Zong Yanxi could not resist when she saw how adorable the little girl was, so she picked her up.
The child wrapped her arms around the adult’s neck with a big smile.
She’s too comfortable with strangers. This is not good.
Despite the girl being likable, the world was filled with people with ill intentions. With her trusting character, it would be unfortunate if she encountered bad people.
Zong Yanxi was walking down from the arched bridge when she accidentally sprained her ankle. She almost lost her balance, but luckily she was quick to grab onto the railing to support herself.
“What happened?” the little girl asked in shock as she tightened her arms around Zong Yanxi’s neck, fearing that she would fall.
Zong Yanxi did not respond. Instead, she tried to continue walking again but failed to do so as she felt immense pain on her ankle.
“Put me down. I don’t want to fall.” The little girl struggled to free herself.
“Don’t move,” uttered Zong Yanxi in a low voice.
It was already unstable enough to use only one hand to hold the little girl. If she made bigger movements, both of them would surely fall together.
The girl listened to her and stopped struggling.
Seeing that, Zong Yanxi bent over slowly and let her down.
Standing on the steps of the arched bridge, she lifted her head and looked at Zong Yanxi. “I’ll go get help.”
Without waiting for Zong Yanxi’s response, she ran down the stairs.
Zong Yanxi watched the little girl as the corners of her lips curled up. This kid is so lively.
Soon, the child’s figure disappeared from her view. She did not wait idly but slowly descended the stairs, cautious of not applying too much pressure on her injured leg.
When she reached the bottom, she hobbled towards a nearby house.
It took some time but she arrived at last. However, the doors of the house were all closed. Even the rooms were pitch-black; it seemed that no one was inside.
Zong Yanxi frowned. Where are they?
She stepped forward and knocked on the door, but no one answered.
What’s going on?
She decided to take out her phone and call Zhuang Jiawen.
The latter did not answer her call immediately. It only connected after two call attempts.
“Where are Mom and Dad?” she asked in a panic.
“At home,” replied her brother in confusion.
“No, they’re not. The house is all dark.”
Zhuang Jiawen paused for a moment. “Where are you right now?”
“Their house,” replied Zong Yanxi matter-of-factly.
“You’re in Thailand?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me before you went there?”
Zong Yanxi sat on the grass while staying silent.
“Aunt Qin’s birthday is around the corner and Mom is helping me prepare for my wedding, so she came back and is staying with me now.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Of course, she wants to see you, too. We didn’t tell you because we feared that you’d refuse to meet up. Why didn’t you let me know before you went over to Thailand?”
Zong Yanxi kept quiet.
“You should come back. I think you’ll be able to make it before Aunt Qin’s birthday.”
Zong Yanxi raised her skirt to check on her swollen ankle. “I don’t think I can go back.”
“Why?” Zhuang Jiawen questioned, but before she could answer he added again, “What is inside that head of yours? We have been accommodating you for so long and letting you do whatever you wanted. Now that you’re this close to meeting Mom and Dad, you’re suddenly backing out? What the hell are you thinking?”
“Are you done?”
“Yes,” Zhuang Jiawen responded petulantly.
“It’s not like I don’t want to go back, but I sprained my ankle earlier.”
Zhuang Jiawen let out a light cough. “Oh. I thought you changed your mind. In that case, have your ankle checked at the hospital then. I’ll tell Mom and Dad about you.”
“No need,” she uttered while playing with the grass. “I don’t want them to worry. It’s only a minor injury. I’ll go back when it gets better.”
“Okay, then. Call me if you need anything. Don’t forget to go to the hospital.”
“Yeah. I’m hanging up now.”
“Sure.”
After she ended the call, she put her phone back into her pocket.
When she was about to push herself up, a dark figure appeared before her. “Hello.”
She lifted her head to look at the handsome man in crew cut. Wearing an olive-green military uniform with black leather boots, he stood with his back perfectly straight and exuded a commanding presence.
“It’s her, Daddy.” The little girl from earlier pointed at Zong Yanxi. “She sprained her ankle when she carried me.”
The woman shifted her gaze between the father and the child. Though she could not understand what the little girl had said, she still knew the word “daddy”.
“H-hello,” she greeted stiffly.
“Let me see your wound.”
Zong Yanxi’s eyes widened when she heard the man speak in her mother tongue. “You know where I’m from?”
The man glanced at the house behind her. “I guess this is where you’re headed?”
Zong Yanxi looked back before replying, “Yes.”
“Are they your parents?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“You look just like them.”
Zong Yanxi touched her face and looked in the direction the little girl was pointing. It was a house not far from where they were. Mom and Dad have been living here for so long. He must be their friends.
“Miss, you can stay with us,” the little girl said while pulling her hand.
“It’s fine.” She smiled.
“Your parents have already flown back and there are no hotels nearby. If you don’t mind, you can stay with us and let me treat your wound. Your mom took good care of my daughter when I wasn’t around,” the man offered sincerely.
Even so, Zong Yanxi still rejected him. “Umm, can you drive me to the hospital instead?”
I’ll rest at the hospital for the night and make plans tomorrow.
