Chapter 1332: I Only Want You (30)
An Xiaoning and Fan Shixin headed to the office of the water reservoir maintenance workers. The workers had yet to rise and shine, but they were jolted awake soon after she knocked on the door.
The female worker was initially rather annoyed to be woken up from her sleep. However, she dared not show her displeasure the moment she realized that An Xiaoning was a police officer.
“Have you heard any strange noises coming from the reservoir before?”
“I don’t know if they’re considered strange, but I did hear some noises of frogs croaking and other sounds from animals when summer first started. It was a mix of noises, and I couldn’t hear each one distinctly. The noises have been reduced lately, but I can still hear them from time to time.”
“Have you heard sounds of crying and weeping?”
“I’ve never heard any while I was working here.”
An Xiaoning asked, “How long have you been working here for?”
“More than two years.”
“How many people have died within that period of time?”
“Two or three. Most children have stopped coming here to play in the summer. However, there were still those who refused to obey their parents’ warnings and came here to play. They ended up in a tragedy.”
“Do you usually live here?” An Xiaoning scanned her surroundings in the room to see that there were pots and pans and other necessary items.
“Yes, I stay here every day.”
“I’ll come by again this evening at about eight o’clock. Don’t lock the door. I’ll be on patrol tonight.”
“Alright.”
——
Upon the sight of her father, Jin Bao’er stopped in her tracks when she was about two meters away from him.
No. 5 stood beside her and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”
Shaking her head, Jin Bao’er said to Shi Shaochuan, “Didn’t you already choose to abandon me? What are you here for?”
Shi Shaochuan had been lacking sleep lately and was not in the best state of mind despite catching up on sleep whenever he could. As a result of his poor sleep quality, he had developed under-eye circles.
He said, “Bao’er, you’re still my daughter at the end of the day. I only said those things in a moment of anger. Will you have a meal with me?”
Jin Bao’er said bluntly, “My name is now Jin Bao’er. If you want to have a meal with me, you’ll have to get Mommy’s permission. I’ll have a meal with you if Mommy agrees.”
Shi Shaochuan was incredibly shocked to hear his daughter’s words.
“Bao’er, you may be under your mother’s care now and it may be alright for you to take her surname, but you’re still my biological daughter, after all. No matter what, I’m still your father. Why can’t I have a meal with you?”
Jin Bao’er bit her lip and nodded. She decided to give in in the end.
No. 5 said, “I’ll call your mommy now.”
Jin Bao’er grabbed his arm and said, “Uncle No. 5, don’t call Mommy. She definitely wouldn’t agree if she hears about it.”
No. 5 insisted, “I still have to inform her.”
He then called Jin Qingyue, who strongly opposed the idea of Shi Shaochuan taking Jin Bao’er out for a meal as soon as she heard it.
Hence, Shi Shaochuan could not take Jin Bao’er out for a meal. He then left angrily.
Jin Bao’er and No. 5 proceeded to eat at the canteen.
“Are you upset?” No. 5 asked.
“Am I not allowed to see Daddy anymore? Not even for a meal?”
“Your mommy is just sparing a thought for you.”
Jin Bao’er turned to look at No. 5 and said, “Daddy lost so much weight. He seems to have fallen ill. Uncle No. 5, couldn’t you tell?”
No. 5 nodded and said, “He does seem a little unwell, but maybe he caught a cold. He’s an adult, he’ll know how to take care of himself.”
Jin Bao’er nodded and stayed silent.
….
Upon the sight of Shi Shaochuan exiting the martial arts academy alone, Bu Xianxian asked, “Hey… where’s Bao’er? Why didn’t she come out with you?”
“Her mother refused to allow us to have a meal together so I had to leave.”
Bu Xianxian remarked in displeasure, “You may have returned the custody to Jin Qingyue, but you’re still Bao’er’s father, after all. Jin Qingyue is so heartless. How can she deny you the chance to have a simple meal with your daughter?”
Shi Shaochuan said nonchalantly, “Forget it, let’s go home. I’m really tired.”
Refusing to give up, Bu Xianxian said, “I have a solution to make her eat with you.”
“What is it?”
“Pretend to be hospitalized and get her to visit you. I doubt Jin Qingyue can object to that.”
Although Shi Shaochuan was extremely infuriated and upset at Jin Bao’er for setting Wen Lele on fire, he was angrier at himself for returning the custody to Jin Qingyue.
After all, Jin Bao’er was still his biological daughter, and he wanted to see her occasionally.
He just wouldn’t allow her to live with him anymore.
Shi Shaochuan was eager to go home. He initially didn’t want to do what Bu Xianxian had suggested. Somehow, he agreed almost involuntarily, “Alright, I’ll do just that.”
Bu Xianxian drove him to the hospital. She could tell that he seemed to be under the weather. The doctor suggested that he undergo a physical examination that, however, did not show any problems with his health at all. Hence, the doctor thought that Shi Shaochuan was just having an overly active sex life and wanted him to be mindful of his health.
The doctor did not let Shi Shaochuan be hospitalized nor prescribe him with any medicine. After all, there were no apparent issues with his health. However, Bu Xianxian insisted that the doctor allow him to be hospitalized, claiming that Shi Shaochuan seemed to be sickly and unwell. Hence, after seeing how frail he appeared, the doctor decided to let Shi Shaochuan stay in the hospital for a day to undergo further observation.
Hence, he was admitted to a hospital ward while Bu Xianxian called Jin Qingyue to tell her that Shi Shaochuan had been hospitalized and that he’d like to see Jin Bao’er.
Jin Qingyue answered, “Didn’t he already see her at the boot camp just now? Why does he have to meet her again?”
“We had to leave even before they got to chat properly. Shaochuan is hospitalized right now. Are you still not going to let Bao’er meet him for a meal and accompany him?”
Jin Qingyue brushed her off, “That’s his problem. Don’t call me again.”
She then ended the call.
Filled with exasperation, Bu Xianxian handed the mobile phone to Shi Shaochuan and said, “See, this woman doesn’t want to let you see Bao’er at all. You’re so silly. Why did you even return the custody to her?”
Shi Shaochuan stared at her and said, “You’re acting so strangely… you clearly dislike Bao’er, but why do you seem to be so concerned about her? Besides, after all that Bao’er has done, I’m truly terrified of her.”
“That’s all because I care about you. Besides, she’s only a child. We can always just teach her right from wrong slowly.”
“She seems to have changed a little for the better, though. But what do we do now? This excuse doesn’t seem to work anymore.”
“There’s no other option unless I go to the boot camp to talk to her,” said Bu Xianxian, who was at the end of her wits.
“Go ahead and give it a try, then.”
Bu Xianxian expressed assent and said, “If she still doesn’t come, there’s no point for you to continue being hospitalized. I’ll call you later.”