Yu Yuanyuan stopped waving her tiny fists, a big invisible question mark almost popping over her head. “Why can’t I eat? It’s a fish, isn’t it? And cats love fish.”

“But dolphins are super cute,” Yu Mingxi patted her little head, smiling warmly. “In a bit, you’ll get a chance to touch one. You’ll see!”

“Wow!” Yuanyuan’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Yu Yingze, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure. He had a nagging feeling this little munchkin might actually try to take a bite out of a dolphin. He couldn’t help but stress, “You better not try to eat a dolphin. That would be so embarrassing! If you don’t behave, I won’t take you out anymore.”

Hearing this…

Yuanyuan visibly calmed down.

The upturned corners of her smile drooped, looking like someone who had been caught in the act.

Gao Zhou, meanwhile, was completely unfazed by the idea of someone trying to bite a dolphin. He was quietly observing the kids’ cute antics, enjoying their fun conversations.

Taking little kids out might not be as much of a headache as he thought.

“Brother, brother, look! It’s that… that company!” Yuanyuan, quiet for barely two seconds, was back to bouncing with excitement, waving her hand and shouting.

This time, it was Yu Yingze’s turn to be confused.

A company??

Since when did sea creatures have names like that?!

“Yuanyuan, that’s a penguin,” Yu Mingxi chuckled. “Penguin, remember? They have wings, just like geese.”

Yu Yingze: “…” He really shouldn’t expect too much from this little dumpling.

The penguin exhibit was packed with both adults and kids. Even being held by Yu Mingxi, Yuanyuan could barely see past the sea of heads.

“Miss Yuanyuan, are you afraid of heights?” Gao Zhou bent down to ask.

Yuanyuan shook her head, her eyes looking disappointed.

There were just too many people, and she couldn’t see the penguins!

“Alright then!” Gao Zhou effortlessly lifted her up and placed her on his shoulders. “Can you see now?”

At first, Yuanyuan was a bit scared. Her tiny hands gripped Gao Zhou’s head tightly, her chubby little fingers tensing up, clearly nervous.

But after a few moments, once she got used to her new high-up vantage point, she let out a series of delighted squeals, “Wow, wow, wow! Uncle Gao is so tall!!”

Standing at a towering 185 cm, Gao Zhou carrying Yuanyuan meant she had a clear view, towering over everyone else.

Skillfully maneuvering through the crowd, Gao Zhou led Yu Mingxi and Yu Yingze to the front row.

“The penguins are so cute,” Yuanyuan pressed her hands and face against the glass, as if she wanted to climb right in. “Can we… eat them?”

Yu Yingze’s finger twitched. “Why do you want to eat everything?”

“I-I was just asking…” Yuanyuan pursed her lips, but her eyes still glistened with a gaze that made the penguins look like a tasty treat.

For a brief moment, Yu Yingze could’ve sworn that the penguin closest to them looked absolutely terrified.

Heh. You were serious about that question, weren’t you?

After watching the penguins, they continued following the map that came with their tickets, heading toward the shark exhibit.

Yu Mingxi had mentioned that the shark was massive, towering over several Yuanyuans in height.

The moment Yuanyuan heard the words “big fish,” her eyes sparkled again with that familiar, mischievous glint.

Yu Yingze was used to it by now.

Nothing surprised him anymore—he had accepted that this little one’s mind worked in mysterious ways.

After sitting on Gao Zhou’s shoulders for a while, Yuanyuan suddenly wanted to walk on her own.

There were many other kids around, all walking independently while holding onto the adults’ clothes. They looked so grown-up and responsible.

Yuanyuan wanted to be a responsible little kid too!

“Make sure you hold on tight, Miss Yuanyuan,” Gao Zhou patted his clothes, watching closely as she grabbed onto his shirt. Only then did he relax and glance down at the map.

But within just a few seconds… When he looked down again…

Yuanyuan was gone.