It’s already midnight, an eerie silence spreading from all around, with a chilling cold lingering in the air.
Not only that, the stairwell everywhere is damp, with a hint of mold in the air, making one feel quite uncomfortable.
Bao Shaojin placed the umbrella in the corner, took out a key from his pocket, and handed it to An Yin, "Open the door."
An Yin’s eyes were swollen from crying. Hearing the man’s words, she took the key.
After finding the front door key, she tried to insert the key into the lock with trembling hands, but failed several times.
Bao Shaojin took the key from her hand unceremoniously and accurately inserted it into the keyhole, turning it gently.
The door made a creaking sound.
Bao Shaojin pushed it open with a slight force, and a gloomy, damp air rushed in.
"Mom..." An Yin anxiously crossed the threshold, fumbling on the wall with one hand until the lights turned on inside, her mouth constantly calling out.
Bao Shaojin followed her with the umbrella, closing the door behind him.
It’s so late, too much noise would unavoidably disturb the neighbors.
An Yin’s mind was entirely focused on finding her mother. After entering, she went straight to An Ying’s bedroom, didn’t find her, then went to her own room, the kitchen...
After searching the whole house and still unwilling to give up, she came up to the man, tightly grabbing his arm, "Could Mom be on the rooftop?"
After saying this, she was about to run outside.
Bao Shaojin put his arms around her slender waist, making her unable to move.
"Is it possible in the middle of the night?"
The man reminded her.
"What if she fell up there and passed out?" An Yin persisted.
Bao Shaojin, seeing her tear-soaked eyes and stubborn gaze, a hint of compromise appeared in his eyes, "It’s raining outside, you stay here, I’ll go up and take a look."
"I want to go together." An Yin pouted, stubborn to the end.
The little girl clutched his sleeve tightly, her petite figure had to look up to meet his eyes, and when she did, her fair swan-like neck caught the man’s eye.
The little girl at this moment seemed like a broken Barbie doll, a slight touch would shatter her.
Bao Shaojin couldn’t argue with her.
Eventually, An Yin held the phone, turning on the flashlight, while Bao Shaojin had one arm around her waist and the other holding an umbrella, walking side by side up the stairway in the somewhat narrow corridor.
Standing on the open rooftop, a puddle of water had gathered on the concrete floor. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⚑𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖⚑𝕟𝕖𝕥
Clearly, one look would reveal that there’s no one on the rooftop, but An Yin was unwilling to give up, looking around several times before giving up.
There were a few ropes on the rooftop, with drops of water hanging on them, sparkling under the light.
With the last shred of hope extinguished, Bao Shaojin brought her back downstairs.
After entering the house, Bao Shaojin took out his phone and directly dialed a number.
An Yin stood there blankly until the man’s firm and vigorous voice sounded next to her ear, making her lift her head in a daze, listening tightly all over as the man spoke.
She heard clearly, it seemed the man was contacting the police.
When the man put the phone next to her ear, An Yin froze for a moment, then gave An Ying’s personal information based on the questions asked.
Until the call ended.
An Yin began to murmur to herself.
"Where could Mom be?" An Yin’s lost and listless gaze trembled slightly.
Bao Shaojin looked at the messy rainwater everywhere, placing the little girl on the sofa, "Sit tight."
At this time, An Yin was like a marionette, taking out the phone to dial An Ying’s number, only to find the phone was almost out of battery.
When Bao Shaojin noticed her actions, his eyes scanned around, soon finding the charger on the coffee table, taking her phone to help with charging.
"Use my phone to call." Bao Shaojin handed his phone in front of her.
The little girl’s faint willow eyebrows, bent like a crescent moon, her beautiful eyes moved slightly, shimmering with star-like brilliance. Yet there seemed always to be a faint worry covering her eyebrows.
The man’s gaze was deep and quiet, all of An Yin’s thoughts were on Lady An, with not much energy left to ponder the man’s intentions, taking the phone from his hand, An Yin found the screen already unlocked, familiarly dialing Lady An’s number, clicking dial...
Seeing this, Bao Shaojin looked exhausted, turned his head, and focused his gaze on the puddles of dirty water on the floor.
He went to the bathroom, looking at the absorbent mop in hand, pondering clumsily how to use it.
It took quite some effort to get it right.
Next, holding the mop, he began cleaning up the water indoors and closed all the windows in the house tightly.
When he entered a cozy bedroom to mop the floor, seeing the layout around and the small desk, his eyes gradually softened.
No doubt, this was An Yin’s bedroom!
The man’s high brows cast a shadow over his forehead, underneath which a pair of bright and clear eyes revealed themselves as he gazed at a photo frame on the nightstand, which contained a personal photo of An Yin.
Just as he was about to step closer to see clearly, he heard the timid voice of the little girl from the living room.
"Bao Shaojin, the phone..."
The little girl called a few times consecutively.
Bao Shaojin, holding the mop, walked to the living room, placed it securely against the wall, and took the phone from An Yin’s hand.
In the corner of An Yin’s eye, she glimpsed the name "Qin Huai" displayed on the phone screen.
Bao Shaojin answered the call, "Speak."
An Yin didn’t know what the other side said, only seeing the man’s brows tightly knit together into a deep and locked line, like a rope.
An Yin’s expression was gloomy, her black hair hung loosely over her shoulders, slightly disheveled in its lackluster state, knowing that Bao Shaojin was capable, but without any leads, she didn’t believe he could find her mother.
An Yin slightly turned her head to look at the man, seeing his tall and erect stature, his chiseled face exuding an air of relentless determination.
Yet, in this deep night, with his companionship, she wasn’t as terribly anxious and helpless, and her gaze upon the man gradually revealed a trace of dependence.
After Bao Shaojin hung up the phone, he saw the little girl’s pair of lively and captivating dark eyes, within which stars shone, exuding an enchanting brilliance.
Thinking about what he had to say next, the expression on Bao Shaojin’s face gradually turned heavy.
The clarity and purity of her gaze, like autumn water, would likely cease to exist in the next moment.
"An Yin, I have news about your mom." Beneath Bao Shaojin’s thick swordlike brows, his eyes were sharp and unfathomably deep, exuding a chilling coldness.
"Where is my mom?" An Yin stood up in shock, instinctively gripping the man’s arms, and furthermore, her face showed a hint of delight.
"At the hospital." After Bao Shaojin spoke, his lips tightened, revealing a cold and stern presence when looked at closely.
"Hospital..." An Yin repeated, hearing the word hospital made her heart race, and her previously joyful face was once again replaced by fear.