zai shaking his head in the rearview mirror.
Shengfang didn't give him a chance to explain.
This Inspector Leung's driving skills are terrible, unlike Ching-jai, who could drift even while practicing in the instructor's car.
When we arrived at Lantau Island beach, John was indeed not there.
But then Ben, the forensic technician who has a big smile and shows a lot of teeth, arrived.
To Zhu Qing's surprise, Cheng Xinglang was also there.
He was helping Haozai set up the barbecue grill.
The disciplined forces have a flexible rotation system, and he clearly made a special shift change.
When their eyes met, Zhu Qing nodded slightly. She didn't run into him at the police station for the next few days, and she hadn't had a chance to thank him for what happened last time.
Cheng Xinglang is easy-going. Before the previous forensic doctor's extended leave, he had worked with several officers from Team B and got along well with them.
Ah Ben had already mingled with everyone, blending into the crowd, taking a can of ice-cold beer and "popping" the tab open, then picking out his favorite foods from a pile of ingredients.
"This steak is mine, don't try to take it from me."
"Why are there cotton candies?"
Shengfang silently hugged the bag of cotton candy to her chest.
The waves gently lapped against the beach. Mo Sir found a good spot and stood in the shade, smoke drifting from the barbecue grill.
The charcoal fire crackled and popped, and Fangfang tiptoed, wanting to help grill it.
"I'd like to try it too."
"Be careful, it's hot. Keep your distance."
"Otherwise it'll turn into roasted pig's trotters—"
"Xu Jiale, why did you say that a child's hands look like roasted pig's trotters!"
It was clearly noisy, but it seemed as if a rare moment of tranquility had arrived.
Zhu Qing stood beside the barbecue grill, her eyes squinting slightly from the smoke.
She flipped through the corn skewers that Aunt Ping and Fangfang had skewered; the golden corn kernels glistened temptingly with oil. Suddenly, she felt a cool sensation on the back of her hand.
Cheng Xinglang appeared beside her at some point and handed her a bottle of iced lemon tea.
The water droplets condensed on the bottle slid down his fingers.
Zhu Qing, holding skewers in both hands, asked, "Could you open it for me?"
The sea breeze on a midsummer evening was surprisingly gentle and cool.
The bottle cap is open, and I'm drooling just looking at it.
If Dr. Cheng could offer him a drink, he, as an elder, would make an exception and agree to let the two of them play together.
The refreshing aroma of lemon tea mingles with the sea breeze.
Ben shouted from a short distance away, "Xinglang, get me a bottle too!"
Dr. Cheng didn't even turn his head: "Take it yourself."
"What did you say?" Ah Ben deliberately picked his ear.
Fangfang immediately turned around and made a face like a little hanged ghost: "He told you to take it yourself!"
...
Holding the iced lemon tea, Zhu Qing suddenly realized that this was the first time she had ever been part of such a lively gathering.
She had never been around so many people before.
The collective life in the welfare home, the study at school, or the training at the police academy—all these settings clearly define the boundaries between people.
Just as she believed, work and study should be separate from life.
But now, the boundary between work and life has completely disappeared.
Uncle Lai and Inspector Mok sat under a parasol, waiting to eat their meal. Ben and Ho were bickering over the last piece of steak, and Inspector Leung's sleeve was stained with sauce...
What are you spacing out for?
Zeng Yongshan took a slice of toast, ran over to her, sat down, and broke off a small piece with her hand.
"Want some?" she asked. "I baked them myself, they're fragrant and crispy!"
Zhu Qing extended her hand: "Thank you—"
Before she could finish speaking, Zeng Yongshan had already stuffed a piece of bread into her mouth.
Zhu Qing was stunned for a moment.
She chewed slowly, the sweet and salty flavor blooming between her lips and teeth.
Zeng Yongshan's eyes lit up: "How is it? How is it? Is it delicious?"
She spread her secret garlic and honey sauce on the bread slices, and after toasting them until slightly charred, she spread fresh strawberry jam on top.
The contrasting flavors blend together surprisingly well.
Zhu Qing's lips unconsciously curled up: "Delicious."
Fangfang is a pampered little rascal who doesn't need to go to school. He patrols among the adults and stops whenever he sees something delicious.
Dr. Cheng not only knows how to perform autopsies and examine corpses, but also knows how to grill pork belly to the perfect doneness.
"Can I have some?" Fang Fang stopped a short distance away from him and swallowed hard.
Cheng Xinglang crouched down and waved to him.
Fangfang stood in front of him, and when he handed her the skewers, she tilted her little face up and opened her mouth.
Cheng Xinglang flicked his wrist and put the skewer into the little devil's mouth, gently supporting his chin with one hand and pressing down on his fluffy little head with the other.
He subtly withdrew his hand, the skewer disappeared, and all that remained in Fangfang's mouth was the marbled pork belly.
The feeding was incredibly smooth and effortless.
Does it smell good?
Sheng Fang nodded vigorously, completely won over by Cheng Xinglang, and sat down next to him.
Next, Dr. Cheng was in charge of grilling the skewers, and Fangfang was in charge of eating them.
Why do you eat so fast?
"Why are you baking so slowly!"
As the sun was about to set, Fangfang sat next to Cheng Xinglang, watching him play video games, his short fingers already tapping restlessly on his knees.
"Is it my turn?" Shengfang asked every thirty seconds.
Dr. Cheng's responses were always patient and thorough.
"I passed the test."
"I passed again."
Shengfang puffed out her cheeks: "We agreed on one game per person, so don't keep passing levels!"
Zhu Qing took her child out, thinking it would be more tiring than going to work, but to her surprise, someone helped take care of the child the whole time.
Fangfang likes to stay by Dr. Cheng's side and outwit him.
Zhu Qing and Zeng Yongshan sat down on one side, digging a sandpit with their hands to build a small castle, and chatted together.
“Actually, that day at the dessert shop—” Zeng Yongshan said, “I was the one who invited Mr. Liang, but he seemed to be…”
She shrugged. "I can't really explain it."
The major plot points in the original story were reversed, but the main storyline continues.
Zeng Yongshan told Zhu Qing that she had tried calling Liang Sir to chat and inviting him out for dessert and wonton noodles. Liang Qikai never refused, but he didn't seem very enthusiastic.
In the original storyline, the female lead was healed by the male lead, and gradually, the two became attracted to each other.
In real life, the opportunity that brought them closer disappeared, and their relationship remained at the level of colleagues, never progressing. But Zhu Qing knew that if Zeng Yongshan knew the truth, she wouldn't feel regret. The unreserved love and companionship between family members is a bond far more precious than romantic love.
"Zhu Qing, what do you think I should do?" Zeng Yongshan asked, kicking the sand beneath her feet, her voice muffled.
Zhu Qing did not answer immediately.
Zeng Yongshan looked dejected, knowing that Zhu Qing probably had no interest in discussing this issue with her.
But she couldn't very well go and talk to Hao-zai and Uncle Li about these things!
The annoying sea breeze, sometimes cool and sometimes hot, was just like her fluctuating mood.
Just as Zeng Yongshan was feeling frustrated by this unfamiliar version of herself, she heard Zhu Qing's clear voice.
"Anyway..." Zhu Qing turned around and looked directly into her eyes, "Don't wrong yourself."
Zeng Yongshan looked up in surprise.
Running after someone without getting a response, yet not being completely rejected, it's impossible to remain unmoved by the constant anxiety and uncertainty. She was naturally optimistic and never cared about how much she gave, but when Zhu Qing reminded her not to suffer, she still felt a little distracted.
“Okay,” Zeng Yongshan said softly.
In the sunset, Fangfang finally waited for Cheng Xinglang to hand over the game console.
He made it through one challenge after another; if they didn't let him win, the kids wouldn't even get a chance to play. Just a moment ago, Ben saw the young master of the Sheng family fuming, but when he turned around, the two of them were shoulder to shoulder, so close, becoming best playmates.
"You two made up?" Ben asked curiously as he munched on a grilled shrimp.
Shengfang held the game console without even looking up.
"Because he cured my illness."
That night, Qingzai stayed by his bedside, wiping his sweat and feeding him medicine using the methods Teacher Cheng had taught her.
"So forensic doctors can treat my illnesses too." Fangfang looked down and tapped the buttons on the game console.
“Of course.” Dr. Cheng paused, a smile playing on his lips. “A veterinarian can also do it.”
The young master of the Sheng family raised his head, his eyes wide open.
The setting sun fell directly behind Cheng Xinglang.
The blinding golden light forced him to squint, but he couldn't hide the smile on his lips.
Not far away, Zhu Qing took a bottle of chilled drink and sat down on the folding chair next to Uncle Li.
"Uncle Li, last time you asked him why he collected newspaper clippings?"
Uncle Li took the drink.
He made mistakes by drinking when he was young, and ever since then he has gotten used to not drinking at all.
“Him…” Uncle Li looked up, “Have you heard about the Cheng family case seventeen years ago?”
Seventeen years ago, Zhu Qing was still too young to read.
Even though the tragedy caused a huge uproar in the city at the time, she had no way of knowing about it.
"Dr. Cheng's father is a top neurosurgeon in China. His mother is even more remarkable; she is an authority on genetic psychiatry."
"Both husband and wife are internationally renowned medical experts who have published many groundbreaking papers."
"They also have a younger son who is introverted and withdrawn, completely different from Dr. Cheng."
Uncle Li watched Cheng Xinglang's figure, his voice gradually lowering.
It was an unusually quiet night, and time seemed to stand still when the police arrived at the Cheng family home after receiving a report.
Pushing open the door, a strong smell of blood wafted out. Cheng Xinglang's parents lay in pools of blood in the living room, while he himself lay in his room, his head covered in blood.
At the time, there was no sign of a struggle in his brother's room.
“At that time, I hadn’t been transferred to my current team yet. I was working with my old partner on the Cheng family’s case. That person used a blunt object and almost smashed Xinglang’s skull. I remember it took three whole days of emergency treatment before he was out of danger.”
"The case was solved quickly. The murderer was a homeless man with a history of mental illness who had committed multiple murders before. During the police chase, he ran into the road in a panic and was hit and killed on the spot by a large truck."
“Strangely, this madman was extremely cruel to the other victims, but he was kind to Cheng Xinglang’s younger brother. The boy’s bed was neatly made, but several clothes were missing from the closet, and even the teddy bear that he slept with on the bedside table was taken away.”
"They—" Zhu Qing couldn't help but ask, "Do you know them?"
For the past seventeen years, Dr. Cheng has been asking the same question.
Do they know each other?
Where did the murderer from back then take the younger brother?
His office was piled high with newspaper clippings of heinous crimes, each one meticulously labeled with information about the deceased or missing.
Cheng Xinglang stubbornly believed that his younger brother was still alive.
It simply exists in another form.
“Even now, Xinglang hasn’t moved out. Every corner of that house still bears traces of the past. I don’t know if he’s nostalgic, waiting for his younger brother to come home, or searching for clues we’ve missed.”
“He could come and go as if nothing was wrong during the day, but at night… I heard that there was a folding bed in the forensic room where he often slept.”
"Can't tell, can you?" Uncle Li's eyes were complicated as he gestured towards Dr. Cheng with his chin.
Following his gaze, Zhu Qing looked at Dr. Cheng, who was fighting with Fang Fang over playing the game console.
He leaned back lazily, using one hand to shield his eyes from the glaring sunlight of the setting sun, and also using his other hand to block the sun for Fang Fang.
In my memory, Dr. Cheng always smiled like that.
You couldn't tell at all that he carried a bloody past.
“You win.” Cheng Xinglang nudged the little figure beside him with his shoulder.
A burst of cheers erupted, and the words "Level Completed" flashed on the game console screen.
The young master raised his chubby little fist high and gently touched Dr. Cheng's fist.
We won!
...
Shengfang clearly heard from Brother Hua that getting a driver's license isn't that simple, and the pass rate isn't high. Some students take the test again and again, and before the test, they even bring their instructor a cup of milk tea and leave a small note saying "Please go easy on me."
Whenever this is mentioned, Brother Hua always gives a wry smile.
If you can't drive well, no amount of milk tea will help.
Shengfang thought that getting a driver's license was extremely difficult, so she kept an eye on Qingzai every day, hoping that she would complete her studies and return home soon.
However, who could have imagined that his niece would get her driver's license back so quickly?
Zhu Qing casually tossed the brand-new driver's license to her uncle.
Getting a driver's license is a piece of cake.
They burst into bloom, jumping high and cheering.
Ever since Qingzai reminded him to swipe his card last time, Shengfang has been carrying his supplementary black card with him wherever he goes.
Now, he carefully put Zhu Qing's driver's license in his pocket and took her to look at the car.
There's nothing in the family that your uncle doesn't have to worry about, from top to bottom, in every aspect.
He was willing to take care of everything, except for the topic of going to kindergarten tomorrow.
In the blink of an eye, another week has passed; what's meant to happen can't be avoided.
But at least having Qingzai drive me to school provides some psychological comfort.
"Qingzai, what do you think of this car?" Sheng Fang stood on tiptoe and rested one hand on the front of the car.
A sales consultant in a fitted suit immediately approached with a professional smile.
"Miss, you have excellent taste. This is a brand new, fully imported car; there are only three of these available in all of Hong Kong."
She walked around the car, her voice clear and crisp, in high heels, introducing the vehicle.
"A four-wheel drive off-road vehicle, powerful enough for both mountain climbing and ocean diving, plus a sunroof and leather seats—"
The sales consultant lowered his voice: "A gentleman also took a liking to it last week, but the mortgage hasn't been approved yet. If you like it, you can pay the deposit today and get the license plate tomorrow."
It's always easy for something to be successfully marketed.
His eyes lit up instantly as he accepted the colorful brochure handed to him.
She can get her driver's license in no time; that's how capable Qingzai is. Even if she didn't become a madam and switched to driving a taxi, she would definitely get the "first-class honor" from the taxi company.
As the uncle, he only needed to handle the logistical work so that his niece could have no worries.
Shengfang opened the driver's side door, but unfortunately her short legs couldn't reach the SUV, so she could only crane her neck to look around.
Zhu Qing was still holding an old newspaper she had just found deep inside the flea market.
She should have borrowed the old newspapers from the newspaper and magazine section of the public library, but she had been searching all over the library for the past two days, and the librarians all shook their heads. Fortunately, Old Huang, the owner of Huang's Newspaper and Magazine Stand, dragged a dusty cardboard box out from under a mountain of expired magazines.
She finally found the newspaper.
The newspaper published the tragic story of the Cheng family from seventeen years ago.
The reclusive little boy in the report was gently taken away by the murderer with a vacant look in his eyes; he was only six years old that year.
The blooming flowers circled the SUV once.
A luxury car and a handsome little boy make a perfect match, all thanks to Qingzai's newly issued driver's license.
One second ago, Shengfang was lavish in her praise—
Our Qingzai is good at everything!
"We can drive home now!" the young master exclaimed eagerly. "Swipe the card?"
Zhu Qing's gaze, however, remained fixed on the old newspaper: "Anything is fine."
The next second, Uncle spread his little hands—
That's just how our Qingzai is.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com