Gu Rong stared blankly at the scene before him.

A gentle breeze ruffled the curtains. On the palm tree outside the window, a few small birds perched; the chirping sounds from earlier came from these little birds.

Gu Rong, the entire cub, was in a state of bewilderment.

The room was very warm and cozy. On the wall hung photos from Gu Rong’s infancy – chubby, round, two sizes smaller than now, utterly adorable. Additionally, there were some colorful scribbles on the wall, all masterpieces by Gu Rong himself.

A full two minutes passed before Gu Rong rebooted. Taking small, quick steps, he ran dadada to the desk.

Although Gu Rong was only two, he was due to start kindergarten next year. Mother Gu had bought him a desk in advance.

Gu Rong nimbly climbed onto the chair. Seeing the photo frame placed on the desk, inside was a pair of incredibly good-looking young man and woman, holding a soft little cub.

Gu Rong grabbed the photo frame with his small hand, looked at it, then shliu, slid tululu off the chair to the floor, ran deng deng deng out of his room, hugging the photo frame downstairs, into the living room.

Going down the stairs, the cub, overly excited, stumbled and nearly fell. However, Gu Rong was now a cub who had seen great storms and waves; descending stairs was completely within his capability.

Gu Rong was raised to be so fair, tender, and cute not only due to superior genes but also because his family conditions were very good. Father Gu and Mother Gu spared no effort in raising him, nurturing him into this plump, fair child.

Wandering around the living room, Gu Rong didn’t see anyone. He ran out of the house again, into the garden.

This was a low-key luxury small villa. Not ostentatious, but every nook and cranny was exquisitely designed. One glance told you two words – expensive and rich.

Gu Rong, however, had no concept of poverty or wealth, still hugging the photo frame with the picture of Daddy, Mommy, and Zaizai.

As if afraid it was all a dream, Gu Rong just ran dadada looking for people, but didn’t dare call out. He was afraid that shouting would wake him up, and he’d wake up back under the cold bridge in the apocalypse, or inside a game instance, unable to find Daddy and Mommy ever again.

Gu Rong ran a lap around the garden. Finally, an anxious voice came from behind: “Little Young Master! How did you wake up by yourself? And ran down yourself?”

Gu Rong’s little feet stopped. He looked back and saw Uncle Butler walking briskly towards him, looking anxious. This was Uncle Wang, responsible for Gu Rong’s daily life.

Gu Rong found it strange. He previously only remembered Daddy, Mommy, and Grandpa Ming. How come he hadn’t remembered Uncle Butler? Clearly, Uncle Butler had also taken care of him for over half a year!

Now seeing him again, Gu Rong remembered. His voice crisp and tender: “Uncle Butler! Zaizai wants to find Daddy, find Mommy!”

Uncle Wang smiled: “It’s still early. Sir and Madam haven’t returned from the laboratory yet. If Little Young Master is bored, Uncle Wang can play with you.”

Gu Rong nodded his little head, even coaxing himself: “Okay, Daddy Mommy went to work, not back yet.”

Uncle Wang: “Yes. Is Little Young Master hungry? How about eating something first?”

Gu Rong only wanted to see Daddy and Mommy now, not very interested in eating. But thinking Daddy and Mommy were working and would only be back in the evening, he had no choice but to fill his little tummy first.

Gu Rong said: “Zaizai wants to eat big hamburger, big drumsticks!”

Uncle Wang said: “Okay! Little Young Master, watch some TV first, Uncle Wang will go make them for you right now.”

Gu Rong still hugged the photo frame. Uncle Wang glanced at the frame, a smile in his eyes. If Sir and Madam knew Little Young Master hugged their photo even at home, they would surely be very happy.

–

Gu Rong usually ate hamburgers and drumsticks bought from outside. Uncle Wang had made them for him before, but he didn’t like them; though healthier than outside food, they weren’t as tasty.

Seeing Uncle Wang go fry drumsticks, Gu Rong followed dadada behind him. The kitchen was designed openly. Uncle Wang was busy frying drumsticks and making hamburgers. Seeing the little dumpling swinging his little arms following behind him like a little tail, he couldn’t help but smile: “Little Young Master, don’t run behind me, be careful I bump into you.”

Gu Rong asked: “Uncle Butler, why not go out and buy Zaizai big hamburger drumsticks?”

Uncle Wang sighed: “Isn’t there a contagious virus rampant recently? Sir and Madam specifically instructed that Little Young Master’s diet needs extra care. Oh, right, also go less to public places like parks and amusement parks. If Little Young Master wants to eat anything or play with anything, you can tell Uncle Wang. Uncle Wang will get it for you.”

Gu Rong frowned his little eyebrows, curious baby, couldn’t help asking in his milky voice: “Virus? What virus?”

Uncle Wang said: “Still unclear. Sir and Madam have been staying in the laboratory constantly recently, precisely researching the cure. However, Little Young Master, rest assured. Sir and Madam are experts in viruses. They will definitely protect Little Young Master fully.”

Gu Rong patted his little chest and said: “Rongrong, big child now! Rongrong protects Daddy Mommy!”

Uncle Wang chuckled: “Yes, Little Young Master is a little man.”

Gu Rong hadn’t been home for a long time. While Uncle Wang was cooking for him, he wandered around the villa. First, he climbed up and down the stairs, then ran beng beng tiao tiao out to the garden, humming a song, unable to stay idle for a moment.

Thinking he would soon see Daddy and Mommy, Gu Rong was very happy, even shaking his head as he walked.

Thinking of something, Gu Rong stopped his little feet and called out in his mind: [006! 006!]

However, he received no response.

Previously, 006 was blocked by Lord Devil. But now Lord Devil wasn’t around, yet 006 still hadn’t appeared. Where did 006 go?

Gu Rong couldn’t figure it out.

Soon, he put 006 aside, his attention drawn again by an anthill in the flowerbed. A child’s attention is easily diverted, and Gu Rong was no exception. He clasped his small hands together, squatted down by the flowerbed, watching with great interest as the little ants moved house. The little ants crawled in and out of the anthill, forming a long line.

Gu Rong picked up a small twig. Avoiding the little ants, he started digging a hole in the empty ground nearby, heixiu heixiu, digging very intently.

It was currently June or July, the hot season. After digging for a while, Gu Rong’s little forehead broke out in sweat, but he didn’t care, completely absorbed in digging his hole. His two small hands were covered in dirt.

Vines climbed the wall, covered in blooming Chinese trumpet flowers. Just then, “Meow,” a small cat’s cry came from the flowers.

Gu Rong looked up, momentarily blinded by the light. After looking carefully for a moment, he saw a small black cat squatting under the flowers and leaves on the wall. The small cat’s fur was black and glossy, its eyes emerald green. It was lazily basking in the sun, its face arrogant and impatient, looking like a grumpy cat not easily pleased.

Seeing Gu Rong look over, it narrowed its cat eyes slightly, looking like it couldn’t be bothered.

Gu Rong: “Huh? Little kitty cat?” The little kitty cat completely ignored the greeting, not moving at all.

“Little Young Master, the hamburger and drumsticks are ready!” Uncle Wang came out of the house as he spoke.

Hearing the voice, Gu Rong just turned his head back when he heard rustling among the flowers and leaves. He turned his little head back again, looking towards the wall, but the small cat’s figure had already disappeared, apparently startled away by Uncle Wang’s voice.

Uncle Wang walked over. Seeing Gu Rong’s two small hands covered in dirt, his little face also turned into a little flower cat, and a small pit on the ground, he couldn’t help but smile: “Little Young Master, what are you doing here?”

Gu Rong said, “Little ants moving house! Zaizai makes a house for little ants!”

Uncle Wang: “?”

–

Evening came. Close to eleven o’clock, Father Gu and Mother Gu still hadn’t returned from the laboratory.

Gu Rong hadn’t slept, staying up late waiting. He sat waiting in the living room downstairs, hugging his little dinosaur doll, his little bun-face very determined.

Uncle Wang tried persuading him to go to sleep several times, to no avail, completely unable to persuade him. Helplessly, he could only accompany the Little Young Master and wait together.

Why had the Little Young Master suddenly become so clingy towards Sir and Madam?

Just then, the sound of a car engine came from outside. Gu Rong instantly perked up, his eyes brightening. He immediately rolled off the sofa, forgetting even his slippers, and ran deng deng deng outside to welcome Daddy and Mommy.

Uncle Wang called anxiously from behind: “Little Young Master! Shoes, shoes, shoes! No shoes! Careful, or you’ll catch a cold!”

Gu Rong had already run out like a little cannonball. Car headlights cut through the dark night. The back car door opened, and a tall, young, beautiful woman stepped out.

After the woman got out, no one else followed. The car restarted and drove away. The woman’s face and figure were hidden in the shadows, unclear. But from her silhouette, one could tell she had a graceful figure and possessed a classic charm.

Seeing the woman, Gu Rong’s big eyes sparkled even brighter. But perhaps due to ‘approach anxiety’, as he neared her, Gu Rong stopped his little feet, not daring to go closer. His little bun-face tensed, not blinking as he stared at her.

Until the woman looked over, smiled, her voice gentle, full of love: “Zaizai.”

Gu Rong couldn’t hold back any longer, directly rushing forward, hugging her legs with his short little arms. Then, “Waaaaah!”, he burst into loud sobs, crying truly heartbrokenly, his milky voice and small body trembling: “Mommy!!!”

“…” The woman – Ye Lan – paused slightly, stunned.

Only been apart for one day, what happened? Why is Zaizai so upset?

Ye Lan patted Gu Rong’s little head. Seeing the little dumpling clinging to her legs, crying grievously, as if… having experienced a life and death separation. Although unsure what happened, Ye Lan’s heart also tightened hearing Gu Rong cry, unable to help but feeling distressed.

She crouched down in front of Gu Rong, gently wiping the tears from his little face with gentle movements, her voice soft: “Zaizai, what’s wrong? Why crying so sadly?”

Gu Rong cried until he hiccupped, his little body shaking with sobs. He let Ye Lan wipe his face, his small hands tightly gripping Mommy’s sleeve, absolutely refusing to let go, afraid that if he let go, Mommy would disappear again.

Uncle Wang, who had chased out behind holding Gu Rong’s little slippers, stood dumbfounded at the doorway.

Although he didn’t know why Little Young Master was crying so sadly, he cried too pitifully! As if he suffered a sky-high grievance! Even his nose tingled.

Gu Rong cried: “Mommy! You won’t leave Zaizai again, not leave Zaizai again, right!!!”

Ye Lan paused, stunned, then smiled: “Silly child, how could Mommy leave you?”

“Wuwuwuwuwuwu!!!” Gu Rong threw himself into Ye Lan’s arms, rubbing his tears and snot all over her clothes.