Qiqi blinked her big eyes and lowered her head. "Okay, Qiqi understands."
Seeing how well-behaved and sensible she was, Huo Yuwei felt sorry for her again.
Softening her voice, she said, "Qiqi, be good. We'll make a plan when you're feeling better. In the meantime, let your older brother and Little Nine investigate, okay?"
"Oh no, big brother, we forgot about Brother Xiao Jiu!" Qi Qi suddenly remembered something. "We haven't contacted him for so long, he must be so worried!"
Huo Yuwei's expression changed, and he suddenly remembered his precocious younger brother.
He took out his phone and, sure enough, saw dozens of missed calls and countless messages.
The latest post was made five minutes ago: "Bro, if Qiqi loses even a single hair, you'll be in big trouble."
Huo Yuwei: "..."
It’s over!
Xiao Jiu is such a petty person. I ignored him, and he still let Qi Qi get so badly injured.
He had a feeling that things wouldn't be too easy for him once he got home.
Qiqi also came over to look, and when she saw the message Huo Yusen sent, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Oh no, Little Nine looks really angry!"
Huo Yuwei pinched her cheek helplessly, "It's all because of you."
He took a deep breath and dialed Huo Yusen's number.
The call was answered almost instantly, and Huo Yusen's icy voice came through, "Big brother, you'd better give me a reasonable explanation."
"Xiao Jiu, listen to me..." Huo Yuwei quickly gave a brief account of what had happened.
After listening, there was a long silence on the other end of the phone, so long that Huo Yuwei thought the signal had been lost.
"Xiao Jiu?"
"How is Qiqi now?" Huo Yusen's voice was devoid of emotion.
"He's awake and taking his medicine. The doctor said he needs to rest for three months."
“Three months…” Huo Yusen paused for a moment, “When will you be back?”
"My flight is early tomorrow morning."
"Send me the flight number, I'll come pick you up," Huo Yusen said, and then hung up the phone.
Huo Yuwei listened to the busy tone on the phone, shook his head with a wry smile.
This kid is really angry.
Qiqi tugged at his sleeve, "Big brother, is Brother Xiao Jiu very angry?"
“Okay.” Huo Yuwei nodded. “So when we get home, you have to speak up for me.”
"Okay!" Qiqi patted her little chest. "Qiqi will protect big brother!"
Seeing her earnest little face, Huo Yuwei felt a warmth in his heart and pulled her into his arms. "Silly girl, it's late, you should go to sleep."
As night deepened, Qiqi gradually fell asleep under Huo Yuwei's gentle pats.
In her dream, she seemed to see the rescued children returning to their parents' arms, and a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.
Outside the window, the starry sky is dazzling.
Tomorrow will be another new day.
***
The next morning, Huo Yuwei carried the still-sleeping Qiqi onto the plane back to Beijing.
Bai Xuan transformed into a jade bracelet, which coiled around Qi Qi's wrist.
Tiger Eagle's injuries had not fully healed, so Qi Qi kept it inside the improved Qiankun Talisman and took it with her on the plane.
When the plane landed, Qiqi woke up groggily.
She rubbed her eyes and looked out the window; the familiar airport instantly snapped her back to reality.
"Wow, we're home already!"
"Yeah, if I don't come back soon, I'm afraid Xiao Jiu will come to Yun City to settle accounts with me."
Qiqi nestled in his arms, giggling, "I never expected that big brother would be so afraid of little brother Jiu!"
"Big brother isn't just afraid of your little brother Jiu, but also of Grandma and Aunt Ji!"
Huo Yuwei carefully held her, his face full of worry as he spoke to her, "So, Qiqi, when you see Grandma and Aunt Ji later, don't say anything out of line. Especially about your injury, I'm afraid they'll skin me alive!"
Qiqi blinked her big eyes, "Big brother, don't be afraid. Mommy and Grandma Huo are very nice and gentle. They're not fierce at all and won't skin you alive!"
"They're very kind and gentle to you, but they might not be so kind to me!" Huo Yuwei tapped Qiqi's nose. "So, Qiqi, please don't say you're badly injured later, okay?"
Qiqi's nose itched from the tap, and she tilted her head to look at him with a smile, "Big brother, are you teaching Qiqi to lie now?"
“It’s not lying, it’s… selective reporting.” Huo Yuwei guided him patiently. “For example, you can say ‘Qiqi is a little tired and needs to rest,’ but you can’t say ‘Qiqi vomited blood and was unconscious for a long time. The doctor told Qiqi to stay in bed for three months,’ understand?”
Qiqi nodded as if she understood, "Oh..."
Seeing that the little girl was willing to cooperate, Huo Yuwei breathed a sigh of relief.
Actually, he wasn't really afraid of being punished by Grandma Huo and Madam Ji, but he didn't want them to worry.
As soon as the two stepped out of the arrival gate, they saw Huo Yusen waiting there.
The five-year-old boy, dressed in a custom-made suit, stood out in the crowd with a serious expression.
He was followed by the Huo family's butler and bodyguards, making quite a entourage.
"Brother Xiao Jiu!" Qi Qi waved happily to Huo Yusen as soon as she saw him.
Huo Yusen strode over, his gaze first scrutinizing Qiqi's face to make sure her complexion was relatively normal, before turning to Huo Yuwei in an unfriendly tone, "Big brother, explain."
"Let's talk about it when we get home," Huo Yuwei said in a low voice. "There are too many people here."
Huo Yusen pursed his lips, didn't ask any further questions, and instead reached out, "Qiqi, let me hold you."
Huo Yuwei hesitated for a moment, but still handed Qiqi over.
The sight of a five-year-old carrying a three-and-a-half-year-old is a bit comical, but Huo Yusen holds the child very steadily, clearly having practiced a lot recently.
Qiqi saw that Huo Yusen had a stern face and didn't smile at her gently as usual, so she knew he was quite angry.
So the little girl hugged Huo Yusen's neck, brought her chubby little face close to his, and rubbed it against his face.
The little girl's sweet voice whined, "Brother Xiao Jiu, Qi Qi misses you so much!"
He knew perfectly well that the little girl was deliberately acting cute to coax him.
Huo Yusen's tense face softened involuntarily. "I missed you too. Don't take such risks again next time, okay?"
He couldn't bear to part with her and got angry with Qiqi.
In particular, knowing that the little girl was seriously injured, he was heartbroken.
"Okay!" Qiqi replied obediently.
On the way back to the Huo family villa, Huo Yuwei briefly recounted the events of the operation.
Huo Yusen listened quietly, his expression growing increasingly serious.
"So, there are still more than seven hundred children in their hands?" he asked.
"Yes." Huo Yuwei nodded. "Moreover, we've alerted them this time, and they might act prematurely. So, we don't have much time left."
Huo Yusen was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Perfect timing, I've found some information."
He took a tablet computer out of his small briefcase and opened a document.
"This is what I found out over the past few days by using my connections. The overseas foundation that donated to multiple children's hospitals and welfare institutions is actually controlled by a man named 'Zhao Tianxiang,' a Chinese American who appears to be a philanthropist, but in reality..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com