Zhong Ling finally couldn't hold back and angrily kicked her son out of the house: "Get lost, next time don't come back without taking your son with you."

Yu Ci stood outside the door, somewhat helplessly: "Please at least give me the car keys."

Zhong Ling looked around and found the key on the cabinet near the door.

She grabbed the key and stuffed it into Yu Ci's hand, and started to chase him away: "Let's go, hurry up and chase him, without stopping."

After a pause, she was still worried: "When you confess your feelings, be serious. It's better to have a romantic scene or something, or do it on an important occasion."

She said with great disdain: "Don't confess your love on the street like your father did. The snow flew all over my face, which was so ugly."

Speaking of this, Yu Ci suddenly remembered something: "Did our family sponsor the author conference?"

"Yeah, why are you asking this?" Zhong Ling looked puzzled, but then she quickly realized what was going on, her eyes lit up: "Does Xiaoshi have to participate?"

"Of course, I just said you were stupid, but you suddenly figured it out."

Zhong Ling glanced at her son in praise: "A grand occasion like an author's conference is the best place for a romantic confession."

Yu Ci didn't say yes or no: "Can you help me add a spot?"

Zhong Ling nodded: "No problem, I'll go talk to your dad later."

"Thanks, Mom."

"Why are you being so polite to mom?"

Zhong Ling finished laughing, then swung her hand back mercilessly.

"bump--"

The door was mercilessly closed, and only Zhong Ling's powerful words could be heard through the door: "If you don't catch the person, don't come back."

Yu Ci raised his eyebrows and returned to the car.

The night rain had stopped when I arrived, but now it started to drizzle again.

The light rain was blown by the night wind and hit my face, bringing a chill.

Yu Ci didn't take the rain seriously and didn't turn back to get an umbrella. As a result, he was trapped downstairs of the apartment building by the sudden heavy rain on the way.

The distance from the parking lot to the apartment door is not too far, but with the current rain, you will be soaked like a drowned rat within two seconds of going out.

Yu Ci was in no hurry to get off the car.

He turned off the engine, adjusted the seat back a little, put his hands behind his head, and looked upstairs in the dim street lights outside the car.

It was late at night and most of the tall buildings were dark, with only a few houses still having their lights on.

He counted up the floors and found his floor among the homes of people who had turned off the lights.

I can’t tell whether it’s disappointment or what, but I’m not in a very good mood anyway.

Although he asked Shi Jin to go to bed first, when he really fell asleep, Yu Ci felt that something was not right with him.

He thought about it and suddenly made a sound, scolding himself: "Pretentious."

Some raindrops fell in through the gaps in the car window that was not closed tightly, leaving several long and short water stains on the dry window.

Yu Ci reached out to take the paper from his pocket, but his fingertips touched something hard.

He paused, then took the thing out of his pocket - it was the box that Shi Jin gave him before returning to Yu's house.

The box was small, square, light white, and tied with a delicate bow using a satin blue ribbon.

Yu Ci's mood, which had just been low, suddenly became high, and the corners of his mouth curved up uncontrollably: "...Mysterious."

Yu Ci reached out and touched the rough corner of the gift box, and the naturally upturned corners of his eyes became even more curved.

He carefully untied the bow tied on it and took a deep breath before looking at the box.

After the turmoil in his heart had subsided a little, Yu Ci looked at the box.

A little clay figurine dressed exactly like him was lying quietly in the box, with a big head and short legs, looking funny and cute. On that round head, a pair of big, watery eyes were staring at him without blinking, which was particularly eye-catching.

Yu Ci: “…”

The expression on his face froze for a moment, but was soon replaced by a deeper smile - because he saw another little man in the box.

The little man in black clothes with delicate features and a pair of clear eyes was lying quietly next to the little man of "Kazlan Big Eyes".

The two clay figures, one big and one small, are well-behaved and harmonious.

Yu Ci suddenly closed his eyes.

He raised his hand and placed it half on his face, using the back of his hand to hide the smile that was spreading from the corner of his eyes.

It's completely screwed.

Yu Ci thought.

The kind that is willing and has no way out.

——

The authors' conference was held at the largest international hotel in Chuncheng.

As a major event in the literary circle held every three years, this year's event is larger than any previous years because it has won sponsorship from several companies.

The city of spring has entered early winter, and the continuous drop in temperature has shrouded the entire city in cold.

The hotel had turned on the heating, and the lobby was dotted with reporters who had arrived early to reserve seats. They were adjusting their cameras to get the most talked-about photos before the conference officially started.

After exchanging polite greetings with several editors from other publishing houses, Shi Yi walked to Xinmei's seating area.

Several editors from Xinmei were standing here. When they saw Shi Yi coming, Tang Yuan was the first to greet him: "Brother Shi Yi, come and sit down."

"No need to sit down. Stand for a while." Shi Yi shook his head and glanced at Tang Yuan, reminding her, "Stand for a while if you can now. You will have a chance to sit down later."

Tang Yuan had only been at Xinmei for a year and had never attended an author conference. At this moment, she was in a state of curiosity about everything. Hearing this, she was a little curious: "Why?"

Qiaoqiao, wearing a simple white dress, walked over with a glass of wine in hand. "Because according to convention, the author conference usually lasts at least four hours, and the longest time has been eight hours."

"During this period, except for going to the toilet, I basically sat in my seat."

"Ah." Tang Yuan's face fell instantly: "It took so long, I thought it would be over with just an award ceremony."

"It is indeed an award ceremony." The little fox came out from nowhere and said, "But if you give an award to me and I give an award to you, and if we also insert speeches by leaders and advertisements from sponsors in between, won't it take a lot of time?"

Tang Yuan sighed: "Little fox, why did you come out?"

Before the author conference officially begins, authors who arrive early usually wait in the hotel lounge, and only walk out on the red carpet one by one when the conference officially begins.

Is it okay for the little fox to come out early?

Tangyuan thought about it and looked at Qiaoqiao, his round eyes full of confusion.

Qiaoqiao smiled: "What does it matter? Little Fox didn't participate in the last session. She is standing here. Who knows if she is the author or the editor?"

Tang Yuan thought: "It seems so."

They chatted for a while, and Tang Yuan sighed again, looking at Shi Yi in surprise: "Brother Shi Yi, what's wrong with you? Usually you are the most active in our chats, why are you so quiet today?"

Qiaoqiao also noticed it. She looked at Shi Yi and asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Shi Yi's eyes were evasive: "No, nothing."

Instead, the little fox curled the corners of his lips, and there was a smile in his upturned fox eyes.

She moved closer to Shi Yi and took his arm in a somewhat intimate manner: "Brother Shi Yi may be avoiding me."

Her action not only scared Qiaoqiao and Tangyuan, but also made Shi Yi jump as if his foot was stepped on.

He quickly pulled his hand out, his eyes wandering, and he spoke quickly: "I remembered that I still have to go to the door to pick up Shi Jin. You guys chat, I'm leaving first."

As soon as he finished speaking, he ran away as if he was being chased by a ghost.

Tang Yuan stared at his back in a daze. After a while, he turned back in surprise: "Little fox, you...?"

Her gaze stopped on the charming little fox in a red dress, and then she turned to look at Shi Yi's fleeing back, her mind full of disbelief.

Although Brother Shi Yi is not bad looking, with thick eyebrows, big eyes and a sunny and healthy look, he and the little fox just don't look like a good match, not to mention that they don't seem to have any intersection before?

Facing the gazes of the editors around him, the little fox curved his thin eyebrows and said, "That's what you see."

She used her fingers to play with the hair on her forehead, with a charming smile on her lips: "I'm chasing him."

"It's a pity that I haven't caught up with him yet." The little fox pouted in frustration, "He ran away as soon as he saw me, as if he had seen a ghost. Am I really ugly?"

Qiaoqiao used her hand to close her open jaw, trying to digest this fact: "Are you serious?"

"Of course." The little fox gave her a strange look: "This is my first time chasing someone."

And the other side.

Shi Yi, who had run all the way to the rest area as if he had seen a ghost, stopped and looked behind him with some lingering fear.

A familiar author came up to chat.

He calmed himself down and started chatting with the visitor skillfully.

At the end of the conversation, Shi Yi looked around the large rest area and asked the author, "Have you seen Shi Qian?"

After asking this question, he realized that Shi Jin never participated in their author gatherings, and the other authors basically didn't know him.

Sure enough, the author shook his head and said, "Sorry, Editor Shi, I don't know if Shi Qian is here."

"Brother Shi hasn't come yet." A soft young voice interrupted from the side.

Shi Yi looked in the direction of the voice, a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes: "It's you."

Cheng Ke, his pen name remains a mystery.

He had thought about signing him before, but before he could take any action, Wei Yu signed him first.

Cheng Kexiao looked at him with two dimples on her cheeks that looked particularly soft: "It's me. Long time no see."

Shi Yi: "Have you seen me?"

"Yeah." Cheng Ke nodded obediently: "Last time when I was recording a variety show, I saw you next to Brother Shi."

As he spoke, he suddenly tilted his head: "You seem to have a good relationship with Brother Shi."

Shi Yi said "Ah", then scratched his head: "It's OK, it's OK."

"Oh, right," he remembered something, "You just said Shi Jin hasn't come yet, have you contacted him?"

"No." Cheng Ke shook her head, her fair face showing an obedient expression: "I have searched everywhere."

He blinked and said, "I have searched the entire lounge area several times. I even checked the toilets."

Looking at the boy's clear black and white eyes, Shi Yi suddenly felt something was wrong.

He thought about it, but couldn't come up with anything, so he just smiled and said, "Thank you, I'll leave first, you take a rest."

Cheng Ke nodded: "Remember to tell me when Big Brother comes later."

Shi Yi was on his phone, and when he heard this he didn't turn around, he just waved his hand casually: "No problem."

He slid the screen to find Shi Jin's number and pressed the call button.

Almost the next second after the screen showed the call was connected, a familiar ringtone came from the front.

He raised his head, stopped walking, and said with surprise in his eyes: "You are here."