Eating Melons in the Police Station

The next day, while surveillance cameras were being installed at Zhong Jin's home, Qiu Sheng took Little Tong to the amusement park.

Mother and daughter, draped in black cashmere cloaks and wearing pointed witch hats, dressed as a witch and her little sorceress, spent the entire day running wild at the park.

Little Tong, too short for many of the rides, clenched her tiny fists and declared defiantly to Qiu Sheng,

"When I grow up, I’m coming back to ride them all!"

Qiu Sheng adjusted the witch hat on her daughter’s head and smiled. "Alright, when you’re bigger, Mama will bring you back."

The child thought for a moment, then shook her head and mumbled under her breath, "But I don’t want to grow up too fast… because when I’m big, you and Daddy will be old."

Qiu Sheng patted her little hand. "You still have to grow up properly, though."

On their way out of the park in the evening, Qiu Sheng stopped at a bakery by the entrance and bought Little Tong a small round cherry cake.

Seated in her child seat, Little Tong cradled the cake box in her arms, bending down to sniff the sweet aroma through the packaging before peeking up at Qiu Sheng.

Seeing her mother focused on driving, Little Tong stealthily untied the satin ribbon bow, lifted the lid, and plunged her face into the box to take a big bite.

Qiu Sheng caught the little cake thief in the rearview mirror, her nose and cheeks smeared with cream. She pretended not to notice and kept driving.

A stolen bite of cake always tasted sweeter than one eaten properly with a spoon.

After three more furtive mouthfuls, Little Tong peeked up again, surprised that Qiu Sheng hadn’t scolded her. Clutching the cake, her chubby face smudged with frosting and crumbs, she confessed,

"Mama, I’m sneaking cake."

Qiu Sheng feigned shock. "Oh my! You’ve taken a huge bite out of it!"

Little Tong giggled. "Mama, I want to share it with you."

"Hmm? Can you wait until we get home? Mama’s driving right now."

The little girl raised a finger. "Mama, can you park the car? I want to eat it with you by the roadside."

So Qiu Sheng pulled into a nearby parking lot—one of those automated lift garages where the car rises out of sight after you step off.

Hugging her half-demolished cake, Little Tong waved goodbye to the ascending car, then took Qiu Sheng’s hand and skipped toward the exit.

They found a small street-side garden with a bench, where they set the cake box down.

Little Tong dug out two spoons from the packaging, handing one to her mother. She then discovered candles tucked inside and shook them excitedly. "Mama, look! What’s this?"

Realizing her daughter had never seen a modern birthday celebration, Qiu Sheng explained the tradition of birthday cakes and candles. She stuck one into the cake, lit it, and said,

"Sweetheart, even though it’s not your birthday, you can make a wish."

Little Tong stared at the flame, twin sparks dancing in her dark pupils. After a pause, she announced loudly, "I want to be a giant! Then I can ride ALL the park rides!"

Still bitter about being turned away for her height, she wasn’t letting it go.

Qiu Sheng ruffled her round head. "Your wish will come true. One day, you’ll ride everything."

The child paused, then shook her head and whispered, "No… I change my wish. I want to stay with you and Daddy forever."

Qiu Sheng’s smile faded.

Little Tong hadn’t mentioned Zhong Jin in weeks. Qiu Sheng had assumed her young daughter, with her fleeting memory, had forgotten about her past-life father.

Though the girl was small, Qiu Sheng didn’t dismiss her. Kneeling to meet her eyes, she said gently,

"Baby, Mama and Daddy are apart for now. I don’t know if we’ll raise you together later, but I’ll try to tell him you’re back so you can see him. Is that okay?"

Little Tong twisted the cake box ribbon thoughtfully. "Mama, actually I already—"

Her words were cut off by a commotion down the street. Standing on tiptoes, she gasped and tugged Qiu Sheng’s sleeve. "Mama! Something’s happening over there! Let’s go see, please!"

They joined the crowd and found traffic police conducting a DUI checkpoint, making drivers blow into breathalyzers and arresting those who failed.

Mother and daughter relocated their cake feast to a nearby step behind the officers, happily spooning bites while watching the drunk drivers get caught.

After finishing the cake, Qiu Sheng noticed Little Tong was still engrossed, so they lingered until the girl started yawning.

"Sleepy, little one? Time to head home," Qiu Sheng said, tweaking her braid.

As they stood, Little Tong suddenly grabbed a cop’s sleeve and chirped, "Hello! I want to try that too!"

The officer looked down at the tiny figure by his knee and chuckled. "Did you drink any alcohol?"

Little Tong burped creamily. "I drank milk. I can get milk-drunk."

His colleague leaned over. "Sorry, kiddo, this is only for drivers."

Undeterred, Little Tong held up a finger. "But I have cars! A Ferrari AND a pickup truck—my uncle bought them for me!"

Qiu Sheng, returning from tossing the cake box, apologized and hurried her away. "Sweetie, the officers are working. Don’t disturb them."

Little Tong nodded solemnly. "Okay, okay. Next time I won’t chat with them."

When their car passed the checkpoint later, Qiu Sheng blew into the breathalyzer and passed smoothly.

The officer spotted the curious child in the backseat, waved, and gave a playful salute.

Little Tong instantly straightened, furrowed her brow, and returned the gesture with grave seriousness.

That day had been so exhausting that Little Tong slept straight through till morning. The next day, she went to the postpartum care center to see the baby again. After having some milk there and taking another nap, she completely forgot to bring food to her dad.

Meanwhile, Zhong Jin had installed surveillance cameras at home, yet no suspicious items appeared afterward. He replayed the footage from the previous night but found no trace of any intruder.

Outwardly, Zhong Jin remained composed, but inwardly, he grew wary. Whatever this "thing" was, it seemed to be monitoring his every move—now that cameras were in place, it no longer dared to show up.

On the second night after installing the cameras, Zhong Jin worked late and didn’t return home until past 1 a.m. As he stepped through the villa’s front door and changed into his slippers in the entryway, his instincts immediately alerted him that something was off.

He didn’t turn on the lights, moving silently past the entryway.

Sure enough, a dark lump was curled up on the sofa. Moonlight streaming through the window outlined its silhouette—short, small, and oddly resembling... a tiny dinosaur?

The little dinosaur even had a tail dragging behind it.

Zhong Jin was baffled. He’d considered the possibility of a child’s prank behind the mysterious appearances in his home, but a dinosaur prank had never crossed his mind.

He flicked on the lights.

The dinosaur, which had been facing away from him, froze for a second before turning around.

It was a chubby three- or four-year-old child wearing a green dinosaur onesie, the front zipper half-undone, revealing a stash of messy snacks stuffed inside. The kid was clutching two bags of chips in their hands.

Wide, bright eyes locked onto Zhong Jin’s. Then, a box of cookies clattered out from under the onesie and onto the floor.

Zhong Jin narrowed his eyes. "...Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‍chubby child dashed toward him, arms outstretched with the chip bags, snacks tumbling out of the onesie with every step.

Upon reaching Zhong Jin, the kid pressed their forehead against his leg, nuzzling affectionately before tilting their head up and declaring loudly:

"Dad."

Zhong Jin gripped the fuzzy dinosaur hood and gently pushed the child back. "Who are you? I’m not your dad."

A strange child sneaking into his home late at night, leaving food on the floor, then vanishing without a sound—it sounded eerie.

But this kid, clad in a cartoonish dinosaur onesie, had a round, cheerful face and radiated warmth when pressed against him. They felt undeniably alive.

Even during his time in the investigative unit, Zhong Jin had never encountered anything this bizarre.

The child stood there, belly sticking out, studying Zhong Jin before suddenly charging forward again, determined to get close.

Zhong Jin planted a hand on their head, holding them at arm’s length. Undeterred, the kid pushed harder, swinging their arms for momentum.

"Stop!" Zhong Jin barked.

The child froze instantly, hands clasped together, staring at him pleadingly.

"Who are you?" Zhong Jin demanded.

"I am Zhong Yuntong. I’m your baby. You just don’t remember me," the child explained solemnly, raising a finger for emphasis.

Realizing rational conversation was impossible with someone this young, Zhong Jin scooped the kid up. "Who’s your mom? What’s your address? I’ll take you home."

Clutching Zhong Jin’s neck, the child answered brightly, "My mom is Qiu Sheng. I live at Grandma’s house."

Zhong Jin halted mid-step, frowning. "Say that again. Who’s your mom?"

"Her name is Qiu Sheng. That’s what Uncle calls her. My uncle is Qiu Chen."

Zhong Jin slowly set the child back down, his gaze dark and intense. After a long pause, he asked the crucial question: "Who’s your dad?"

The child pointed straight at him. "Zhong Jin."

Zhong Jin mentally reviewed his life—drunken mistakes, blackout incidents, even sperm donations—but came up empty.

So where did this kid come from? Sprouted from a rock?

"Where did you come from?" he asked.

"Demon Palace."

"......"

Zhong Jin slumped onto the couch, legs stretched out, elbows on his knees as he raked a hand through his thick black hair. He glared at the child, now seated on the floor.

The kid grinned and offered him a bag of chips.

Zhong Jin pushed it away. "Not hungry."

"Open it for me."

Sighing, he took the bag, tore it open along the serrated edge, and handed it back.

Crunching loudly, the child sat cross-legged on the cold floor before subtly scooting onto Zhong Jin’s slipper for warmth.

Glancing down at the round little head, Zhong Jin didn’t have the heart to pull his foot away.

"What’s your name?" he asked.

"Mmmph—Zhong Yuntong," the kid mumbled through a mouthful of chips.

"Zhong Yuntong, when did you come here from Demon Palace?"

"From when you washed off."

Zhong Jin stared blankly out the window before rephrasing. "When you arrived, were the leaves yellow?"

The child paused mid-chew, recalling the coffee shop near Mom’s place where the leaves had already turned.

"Yellow," they confirmed, nodding before shoving another chip into their mouth.

Now Zhong Jin understood why Qiu Chen had plucked his hair—this kid had appeared out of nowhere, and Qiu Chen needed a DNA test.

He studied the child again—round face, chubby cheeks. Both he and Qiu Sheng were lean. How did they produce such a plump offspring?

After a long silence, he asked another question. "Why were you leaving snacks and leftovers in my house?"

The little one tilted their head back, pouring the last chip crumbs into their mouth. Clambering up using Zhong Jin’s leg for support, they placed tiny hands on his knees and sighed.

"Your house has no food. Aren’t you hungry?"

Zhong Jin studied the earnest face before finally giving in. He pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped the crumbs off the child’s cheeks.

"So you were bringing me food because you thought I’d starve?"

The kid nodded. "Eat up. I’m thirsty now—gotta go back."

Instinctively, Zhong Jin caught their arm. "Stay a little longer. I’ll get you water."

They waved him off. "No water. I need to go drink neinei."

"What’s neinei?"

The chubby child couldn't quite explain what "neinei" was, and in the end, she just pouted her lips and mimicked a sucking motion. She then pointed at the snacks on the floor and said, "Hurry up and eat. I have to go now."

Seeing her determination to leave, Zhong Jin didn’t press her to stay. Instead, he reached out, plucked two strands of the child’s hair, and twirled them around his fingers.

Little Tong gave Zhong Jin a puzzled look, patted her head, but said nothing.

Zhong Jin stood up and picked her up. "Let me take you back."

The child pinched his ears and gradually turned transparent in his arms before vanishing completely.

Zhong Jin: "......" Now he understood how the kid had sneaked into his house.

Little Tong reappeared in her grandmother’s living room just as Qiu Sheng came running downstairs looking for her. Qiu Sheng spotted her standing in the middle of the room and let out a relieved sigh as she leaned against the railing.

"Sweetheart, why are you running around instead of sleeping?"

The chubby child tilted her head up. "Mommy, I’m thirsty. I want neinei."

Qiu Sheng prepared half a bottle of milk for her. Little Tong clutched the bottle, her eyes closed as she nestled into Qiu Sheng’s arms. She fell asleep, but her mouth kept sucking on the milk. Worried she might choke, Qiu Sheng tried to take the bottle away, but no matter how many times she tugged, the child kept the nipple clamped tightly between her teeth.

Finally, Qiu Sheng had no choice but to gently shake her awake and make her finish the milk before going back to sleep.

The next day, Zhong Jin went to the hospital first to submit two DNA samples before driving to the office.

His assistant, Fang Weiyi, hurried after him with a thick stack of design drafts, rapidly updating him on work matters while silently grumbling about his boss’s long strides. What’s the point of having such long legs if you’re just going to walk this fast?

Suddenly, Zhong Jin stopped in his tracks and turned to his assistant. "Do you know what 'neinei' is?"

Fang Weiyi was momentarily stunned. "Is that a new designer you’ve discovered? Should I reach out?"

The name "neinei" did sound like something an artist might go by.

When Zhong Jin didn’t respond, Fang Weiyi ventured another guess. "A celebrity? Are you thinking of hiring her as a brand ambassador?"

Zhong Jin was still pondering how to phrase his question.

Fang Weiyi’s face lit up with realization. "Mr. Zhong, I get it. Send me her details, and I’ll draft a strategy plan for you ASAP."

Usually, Zhong Jin was direct and concise when speaking to subordinates. This was the first time Fang Weiyi had seen him hesitate like this. There was only one possible explanation—his boss, at the "advanced" age of 35, had finally found love again.

Zhong Jin stopped walking and calmly stared at Fang Weiyi for a long moment.

"Don’t overthink it. I’m asking—when a three-year-old says 'neinei,' what does it mean? You have a daughter around that age, so I thought you might know."

Fang Weiyi sighed in disappointment and answered flatly, "Of course it means milk."

"Milk? You’re sure?"

"Ninety percent sure. Most kids that age say 'neinei' for milk."

Zhong Jin recalled the context—the child had said she was thirsty and wanted "neinei" while making a sucking motion. It definitely lined up with milk.

"What kind of milk? Buy some for me."

"For a three-year-old, right? I’ll pick something suitable."

Zhong Jin: "Get the most expensive, highest-quality one."

"Got it."

As they reached the executive office door, Fang Weiyi casually added, "By the way, Mr. Zhong, did you resolve that issue with the leftovers? Need me to do anything?"

Zhong Jin’s gaze turned distant. "Those weren’t leftovers. That was a daughter’s love for her father."

Fang Weiyi: "......" What kind of philosophical nonsense is this now?

After seeing Little Tong wander around the house in the middle of the night, Qiu Sheng instructed everyone to leave a nightlight on in every room, afraid the child might get scared in the dark.

Qiu Chen, typing away on his laptop in the living room, kept his eyes on the screen and remarked offhandedly, "She’s scared of the dark? I think she’s braver than I am."

Du Xin’s voice came through the computer screen. "She’s definitely braver than you. You’re the most timid person I’ve ever met."

Qiu Chen smoothly changed the subject. "How about we name our son Tianle? Qiu Tianle—happy every day."

Qiu Sheng replied calmly, "With two workaholic parents, how could he possibly be happy every day?"

Little Tong, oblivious to the adults’ sarcastic bickering, lay sprawled on the carpet playing with a puzzle toy—the kind where you fit differently shaped pieces into a frame to complete a picture.

She had managed to fit all the pieces except the last one, which stubbornly refused to go in.

Qiu Sheng gently reminded her, "Sweetheart, you made a mistake earlier."

Little Tong scrunched up her face and forcefully smacked the ill-fitting piece into the frame. Though it didn’t align perfectly, it was technically in place.

Qiu Sheng took her hand to check. "Sweetheart, you’re so strong. Did that hurt your hand?"

Little Tong flopped onto the carpet, limbs splayed out like a starfish, and let out an exaggerated sigh of exhaustion.

Qiu Chen muttered, "This is what happens when you don’t study—you rely on brute force."

No one paid him any attention. Qiu Sheng massaged her daughter’s tiny hands and feet while Du Xin, on the screen, extended an invitation:

"Little Tong, want to come swim at the maternity center? Auntie will book you a private pool."

Soon after, Little Tong and Qiu Sheng arrived at the maternity center, where Du Xin had already arranged a private swimming session. A staff member greeted them and led Little Tong away to change into a swimsuit.

For children, swimming here involved a routine—first a massage, then hair washing, and finally a dip in the temperature-controlled pool.

Little Tong lay back in the basin as a nurse cradled her head with one hand while massaging her scalp with the other.

After a while, the nurse called out, "Could someone come help me support her head?"

Another nurse in a pink uniform hurried in and took over, holding Little Tong’s head steady while the first nurse discreetly shook out her aching wrist.

Once her hair was washed, the nurse tied it up into a little bun on top of her head. Dressed in a black frilly swimsuit and a floatie, Little Tong was lowered into the crystal-clear pool.

She kicked her feet, stood up, and removed the floatie. Then she plunged forward, arms and legs paddling underwater while her round head bobbed above the surface, doggy-paddling her way across.

The nurse watching her gasped. "Come look! This kid can swim like a dog!"

Little Tong paddled through the water to the rest area, where she overheard Qiu Sheng and Du Xin mentioning Zhong Jin's name. The chubby child deliberately swam around nearby, pricking up her ears to eavesdrop on the adults' conversation.

Du Xin said, "I think you should still tell Zhong Jin. After all, the child belongs to both of you. Keeping it from him isn’t fair."

Qiu Sheng replied, "Let’s wait a little longer. I want some time alone with her—just the two of us. I’d like to take her on a trip too."

Du Xin understood Qiu Sheng’s feelings perfectly. She simply wanted undisturbed moments, creating memories that belonged solely to mother and daughter.

She nodded. "Then be careful not to let him find out you have a child. With his investigative nature, he won’t rest until he uncovers the truth."

Little Tong clung to the edge of the pool, listening in, but when Qiu Sheng spotted her, the little girl quickly paddled away.

Earlier that day, Qiu Sheng had made arrangements, and by evening, every room in the villa was lit with nightlights. The warm, dim glow spilled through the bright glass windows, casting a cozy ambiance against the cold, desolate night.

That night, apart from Qiu Sheng’s villa, another house was also brightly lit.

Zhong Jin had turned on all the lights in his home, even lighting the fireplace in the living room. On the coffee table sat a bottle warmer, keeping a carefully measured mix of milk heated.

Little Tong didn’t show up until late. The robotic vacuum hummed softly as it cleaned the floor, and Zhong Jin dozed off on the sofa amid its quiet whirring.

He woke up feeling suffocated. When he opened his eyes, he found the child standing before him in a Crayon Shin-chan-style onesie, pinching his nose.

Seeing him awake, she let go and giggled at him.

Zhong Jin lifted her onto the sofa, then bent down to retrieve a cartoon sippy cup from the warmer on the table.

"Is this the 'neinei' you wanted?" he asked.

Little Tong leaned against a throw pillow, clutching the cup with both hands as she gulped down the warm milk.

Zhong Jin then pulled out a small teddy bear plushie from somewhere, presenting it to her like a treasure.

The child glanced at the bear, then looked up calmly and said, "Thank you, but I don’t like this kind of brown bear anymore. Now I like Fu Bao the panda."

Zhong Jin had no idea what she was talking about.

He picked up his phone and searched for "Fu Bao the panda."

Just as he finished placing an order for a Fu Bao plushie, a notification popped up—the paternity test results he had submitted earlier that morning were in.

Though he had already expected it, seeing the confirmation still left him stunned for a long moment.

He had suddenly gained a family member—a daughter, bound to him by blood.

When Little Tong finished her milk, Zhong Jin suddenly asked, "You sneak over to see me every night, don’t you? Has your mom ever mentioned me?"

"She has!" the child answered loudly.

"What did she say?"

Little Tong scrunched her face, trying to recall the conversation between Qiu Sheng and Du Xin at the swimming pool that afternoon. Finally, she declared with certainty, "They told you to be careful."

Zhong Jin: "......?"