Zhu Xiuxiu opened her mouth but didn’t explain. Instead, Huo Xing’Er spoke with a sense of helplessness.
"Kidnappers are wicked people who specifically abduct children. They take children from their families and sell them to others, causing those children to be separated from their own flesh and blood."
Xiaosuisui tilted her head back. "Does this mean Brother Yanchen will be separated from Aunt Zhou forever?"
This...
Huo Xing’Er remained silent for a while before questioning her.
"What does Suisui think? Can we find Brother Yanchen again?"
Xiaosuisui considered the question but didn’t respond.
Huo Xing’Er didn’t speak either and decided not to pursue the question. Instead, she took her back to the room.
Everyone in the Ji Family was up, and Old Lady Ji’s expression was extremely grim. Zhu Xiuxiu stood nervously before the old lady.
"Mother! I... I really didn’t mean it. I was just so worried about Suisui last night. I completely forgot that Zhou Yanchen also had a red string given by the kidnappers."
Zhu Xiuxiu was always careless. She had truly overlooked that Zhou Yanchen also had a red string on his hand.
In fact, Old Lady Ji had been quite heartened these past few days seeing how much Zhu Xiuxiu cared for Suisui.
But after this incident, the old lady couldn’t help but feel disappointed again.
"Now that this has happened, let’s find a way to make amends. First, call the Second Daughter-in-law. Have her divine by pinching her fingers; see if she can calculate anything."
After the old lady gave the order, Zhu Xiuxiu immediately went to do so.
By this time, Huo Xing’Er had already begun to act.
Xiaosuisui sat beside her, blinking her large eyes as she watched Huo Xing’Er’s fingers intently, even unconsciously mimicking the divining motions with her own.
Suddenly, her eyes widened in surprise, and she exclaimed, "Brother Yanchen is safe and sound!"
Zhu Xiuxiu, who had just walked in, paused and asked excitedly, "Really? Suisui, how do you know he’s safe and sound? Where is he now? Where can we find him?"
Xiaosuisui rubbed her head. "I don’t know!"
"Sigh, why do I even ask you?" Zhu Xiuxiu muttered, shaking her head. "You’re just a four-and-a-half-year-old child; what could you possibly know?" She then turned to Huo Xing’Er with disappointment.
"Mother asked me to call you. She wants you to divine by pinching your fingers and see if you can find Zhou Yanchen!"
Hearing Zhu Xiuxiu’s words, Huo Xing’Er glanced subtly at Xiaosuisui.
That little girl actually managed to divine it, Huo Xing’Er thought. That was completely unexpected.
"Tell Mother that Zhou Yanchen is safe and sound."
"Safe and sound?" Zhu Xiuxiu repeated. Recalling what Xiaosuisui had said earlier, her expression relaxed considerably. Xiaosuisui said it before, so how could I not trust her? she mused.
"If both Suisui and the Second Daughter-in-law say so, then he truly is safe and sound," Old Lady Ji declared. "With Xing’Er at home to accompany Suisui, everyone except for the eldest should go out and help look!"
The old lady made her decision, got up, and headed for the door, intending to join the search herself.
"Mother! How could you..." Zhu Xiuxiu was stunned.
"He has some connection to our family, after all. Besides, this matter also involves my precious little treasure. Since we’ve encountered it, I can’t just stand by."
No one in the Ji Family objected to the old lady’s words.
Everyone went out to look for Zhou Yanchen; only Xiaosuisui was kept in the room by Huo Xing’Er and not allowed to leave.
She tried to go out a few times but was always caught by Huo Xing’Er and brought back.
The little girl helplessly flopped onto the bed, mumbling, "Where on earth did little Brother Yanchen go? How can I find you?"
Huo Xing’Er saw her lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, apparently having given up on trying to go out.
Reassured, Huo Xing’Er went back to fiddling with her compass.
But no sooner had she lowered her head than she heard the little girl exclaim, "Ah! I’ve got an idea!"