The news of Shen Yuanshu's madness reached Huo Rou two days later.
After listening to Zhao Wen's detailed account, Huo Rou sighed softly, holding Shen Feng.
In fact, Shen Yuanshu had always had the air of a mad genius.
When she had arrested him, he had been excited. Even though she dragged him along, causing him to grimace in pain, he could still smile happily.
"What does Si Nian say?"
Whether it was true or not, she couldn't let him escape this time.
Zhao Wen's expression was serious. "Commander Si's stance is that he should be judged as he deserves. He should have been dead already."
As he spoke, he recalled Si Nian's nonchalant yet mocking tone when he said this. His exact words were:
"Someone who should have died long ago, even if they go mad, that's Yama's problem."
Brr, it sounded terrifying.
Zhao Wen pulled his thoughts back and continued, "However, Captain Huo, there are indeed people stirring things up regarding Shen Yuanshu."
"If they take the bait, we'll catch them all in one net," Huo Rou said with a faint smile, as if commenting on the fine weather. "Si Nian is quite adept at this kind of thing."
"Arou," Qin Ningyi said suddenly, looking up from his phone. "It's getting late. You should go to sleep."
Huo Rou glanced at the time. It was only just past nine.
At this hour, he would usually be dragging her out for exercise.
Meeting Huo Rou's suspicious gaze, Qin Ningyi's expression remained impassive as he shifted his eyes to Zhao Wen.
Zhao Wen had always known Si Nian to be a formidable "cold-faced killer god," but he hadn't expected Qin Ningyi, tempered by time, to be any less so.
He glanced hesitantly at Huo Rou. He still had the mission Si Nian had given him before leaving...
"Mommy isn't feeling well and needs to rest," An An cut in with a perfectly timed remark, his face a picture of misery as he looked at Zhao Wen. "Uncle Zhao..."
An An's expression was undeniably meant to be cute. Zhao Wen's heart softened. "Captain Huo, please get some rest and take care of yourself. I'll come another day."
After ruffling An An's hair, Zhao Wen stood up and took his leave.
Huo Rou walked Zhao Wen to the door and turned to see the father and son exchanging smiles.
She let out a long, drawn-out sigh. "You two..."
An An scampered over, his little feet thudding, and tugged at her hand. "Mommy, Uncle Zhao Wen has his own things to do, so it's not good to keep him here telling you stories."
He stated his case logically, wearing a disapproving expression.
Qin Ningyi slowly walked over and took her other hand.
Their expressions were uncannily alike.
"Arou," he called softly, a smile in his voice. "Let's go for a walk with Shen Feng."
Hearing that they were going out, Shen Feng excitedly came to Huo Rou's side.
She was now truly caught between a rock and a hard place.
Huo Rou thought about her decision and then went out with them.
Perhaps she wouldn't have time to walk with them tomorrow.
When they returned home at nine-thirty, Qin Ningyi and An An still hadn't managed to convince Huo Rou to stay home.
With no other option, Qin Ningyi had to arrange for painkillers.
An An slowly put the painkillers into Huo Rou's bag. "Mommy, if you hurt, you must take your medicine at the project group."
"I know."
"Also, Mommy, I'll pick you up with Daddy after school this afternoon. Don't wander off anywhere."
Huo Rou listened patiently to An An's rambling and agreed, "Okay."
An An chattered on for quite some time. For a moment, he felt like he was sending his mother off to kindergarten.
He then looked at Huo Rou's serious expression and sighed.
"What are you sighing about?" Huo Rou reached out and ruffled An An's hair. Her attitude had been perfectly fine.
An An shook his head. He decided not to mention this strange feeling.
He turned back and took a small booklet from his bag. "I'll research tomorrow morning's menu with Uncle Butler."
Huo Rou watched An An's retreating back, her heart filled with warmth.
An An was like another light in her life, giving her the courage to face the future.
And in this process, An An was constantly giving her strength.
An An now seemed more at ease than he had been in the village, showing how much he liked it here.
Huo Rou couldn't help but smile faintly. She leaned back, feeling Qin Ningyi's warm embrace.
This was their home.
Qin Ningyi breathed softly into her ear.
"Are you going to the project group tomorrow just to avoid me?"
The tips of Huo Rou's ears turned a suspicious shade of red, yet her face wore a bewildered expression. She shook her head. "Avoid you? What do you mean?"