Morning, thin mist hangs dimly.
Chen Wan went out the door. Ye family’s small garden was full of vitality; flowers of all kinds bloomed delicately, leaves dotted with dew about to fall, green ivy climbed all over the walls, making the entire small courtyard brim with the breath of life.
This once again made her certain of her decision to buy this house.
Their whole family had traveled thousands of miles from the capital to Haicheng, and only last month finished the procedures to register their household here.
Good things came in pairs. Her husband, Ye Huaishan, too, because of his outstanding personal ability, had been hired by a public middle school in Haicheng as a math teacher.
From now on, bidding farewell to those people and matters in the capital, their new life would unfold in Haicheng.
Chen Wan got up early today, planning to take advantage of the time when the vegetable market wasn’t crowded to buy fresh vegetables.
Just after leaving the house and closing the iron gate, when she turned around, she was surprised to find someone sitting on the small stone pier in front of her home.
To be precise, it was a “small” someone.
The little boy was wearing a one-piece suspender outfit, carrying an Ultraman backpack, the little hat on his head also printed with an Ultraman emblem. At the moment, both hands were holding a small water cup, panting as he drank milk one mouthful at a time.
He was only a little taller than the stone pier; sitting on the flat surface, his two short little legs couldn’t reach the ground at all. Chen Wan found it amusing. The villa area had very good security, this child could only be someone else’s child from the neighborhood, it was impossible for him to have slipped in from outside.
“Little friend, why are you outside by yourself? Where are your parents?” Perhaps because she herself also had a son about the same age as the little boy, Chen Wan unconsciously softened her voice, squatted down, and asked him.
The little boy raised his head at the sound. On his tender little face were two gray smudges.
His looks made Chen Wan marvel. At such a young age, one could already tell he had phoenix eyes, thin single eyelids, and thick eyelashes. He stopped drinking the milk, instead vigilantly closed the lid of the cup, tidied his messy little suspenders, and looked as though he was about to jump down from the stone pier and continue on his way.
…Oh ho, a little cool kid.
Chen Wan had already sensed something. Smiling, she bent slightly, carrying her vegetable basket, and followed behind him.
Shen Shii was already in a bad mood today, and now he had run into a strange aunt who talked to herself. He pumped his short little legs, holding in a breath of annoyance, and suddenly started running forward.
Back at home, as long as he ran like this, no one except Father Shen could catch up with him. Now, after running just two steps, he arrogantly looked back and was instantly shocked to discover that the strange aunt had actually caught up!
—So scary!
All morning he had been fleeing nonstop, from when the sun had just peeked out until now, and he was already utterly exhausted.
Along the way he’d wanted to find a place to rest, but his little cleanliness obsession flared up, and he stubbornly kept going for a long time before finally spotting a clean stone pier.
If he had known that sitting on a stone pier would get him stared at by such a terrifying person, he wouldn’t have sat down.
In Shen Shi’s three-year-old life, this was the first time he had tasted the flavor of regret.
Naturally, Chen Wan had no idea what he was thinking. Holding up her phone, she snapped photos of Shen Shi’s back, even recorded a short video, and sent it directly to the property management.
After confirming the message had been received, she closed her phone and slowly walked over to the panting child.
“Little friend, not running anymore?”
Shen Shi kept a stiff little face. Under his anxiety, he kind of wanted to drink milk, but before running away from home he’d only prepared one cup, this was his food for the whole day. If he drank it now, he wouldn’t have any for the evening.
He licked his dry lips and made up his mind not to pay attention to this strange aunt.
Ultraman would protect him; he wasn’t afraid of bad people.
Chen Wan had never interacted with such a child before. Her own son was well-behaved and adorable, sensible like a little angel. The neighbor kids before had either been noisy or mischievous; a child like Shen Shi, so young yet so wary, and refusing to be swayed by either kindness or scolding, was someone she was encountering for the first time.
After wracking her brain, she stopped teasing Shen Shi, instead squatted down and said gently, “Little friend, Auntie lives in that house up ahead. Would you like to come play at Auntie’s home?”
Shen Shi shot her a glance, his narrow little phoenix eyes dark and slick, full of disdain. In this short while he’d already recovered his strength; he adjusted his little backpack and continued walking toward the outside of the villa area.
Chen Wan felt a headache coming on. She stared at the Ultraman on Shen Shi’s backpack. “Really don’t want to come play at Auntie’s house? Auntie’s house has lots of Ultraman.”
At that moment, the resolute little back trembled.
“And there are complete Ultraman DVD collections, Ultraman figurines too.”
“Oh, right, there are also Ultraman cards. My son likes Diga Ultraman the most, heard Diga Ultraman is really handsome.” Chen Wan pressed on.
Finally, the back that was undergoing fierce inner struggle turned around, revealing Shen Shi’s cool yet tightly drawn little face. Shen Shi also said his first words to Chen Wan since meeting her.
“No!” The little boy spoke clearly and forcefully, clenching his fists as he let out a deafening shout: “…Zero is the most handsome!”
Chen Wan: “……”
Chen Wan: “…pfft.”
It still wasn’t time for school to start.
Ye Huaishan was idle at home, making breakfast. Hearing the sound of the door opening, he walked out of the kitchen. His gaze fell on Chen Wan, then shifted to the child behind her.
The little boy was only as tall as Chen Wan’s thigh. One could tell he was well brought up, he didn’t look around randomly. For some reason, Ye Huaishan seemed to glimpse a hint of suspicion on that serious little face.
“This is…?” Holding a mug, he asked softly, looking at Chen Wan whose eyes were curved with laughter.
Chen Wan took off her coat. The morning was still a bit chilly, but now the temperature had risen; she was warm enough that her cheeks were slightly flushed. “A kid I picked up on the road.”
She said this very quietly, not letting Shen Shi hear. “He probably got lost. I’ve already messaged property management; they’re checking. Let’s have the child stay at our place for now.”
“Alright, I’ll go make breakfast. What’s this kid’s name?”
“Don’t know. I asked him but he didn’t tell me.”
Shen Shi was still standing at the entryway. Now that it had come to this, his inner vigilance rose again. Catching sight of the two adults whispering sneakily, he clenched his fists, his little heart thumping wildly, and began to retreat.
The little backpack on his back now felt as heavy as a thousand catties. His upbringing made him not want to disturb others at a time like this, but he was still very young; once unease crept into his heart, it was hard to hide on his face.
“Auntie, I’d better—”
……
“Mom.”
At the same moment, a soft, mushy voice sounding as if it hadn’t quite woken up came from the staircase.
Shen Shi blinked and looked up.
Chen Wan exclaimed as well and hurried forward. “Ranran? Why are you awake?”
Little Ye Ran was wearing loose long pajamas, holding a small blanket, bare little feet stepping on the carpet.
Lotus-root-like arms obediently wrapped around Chen Wan’s neck. He had just woken up; his hair stuck up messily, his eyes were moist, his whole body smelled of milk, and a fever-reducing patch was still stuck on his forehead. Listlessly leaning on Chen Wan’s shoulder, he asked her, “Mom, where did you go?”
“Mom went to buy groceries,” Chen Wan patted his back. “And I brought you back an older brother.”
Little Ye Ran froze, bewildered, and lowered his head. His eyes were damp with moisture, dark and hazy, and on his snow-white cheeks were tear marks from waking up and not seeing his mother. Across the not-so-long distance, he saw the unfamiliar boy who was also looking up at him.
Little Shen Shi: “……”
Little Shen Shi met his gaze for a few seconds, suddenly inhaled, shifted his eyes away, and with reddened little ears said, “Auntie, from now on I’ll be troubling your family.”
Chen Wan: “?”
Ye Huaishan: “?”
Not quite understanding the child’s childish words, Chen Wan didn’t think much of it. Seeing that Ye Ran was no longer sad, she gently put him down, held Ye Ran’s little hand, and introduced the two children.
“This is my son, Ye Ran. His nickname is Ranran.”
Little Ye Ran obediently nestled against her. On his pale face from the fever bloomed a hint of reserved red. His voice was soft as he spoke quietly, “…Hello, big brother. I’m Ranran.”
Chen Wan smiled and looked at Shen Shi. Little Shen Shi’s face was still taut, his demeanor cool, but his palm gripping the backpack strap was sweaty. With a serious face, he wiped his palm on his clothes, imitating Father Shen’s manner, and extended his hand toward Ye Ran—
“My name is Shen Shi,” he said with a stiff little face, though his voice still carried a milky tone. “I live at 355, Wisteria Villa Area, Phoenix Street. My dad’s name is Shen Hanqing, my mom’s name is Jiang Ruoyan. My dad’s phone number is 135, my mom’s phone number is 157.”
Chen Wan’s smile slowly stiffened: “…?”
Little Ye Ran was also stunned for a moment. He instinctively reached out and shook Shen Shi’s hand. Only then did he belatedly react and unconsciously turn back to look at his mother. The tempest in Chen Wan’s heart was instantly calmed by that glance.
Ye Ran was a premature baby; his health had never been good since childhood. For the sake of his body, Chen Wan rarely let him go out to play, raising him very carefully. Because of this, when they were still in the capital, Ye Ran had very few playmates.
Little Ye Ran was also very sensible; he never asked to go out to play. Only once, when Chen Wan came home early from work, she saw Ye Ran lying by the window, enviously watching several children playing soccer. For a mother, nothing could be more heart-wrenching than that scene.
“Shen Hanqing?” Ye Dad suddenly spoke up from the side.
Exchanging a look with Chen Wan, he said nothing more, instead watching as Chen Wan settled little Shen Shi and little Ye Ran in the living room to let them play together.
Adults’ matters had nothing to do with children.
Shen Shi changed into the small slippers Chen Wan found for him, then went to the bathroom to wash up.
With his backpack on, holding Ye Ran’s little hand, he sat down inside the children’s play enclosure in the living room. Inside were many toys: blocks, LEGO, a nine-linked ring puzzle, fairy tale books.
And also some neatly arranged small cards.
With a single glance, little Shen Shi knew the cards were printed with Diga Ultraman.
Although Ye Ran was holding his hand, he looked back every few steps. In his watery eyes was some unease; he couldn’t help wanting his mom to come accompany him.
Chen Wan stood not far away, smiling as she watched him. She was a very energetic and gentle person. Seeing Ye Ran look over, Chen Wan made a classic Diga Ultraman pose. Little Ye Ran froze, then was amused by his mom. His smile was soft, two little dimples sinking into his snow-white cheeks, like a ball of cotton.
Mom had taught him before, this gesture meant “courage.”
Little Ye Ran plucked up his courage and did not look back again, but instead followed Shen Shi to sit by the fence, watching little Shen Shi set down the small backpack he protected like a treasure.
Little Shen Shi pulled open the zipper of the backpack and, with a serious expression, took out a thick stack of cards from inside, pushing them all in front of Ye Ran.
“Giving them to you, little brother Ranran.” he said.
The cards were all Ultraman.
Little Ye Ran stared blankly at these cards, reacting a beat late. He also took out a stack of cards from his own little treasure box likewise Ultraman cards. The difference was that this stack was entirely Diga Ultraman.
Little Shen Shi felt that his bottom line had been trampled.
Little Ye Ran was completely unaware. His voice was soft, his eyes black and round, like a beautiful little angel. “Big brother Shen Shi… giving them to you.”
Little Shen Shi: “……”
Actually, Diga was quite handsome too.
His little ears turned red, and he suddenly wanted to drink milk.
Since he had already “married into” the Ye family, little Shen Shi cleverly knew that his lunch and dinner for the day were now settled. Thinking of the half bottle of milk he hadn’t finished yet, the more he thought about it the drier his mouth became, so he simply opened his backpack and took out the milk bottle.
The milk bottle had two hanging handles, and the nipple was also the latest foreign technology. Smelling the milky fragrance, little Shen Shi swallowed his saliva greedily, held the bottle with both small hands, and gulped it down.
After only two sips, he met little Ye Ran’s curious gaze.
Little Shen Shi: “……”
This was his favorite milk, the milk he didn’t forget to prepare a cup of even when running away from home.
Enduring his heartbreak, little Shen Shi let go of the nipple. His black, glossy eyes stared at Ye Ran, and with the demeanor of a big brother he asked, “Ranran, do you want some?”
Little Ye Ran hadn’t spoken yet when little Shen Shi nodded, stood up on his short legs, and ran to pull two tissues. “We have to be good kids who care about hygiene.”
He clumsily wiped the nipple, his chubby little hands using all their strength. Only after making sure it was clean did he hold the bottle out to little Ye Ran, bringing it to his mouth. “Ranran, drink.”
He had woken up very early this morning, and Ye Ran also hadn’t had any milk yet.
He was very hungry. The words of refusal reached his lips, but were held back by the milk smell and the nipple pressed toward him. Little Ye Ran obediently took the bottle. His hands were even smaller than little Shen Shi’s, gripping the two hanging handles as he gulped down a sip.
“Is it good?” little Shen Shi asked eagerly.
“Good,” little Ye Ran took a sip, feeling that this milk he had never drunk before tasted even better than the one Mom prepared. Unable to resist, he gulped another sip. “Thank you, big brother.”
After only two sips, he returned the bottle to Shen Shi.
Mom had said he wasn’t allowed to drink cold things.
This time, little Shen Shi confirmed that he truly didn’t want any more. Only then did he hug the bottle and gulp down most of it.
Having shared a single bottle of milk, the two instantly became close.
Ultraman cards were scattered in front of them. Little Shen Shi laid them out one by one. He squatted, his short legs stepping slowly as he arranged seven or eight rows. Discovering that there weren’t enough cards, he went to look at Ye Ran.
Little Ye Ran had been obediently following by his side the whole time. Whenever Shen Shi moved a step, he followed with a step. Now seeing that there weren’t enough cards, little Ye Ran blinked and said very obediently, “Big brother, there are no more cards.”
“It’s okay, big brother has some in his backpack.”
Little Shen Shi pitter-pattered over and opened his backpack. From the inner pocket he took out several stiff cards. Little Ye Ran hesitated as he looked at these cards without Ultraman pictures, and asked in a milky voice, “Big brother, what Ultraman is this?”
“This isn’t Ultraman,” Shen Shi pointed at the text on the cards, randomly tapping, but what he said came out smoothly. “My mom said these are bank cards.”
“What is a bank card?”
“It’s a card you can use to buy milk when you run away from home.”
Little Ye Ran was even more confused. “…Run away from home?”
“Mm,” little Shen Shi’s expression dimmed at that moment. He pressed his lips together, his eye rims reddening. The little cool-guy look almost collapsed as he forced himself not to cry and said bravely, “Big brother doesn’t have mom and dad anymore.”
Ye Ran had always been sensitive. Seeing Shen Shi’s reddened eyes made him feel very bad as well.
…How could there be no mom and dad?
Mom and dad were Ranran’s most important people.
He wanted to go look for Mom, but seeing little Shen Shi about to cry, he stayed. After thinking it over, he toddled over on his short legs. His soft little arms hugged Shen Shi, taking the initiative to get close with little Shen Shi. His snow-white cheeks still carried a milky scent, fragrant, like the milk candy Shen Shi had eaten before.
“Big brother, don’t cry,” little Ye Ran’s voice trembled. Long eyelashes hung with tears as he said softly, “You can live at Ranran’s home. Ranran will play with you.”
Little Shen Shi, who had been holding back tears all morning, burst out crying with a “wa.”
Chen Wan, who was in the kitchen boiling water to prepare milk for Ye Ran, froze and hurried out. Just as she reached the living room, she heard another crying sound.
She looked blankly at the center of the enclosure, at the two little bundles hugging each other, cheeks soft and pudgy, crying with all their might.
Little Shen Shi’s composure from the entire morning completely collapsed. Tears pattered down as he cried and hugged little Ye Ran at the same time, comforting him. “Ranran… wa… don’t cry… we, we have to be… strong, strong men!”
Little Ye Ran’s eyes brimmed with tears. He had already spotted his mom nearby, holding up her phone to take photos and videos. Crying, he stretched his arms toward Mom, not forgetting to grab Shen Shi’s hand as well, the two of them entered Chen Wan’s embrace together.
Chen Wan hurriedly set the phone aside, laughing until tears came out. On the other end of the call, a woman’s voice drifted out, word by word, filled with fury: “Shen. Shi!”
Little Shen Shi, who had been crying with abandon, snapped his eyes open. In his glossy black eyes appeared a hint of confusion.
Mother Shen ground her teeth, her voice completely devoid of any poise as it rang out again. “You still know how to cry?!”
Time rewound to one hour earlier.
After discovering that Shen Shi had run away from home, the entire Shen household was almost turned upside down.
Mother Shen’s head buzzed in chaos. Thinking of the enemies Father Shen had made recently in the business world, then of the mixed crowds in the villa area every morning, then of little Shen Shi’s stubborn and headstrong temper, countless speculations nearly crushed her. In the end, she cried in utter despair and, together with Father Shen, watched the morning’s surveillance footage.
Five in the morning.
The Shen residence was sunk in silence.
In the black-and-white images of the surveillance monitor, amid everyone’s breath-held waiting, a figure slowly appeared.
Three-year-old little Shen Shi was already neatly dressed, carrying his backpack, step by step walking out of the children’s room. He was wearing Ultraman suspenders and even had an Ultraman hat on his head.
Chen Ma’s swollen eyes revealed admiration. “…Young master really dressed nicely.”
Taught only once, and he could already put it on so neatly.
Mother Shen vaguely felt that something was off, but thinking of the person hidden in the dark who had taken Shen Shi away, the resentment in her heart grew stronger. She focused almost all her attention on the surveillance, watching little Shen Shi, so sleepy he could barely open his eyes, walking along the wall while rubbing his eyes.
Under everyone’s gaze, little Shen Shi walked into the study.
Shen Hanqing’s face sank. “…Could it be that someone from the Zhang family snuck into the house?”
Using a child, utterly insane!
The surveillance image switched, showing what little Shen Shi did in the study. He deftly climbed up Father Shen’s stool on his short legs, making Mother Shen and the others’ hearts jump again. Then they saw Shen Shi, small yet cunning, naturally pull open a drawer and grab a handful of bank cards from inside.
Father Shen: “?”
Mother Shen: “?”
The two of them went blank for a moment, watching Shen Shi, panting from exhaustion, sit on the floor. Because his hands were too small, it took two trips to carry five bank cards, all of which he stuffed into his little backpack.
After stuffing in the cards, he clung to the staircase and slid down to the first floor little by little, slowly. In the darkness, he precisely found the milk powder he usually drank, skillfully used warm water from the water dispenser to make himself a cup of milk. After mixing it, he contentedly drank a few sips, then added another half cup. Only then did he close the lid, carefully put it into his little backpack, puff out his chest, lift his head, and leave the house without looking back.
A profoundly absurd conjecture suddenly arose in Mother Shen’s heart.
She could barely stand; Father Shen also fell silent little by little, his eyes carrying a hint of suffocation.
Watching the surveillance, watching little Shen Shi, his short legs stepping, a milky-soft little bundle, at this moment, the entire Shen household fell into a mysterious silence.
…It seemed, not to be a kidnapping.
Their three-and-a-half-year-old young master seemed to have… run away from home?
