Chapter 21 – He’s Angry

“What?!”

Ning Songyun’s shout startled the child Zhao Yu had just managed to soothe, making him cry again.

“Sorry, sorry!”

Hands clasped in mock prayer, Ning Songyun bowed to the wailing child with a pained look. “Please don’t cry. I was wrong, I’ll be quiet, okay?”

Zhao Yu lowered her head and whispered gently to the boy. Maybe he was too tired from crying, or maybe the sedative he had been given earlier was still affecting him, because before long he drifted back to sleep.

“Yuyu, that man really was in uniform?” Ning Songyun asked in a hushed voice.

“I couldn’t have seen wrong.”

Zhao Yu peeked cautiously outside the small compartment before continuing: “For them to act so brazenly on a train, snatching people by force, they must have backing.

Most likely, even if they were brought into a police station, they could walk out unscathed—and even drag the victims away with them.”

“You think it’s the police at the next stop?”

“Not just the next stop. As long as your brother hasn’t caught them yet, none of the police at the coming stations can be trusted.

And we don’t know how many accomplices they still have on this train. Tonight we’ll have to take turns keeping watch.”

“No problem,” Ning Songyun answered readily, but then sighed a little. “If only my mom were with us right now.”

“Your mom is busy looking after Sister Ning, but we still have the deputy troupe leader of the arts group with us. If you’re really worried, we can go tell her.”

“Better not.”

Ning Songyun curled her lip. “That woman had a crush on my dad when she was young. She used to make trouble for my mom all the time. If I tell her? She won’t lift a finger for us.”

“There’s something like that?”

“You didn’t know?” Ning Songyun lowered her voice, a hint of gossip in her tone. “I only heard it from others, but when I asked my mom, her face turned really dark. So it’s probably true.”

“And you dare tell me this?” Zhao Yu pinched her cheek. “What if someone else overhears you? Aren’t you afraid the troupe leader will punish you?”

“No one here knows me.” Ning Songyun’s reply came out muffled because of the pinching.

“I’m not a person, then?”

The sudden voice made both girls jump. Ning Songyi was standing right there.

“Brother! You… you’re done with work?”

Trying to curry favor, Ning Songyun quickly pulled him to sit down. “Brother, you didn’t hear a thing just now, right?”

“What do you think?” He shot her a glare.

Ning Songyun grinned sheepishly and tried to get away with it, shooting Zhao Yu desperate looks for help.

Zhao Yu pretended not to understand at first, but after enjoying her pitiful expressions long enough, she finally stepped in.

“All done over there?” she asked, pushing a lunch box into Ning Songyi’s hands.

He nodded, staring at the food packed to the brim. “You haven’t eaten?”

“Songyun brought me some already.” Zhao Yu noticed he didn’t have chopsticks, so she pulled out a new pair from her bag. “Use these.”

He took them, ate a few mouthfuls absentmindedly, then answered her question. “It’s more or less wrapped up, but one of them slipped away.”

“Which one?” Zhao Yu asked quickly.

“Why so concerned?”

She told him briefly about running into the trafficker in police uniform.

“That’s the one.”

Ning Songyi put down his food and strode out. “No wonder we searched every carriage and couldn’t find him—he was a cop.”

“Finally, he’s gone.” Ning Songyun collapsed back with relief.

Zhao Yu chuckled at her and teased her for a while.

Later, a train policeman came by. Zhao Yu explained the situation, and he said he’d notify the military district in Heilongjiang.

But less than two hours later, another train policeman she didn’t recognize suddenly showed up.

“Comrade Zhao, we’re about to reach the station. Hand me the child.”

Without waiting for her reply, he reached out to take him.

“Wait.” Zhao Yu stopped him. “Where’s the officer who came earlier?”

“Him…” The man faltered, eyes shifting. “He’s resting. I’ll deliver the child instead—it’s the same.”

“I’ll go with you.” Zhao Yu lifted the child. “She cries loudly when upset. Better I hold her.”

He hesitated, glanced outside, then nodded. “Fine, follow me.”

One arm cradling the boy, the other hand behind her back, Zhao Yu discreetly gestured to Ning Songyun.

When they got off the train, she spotted two or three men in uniform waiting ahead.

They stepped forward immediately. One reached for the child, while the other two silently blocked her path from behind.

Zhao Yu hugged the boy tighter and stepped back. “Please show me your identification.”

“You’re just a woman—what would you understand? IDs aren’t for you to see.”

The leader snapped impatiently, reaching for her arm.

She slipped aside and repeated firmly: “Show me your papers.”

“See this uniform? We’re police. Hand over the child and come with us!”

He reached to snatch the boy—then froze midair.

“What are you doing? You dare fight us? Can you afford the consequences?”

Zhao Yu whipped out a fruit knife, holding it steady. “I said, show your ID. Otherwise you’re not taking this child anywhere.”

The supposed train policeman suddenly pulled out a handkerchief, trying to cover her mouth from behind.

“Ah!”

But before he could, a cry of pain rang out—Ning Songyi had floored him.

Ning Songyun trailed behind, winking playfully at Zhao Yu as if to say, See how fast I was?

The men in uniform panicked at Ning Songyi’s moves, trying to flee, but soldiers disembarking from another carriage immediately subdued them.

“Yuyu, are you okay?” Ning Songyun hurried over.

“I’m fine.” After reassuring her, Zhao Yu looked up at Ning Songyi. “Good thing you came.”

But he ignored her, turning instead to join the soldiers escorting the captives away.

Having grown up with him, Zhao Yu knew all too well—he was angry.

So she followed him like a guilty child, head bowed, back onto the train.

Watching with wide eyes, Ning Songyun couldn’t hide her gossiping grin.

“Who’s this young comrade?” one of Ning Songyi’s close comrades asked him quietly. “She’s tagging along behind you like a little wife.”