Mommy, don't be afraid, I'll bring you blind boxes and scam you out of a wealthy family to

The evidence of Wen Guoliang and Chen Xiulan's crimes of human trafficking has been fully submitted to the litigation process, and Wen Li's adoption application is also being restarted.

After confirming everything remotely, Duan Hetong leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh of relief.

After a long stretch of rainy days, the light has finally returned.

A moment later, he got up, without looking at the old man or paying attention to the mountain of public relations crises, took the elevator downstairs and went straight to Wen Shulian's ward.

The flowers on the bedside table had just been changed that morning; the pink lilies exuded a faint fragrance.

Duan Hetong sat down on the accompanying chair and quietly looked at her.

He didn't know when it started, but he developed this habit: when his emotions were on the verge of spiraling out of control, he would come here for a while.

It seems that as long as she is by Wen Shulian's side, her heart can calm down.

Perhaps it's because she's the little one's biological mother, possessing a magical power of shared blood; perhaps it's because time always seems to stand still in this room; perhaps...

He didn't know, nor did he think about it.

The caregiver pushed open the door and, seeing him, greeted him with a smile: "Mr. Duan, you're here. Little Pear just came to see her mother and talked with her for a long time."

Duan Hetong nodded.

The little guy cares most about his mommy; he's so thoughtful.

He casually asked, "How long has she been here?"

While changing the IV bag, the caregiver casually replied, "Li Bao? She went home a long time ago. Mr. Duan, didn't you run into her?"

Duan Hetong frowned: "No."

The hospital has several elevators, so it's normal to miss one.

Even after he left Wen Shulian's hospital room, he still couldn't ignore the strange feeling in his heart, which split into a spider web and spread outward.

Duan Hetong returned to the old man's side, where the servants were setting out the dishes.

The old man picked up his chopsticks and said critically, "This has no flavor at all."

Duan Shimi coaxed him, "Dad, you have high blood pressure, you can't eat too much salt."

The old man snorted, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Then he asked, "Where's the little girl? Tell her to come over for dinner."

Everyone looked at each other, none of them knowing where Wen Li was.

Duan Xianchen put down his phone, looked at Duan Hetong who was the last to enter, and asked suspiciously, "Brother, wasn't Li Bao with you?"

The premonition came crashing down like a boulder. Duan Hetong was the first to react, his steps quickening: "I'll go out and look."

Duan Xianchen picked up his coat: "I'm going too!"

There wasn't one in the entire VIP suite.

Nurse's station. Tea room. Supermarket. Small garden...

We searched everywhere we could think of, but we couldn't find that little figure anywhere.

The servants all joined the search.

Duan Shimi stayed in the room with the old man, unsure whether to comfort him or herself: "The hospital is so small, he won't get lost. He's probably hiding somewhere playing."

Soon, the loudspeaker announced: "Little Wenli, your family is looking for you. After hearing this announcement, please find the nearest nurse."

The missing person posters were displayed again and again, but no one came forward.

The atmosphere in the ward was almost frozen. The old man anxiously looked at the door, hoping that a little baby or good news would appear there.

As one person after another returned, shaking their head with heavy expressions, the expectation grew thinner and thinner until it turned into bewilderment.

Duan Hetong almost dropped his phone when he picked it up, only to find that his palms were covered in sweat.

But the blood in his whole body is cold.

"Retrieve all the surveillance footage from the hospital now."

-

The hospital's monitoring room wasn't large, but a bunch of people rushed in, startling even the hospital director and vice-directors. The security guards were so frightened they froze in their chairs.

In a bustling hospital, such a small figure is easily overlooked by the naked eye, but will not be missed by the machines.

Soon, they saw that Nai Tuanzi came out of Wen Shulian's ward, but instead of going back to the old man's ward, she went downstairs.

Her backpack was bulging more than usual, as if it were stuffed with a lot of things; she kept her head down and looked very absent-minded.

She was all alone, so tiny, barely bigger than a mushroom in the surveillance footage, as she walked into the rain without looking back.

It was so cold outside, and it was raining. It must have taken a lot of courage for her to leave alone.

Why did she leave?

"Sir, if we go any further, our surveillance cameras won't be able to capture it anymore..." The security guard stammered, looking at the increasingly grim faces of the distinguished guests.

The image freezes on the small, lonely figure of the milk dumpling, the cold light of the screen reflecting on everyone's faces, as if a silent accusation:

How come you didn't notice?

—How could you not have noticed?

Duan Xianchen asked in surprise, his voice hoarse, "She...she wanted to leave on her own?"

Duan Shimi's tears were already streaming down her face: "Xiao Bao, has he... misunderstood something?"

They have meetings. They make phone calls. They argue.

Although she avoided Wen Li, she subconsciously felt that a three-year-old child couldn't possibly understand anything.

They were too arrogant, believing they could handle everything for her and shield her from all hardships without needing to explain anything to her.

The truth slapped them in the face.

Wen Li saw their disappointment, their exhaustion, and their frustration.

And they felt that they were a burden.

The old butler trembled: "The young lady must have felt that even though she's been so obedient, the Duan family still doesn't want her, that's why...that's why..."

He was the first to burst into tears, and several servants followed suit.

All eyes were on Duan Hetong.

"Xianchen, call Pei Ji and then call the police; Shimi, go back to be with Dad, and keep this a secret for as long as possible. And..."

Duan Hetong didn't look at anyone, his gaze fixed on the little baby on the screen, quickly and methodically giving instructions on what everyone should do.

His tone was so calm, as if he would never panic, and would always be the pillar and backbone of this family.

But it looks empty.

He stood so straight, his shoulders taut to the extreme, as if if there were even one more grain of sand, he would collapse.

Duan Shimi wiped away her tears. The Duan family couldn't be defeated. Even though her voice was still hoarse, she asked, "Brother, what about you?"

Duan Hetong tried to smile.

It was only on the second try that it succeeded.

"I'm going to find her." His voice was soft, yet it seemed as if it might crumble and shatter at any moment. "She just wants to go home. I'll go get her."

-

Wen Li hugged her rabbit doll and walked alone in the rain for a long, long time.

The surrounding houses grew shorter and shorter, and the streetlights grew dimmer. She didn't know where she was, but her backpack was so heavy that she could barely carry it.

Where are you going?

I definitely can't go back to my stepfather's house.

I've already said goodbye to Mommy.

I shouldn't go to Baba's house and cause him any trouble.

The world is so big, yet it can't even accommodate a tiny baby.

A gust of wind blew by, and her rain-soaked coat felt chilly against her skin, making her shiver involuntarily.

Just then, a small pink and white flower floated down and landed on Wen Li's nose.

The little bundle of milk, like a kitten startled by a butterfly, sneezed, and the flower just happened to fall into her palm.

It's a pear blossom. She recognized it.

Mommy likes pear blossoms, which is why she was named "Wenli".

My mom once told me a fairy tale: "At the end of the path lined with pear blossoms, there is a white house, and everyone who lives there will have eternal happiness."

Back then, the even younger baby asked, "What is 'happiness'?"

Mommy kissed her forehead: "Our little Pear will understand when she grows up a bit more."

Now, Wenli is three and a half years old and understands the answer.

"Happiness" means having Mommy around, Daddy not feeling unwell, Grandpa not being sick, Gugu making pretty clothes, and Uncle not looking worried.

"Happiness" means that everyone is happy and doesn't sigh.

Wen Li encouraged herself and stood up again.

The cobblestone path is lined with pear trees, their petals scattered on the ground by the rain, creating a soft, milky-white carpet.

Wen Li was walking along this path when she tripped over a loose pebble and fell into a puddle, bag and child at the same time.

Ignoring her own pain, she rushed to check on the rabbit doll and backpack—they were all damp.

Especially the crayon drawing of the family portrait, which quickly blurred and made it impossible to see everyone's smiling face.

The little girl pouted, looking like she was about to cry. This was her only memento of the Duan family.

But she had another good idea: "Chirp chirp, help Pear Baby!"

The ten blind boxes redeemed with 1000 points were opened one by one, and surprisingly, one of them was a dazzling gold box.

[SSR: The Little Match Girl]

The flame was very warm and wouldn't burn her hands. Wen Li carefully approached the backpack, holding the matchstick, which was thicker than a microphone, in both hands.

Eh?

A scene appeared before her eyes, as if she had entered a movie theater.

Outside the white house, pear blossoms were in full bloom. Inside the house, there was a little girl who looked a lot like herself—no, no, that was Pear Baby!

The milk dumpling opened its eyes wide.

In her illusion, she was wearing a princess dress and a small crown, with a cake in front of her that was almost as tall as her, and a candle with the number "3" stuck on top of it.

No one remembers my third birthday.

But this one in the illusion is clearly being celebrated by many.

On the left is Baba, and on the right is Mommy; they are both holding her as they blow out the candles.

The younger uncle squatted in front, recording with a camera;

Gugu brought several plates, waiting to cut the cake;

Grandpa wasn't as serious as she had seen him; he had a smile on his face.

Two other elders were sitting behind them, and they looked very much like... very much like...

Milk Dumpling racked her brains and thought for a long time before she remembered that it was those two unfamiliar but elegant people in the Polaroid camera when she took pictures of her mother.

Who exactly are they? And why are they celebrating this little pear's birthday?

Further away, a few people were blowing up balloons and hanging colorful lights.

One of them had a very familiar back view.

Wen Li rubbed her eyes, trying to see more clearly, but unfortunately she couldn't.

Just then, in the illusion, she blew out the candles, and everyone applauded enthusiastically, shouting in unison, "Happy third birthday to our little princess!"

With a bang, a lot of colorful ribbons floated down.

In the illusion, the milk dumplings clapped their little hands happily, their eyes crinkling with laughter.

Mommy and Daddy leaned closer and kissed both of her cheeks at the same time.

If "happiness" could be seen, touched, and found, Wen Li thought, outside the illusion, then it must be right here, right now.

If Wen Li could read, she would understand the instructions for using the blind box: "[After lighting it, you will see the happy life that should belong to you.]"

However, the flame flickered and then went out.

That idyllic illusion, that "happiness" where everyone loved her, vanished without a trace.

But the white house from my dream is still right before my eyes.

Amidst the rustling rain of pear blossoms, it is dreamlike and ethereal, like a long-awaited promise.

Wen Li sniffed, patted her dirty clothes, and struggled to carry her backpack as she walked over.

She stood on tiptoe and knocked on the door.

"Excuse me..." the little dumpling's voice was soft, "Does 'Happiness' live here?"

Behind the door, a silver-white wheelchair slowly approached.