Sumr vacation had arrived once again.
Zhong Jin flew to Haishan with seven-year-old Little Tong from Jing City.
It had been almost a year since Zhong Jin left Haishan. This ti, he needed to return to finalize the paperwork for a case he had previously handled, so he took the opportunity to make the trip.
First-grader Zhong Yuntong had insisted on tagging along when she heard they were going back to Haishan.
anwhile, her mother Qiu Sheng’s video channel had gone viral. Her team quickly capitalized on the montum, securing partnerships with manufacturers, and her brand, "Magic Pupil Doll Studio," officially launched its first collection of dolls and doll clothing. The products were crafted with such ticulous attention to detail that only a limited quantity was released—yet they beca an instant hit upon launch.
As a result, Qiu Sheng was too busy to join them on their trip to Haishan.
The family had stayed in Haishan until Little Tong graduated from kindergarten. Before she started elentary school, Zhong Jin applied for a transfer back to Jing City, and Qiu Sheng officially relocated her studio there as well.
Her parents had sacrificed a small stretch of ti to stay in Haishan, ensuring their chubby little girl had a complete and happy early childhood.
Back in Jing City, as expected, Little Tong was enrolled in a prestigious elentary school by her uncle. Fortunately, over the years, Du Xin—motivated by the generous pay—had diligently tutored the academically struggling child, so she managed to keep up with her classmates despite the school’s rigorous standards.
However, when Zhong Yuntong chatted with her classmates, she realized how different she was.
None of them had ever incubated baby chicks, built an ecosystem tank, or seen fireflies in the wetlands at dawn.
She was an oddball.
But a lucky one.
As the plane began its descent, Little Tong dug out earplugs from her backpack, pressed her forehead against the window, and stared down with wide, bright eyes.
Below, the familiar city of Haishan looked like a shrunken circuit board—mountains and rivers reduced to indistinguishable grooves. The only clear sight was the vast, blue ocean dominating the view, its cool, briny scent almost palpable through the glass.
While Little Tong observed her city, Zhong Jin watched her with quiet fondness.
He used to wish ti would slow down so he could savor every mont of her childhood.
But now, having witnessed her growth firsthand, he understood that children didn’t mature at a steady pace. Instead, they seed to shoot up suddenly, like saplings sprouting overnight.
He rembered when he used to worry about her weight and restricted her snacks, leading to daily battles of wits between father and daughter.
Then, for a while, the chubby little girl beca oddly well-behaved—no longer begging for treats or sneaking midnight snacks.
His professional instincts told him sothing was off.
Sure enough, after a thorough search, he discovered a stash of empty snack wrappers hidden in her closet. Thankfully, he found them before ants or cockroaches did.
His mories still lingered on her chubby cheeks and round belly, but now, without him noticing, she had stretched out like pulled dough.
Her growth spurt hit around age five or six—her limbs lengthened, her baby fat redistributed, and her face sharpened into a miniature version of his own.
Adding to the transformation, Little Tong had joined her kindergarten soccer team in her second sester, training five days a week. The sudden increase in exercise tightened her fra, leaving her lean and athletic.
If he hadn’t raised her himself, Zhong Jin wouldn’t have believed a child could change so drastically in just three years.
"Dad, where are we staying later?"
No response.
Little Tong turned around and waved a hand in front of his face. "Dad."
Zhong Jin blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Hmm?"
"What’s on your mind? Where are we staying?"
"At a hotel," Zhong Jin replied. Their old apartnt was now rented to Du Xin at a low rate—more of a favor to have soone keep an eye on the place.
"Did you book it already?"
Zhong Jin pulled out his phone to check the reservation details. "Your uncle booked it. Let see which hotel."
He handed her the phone, unsurprised to find it was Haishan’s only five-star hot spring resort.
Zhong Jin was frugal by nature, believing excessive luxury spoiled children. When traveling with Little Tong, he always booked economy flights and business hotels.
But Qiu Chen disagreed. He insisted his heir should be raised in opulence—exposed to the finest things life had to offer. In his mind, inflating her tastes early would fuel her ambition to earn big later.
So, every ti Little Tong traveled, Qiu Chen, CEO of the Qiu Group, personally booked the most expensive flights and hotels without batting an eye.
As he put it, this wasn’t spoiling—it was a long-term investnt.
After landing, the hotel’s shuttle was already waiting at the airport.
Once settled in the car, Little Tong started planning their itinerary on her fingers:
"First, we grab McDonald’s. Then, in the afternoon, I’ll go with you to the police station. After that, we split up—I’ll visit Aunt Liang to see Sang Biao, and in the evening, I’m eting Xiang Zimo and the others for skewers."
Zhong Jin frowned. "Split up? Skewers? Are you out of your mind? You’re seven, not seventeen. How exactly do you plan to wander around alone?"
Little Tong held up a hand in a "stop" gesture. "Fine, you can co with . Happy?"
"Much better."
A mont later, Zhong Jin realized he’d been tricked again. How had he so easily agreed to chaperone a bunch of kids for a barbecue?
Little Tong noticed his glare and grinned, just like she used to as a toddler. "Heh."
After dropping their bags at the hotel suite, they took a taxi to McDonald’s. Little Tong ordered one of every al combo to go.
Arms laden with fast food, father and daughter walked into the police station. Two new officers at the front desk, unfamiliar with them, stood up. "Who are you here to see?"
Little Tong planted herself in the middle of the lobby and shouted toward the offices, "Zhong Yuntong is back!"
A few seconds later, doors swung open—first, Sergeant Rao Shishi and Little Wang rushed out, beaming. Then Deputy Director Hu De jogged over, scooped Little Tong into his arms, and spun her around.
Little Tong handed the McDonald's takeout bag to Rao Shishi and patted Hu De's bald head a few tis: "Old Hu, don't strain your back."
Her words made Hu De genuinely nervous. He had been so caught up in his excitent that he forgot the kid was practically solid—holding her had given him backaches more than once before.
He set Little Tong down on the ground and asured her height against himself:
"You've grown taller again, must be around 1.3 ters now, right? Did your parents stretch you at ho? One holding your head, the other your feet, pulling you from both ends?"
Little Tong answered brightly, "I’ve nearly eaten my uncle out of house and ho. Being this tall is what I deserve."
They unpacked the McDonald's on the table, and Little Tong glanced toward the chief's office: "Where's Aunt Mao?"
"The chief went to the municipal bureau, I think. Let call her," Rao Shishi reached for her phone.
Zhong Jin raised a hand to stop her. "You eat. I’ll call her."
Rao Shishi sat back down, amused. "Alright, the chief calling the chief."
"Where’s Gu Le?" Little Tong asked next.
Rao Shishi pointed toward the office. "He’s inside. Go check on him."
The night before their family left Haishan, Zhong Jin had treated everyone to a farewell dinner. Gu Le, who usually never drank, had gotten drunk that evening and ended up hugging a tree while crying his heart out.
The next day, all their colleagues went to the airport to see them off—except Gu Le.
Now that Little Tong was back, had the guy started crying again?
Little Tong grabbed so burgers, fried chicken, and a cup of Coke, then strode toward the office on her long legs. She knocked first, found the door slightly ajar, and nudged it open with her head before walking in.
Gu Le had his back to her, his glasses set aside. He didn’t turn around even when he heard soone enter.
Little Tong placed the food in front of the computer and patted his shoulder. "Student Gu Le, your good friend, one Zhong Yuntong, has returned."
Gu Le still didn’t turn.
Little Tong circled to face him. Gu Le kept his head lowered, so she crouched down and tilted her face up to look—sure enough, Gu Le was secretly wiping away tears.
"Why are you crying again? You cried when I left, and now you’re crying because I’m back. I’m the kid here, and even I don’t cry as much as you."
Gu Le buried his face in his arms, ignoring her.
So Little Tong turned her feet inward, clasped her hands, and started performing an exaggerated chicken dance in a silly voice.
Gu Le couldn’t help but burst out laughing. His gaze then dropped to her feet, and he muttered, "How did your feet get so big?"
Little Tong was wearing a pair of silver-gray Balenciaga dad shoes. Whether it was the design or just her naturally large feet, they looked like a pair of duck flippers.
"Heh, it’s just the shoes. My mom bought them for , and she gets upset if I don’t wear them."
Gu Le: "If they’re too tight, tell the adults. Don’t keep wearing shoes that pinch."
Little Tong ruffled his hair. "I’ve grown so much, so why are your mories still stuck on at three years old?"
Gu Le ignored her, busying himself with sipping Coke and taking a bite of his burger to cover his emotional slip.
Little Tong picked up a fried chicken leg and stood by the table, munching on it.
Back when she used to stand here, she hadn’t even been as tall as the table. She’d had to grip the edge and tiptoe just to see what was on it.
So Gu Le would always lift her up and let her sit on the table.
Now, standing beside it, she towered over it by a good margin. Maybe because she’d grown taller, from her angle, Gu Le even seed smaller.
As she gnawed on the chicken leg, catching falling crumbs with her hand, she spoke to Gu Le like a little adult:
"Introverts like you have a hard ti making friends. But you shouldn’t just hole up in the office all the ti. Go out more—maybe you’ll et soone on your wavelength. Did you go to the library this weekend?"
Gu Le slurped his Coke, cheeks puffing. "No."
"Try going more often. People who like libraries usually prefer quiet. You might make friends there."
Gu Le: "Mhm, I’ll try."
Little Tong tossed the cleaned chicken bone into the wrapper and sucked her fingers. She crossed her feet and leaned casually against the table, chatting like an old friend:
"You’re about 30 now, right?"
"...More or less."
"Out of all of you—you’re 30, Hu De’s 41, Sister Shishi’s 27, Little Wang’s around 27 or 28 too—how is it none of you have a partner?"
Gu Le: "..."
"How can I not worry when you’re all single like this?"
Gu Le stood up, burger and Coke in hand, and headed for the door. "Let’s go talk outside. Go lecture them instead."
Little Tong stayed at the police station until evening. Her relentless matchmaking efforts quickly turned the officers’ initial excitent at her return into sheer terror, and one by one, they made excuses to flee.
Once Zhong Jin finished his business at the station, he took her hand and led her out.
As they stepped through the station’s gates, Little Tong glanced back under the eaves—her little Ferrari wasn’t parked where it used to be.
Then she rembered: she’d given it to her good friend Miao Yueyue when she left Haishan.
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