619: Side Story 3: The Mysterious Disappearance of Mom and Dad

Little Lin Zhaotang was currently sunken into a sofa that was wider than her entire body, her two lotus-root-like calves dangling in mid-air, swinging back and forth in boredom.

She was waiting to drink the milk Grandma had heated up for her.

Today, there was no kindergarten; it was a rare day off, which should have been a very happy thing.

But on little Lin Zhaotang's delicate little face, that bit of "happiness" was like a dandelion scattered by the wind, drifting away until only a few specks remained.

From the small class to the middle class, and now to the big class... to be honest, she was starting to get a little "annoyed."

What was annoying wasn't going to kindergarten, but those boys in the class—especially the one from yesterday!

He came over again, fidgeting and awkwardly telling her, "I like you."

Lin Zhaotang's reaction was the same as always.

She lifted her little chin, refused cleanly and decisively, and added an all-purpose golden sentence: "I already have someone I like! It's my Dad!"

How handsome Dad was! Tall and imposing, and he could even lift her high and spin her around.

How could those snot-nosed brats in class, who would trip just playing on the slide, compare?

Usually, once this "Dad shield" came out, the brats would mostly retreat.

But the one from yesterday was different.

This was also the real reason why she was sitting on the sofa now, swinging her little legs, unable to dispel that bit of "annoyance."

After she refused yesterday, that guy was actually like a piece of sticky toffee that couldn't be shaken off, following her step by step for a long time!

So, Lin Zhaotang stopped, turned around, her little face tensed up extremely seriously, and pointed at the shimmering snot bubble about to overflow on the other person's face, saying clearly and roundly: "You have too much snot, and my Dad doesn't let me play with fools."

She never expected that the other person would actually be moved to tears by just that one sentence...

Fortunately, the teacher didn't see.

Fortunately, after getting home, she immediately threw herself into Dad's arms to "complain," and Dad's reaction was simply her strongest backing—he first wrinkled his nose in disgust: "Having a lot of snot is indeed very disgusting!"

Immediately after, he proudly ruffled her hair, "My daughter is right! Tsk, why are the little boys nowadays so 'precocious'? Good job, my good daughter! You nipped these twisted thoughts in the bud right away."

Lin Zhaotang was very pleased.

As long as Dad protected her, she had nothing to fear.

However, another question bubble was spinning in her little head.

Dad said that when Mom was in school, no one dared to confess to her...

Little Lin Zhaotang's swinging feet stopped unconsciously.

Calling others fools and such had already been forgotten.

She began to think seriously: Was she acting too "friendly" usually? Should she be a bit more "aloof" to those little boys in kindergarten, just like Dad suggested?

But... Mom was clearly not aloof at all!

Mom was very gentle at home and always spoke with a smile.

Moreover, Mom and Dad were always sticking together!

Lin Zhaotang even vaguely felt that the adults must be hiding a secret from her, otherwise, how could they always be "mysteriously missing"?

Just like now, the house was empty, with only Grandma and the nanny busy in the kitchen.

She couldn't figure it out.

Since she couldn't figure it out, she wouldn't think about it.

"Big Brother—" she drew out the tone, her voice exceptionally clear in the quiet living room.

A few seconds later, a stocky, sleek-coated brown American Shorthair tabby cat strolled slowly out of its exclusive cat house.

Its gait was steady, its thick paw pads stepping silently on the floor.

A round, large face exuded a sense of honesty and reliability.

This cat, named "Big Brother," was found by Dad outside the villa wall a few years ago.

At that time, Dad just called out casually, and Big Brother walked over with unhurried steps, its eyes carrying a bit of the confusion after being abandoned and a complete lack of wariness toward people.

When taken for a check-up, except for being a bit old, there was nothing wrong with it.

Dad waved his hand: "Let's keep it, to keep Tangtang company.

About ten years old, twice as old as Tangtang... might as well name it 'Big Brother'."

Thus, Lin Zhaotang had a Big Brother to look after her.

The little girl scooped poop and fed it, serving it with all her heart, and the girl and cat had a deep bond and got along very well.

"Big Brother, let's go!" Lin Zhaotang slid off the sofa, waved her little hand, with a bit of adventurous excitement, "To the third floor!"

Mom and Dad were not at home again today, and when they left, they specifically instructed that "children cannot go there."

She wouldn't go!

However, this reminded her of that "forbidden area" Dad had on the third floor—next to the study, that mysterious little room!

Since she could remember, it had been strictly guarded, and except for Mom, no one was allowed in... what kind of treasure was hidden in there?

"Follow, Big Brother." The little girl strode with her short legs, her target clear.

Big Brother didn't speak, flicked its tail, and just followed along.

One person and one cat began their afternoon villa adventure.

"The study... the study is over there..."

"The secret room is inside the study..."

To enter that mysterious little room, one had to first enter Dad's study.

Inside the study, at the very back of the bookshelf, was that tightly closed door.

"The key... where is the key..."

"On the bookshelf!"

The key was tucked between "Selected Essays of Lu Xun" and "Collection of Prose by Lu Xun."

Lin Zhaotang didn't recognize the words on them, but she remembered clearly—one had a dark blue spine with a bit of gray, and the other had a dark green spine with a bit of brown.

Dad thought she couldn't reach it, but she had discovered it long ago—as long as she brought over her exclusive little stool, stood on tiptoes, and stretched her little hand...

"Hee hee hee!" Her fingertips touched the cold metal, and Lin Zhaotang grabbed the key in her palm, a cunning and triumphant smile on her delicate little face, "Got it! Big Brother, let's go see what good things Dad has hidden!"

The key was inserted into the keyhole and turned gently.

A crisp "click" sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet study.

Lin Zhaotang took a deep breath, and with full curiosity and excitement, pushed open the door leading to her parents' secret world.

A faint scent, like a mixture of old book pages and sunlight, rushed toward her.

The room was dark, but when the door was fully opened, the ceiling suddenly lit up.

Lin Zhaotang's little mouth instantly opened into a round "O" shape.

Above her head was not an ordinary ceiling at all, but a deep, brilliant starry sky!

Countless tiny points of light flickered like real stars, flowing slowly, and there was even a hazy "Milky Way" like a silver ribbon running through it.

Soft starlight poured down, and the whole room was shrouded in a dreamy blue halo, feeling both mysterious and... hmm, Dad once said a word, called "romantic"?

That was probably what it felt like!

With the help of this starlight, Lin Zhaotang saw the layout of the room clearly.

On the left hand side, an entire wall was made into an embedded display cabinet, divided into several layers, each layer like a small stage holding things she couldn't understand.

"Big Brother, look!" Lin Zhaotang whispered, her big eyes shining under the starlight.

On the top layer of the display cabinet, a bit far from her, a small button with a metallic luster sat all alone, looking particularly eye-catching.

Lin Zhaotang stood on tiptoes, trying to stretch her little arm, and her fingertips finally reached it.

"Click." She pressed it.

The wall directly in front lit up instantly.

A huge screen appeared—she had seen this thing before; it was a projector.

Light and shadow flickered on the screen, the sound of people was deafening, the camera swept across an ocean of waving glow sticks, and then focused on the center of the stage.

It was young Mom and Dad!

Dad was wearing a casual suit, his hair longer than it was now.

Mom was wearing a sparkly dress, beautiful as a princess.

They were holding hands, looking at each other, and Singing.

After three songs.

Mom and Dad's voices came through the speakers in the room, a bit excited, and carrying laughter.

"Let me introduce, this is my boyfriend, Lin Chuyan."

"Let me introduce, this is my girlfriend, Ruan Xingyu."

The huge cheers seemed to want to blow the roof off.

The Mom on the screen blushed, but she smiled so sweetly, and her eyes seemed to have stars twinkling.

Lin Zhaotang watched, stunned.

Mom and Dad were holding hands in front of so many people... she remembered the little brat who confessed to her also wanted to hold her hand.

Lin Zhaotang's curiosity grew larger and larger, and she looked at the second layer of the display cabinet.

There sat a flat, square thing—it was Dad's album!

On it was printed Mom's beautiful face, and some big characters—she didn't recognize them, but she remembered Dad mentioning that it was an album named after Mom: "Ruan Xingyu."

There was also a small button next to it.

She pressed it.

There was no intro.

Music immediately flowed in the room.

"Lend me your ears, for these few minutes, this song will speak for me."

"How to describe you in my heart, like flowers blooming in a desert."

It was Dad Singing!

The voice was light and soft, like a feather brushing against the heart.

Lin Zhaotang couldn't help but shake her little head slightly to the rhythm.

Big Brother at her feet didn't move, but its ears were laid back, its big round eyes staring at the direction of the speaker making the sound.

Lin Zhaotang finished listening to one song and looked at the third layer of the display cabinet.

The things on the third layer looked a bit strange; they were two sets of neatly folded clothes she had never seen Dad wear.

There was another button next to it; she pressed it.

The projection switched; Mom and Dad were wearing ancient clothes, with wide robes and big sleeves, ribbons fluttering, and beautiful patterns embroidered on them, like people in a painting!

"The spring breeze blows and blows, blowing into my heart."

"My heart that misses you, thumping and unable to sleep."

They stood together, Singing to the moon, Singing a song she had heard Grandma hum.

The look in Dad's eyes on the screen as he looked at Mom was as bright as the stars on the ceiling.

The fourth layer!

Button pressed.

The scene changed again.

Mom and Dad were wearing beautiful formal wear, dancing and spinning against a background of many stars... the music was beautiful, the dance steps were elegant.

Finally, Dad suddenly knelt on one knee, produced a small box from his hand, and something inside was glittering...

It was the ring on Mom's hand!

Lin Zhaotang held her breath watching, her little fists clenched unconsciously.

This was a proposal!

She knew!

She had seen it on TV!

So this was how Dad proposed to Mom!

Under the stars!

The fifth layer.

The screen went dark, and when it lit up again, the atmosphere was completely different.

Mom and Dad were holding toy guns, back-to-back, their expressions cool, their eyes focused.

As they fired, the people around them kept falling...

Their movements were so fast that it dazzled little Zhaotang, and the music thumped against her heart.

She had seen this too; it was Mom and Dad's movie!

The way Mom and Dad "fought" together was handsome and in sync, and Lin Zhaotang thought it was better than cartoons.

The last layer, the sixth layer.

Pressing the button, the projection switched to the liveliest scene—Dad was wearing a stiff black suit, and Mom was wearing a snow-white dress that trailed so long...

It was a wedding dress!

Lin Zhaotang knew that this was what was worn for weddings!

Mom and Dad were holding hands, standing in the center of the stage together, their smiles incomparably bright and sweet.

"Listen to me, hand in hand, walk with me, to create a happy life."

"Yesterday is too late, tomorrow will be a pity, will you marry me today?"

Image after image, song after song, the always sparkling eyes of Dad when looking at Mom, the uncontrollable happy smile on Mom's face... the small room seemed to be filled with the time Mom and Dad spent in love.

Lin Zhaotang stood there, motionless, looking up with her little face, her mouth still in an "O" shape, her big eyes reflecting the flowing starlight and the constantly changing wonderful moments belonging to Mom and Dad on the screen.

She finally understood.

Why Dad always didn't let others enter this room, why Mom and Dad sometimes would be "mysteriously missing"... this was their secret base!

She also seemed to understand why sometimes at night, she would secretly push open the crack of Mom and Dad's bedroom door and see Dad hugging Mom, the two talking in low voices, laughing so gently.

That feeling... was as warm as the starlight flowing in the room now.

So... Dad loved Mom the most.

This realization was also like a little star, dropping with a "thump" into her five-year-old heart, shining, gently glowing, carrying warmth, and also carrying a trace of a five-year-old's ignorant yet clear realization.

"Big Brother..." Lin Zhaotang lowered her head, her voice soft, carrying unprecedented seriousness, "Dad hid so, so many... things that love Mom."

Big Brother seemed to feel her emotions too.

It lifted its furry big face and gently rubbed against Lin Zhaotang's calf, as if responding silently.

"Tangtang! Drink your milk!" Grandma started calling her downstairs.

Lin Zhaotang hurriedly went to press those buttons.

Starlight, screen, Singing... like being cast with magic, they disappeared one by one, leaving only the quiet flowing galaxy on the ceiling in the room.

"Coming!" She replied crisply.

She gently closed the door, locked it, carefully tucked the key back between those two thick books, and didn't forget to move the little stool back to its original position.

Her movements were as agile as a little secret agent.

"Big Brother, follow, I'll open a can for you!"

Lin Zhaotang strode with her short legs, running downstairs pit-a-pat.

She took the cup from Grandma's hand, didn't drink it immediately, but lifted her little face.

That pair of eyes that had just witnessed the vast galaxy of love was startlingly bright, looking straight at Grandma, using a calm and strangely determined tone: "Grandma, I saw Mom and Dad."

Su Lanxin was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "Mom and Dad went to the awards ceremony and haven't come back yet.

Should Grandma play with you for a while?"

Lin Zhaotang didn't nod, nor did she shake her head.

She held the milk cup and repeated word by word: "I saw Mom and Dad."

She leaned close to the rim, sipping it in small mouthfuls, a smile blooming on her little face: "The milk is so sweet."