Chapter 39: Gou Dan is Missing

Lin Zhixia patted the child on the shoulder in satisfaction and walked toward her own home.

The child wasn’t really sure who Bai An’s brother was, so he stayed at the school gate, waiting.

As the sun slowly began to set, the child saw a tall figure standing at the gate, just like him, waiting for someone. After hesitating for a moment, he ran up to him and asked, “Are you Bai An’s brother?”

Lu Jin’an, who had been waiting for Bai An, noticed that most of the people from the school had already left, and he still hadn’t seen her. Before he could spot her, a child suddenly ran up to him.

Upon hearing the question, Lu Jin’an nodded. “Yes, I am. What’s going on?”

The child breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest. “Bai An went to Da Zhuang’s house.”

Lu Jin’an frowned, about to ask the child more questions, when he saw the child quickly run away.

“Why did Bai An go to Da Zhuang’s house?” Lu Jin’an sighed and shook his head. “She’s still just a little kid.”

By this time, Bai An had already reached Da Zhuang’s house. She saw Da Zhuang’s mother walking in and about to close the door.

Bai An quickly stepped in front of the door and sweetly smiled at Da Zhuang’s mother. “Auntie, could you not hit Da Zhuang?”

Da Zhuang’s mother was surprised to see Bai An suddenly appear, and after hearing her request, she sighed. “I can’t not hit him. You don’t know how badly he beat Gou Dan. What did Gou Dan do to deserve being beaten so badly?”

As she spoke, Da Zhuang’s mother noticed that Bai An had a bandage on her head, and her otherwise fair face had some small wounds. She hadn’t noticed them at the school gate, but now that she looked more closely, they seemed even worse.

Shocked, Da Zhuang’s mother asked, “Bai An, what happened? How did you get these injuries on your face?”

Bai An realized what was happening and touched her face, immediately changing to a pitiful expression. “These were caused by Gou Dan. Da Zhuang couldn’t stand it and hit him back. So, Auntie, could you please not hit Da Zhuang?”

Bai An blinked her eyes and looked at Da Zhuang’s mother with a pitiful look. Who could resist her sweet face? Da Zhuang’s mother immediately replied, “Then why is Gou Dan so bad? Da Zhuang did well to hit him back.”

After all, Da Zhuang’s mother considered Bai An like a daughter-in-law. Seeing her own “daughter-in-law” beaten like this, and Da Zhuang helping to fight back, she thought this was just a sign of how much he cared for her.

She couldn’t help but feel proud of her son, thinking that he already knew how to take care of his wife at such a young age. When he grew up, he would surely be a good husband.

Bai An could tell that Da Zhuang’s mother had probably started thinking about all sorts of things, but right now, she couldn’t care about that.

Carefully, Bai An asked, “So, can Da Zhuang not get hit anymore?”

Da Zhuang clapped his hands and said, “No more hitting, there’s no need for that. Bai An, come inside and play.”

Unable to resist Da Zhuang’s mother’s warm invitation, Bai An entered the yard.

As soon as she stepped into the yard, Bai An saw Da Zhuang trembling in the corner of the wall.

“Da Zhuang.”

Hearing Bai An call his name, Da Zhuang rushed behind her like a man seeing his savior.

Seeing her son act this way, Da Zhuang’s mother pinched his ear and scolded, “How can you hide behind a girl like that?”

Da Zhuang yelped in pain, and Da Zhuang’s mother, seeing how he was acting, smiled awkwardly at Bai An. “Da Zhuang is usually a manly boy; he’s just like this today.”

Bai An nodded, noticing how Da Zhuang seemed to be in real pain. Hesitantly, she said to Da Zhuang’s mother, “Maybe you shouldn’t pinch him anymore. Da Zhuang seems to be really hurting.”

Da Zhuang looked up at his mother pitifully, and though she didn’t want to really hurt him, seeing that he was in genuine pain, Da Zhuang’s mother immediately let go of his ear.

She then gave Da Zhuang a firm pat on the back and said, “Play nicely with Bai An. I’ll go cook.”

Da Zhuang nodded, rubbing his ear, and said to Bai An, “Good thing you’re here. Otherwise, my mom would’ve hit me.”

Bai An said, “Why didn’t you just tell your mom everything honestly?”

Da Zhuang glanced nervously toward the kitchen and whispered, “I didn’t have time to say anything yet.”

Didn’t have time to say anything?

Bai An didn’t even know what kind of look she should give him.

Da Zhuang, feeling a little guilty under Bai An’s gaze, tried to change the subject, asking, “Didn’t your brother come to pick you up? What if he can’t find you later?”

“I asked Lin Zhixia to tell him,” Bai An replied.

“Oh,” Da Zhuang said dryly, and after that, the two fell into a period of silence.

Bai An, feeling a bit bored, said, “Well, since there’s nothing else, I’ll leave now.”

Da Zhuang’s mother, who had been cooking in the kitchen, hurriedly called out, “Bai An, don’t leave yet. Stay for dinner first.”

Bai An was about to refuse when she heard a knock on the gate.

Da Zhuang hurried to open the door and, seeing who was standing outside, weakly greeted, “Hello, Brother Jin’an.”

Bai An looked over and saw it was indeed her brother, and she joyfully called out to Da Zhuang’s mother, “Auntie, my brother’s here to pick me up. I’ll head back now and won’t stay for dinner.”

Da Zhuang’s mother quickly walked out from the kitchen, and upon seeing Lu Jin’an, she cheerfully said, “Don’t rush off, why not stay for dinner? Jin’an can stay too.”

She added, almost inadvertently, “Who knows, maybe you and Da Zhuang will be eating together every day in the future. You can get used to it now.”

Bai An understood what Da Zhuang’s mother was implying—that she was already considering her as a daughter-in-law.

Da Zhuang was still grinning in the background, and Bai An looked up at Lu Jin’an.

Lu Jin’an, sensing her gaze, gently pushed her head down, not allowing her to see his current expression.

He then said coldly, “Our parents have already made dinner. We should go, I don’t want to trouble you all.”

Before Da Zhuang’s mother could respond, Lu Jin’an took Bai An’s hand and started to walk away.

Da Zhuang waved them off from behind, smiling as he called, “Come back to play again sometime!”

Bai An turned and waved back at him.

Lu Jin’an, pressing down on Bai An’s head, turned her attention away from Da Zhuang and said coldly, “His mom already wants to make you his daughter-in-law. Do you still want to come back?”

Bai An thought for a moment and replied, “I’m not going to be anyone’s daughter-in-law, but coming to play with Da Zhuang is fine.”

Hearing that Bai An had no feelings for Da Zhuang, Lu Jin’an felt a little relieved. After all, that fool Da Zhuang didn’t deserve her.

As they neared home, Bai An spotted her parents anxiously waiting for them.

Bai An, confused, looked at Lu Jin’an and asked, “What happened?”

Lu Jin’an shook his head, signaling that he had no idea either.

Wang Qing, upon seeing them return, quickly ran over and anxiously said, “Gou Dan is missing. Has anyone seen him?”

“Gou Dan is missing!” Bai An exclaimed in surprise. “Wasn’t he with his mom when school ended?”