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The promise was like a warm light, piercing through the thick clouds in Hinami's heart.
Her large, tear-filled eyes suddenly widened, shimmering with an unbelievable light mixed with hope and a hint of doubt.
"Re-really? Can Qianyu Jun really take Hinami to find Papa?" Her voice was filled with childish eagerness.
"When has Brother ever lied to you?" He Xi Qian Yu smiled, reaching out to ruffle Hinami's soft hair. "But before that, we have to be 'accomplices' for once."
"Accomplices?" Hinami blinked her still tear-rimmed eyes in confusion, finding the word strange and new.
"Mm, it means keeping a little secret together, doing something 'special'." He Xi Qian Yu patiently explained, simultaneously pulling out his phone from his pocket and deftly dialing Nishio Nishiki's number.
Beep... beep... beep...
The call was answered almost instantly.
"Qianyu?" Nishio Nishiki's voice came through the phone with a hint of concern. "Did you find Hinami? Mrs. Di Kou is frantic!"
"Of course I found her," He Xi Qian Yu's voice was steady, but his gaze met Hinami's, who was watching him nervously. He winked at her, signaling her to relax. "Nishiki, give the phone to Mrs. Di Kou. I have something to tell her."
"To Mrs. Di Kou? Oh... okay..." Nishio Nishiki's voice held a trace of bewilderment, but he immediately complied.
From the other end of the line came the sound of clothes rustling and footsteps, along with Nishio Nishiki's hushed voice: "Mrs. Di Kou, Qianyu's call. He found Hinami."
After a brief pause, a gentle but undeniably weary and anxious voice spoke: "This is Fueguchi Ryoko, Qianyu Jun! Hinami... is she alright? Is she with you?" The worry in her voice almost spilled out of the receiver.
"Yes, Mrs. Di Kou, Hinami is right next to me. She's safe, please don't worry," He Xi Qian Yu immediately reassured her, his tone sincere.
He paused, his voice appropriately tinged with a touch of helplessness, "However... this child, Hinami, seems... not very keen on returning right now."
"Doesn't want to come back?" Fueguchi Ryoko's voice rose half a tone, laced with confusion and unease. "Why? Is she... is she still angry with me?" Her words were full of self-blame.
"Not angry, Mrs. Di Kou, Hinami just seems a bit down. Please don't overthink it," He Xi Qian Yu quickly explained, his tone soothing. "How about this, I'll take Hinami out for a walk to clear her head, and bring her back once she's feeling better?"
Silence fell for a few seconds on the other end of the line.
"...Is that so...?" Fueguchi Ryoko's voice finally softened, with a hint of a sigh. "Then this child... I'll trouble you with her, Qianyu Jun."
"No trouble at all, I don't have anything urgent anyway."
...Okay... okay..." Fueguchi Ryoko was silent for a moment, her voice a mix of worry and gratitude. "Then I'll trouble you to look after her, Qianyu Jun... Please, please be careful." She spoke the last few words with particular solemnity.
"You can rest assured, Mrs. Di Kou," He Xi Qian Yu promised solemnly. "I'll watch her every step of the way. I'll send her back as soon as we're done clearing our heads. Hinami," He moved the phone slightly away and winked at Hinami, "Say goodbye to Mama."
Hinami immediately leaned close to the phone, trying to make her voice sound cheerful: "Goodbye, Mama!"
...Mm, Hinami, be good, listen to Qianyu Jun, and come back soon." Fueguchi Ryoko responded gently, her voice trembling slightly.
"Okay, Mrs. Di Kou, I'll hang up now. See you later." He Xi Qian Yu said, then decisively ended the call.
The moment the call ended, the excitement Hinami had tried to maintain on her face instantly vanished, replaced by nervousness and anticipation.
Her small hand tightly gripped He Xi Qian Yu's finger, her little face tilted up, her big eyes fixed on him without blinking, her voice extremely low and full of eagerness: "Qianyu Jun... now... can we go find Papa now?"
He Xi Qian Yu looked at Hinami's hopeful eyes. He squatted down, looking directly at her, his face still holding that relaxed smile.
"Mm, Hinami, lead the way." He nodded. "We'll go bring Papa home."
[...Foolish and troublesome secret mission... finally beginning...] Slaughter let out an impatient snort in his mind.
...
Deguci Asaki's clinic was located in the Twenty Ward, a not insignificant distance from Anteiku Coffee Shop.
When the familiar building finally came into Hinami's sight, her emotions instantly surged, and her small body burst forth with astonishing speed, breaking free from He Xi Qian Yu's hand, rushing towards the clinic door like a bullet from a gun.
"Slow down, Hinami." He Xi Qian Yu's heart tightened, and he called out in a low voice, "Be careful."
[...Be careful...] Slaughter's voice rang in his mind. [...Inside... there's a big guy... the smell... it's very fishy...]
He Xi Qian Yu's eyes sharpened, and he quickly followed.
...
Inside the clinic.
When Gecko, Yamori Oomori, silently walked in, Deguci Asaki was intently looking at a medical report, his pen scratching on the paper.
"It's... quite quiet today, isn't it?" Yamori Oomori's deep voice abruptly broke the silence, like a cold, venomous snake.
Deguci Asaki's body trembled violently, the pen in his hand clattered onto the table, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.
He stiffly turned his head to look at the burly blonde man, his eyes filled with terror.
With trembling hands, he fumbled for a pair of surgical forceps from a nearby cabinet and carefully placed them on the table between the two of them.
Yamori Oomori leisurely paced to the wall, extended a thick finger, and unhurriedly took down a painting hanging on the wall.
"You... you've got what you came for, now... now please leave quickly," Deguci Asaki's voice was dry and trembling, filled with humble pleading, "I just want... I just want to live in peace... please..."
"Oh?" Yamori Oomori slowly turned around, a twisted, almost joyful smile appearing on his face. "It seems I'm disliked, huh...?" He drew out his words. "I see..." Saying this, he made to turn and leave.
Deguci Asaki's taut nerves suddenly relaxed, almost to the point of collapse.
With trembling hands, he gently picked up the painting on the table, his fingertips caressing the frame, and uncontrollable excitement and longing welled up in his eyes.
"Hinami... Ryoko..." He murmured, his voice choked, "We'll soon... soon be able to..."
"But," Yamori Oomori's foot, which was about to step forward, suddenly stopped. He slightly tilted his head, his crimson eyes squinting at Deguci Asaki, a cruel arc spreading across his lips. "Can I ask you a question first?"
Deguci Asaki's heart instantly sank to the bottom, and fear seized him once more.
"When... when did you start..." Yamori Oomori's voice was chilling, "...becoming a human's subordinate...?"
"Papa!" Just then, the closed clinic door was pushed open. A childish voice, full of surprise, quickly broke the frozen atmosphere in the clinic.
Deguci Asaki was struck as if by lightning, looking at the door in disbelief—
Hinami?!
How could she be here?!
Immense fear instantly overwhelmed him.
"Hinami! Danger! Get out now!!" Deguci Asaki roared with all his might, his voice distorted by extreme fear.
At the doorway, Hinami immediately saw her father's familiar yet pale face. The immense joy made her ignore the bulky figure beside him, and she instinctively moved to rush towards her father.