Extra 3.7

Li Xiao said they would come the next evening, but in reality, the couple arrived before noon the next day.

Jiang Rou was squatting in the yard, washing vegetables, when she heard voices coming from next door.

Not long after, Li Xiao brought the couple over. The house had been under renovation these past few days, and Li Xiao had been helping out. When he arrived, his clothes were covered in paint.

He greeted the couple at the door, then walked straight to the well to wash his hands and face.

He said to Jiang Rou, “These are the parents of the abducted child.”

Jiang Rou looked at the middle-aged couple standing at the entrance. They appeared haggard and worn out from traveling—with fatigue written all over their faces.

However, they carried themselves with grace.

Jiang Rou stood up, saying, “I’ll get you some water to drink.”

The couple waved their hands hurriedly, “No need, no need, we’ll be leaving soon.”

Li Xiao told them, “Come inside and have a seat for a while. After lunch, I’ll take you there.”

Hearing this, the couple didn’t argue further. They could skip the meal themselves, but they didn’t want to delay someone else’s lunch.

Aunt Wang, who was in the kitchen frying vegetables, heard the commotion and curiously poked her head out to take a look.

Recently, her house had become livelier, and Aunt Wang had grown more cheerful as well—whenever she talks, a trace of a smile could be seen.

When Jiang Rou entered the kitchen, Aunt Wang asked what was going on.

Jiang Rou briefly explained the situation, and Aunt Wang exclaimed, “Oh dear! Poor parents, they had suffered a lot.”

Jiang Rou poured two cups of warm tea and brought them outside. By then, Li Xiao had already started chatting with the couple: “My wife has menstrual cramps, and I heard there was an excellent old Chinese doctor nearby, so I took her for a consultation that day.”

“After leaving the doctor’s house, it was getting late, so we found a noodle shop to have lunch. I eat quickly, so after finishing my meal, I looked around. That’s when I noticed a little boy in a house across from the noodle shop with his feet tied. I felt it was odd, so I couldn’t help but take a second look. Then, a middle-aged woman hurriedly picked up the boy and took him inside. As she lifted him, I caught a glimpse of the boy’s face, which looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen him before. But I did hear the boy speak in the G-province dialect, saying something about wanting to go home…”

At this point, Li Xiao paused for a moment before continuing, “It wasn’t until I got in the car that I realized who the boy resembled. He looked a lot like Boss You. I attended a banquet with my boss not long ago and saw Boss You up close. The impression was strong. I also heard about how you were looking for your child, and it seemed like the events might be connected.”

“I didn’t report it directly to the police because I was afraid of alerting the suspects. They probably already had a story prepared, unlike when you went directly and left them no excuses,” Li Xiao explained.

However, he added, “I can’t guarantee it’s definitely your child. If it turns out that he wasn’t your son, please don’t blame me for being rash.”

The couple quickly reassured him, “No, no, we understand you meant well. Even if it’s not our child, we accept it and will continue searching.”

Li Xiao nodded.

During lunch, Aunt Wang commented, “Xiao Xiao is very considerate of his wife. That morning when Xiao Rou was in pain and couldn’t get up, he woke up early to do the laundry, and the next day, he took her to see a doctor.”

After hearing this, the couple’s previous doubts were dispelled. They couldn’t sit still when they thought of the possibility of their son being tied up. They were eager to go and look into it immediately.

Li Xiao ate quickly and, true to his efficient nature, he finished his meal and rented a car to take the couple to the location.

Jiang Rou did not go but saw him off.

—o—o—o—

Around seven in the evening, when it was dark, Li Xiao returned alone.

Aunt Wang, who was still awake, came out to check on the noise.

Li Xiao had not eaten dinner but was fortunate that Jiang Rou had left some food for him.

He sat at the table and began to eat while recounting what happened in the afternoon.

He first took the couple to the local county police station. After presenting their IDs and telling the police their concerns, the police immediately sent two officers who were dressed as civilians with them to investigate the matter.

When they arrived, Li Xiao did not get out of the car. Instead, the two officers found local residents to call the couple out. As they entered the house, they indeed found a child with his hands and feet bound, just as Li Xiao had described.

Li Xiao: “The child had likely been drugged by the traffickers and couldn’t recognize anyone anymore. Fortunately, they finally found their son. The couple took their child to the police station and is now at the local hospital.”

Aunt Wang frowned as she listened, “It’s really a sin. If it weren’t for Xiao Xiao, how can they find their son? From G Province to here, no matter how capable they are, it would be hard to locate him.”

—o—o—o—

The next morning, the couple came with their child to thank the Li family and brought a pile of gifts.

It was Saturday, and Xiao Feng happened to be at home.

Perhaps due to the good food and care she had received in recent days, Xiao Feng looked completely different from the little girl Jiang Rou saw when she had transmigrated here.

She was now fair and tender, dressed in a pretty little dress with her hair styled into two small puffs, tied with colorful bead strings.

She looked exceptionally cute and beautiful.

She clung to Jiang Rou’s side, peeking out curiously at the unfamiliar visitors.

The little boy, who was held by the middle-aged woman, was small, thin, and with empty eyes.

Taking advantage of the adults’ distraction, Xiao Feng secretly handed a piece of cake that her mother had made for her that morning to the little boy.

Xiao Feng said softly, “Brother, eat.”

The boy who was initially afraid of strangers, didn’t know why he reached his hand out to take the gift. 

Madame Song’s eyes turned red as she watched this.

Here’s a revision of your passage with improved grammar, clarity, and flow:

She immediately turned to Li Xiao and said, “Thank you so much for this. Truly, you and your wife are great benefactors to our family. When we return to G Province, we will definitely repay you.”

Li Xiao shook his head calmly. “No, I won’t be going back to G Province in the future. Just take good care of the children.”

Madame Song was taken aback. She noticed that the young couple sitting across from her didn’t show much emotion. The woman seemed composed, but if Li Xiao had seen her husband at the banquet, she would have realized that the repayment they were speaking of was not just about a few gifts.

My heart was slightly moved.

The couple left shortly after, eager to return to the large hospital in Province G to have their child examined.

Once the child’s issue was settled, Li Xiao turned to Jiang Rou and asked if there was anything else they needed to do.

Jiang Rou seriously considered it for a moment, then shook her head.

After all, she was still an intern and had not encountered many cases.

Li Xiao nodded.

—o—o—o—

Soon, the renovation next door was completed. After a few days of ventilation, Li Xiao moved his belongings over.

The furniture was all ready-made. The only thing with formaldehyde was the wall paint, but having worked in the real estate company for so long, Li Xiao knew which paints were safe and specifically chose a non-toxic one.

On the day of the move, the little girl was thrilled with her new home.

After the move, Li Xiao began packing up and preparing to leave.

Just before he left, a strange woman suddenly showed up at the house. If it hadn’t been for the little girl calling her “Grandma,” Jiang Rou would have almost made an embarrassing mistake.

Since the little girl called her “Grandma,” this woman must be Li Xiao’s biological mother.

Jiang Rou recognized her—her name was Lin Meiru. While looking through Li Xiao’s information, she learned that after Li Xiao’s ex-wife ran away, the child was initially left with his biological mother. Later, something happened, and Li Xiao abruptly cut ties with her, taking the child away. Instead of letting his mother care for the child, he preferred to hire someone to look after her.

At the time, Jiang Rou had a bad suspicion but didn’t dare share it with anyone.

Lin Meiru noticed Jiang Rou standing in the yard, lost in thought, and her face darkened. She asked bluntly, “Where is Li Xiao? He’s been back for days and hasn’t come to see me…”

Before she could finish, Li Xiao appeared, his expression gloomy and unpleasant.

Then, without waiting for Lin Meiru to continue speaking, he directly dragged her out. Jiang Rou didn’t know what he said to her outside, but he took a long time to return to the yard.

When he came back, he told Jiang Rou, “If she comes again, just call me.”

Jiang Rou glanced at his cold face and obediently agreed.

Although Li Xiao was angry, he still remembered to buy a TV, a telephone, and a bicycle for the house.

He even added a rattan seat to the back of the bicycle, making it easier for Jiang Rou to pick up and drop off Xiao Feng.

Everything was perfectly arranged.

That night, as they lay in bed, Li Xiao gave Jiang Rou detailed instructions, telling her which of his friends she could reach out to if she ever needed help.

Jiang Rou couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m not a child. Have you forgotten what I do?”

Li Xiao looked at her confident smile under the light and felt a strange sense of melancholy in his heart.

Suddenly, he realized that if it hadn’t been for this accident, he and Jiang Rou would still be worlds apart.

—o—o—o—

Early the next morning, Li Xiao woke up before dawn, while the little girl was still asleep. Only Jiang Rou got up to see him off.

As Li Xiao was washing up, Jiang Rou prepared a pot of chicken noodle soup in the kitchen. She poured it into a large bowl, placed it on the table in the main room, and then helped him double-check his packed luggage.

After Li Xiao finished eating, Jiang Rou saw him off.

When they reached the door, Jiang Rou handed the bag to him. Li Xiao stretched out his hand, but instead of taking the bag, he grasped the hand that held it.

Jiang Rou was momentarily stunned. She instinctively looked up at him, noticing the unclear emotions flickering in his eyes as he gazed down at her.

She could feel the warmth of his palm…

She bit her lip, wondering what he meant by this gesture.

Li Xiao tightened his grip slightly, looking at the small hand in his, gently brushing his thumb across her skin.

His voice was calm and soft as he spoke. “It might make you uncomfortable If I say this, but if I don’t, I know I’ll regret it. I already have too many regrets in my life, and I don’t want this to be another one.”

He paused, then continued earnestly, “If possible, I hope you can consider me.”

After those words, he looked at her intently, then let go of her hand, took the bag, and turned to leave.

His steps were quick as if he was afraid of hearing a disappointing response.

Jiang Rou stood there, dazed.

—o—o—o—

On Wednesday morning, after dropping her child off at kindergarten, Jiang Rou took a detour on her bike to visit her sister. She brought her some homemade pastries and a few books.

While handing them over, she casually asked, “By the way, how have you been lately?”

Fu Xiaoyue accepted the food and books. She glanced down for a moment before finally looking up and replying to Jiang Rou, her voice soft but clearer than before, “I’m doing well.”

Jiang Rou observed her sister’s face, which seemed much healthier than before, and smiled warmly. “That’s good to hear,” she said.

—o—o—o—

That evening, Li Xiao called Jiang Rou. She was busy cooking in the kitchen, while her daughter sat at the door, working on her homework.

The moment the little girl heard the phone ring, she jumped off her stool and ran to the kitchen to call her mother.

Hearing her daughter’s voice, Jiang Rou wiped her hands and went to the other room to answer the call. Picking up the receiver, she greeted, “Hello?”

A man’s voice quickly responded, “It’s me.”

The little girl stood next to Jiang Rou, staring up at her curiously. Jiang Rou smiled and told her, “It’s your dad.” She then held the receiver closer to her daughter’s ear.

The little girl immediately called out sweetly, “Daddy—”

Whatever Li Xiao said on the other end of the line made the little girl’s face light up. She giggled and said, “Daddy, I miss you so much.”

After a few more exchanges, the little girl pushed the receiver back towards her mother, “Mom, Daddy wants to talk to you.”

Jiang Rou paused briefly before taking the receiver again. Putting it to her ear, she playfully asked, “What is it?”

Li Xiao’s voice was casual as he replied, “Oh, nothing. I just wanted to check in on how everyone’s doing.”

Jiang Rou couldn’t help but laugh lightly.

The man on the other end of the line seemed to realize that his question was unnecessary. He had only been away for a day—what could have possibly changed at home?

He chuckled, his voice low and magnetic.

Jiang Rou felt a brief tingling in her ears. As she watched her daughter run off to continue drawing, she leaned into the receiver and whispered, “What did you mean by what you said yesterday morning?”

There was a pause. Just when Jiang Rou was about to switch topics, she finally heard his response: “I’ve never liked anyone before, but I want to be with you forever.”

Now, it was Jiang Rou’s turn to fall silent.

Li Xiao waited patiently, saying nothing as if he was expecting her to respond.

After a long pause, Jiang Rou felt her face grow warm. “Let me think about it,” she said softly.

Li Xiao gave a quiet hum in acknowledgment.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Rou regretted not asking what exactly he liked about her.

Yet, the next time they spoke, she was too shy to bring it up again.

—o—o—o—

In the days that followed, Jiang Rou focused on reading and preparing for her upcoming college entrance exams.

During the National Day holiday, the kindergarten had a seven-day break. Jiang Rou decided to take her daughter to S City for a short trip.

The little girl was thrilled. She knew they were going to visit her father and was so excited that she couldn’t fall asleep that night.

The next morning, before dawn, Jiang Rou took her daughter out. Instead of going to the bus station, they waited by the side of the road. After about twenty minutes, the bus arrived. Since they were only staying for a few days, Jiang Rou packed lightly—a black school bag and a red plastic bag, which held water, tissues, and snacks.

The mother and daughter traveled light, taking a day-long car ride and arriving in City S around 5 p.m. Jiang Rou did not immediately seek out Li Xiao, nor did she inform him of her visit beforehand.

Seeing that it was getting late, Jiang Rou hailed a taxi to explore the city with the little girl. Afterward, they found a restaurant for dinner and, once finished, booked a nice hotel for the night.

It was the little girl’s first time traveling so far from home. She clung closely to her mother the entire way, her small head constantly turning as she tried to take in her surroundings.

Even at the bustling restaurant, she ate cautiously, taking small bites.

Once they arrived at the hotel and saw it was just the two of them, the little girl became more lively.

Only then did Jiang Rou remember to call Li Xiao. He seemed to have been expecting her call. As soon as the line connected, she heard him ask, “Where are you now? I’ll come find you.”

Jiang Rou was surprised. “How did you know?”

“I called home, but no one answered,” Li Xiao explained. “So I called Aunt Wang, and she told me you were here.”

Jiang Rou felt a little guilty, as she had wanted to surprise him—but she still gave him their location.

Knowing Li Xiao was on his way, Jiang Rou decided to bathe An An before he arrived. Before she could finish, there was a knock at the door. It was Xiao Feng who opened it.

The little girl beamed when she saw her father. “Daddy!”

Li Xiao’s expression softened as he gently patted her head. “Where’s your mother?”

“Mommy is taking a bath,” she replied.

Li Xiao glanced toward the bathroom, hesitated for a moment, and then walked further into the room with his daughter.

When Jiang Rou emerged from the bathroom, Li Xiao was already seated on the couch, watching TV with their daughter.

Jiang Rou who was dressed in a skirt with her long hair down, immediately met Li Xiao’s gaze as she stepped out.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, she averted her eyes slightly. “I was planning to come find you tomorrow morning,” she said.

Li Xiao lowered his gaze. “I took the day off. I’ll take you both out tomorrow.”

Jiang Rou responded with a simple “Oh” and asked, “It won’t affect your work, will it?”

“It won’t.”

“That’s good, then.”

After a while, Li Xiao went to take a shower. Though he had brought a change of clothes, he had forgotten a towel.

Jiang Rou noticed him rummaging through his bag and quickly realized what he was looking for. She offered him hers.

Li Xiao paused—he was still carrying his clothes in his hand. “I can just use the hotel’s towel.”

Jiang Rou frowned slightly. “Hotel towels aren’t very clean. If you don’t mind, you can use mine. It’s on the clothes rack and hasn’t been used yet.”

Li Xiao glanced at her before nodding. “Okay.”

Jiang Rou blushed slightly at the way he looked at her—unsure if she was reading too much into it.

Later that night, when they all went to bed, the little girl, as usual, lay between them. Hearing Li Xiao’s steady breathing beside her, Jiang Rou found it hard to fall asleep. Finally, she whispered to the man on the other side, “Are you awake?”

A calm voice came from the other end. “Yes.”

In the darkness, Jiang Rou smiled softly, feeling a sense of quiet contentment.