Chapter 23 : Shameless

Faer suddenly remembered something important. Her expression changed at once, and she stomped her feet anxiously. “Miss, Little Miss Xiaoli is missing!”

Song Ying: “Where’s Liuliu?”

Faer: “Shangkou Street, East Market. Let’s go quickly!”

Song Ying turned to Huo Zhen and said, “You should go back, I need to help search for the child.”

Huo Zhen grabbed her sleeve and said, “I’ll find more people to help. It’ll be easier with more hands.”

This time, Song Ying didn’t stand on ceremony. “Alright, thank you.”

Song Ying went to meet up with Liu Lingyan first. After asking about the situation, they decided to split up and search separately.

Dali kept crying, and Liu Lingyan grew agitated. She scolded sharply, “What good is crying? I told you not to scare your sister away, but you wouldn’t listen! If we can’t find your sister, I don’t want you anymore!”

Dali: “Wuwaaa! Mother, I was wrong. I’m scared! I want my sister!”

Song Ying said to Faer, “Take the child back first.”

Faer comforted Dali, cradling him in her arms as she walked away.

Once the children were gone, Liu Lingyan could no longer hold it in and broke down crying. “I’ll never take them out again.”

Song Ying comforted her, “It hasn’t been long since she went missing. Let’s search separately for now. We’ll definitely find her.”

Liu Lingyan wiped her tears. “Yes!”

Huo Zhen brought Yang Hu and Mo Qi with him. After a quick discussion, they determined the direction and began searching.

Naturally, Huo Zhen had to go with Song Ying. They walked north along the street.

However, this was the busiest time in the capital. The streets were packed with people, making it nearly impossible to get a clear view or direction.

“Have you seen a little girl around four years old? She’s wearing a blue dress and has two braids?” Song Ying asked again and again.

“No, haven’t seen anyone like that.”

Despite asking everywhere along the way, Song Ying still found no clues.

Huo Zhen said, “There are too many people. Maybe she got scared and hid in a quieter alley?”

Song Ying: “That’s possible.”

Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, “The show’s about to start!”

The previously orderly crowd suddenly surged toward the same direction.

“Careful!”

Just as Song Ying was about to be knocked down, Huo Zhen pulled her into his arms and guided her to the side of the street.

“Whew, it’s okay now.”

Song Ying was still a little dazed. Looking up at the tall man in front of her, she could even see the faint stubble on his chin.

Huo Zhen stood frozen under her gaze. He dared not move, his back stiff and his hand on Song Ying’s back starting to sweat.

The woman he longed for most was in his arms. He didn’t want to let go, but if he didn’t, she’d probably get angry…

Just as Huo Zhen was caught in an internal struggle, Song Ying spoke, “Thank you. You can let go now.”

Huo Zhen: “Uh… oh…”

Her soft body slipped away from his embrace, and Huo Zhen suddenly felt a sense of loss.

Song Ying took a small step back and said calmly, “Let’s keep searching.”

Huo Zhen: “Yeah…”

He sneaked a glance at Song Ying. She didn’t seem to react at all to what just happened, which left him feeling disappointed.

Does she really feel nothing for me?

“Song Ying, why are you walking alone in the street?”

A grating voice instantly snapped Huo Zhen out of his thoughts. He looked up to see Wen Jun blocking Song Ying’s path. Like a protective child, Huo Zhen stepped in front of her to create distance between them.

Wen Jun noticed it was Huo Zhen and smiled. “General Huo, what a coincidence! Not in the barracks today, what brings you here?”

Then he looked at Song Ying again and smirked knowingly. “Ah… I see now. So that’s how it is…”

Song Ying couldn’t be bothered to listen to Wen Jun’s nonsense. She grabbed Huo Zhen and pulled him around to avoid him.

In Wen Jun’s impression, Song Ying had always been proper, gentle, and courteous. She had never left before someone finished speaking.

Wen Jun wasn’t known for having a good temper either. The more Song Ying behaved like this, the more he wanted to chase after her and get to the bottom of it.

So Wen Jun followed them and asked, “Where are you going?”

Huo Zhen glared at him with a sour expression. Song Ying looked straight ahead and replied while walking, “We’re looking for a child.”

“A child? Yours?”

Song Ying ignored him.

Wen Jun was the kind of person who easily forgot people and things he didn’t care about.

Still, he shamelessly asked again, “I was just joking. Since you’re so anxious, why don’t I help you look?”

Song Ying stopped and said, “Alright. The child’s name is Xiaoli. She’s wearing…”

After hearing the description, Wen Jun nodded. “Got it. I’ll remember.”

Song Ying said, “Thank you very much. I’ll wait for your news at Shangkou Street in an hour.”

Wen Jun: “Alright.”

After Song Ying and the others left, Wen Jun instructed his subordinate Zuo Yin, “Go tell Yue Shaozhi I’m helping Song Ying look for a child. If he can’t wait, he can leave first.”

Zuo Yin: “Yes.”

Then Wen Jun turned to another subordinate, You Yin. “You heard everything. Go look quickly.”

You Yin: “Yes.”

Huo Zhen, following beside Song Ying, said, “Wen Jun won’t help you find the child at all. Do you really trust him?”

Song Ying: “I never expected him to help. Wen Jun is shameless , always acting mysterious, pestering me, and refusing to let go.”

Huo Zhen agreed, “He really is shameless.”

As the arranged meeting time drew near, they still hadn’t received any news.

Huo Zhen said, “Maybe Boss Liu or Yang Hu already found her.”

Song Ying: “That would be best.”

Huo Zhen: “Let’s head back first.”

Song Ying: “Alright.”

When they returned to Shangkou Street, Liu Lingyan, Yang Hu, and the others were already there.

Seeing Xiaoli in Liu Lingyan’s arms, Song Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After finding the child, Liu Lingyan laughed through tears, “This little girl is smart. She went to a couple with a child and started crying.”

Xiaoli’s eyes were red as she whispered hoarsely, “I thought that was my brother…”

Liu Lingyan kissed her, “It’s alright. Mother is here now, and your brother is waiting at home.”

Just then, Wen Jun arrived with his men. “You found her? Congratulations, congratulations.”

Everyone: …

Wen Jun looked puzzled, “What’s with the silence?”

Song Ying politely said, “Thank you for your help, Young Marquis. Now that the child’s found, we should be going.”

Wen Jun nodded, “Alright. Just don’t forget to thank me later.”

Huo Zhen shouted with a hoarse voice, “Thank you for what? You didn’t do anything!”

Wen Jun raised his finger and wagged it. “General Huo, why are you so worked up? I did something to help, so asking Song Ying to treat me to a meal isn’t too much, right?”

Song Ying: “Please allow me to treat you another day. Liuliu, let’s go home.”

Wen Jun: “Don’t put it off. I think tomorrow’s best. How about Juya Pavilion?”

Song Ying responded simply, “Alright. Fine.”

Wen Jun tossed a smug glance at Huo Zhen, “Song Ying, you really are reasonable. I’ll send someone to pick you up tomorrow. I’m off.”

“Son of a—” Huo Zhen clenched his fists and looked ready to charge forward, but Yang Hu and Mo Qi quickly held him back. “Brother, calm down. The kids are here.”

Song Ying: “Let’s deal with it when we get back.”

Back home, the little brother and sister were both in tears. Liu Lingyan and Song Ying comforted them together, and soon the two kids drifted off to sleep.

“Thanks for everyone’s hard work today. I’ll prepare a thank-you gift soon.”

The servants all cheered happily. Only Huo Zhen quietly followed Song Ying elsewhere.

“Are you really going tomorrow?”