Tang Tang had forgotten how she left the hospital. All she remembered was that there were several missed calls on her phone, and she didn't answer any of them.
In the end, Shen Tian couldn't stand the buzzing vibration of the phone anymore. He simply turned off Tang Tang's phone for her without even looking at the caller ID.
Shen Tian rummaged in his pocket, took out a candy, and threw it to Tang Tang. "Eat it," he said.
"Get out of here quickly after you're done. Don't bother me."
Tang Tang picked up the candy. By the dim light from the computer, she saw a little strawberry pattern on it.
It was strawberry - flavored.
Tang Tang unwrapped it and put it in her mouth. She sorted out her thoughts, then turned to look at Shen Tian. "Since that's the case, do you know where my father is?"
Before Shen Tian could deny it, Tang Tang looked at him firmly and said, "You must know, right?"
Shen Tian looked at her calmly without saying a word.
Tang Tang wasn't intimidated by his gaze. Instead, she stared back. "You must know, right?"
It took Shen Tian a while to let out a laugh. "Yes, I do know,"
"But I can't tell you, kid."
Tang Tang looked at him and frowned. "I don't want to know where he is. It doesn't really matter anyway. He definitely won't let me find him."
Shen Tian raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Tang Tang didn't have the time to decipher the meaning behind this simple eyebrow - raising gesture. She looked into Shen Tian's eyes. "I just want to know if he's safe now?"
Shen Tian let out a soft laugh, then propped his head up and looked at Tang Tang. "What if I tell you he's not safe?"
Tang Tang's lips moved, but in the end, she didn't say a word.
Shen Tian stroked his wrist. Glancing at Tang Tang's worried expression, he waved his hand in boredom. "Come on, wipe that doleful look off your face. I don't know if he's safe, but at least he's not missing any limbs."
Tang Tang unconsciously let out a sigh of relief. But before she could fully relax, Shen Tian waved his hand and said, "Get out of here quickly."
When Tang Tang was driven to the door, as if just remembering something, she turned to look at Shen Tian. "What did you call me here for today?"
Shen Tian looked at Tang Tang. "I've already given it to you."
Tang Tang frowned. Given what?
Shen Tian's gaze lingered on Tang Tang's pocket for a moment. Tang Tang immediately understood. She reached into her pocket and felt a hard object inside.
Tang Tang pursed her lips and was about to avoid the surveillance cameras when Shen Tian's voice came from inside the door. "Walk out boldly. The surveillance cameras won't work at this time."
She thought about Shen Tian's capabilities and walked out through the side door openly. But she didn't expect to see a car at the door as soon as she stepped out.
Zuo Mu was leaning against the car door, holding a cigarette between his fingers. His brows were tightly furrowed as he fiddled with his phone. When he saw Tang Tang, he clearly let out a sigh of relief, then looked at her fiercely. "Where have you been!"
Tang Tang shrank back and didn't dare to speak. Afraid of making him angry, she softly called out, "Brother."
"Brother my foot! Where's your phone? You didn't answer any calls. Is your phone just for show?"
Tang Tang blurted out, "The phone's out of battery."
Zuo Mu glanced at Tang Tang. Tang Tang quickly explained, "I was playing with my phone at school before, and I forgot to charge it last night. It runs out of power quickly."
"What did I tell you?"
Seeing Zuo Mu's look of wanting to settle the score, Tang Tang felt a twinge of guilt. "Go home right after school,"
Before Zuo Mu could yell at her again, she quickly said, "I miss my dad."
Half of Zuo Mu's anger inexplicably dissipated.
Tang Tang continued, "Brother, it's so dark."
Zuo Mu glanced at her.
Tang Tang quickly added, "I'm so scared."
Zuo Mu felt a pain in his liver seeing her act cute. Then he stared woodenly at the dark hospital building behind him. You're scared?
You're not scared at all.
But seeing Tang Tang's careful and flattering look, Zuo Mu couldn't express his anger. He pinched the bridge of his nose and pointed at the car behind him. "Get in the car."
After saying that, he was about to open the car door. But after a long time, the person who had just claimed to be scared didn't come over. He turned around and saw Tang Tang looking at the hospital building behind, with the corners of her eyes slightly drooping.
After all, she was just a child.
Zuo Mu looked at Tang Tang and softly said, "Let's go home, Tang Tang."
Tang Tang seemed to be just awakened from a memory. There was still a hint of red in the corners of her eyes. Zuo Mu felt a sudden twinge of pain in his heart. He reached out his hand to Tang Tang. "Shall we go?"
"Let's go,"
Tang Tang nodded. Ignoring Zuo Mu's outstretched hand, she stretched out her two arms. "Brother, carry me."
Zuo Mu walked over, picked up Tang Tang, held the little tease in his arms, and carefully put her in the car.
On the way back, Tang Tang didn't say a word. When they were almost home, Tang Tang suddenly asked, "Brother, what did Officer Zhang want from you?"
"Autopsy." Zuo Mu answered without thinking.
"Really? Has the police station run out of forensic doctors and had to use a surgeon instead?"
Zuo Mu suddenly turned to look at Tang Tang. Tang Tang blinked her eyes, showing no expression on her face. "Actually, from the very beginning, I had a little suspicion. Why is it that sometimes, brother has such a...
How should I put it? I can't think of an adjective for a moment. Brother can always go to the crime scene with the police. I used to think it might be because of me. But then I thought about it. It seems that you're the only family member, brother."
Zuo Mu was at a loss for words.
"I went to the hospital today not just because I miss my dad. I was invited out by Shen Tian,"
Zuo Mu frowned. "Shen Tian? How do you two still have contact?"
"We've always had contact. I've always felt that Shen Tian has been helping me secretly. Although all the things that have happened to me were caused by him, I can tell that Shen Tian doesn't want to kill me,"
"But why, brother? Why does Shen Tian help me like this? Just because I look like her?"
There was a hint of confusion in Tang Tang's words.
"I look so much like her. Then who am I exactly?"
Zuo Mu stopped the car and turned to look at Tang Tang. She looked like she was about to cry but still held herself up bravely.
He reached out and pulled Tang Tang's hand. Tang Tang turned to look at Zuo Mu and smiled. "Brother, who's my real parents?"
"Who are my parents exactly?"
"Is my father Tang Gu or Liu Yi?"
Zuo Mu unconsciously squeezed Tang Tang's hand a little harder. Tang Tang naturally noticed. She looked at Zuo Mu and smiled. "Then brother, who are you?"
Zuo Mu reached out to cover Tang Tang's red - rimmed eyes. He gently stroked the little mole at the corner of Tang Tang's eye, then leaned over and left a very light kiss on that tiny mole.
"I'm your brother. My name is Zuo Mu. I was a student at the police academy before and was later selected to work in the hospital. I've always been following Liu Yi."
Tang Tang faintly twitched the corner of her mouth. Zuo Mu's kiss gently landed from the corner of her eye to her lips. "You're my little one. You're Tang Tang."
"My girlfriend."