Chapter 125: Left-behind Child

The preparatory competition class ended this Wednesday, because the competition officially started on Thursday and Friday for two days.

Thursday is the math competition, Friday is the physics competition.

The exam site was set at a youth science and technology museum in An Shi; the museum is far from San Zhong and its location is somewhat remote, but there's no need to worry—students' food and lodging are all handled uniformly by the organizer.

Most students only signed up for one competition, so the competition lasts one day; also a minority of students registered for both subjects' competitions.

For example, Shu Shu and Pei Muyin.

Both were in the same class; homeroom teacher Lao Liu, through communication, placed them in the same room for mutual convenience; before school ended, Lao Liu specially found the two to inform them of the time to gather at the school gate tomorrow morning, and then they would take a bus to the competition site.

Night, Imperial Scenic Garden 1600.

Since this competition requires going for two days, we need to bring some simple toiletries and a change of clothes.

Shu Shu took out a small suitcase, organizing her and her daughter's belongings, while she admonished Shu Lingchen beside her, speaking earnestly:

"While I and my sister are away for these two days, Huo Ji Zai Bao Bao must take good care of yourself—don't eat things you pick up off the ground; I've already pre-ordered takeout for you, just go downstairs to get it when it's time; also, don't casually open the door to let strangers in, it's very dangerous, understand?"

Shu Lingchen felt relieved, because his mother finally stopped nagging him not to fight.

But—picking up garbage off the ground to eat???

The boy pursed his lips and spoke for himself: "Is Huo Ji Zai Bao Bao really that hungry?"

Shu Shu didn't look up and answered: "Mm-hmm, not hungry, just able to swallow a sandwich in three bites."

Shu Lingchen: "……"

After glancing at her son's deflated expression, Shu Shu lowered her head and chuckled; having finished packing the washclothes, she still needed to bring some daily necessities, and was about to get up.

At that moment, the clear beeping of a password being entered came from the main door.

"Older sister."

Pei Muyin changed into slippers and walked in.

Today is an odd-numbered day; Pei Muyin sleeps in 1600; just now she went upstairs to fetch her sleeping teddy bear, but besides that, she also had a bag in her other hand.

The girl unzipped the bag, took out its contents one by one, then softly asked: "Older sister, take a look—is there anything else we need to bring?"

Shu Shu poked her head out, her gaze scanning.

Masks, mosquito repellent patches, motion sickness medicine, U-shaped pillows, power banks, three-in-one data cables, umbrellas, wet wipes… all in quantities of two.

"Wow, Muyin, you're especially well-prepared." Shu Shu said: "Nothing else needs to be brought, Muyin, you're awesome~"

"No no." Pei Muyin waved her hand, not accepting the praise: "It's not me; these things were prepared by Dad, because I mentioned yesterday that we're going out for a two-day competition, and this is what he just gave me."

"……"

Shu Shu was stunned.

Pei Du?

"Dad said, due to work he'll be flying to another city later, so he can't send us to school in the morning." The girl bent her clear peach-blossom eyes and said: "He said, wishing us smooth sailing in the competition."

Shu Lingchen, upon hearing that, snorted from his nostrils—truly a cunning trafficker, again using his deceitful sugar-coated cannonballs to gain the trust of his innocent, kind younger sister!

After a pause of just a few seconds, Shu Shu, with her expression unchanged, put the item into the suitcase; there was still an empty spot inside, reserved for tomorrow morning to place her daughter's teddy bear; she zipped it up and pushed the suitcase to one side of the sofa.

Watching this, Shu Lingchen wore a sullen expression, covering his chest and lamenting: "How come, before tomorrow even arrives, you haven't left yet, and I'm already starting to feel lonely?"

"Brother, two days will pass quickly; we'll be back soon."

Pei Muyin immediately comforted him, though she also caught a bit of Shu Lingchen's low spirits and unconsciously pursed her lips as well.

Then, Shu Shu beside them suddenly remarked: "Huo Ji Zai Bao Bao's line has a bit of rhyme; it feels like it could be recorded in a personalized signature site."

Shu Lingchen's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Yeah." Shu Shu feigned thinking for a moment, then said directly: "It's not bad; inexplicably it shows a melancholy vibe—I stole it, I'll post it on my Moments."

Having said that, she was about to reach for the phone on the coffee table in front of her.

"What?!" Shu Lingchen glared, refusing: "No way! That's my words! Stealing it infringes on my copyright! Even though we are the warmest family relation in the world, I must still impartially defend my legal rights!"

Saying that, the boy didn't pause for a second, his feet moving like a fire-wind wheel as he ran toward the room, running to grab the phone that was charging, he wanted to post his update before his mother posted hers!

He was in such a rush that he didn't notice his attention had been diverted.

Shu Shu nonchalantly withdrew her hand, having no intention of taking the phone; in Pei Muyin's suddenly enlightened gaze, she triumphantly winked at her daughter.

The next morning.

A bus was parked at the gate of San Zhong.

The students participating in the competition put down their luggage and lined up at the bus door to check in.

Shi Jin was among them.

Since that day when he fainted from low blood sugar during duty, not much time has passed, but his condition looks much improved; it seems he has figured something out, his face shows a healthy color, no longer the weak pallor.

Shu Shu and Pei Muyin boarded the bus one after another.

Shu Lingchen, backpack on his back, hadn't yet entered the school; under his eager gaze, not long after, the bus door closed, the vehicle started, and it drove away.

"……"

Until the bus gradually faded from view, Shu Lingchen couldn't bear to look away.

Suddenly, his shoulder was tapped.

A rooster's head almost jabbed into Shu Lingchen's eyeball; Bo Luo Zai's face loomed large before him, he was gnawing a meat bun in his hand, his speech muffled by chewing as he said: "Chen-ge, do you know what you look like right now?"

Shu Lingchen pushed away Bo Luo Zai's head, ignoring him, still staring at the direction the bus disappeared, and casually replied: "Like what?"

"Left-behind child."

"……" Shu Lingchen couldn't help but kick Bo Luo Zai.

That night, when Shu Shu and Pei Muyin went to the competition, Shu Lingchen posted a Moments update.

One emoji pack.

The picture shows a tiny Samoyed, its whole body covered in snowy white fur, listlessly lying on the carpet, its black little eyes drawn with two blue tear lines.

It looks aggrieved.

The first day without Mom and my younger sister, I missed them.

Shu Lingchen felt for the first time that time would pass so slowly; he attended class alone, ate alone, and returned to the classroom alone.

Tap-tap, the teenager typed and posted another moment on his social feed.

Someone replied instantly:

Bo Luo Zai: "Chen ge, that means you spent a day with a bunch of ghosts (us), 【scratching head JPG.】"

Then the comment was instantly deleted.