Chapter 156: Parting (Subscriptions Requested)

"Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Yang."

Inside the hospital ward, a middle-aged police officer closed his notepad, stood up, and smiled at Yang Qing.

"Not at all, not at all," Yang Qing hurriedly waved his hand with a smile. "I should have gone to your station to assist with your work, but instead, I ended up troubling you to make a trip here. I'm really sorry."

"Don't say that. If you talk like that, you're practically slapping us in the face," the middle-aged officer said seriously. "Today's incident was, at its core, our responsibility. We should be the ones thanking you for stepping up with such a sense of justice."

"Ah, I just happened to run into the situation. But as for the little baby's parents..." Yang Qing asked with a trace of worry.

"Rest assured," the middle-aged officer said in a deep voice. "We have already stepped up contacts with local police stations everywhere and issued notifications. We will make every effort to find the baby's parents. Once we have any news about them, we will notify them to come and claim the baby, and we will inform you right away."

With a solemn expression, the middle-aged officer assured Yang Qing, "Please also rest assured about the baby. Officer Yan is a new mother, and she will be personally responsible for taking care of her during this time."

"Well... we trust you!"

Yang Qing nodded and turned his gaze toward the hospital bed.

"Auntie, you must take good care of the little baby, okay?"

By the bedside, little Qiu'er raised her small face, looking up at a young female police officer standing in front of her, and said earnestly in her milky voice.

The female officer smiled: "Don't worry, little cutie. Auntie will definitely take care of her."

"Mm-hmm! Then... when the baby cries, Auntie, you mustn't hit her or scold her, okay? You have to feed her delicious food and coax her so she stops crying," little Qiu'er instructed with lingering concern.

"Alright, Auntie knows."

"Mm-hmm, and... Auntie, when you feed the baby her milk, it has to be warm, okay? Otherwise, the baby's tummy will hurt, but it shouldn't be too hot either."

"Mm, alright, Auntie will remember."

"Mm-hmm, and another thing, Auntie, you have to give the baby a bath. If she doesn't take a bath, the little baby will smell stinky!"

"Mm, Auntie will."

"Mm-nah... and... and also... when the baby wets her pants, Auntie, you need to change her pants, oh—wait... the baby doesn't seem to have any new pants to change into..."

As little Qiu'er spoke, her little head turned to look at Yang Qing.

"Don't worry, your Sister Caiyu has already gone to buy little pants for the baby," Yang Qing replied, looking at the little girl affectionately.

Little Qiu'er nodded her little head happily: "Mm-hmm! Thank you, Big Brother. You're so kind, Qiu'er loves you!"

"Haha... Big Brother loves you too," Yang Qing smiled. "Go and say goodbye to the little baby now. Once Sister Caiyu comes back with the things, we'll be leaving."

"Oh..."

Suddenly, little Qiu'er felt a bit reluctant and sad. She reached out her tiny hand and gently grasped the baby's little hand.

The baby, who had just woken up from a nap, did not cry either. She opened her large, dark, expressive eyes, looking at her brightly, and parted her little pacifier into a smile.

"She's so cute," little Qiu'er said happily.

"You're very cute too," the female officer smiled. "Let Auntie take a photo of you two."

"Okay, thank you, Auntie..."

***

Leaving the hospital, Li Dongning led Yang Qing and the other two to a distinctive little barbecue skewering joint.

"Come on, Qingzi, I'll toast you!"

"Uh... I don't drink alcohol..."

"...... This isn't alcohol! It's a beverage!"

Looking at the beer bottles on the table, Yang Qing was rendered utterly speechless.

"I really won't drink," Yang Qing shook his head with a smile. "I promised Qiu'er that I wouldn't drink alcohol anymore. I'll substitute tea for wine, alright?"

Hearing this, Li Dongning glanced at little Qiu'er, who was currently holding his younger sister's hand and eagerly pointing at items on the menu, and nodded with a smile:

"Alright, cheers!"

After a cup of drinks went down, the atmosphere picked up, and Li Dongning began to quietly recount some of the information he had gathered.

"That woman is a fresh recruit just starting out in the trade. I heard this was her first job. The child was stolen in a major city, and because it's a girl, it's hard to sell her off in remote rural villages—you know how it is, the preference for boys over girls."

Li Dongning said in a low voice, "So they came here instead. Her accomplice went off to contact a buyer, while she took the child out alone to wander around, saying it was her first time in the Imperial Capital and she wanted to sightsee..."

"Heh... ironic, isn't it?" Li Dongning chuckled softly. "Who would have thought you'd see right through her at a glance? After she was caught, she spilled everything readily, and the police have already gone out to make arrests based on the clues she provided."

"Sigh..." Li Dongning sighed. "I wonder what the hearts of these people are made of. So ruthless, so pitch black!"

"They aren't human anymore," Yang Qing said in a deep voice. "They're beasts!"

"Right! Beasts!" Li Dongning gritted his teeth.

"Big Brother... what are you two talking about?"

At that moment, little Qiu'er hopped over, her sweet milky voice ringing out.

Yang Qing (＾ν＾): "We were just talking about how sensible and cute our Qiu'er is."

"Hehe..."

Little Qiu'er giggled happily and was immediately scooped up by Yang Qing to sit right beside him.

"What did you guys order?"

"Hehe... we ordered little mushrooms, little meat skewers, and also..."

***

Night fell, and the city lights flickered on, their colorful beams casting a dazzling glow over the prosperity of the Imperial Capital.

"Brother Qing, are you guys leaving tomorrow?"

Walking down the street, Li Caiyu held little Qiu'er's small hand as the child skipped along, looking somewhat reluctant to part.

She liked little Qiu'er—she loved this sensible, well-behaved, and endearing little darling, even though they had only known each other for a single day.

"Mm," Yang Qing nodded with a smile. "We've been out for a few days, it's time to go back. Whenever you have time in the future, you can come to Yangcheng, and I'll show you around the scenery there."

"Mm, okay," Li Caiyu nodded heavily. "I will definitely go."

"Hehe... Sister Caiyu, you have to call Qiu'er when you come,"

Little Qiu'er waved her little children's smartwatch on her wrist and said in her milky voice, "At that time, Qiu'er will ask Big Brother to treat you to xiaolongbao and jianbing guozi. My brother makes them smell so good and taste so delicious!"

"Mm... mm! Sister will definitely call Qiu'er. Sister loves Qiu'er the most."

***

After eating skewers and strolling around, little Qiu'er and Li Caiyu said an emotional and reluctant goodbye, and Qin Hao drove over to pick the two of them up.

"Sister Qin!"

As soon as they arrived home, little Qiu'er happily leaped into the arms of Qin Xue, who was waiting at home, and called out in a sweet, adorable voice.

"You're back."

At that moment, hearing the commotion, Zhao Yuezhu also walked out of the kitchen, looking at Yang Qing and little Qiu'er with a smile.

"Aunt... Auntie," Yang Qing instantly straightened his posture and called out.

"Auntie~"

Little Qiu'er, on the other hand, cheerfully bounced over into her embrace again, her voice soft and cute: "Auntie, what are you making? It smells so good!"

"Cooking some lean meat porridge."

Affectionately picking up the little one, Zhao Yuezhu asked with a warm, maternal smile, "My little darling, have you eaten?"

"I have! Big Brother Li Dongning took us to eat roasted meat skewers. They were so fragrant, Qiu'er is super full."

"Oh, well, won't you have no room left for Auntie's porridge later?"

"Hehe... I still have room! The porridge Auntie cooks smells so good, Qiu'er can still eat... just a little bit more."

"Oh my goodness, your mouth is so sweet, it makes Auntie not want to let you leave."

Zhao Yuezhu sat on the sofa holding little Qiu'er, kissed the little girl's cheek, and then stood up, preparing to head back to the kitchen.

Seeing this, Yang Qing quickly said, "Auntie, you just chat with Qiu'er, I'll take care of it."

Without waiting for Zhao Yuezhu to reply, he turned and headed toward the kitchen. Qin Hao chuckled and followed right behind him.

"This young Yang..."

Zhao Yuezhu let out a somewhat helpless laugh, then turned to little Qiu'er and asked, "My little darling, where did you guys go to play today?"

"Hehe... Big Brother took Qiu'er to climb these super long steps..."

"That's the Great Wall," Qin Xue handed her a peeled apple and smiled.

"Mm-hmm," little Qiu'er nodded her little head, then offered the apple back to Zhao Yuezhu, saying, "Auntie, you eat."

"Auntie won't eat, darling eat." Zhao Yuezhu beamed happily.

"Nom..."

Little Qiu'er took a bite of the apple and then continued, "Big Brother also rescued a little baby from a bad auntie today. The baby was so cute..."

Little Qiu'er chattered away, recounting the day's adventures. Zhao Yuezhu and Qin Xue listened in wide-eyed astonishment, their gazes turning in unison toward the kitchen.

This guy...