He held a sky-blue smartphone in his hand, looking serious.
"Dad, I didn't wander around. Please don't come looking for me," Little Jingshi said. "I'll be back at school by noon."
"... "
"Where am I? I'm with my girlfriend."
Ming Yutong: "..."
She didn't know how Fu Yinxiu responded on the phone, but Little Jingshi soon hung up without saying much more.
Rarely alone with Little Jingshi, Ming Yutong set aside her work and talked with him.
"Jingshi," Ming Yutong pondered for a moment, "have you always been with your dad since you were little?"
"Of course," Little Jingshi said, holding his orange juice. "I'm my dad's kid, so I've always been with him."
"Has... has your dad ever mentioned your mom to you?" Ming Yutong asked cautiously.
The first time she met Little Jingshi at Chu Tian Hospital, he had only mentioned that his grandparents told him his mom didn't want him.
But what about Fu Yinxiu? Did he say anything?
Little Jingshi shook his head. "Dad never says anything. Every time I bring up mom, he just gets cold and ignores me."
So, gradually, he stopped asking.
There was nothing to ask anyway.
Ming Yutong lowered her eyes and saw Little Jingshi looking at her curiously.
"Tong Tong, can I come to see you again in the future?" Little Jingshi asked, adding quickly, "I promise I won't skip class."
"Of course," Ming Yutong eagerly agreed. She took out her phone and said to Little Jingshi, "Here, save my number. When you come to see me next time, give me a call. Don't come out alone; it's too dangerous."
Little Jingshi happily took out his phone, saved Ming Yutong's number, and called her.
Then, he saved Ming Yutong's number on his phone and handed it to her. "Tong Tong, can you enter your contact? I don't know how to write..."
"Sure," Ming Yutong thought he just wanted her name.
Just as she was about to type, Little Jingshi said, "Save it as 'Deary Tong Tong.'"
Ming Yutong: "..."
Unable to refuse Little Jingshi's request, Ming Yutong blushed inwardly and hesitantly typed those five words.
Little Jingshi urged Ming Yutong again, "Tong Tong, can you write mine like that too? Call me 'Little Cutie Jingshi'!"
Ming Yutong smiled and saved his number as Little Jingshi had requested.
Little Jingshi saw that Ming Yutong had indeed saved his name as "Little Cutie Jingshi," and he happily rolled onto the sofa, kicking his legs in excitement.
Ming Yutong smiled again, "Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?"
"I want to have some spaghetti," Little Jingshi immediately sat up, panting, "The school cafeteria has spaghetti today too, but I can't have it when I'm out."
"Alright, let's go have spaghetti," Ming Yutong said with a smile.
Ming Yutong chose a restaurant closer to Jixia Academy.
The restaurant had a good reputation and served authentic dishes, which would also make it easier to take Little Jingshi back to school after lunch.
Ming Yutong thought about this and her expression dimmed slightly.
Even though she didn't want to, there was no other way.
Little Jingshi ordered seafood spaghetti and a bowl of corn soup.
Ming Yutong ordered avocado cream spaghetti and a mushroom soup.
The restaurant was moderately crowded with several empty tables, so it didn't feel too crowded.
Soft, soothing music played in the background, like the gentle sound of flowing water, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
The guests were quietly enjoying their meals, and the chatter was not loud.
Little Jingshi took a sip of the creamy corn soup and showed some interest in Ming Yutong's mushroom soup.
Smiling, Ming Yutong offered Little Jingshi a taste with her spoon.
At the restaurant's entrance not far away, a waiter habitually started to say, "Welcome, please come i—"
The word "in" was swallowed back as if it had never been spoken.
Ming Yutong didn't pay attention at first, but then the entire restaurant fell silent.
Except for the soft background music, there was no other sound.
Soon, the unmistakable sound of footsteps on the floor couldn't be concealed anymore.
Little Jingshi across from her didn't even look up, his face drooping, "I told Dad not to come looking for me."
Ming Yutong was startled, stiffening as she looked up.
The man was tall with long legs, dressed entirely in black, exuding a chilling aura.
Draped over his shoulders was a well-fitted black trench coat, unaffected by his stride.
Fu Yinxiu approached with a stern face.
Behind him, two rows of "Thorns" guards in black suits followed.
The "Thorns" Dragon Guards were roughly equivalent to the covert guards of Lan Shan Manor.
Within the Dragon Guards, there were divisions: Alpha Guard, Beta Guard, and Gamma Guard.
As the name suggested, the Alpha Guard was the most elite within the Dragon Guards, responsible for tasks like protecting Fu Yinxiu.
The Alpha Guards behind Fu Yinxiu had expressionless faces, moving in synchronized, rhythmic steps like machines.
Their footsteps echoed on the floor with a regularity that seemed designed to shatter hearts.
Ming Yutong's face turned slightly pale, lips tightly pressed together.
How did Fu Yinxiu find them here?
Fu Yinxiu strode over and stood beside their table.
At that moment, the restaurant owner personally came out but was intercepted by the Alpha Guards before he could approach Fu Yinxiu.
Ming Yutong couldn't hear what the Alpha Guards said to the owner.