"When you have time, go get a driver's license. I'll buy you a car so it's not such a hassle every time you come back," Shen Jianjun instructed as he saw Shen Siyuan onto the bus.
"I know," Shen Siyuan replied perfunctorily.
"You know, you know, you say that every time.
Where's the driver's license then?" Shen Jianjun said, annoyed.
"Heh heh…"
The reason Shen Siyuan hadn't gotten his driver's license was, one, he found it troublesome, and two, he had no use for it.
His daily commute was a straight line between two points; driving was not nearly as convenient as riding his scooter. Buying a car, not to mention the cost of gas, would also mean maintenance and insurance, which were significant expenses.
Although Shen Siyuan's family was well-off, they weren't fabulously wealthy, and he didn't like asking his parents for money.
Of course, he certainly wouldn't refuse a gesture like the one his Mom made today.
"I'm off."
Shen Siyuan boarded a long-distance bus heading straight for Binhai, found a seat, and took out "Embracing Wind Slumber" to read.
As for Shen Jianjun, he waved, started his motorcycle, hit the gas, and left without a hint of reluctance.
After all, it wasn't the first time he'd seen his son off.
He was used to it by now.
When Shen Siyuan got back to Binhai, it was just past five o'clock.
To think that he was on a blind date this morning, digging a pit at noon, and was already back home in Binhai by the afternoon.
This kind of back-and-forth travel left even someone like Shen Siyuan feeling exhausted.
So he thought he'd get some good rest after returning home.
But unexpectedly, the moment he opened the door, he saw Doudou standing on the table wiggling her butt, flailing around like a fluttering moth.
It was both irritating and funny. Standing below, Yin Xingyue had an anxious look on her face, seemingly trying to get her down.
Seeing the door suddenly open, both of them froze for a moment.
"Sweet Potato Bwother~"
Doudou rode a gust of Yin Wind and pounced directly at Shen Siyuan.
Seeing the Yin Wind rushing towards him, a thought stirred in Shen Siyuan's mind. He suddenly recalled "Embracing Wind Slumber" which he had just been reading, and seemed to have an epiphany.
But now wasn't the time to think about that. He reached out and caught the little thing.
The Little One was in mid-air, her limbs flailing powerlessly.
"What are you doing?" Shen Siyuan asked, annoyed.
Then his gaze shifted to his computer desk, and he saw that nothing had been disturbed. But on second thought, it made sense.
They were ghosts; they couldn't touch things in the Home.
"I'm showing Elder Sister the dance I just learned," Doudou said with an innocent face.
"You two have met?" Shen Siyuan's gaze turned to Yin Xingyue, who was walking over.
"Banner Master~"
Yin Xingyue called out to Shen Siyuan timidly, her expression complicated.
She was curious and surprised by Shen Siyuan, but at the same time, filled with a sense of admiration and dependence.
"You can call me Elder Brother, just like Doudou does," Shen Siyuan said.
Yin Xingyue obediently changed her address and called him "Elder Brother."
Shen Siyuan put Doudou down, and the Little One immediately started jumping around energetically again.
"How did it go when you went back? Is the problem solved?" Shen Siyuan asked casually.
The day he returned to his hometown, he had let Yin Xingyue out and told her to go home and handle her own problems.
As for how to handle it, with her current ability to Manifest Form at will, she could have scared her beast of a stepfather to death.
Yin Xingyue shook her head upon hearing this.
"Why?" Shen Siyuan was a little surprised.
Is her stepfather that brave? A dead person appearing before him, and he isn't the least bit afraid?
Yin Xingyue said, "He's gone."
"What do you mean, gone?" Shen Siyuan was puzzled.
Doudou tilted her head up, watching the two of them talk. Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she spun around anxiously.
"He hasn't been home for days. Mom went to his company but couldn't find him. She reported it to the Police, and the Police said he's missing and are investigating."
"Missing?" Shen Siyuan was surprised to hear that.
His gaze fell on Yin Xingyue. A person doesn't just disappear for no reason.
Did he go into hiding on purpose, or was he kidnapped?
"Then we can only wait for now and see if the Police can find him."
Shen Siyuan didn't have any better ideas either.
Yin Xingyue nodded slightly, then turned her gaze to Doudou.
"No need for my introduction, you two already know each other, right?" Shen Siyuan said with a smile as he put down his luggage.
Hearing this, Doudou immediately declared loudly, "Elder Sister is my good friend."
"Right, I haven't asked you yet.
Why aren't you at home with your Mom and Dad? What are you doing back here?" Shen Siyuan asked.
"I came to play with Sweet Potato Bwother.
Sweet Potato Bwother is all alone, isn't it very… very not fun?"
"You're trying to say lonely, aren't you?"
"Yes, yes, that's what I wanted to say, but you said it first," Doudou said, spinning in circles around Shen Siyuan.
Shen Siyuan grabbed her and gently knocked on her little head.
"You're so naughty, even standing on my desk to wiggle your butt."
"I was performing a dance for Elder Sister.
Sweet Potato Bwother, do you want to see?"
Doudou clutched her little head, craning her neck with a look of anticipation.
"Alright, let's see what dance you've learned," Shen Siyuan said.
Doudou immediately started shaking her head, bobbing her head, and wiggling her butt.
Beside them, Yin Xingyue watched the interaction between Doudou and Shen Siyuan with an envious expression.
She envied Doudou for being so cheerful and lively, and she also envied Shen Siyuan's doting affection for Doudou.
She had never felt such affection from anyone else, except for her Grandmother.
(Can't post a gif.)
"Haha, that's clubbing.
Where did you learn that?" Seeing her adorable appearance, Shen Siyuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"I learned it from TV, aren't I amazing?" Doudou's face was full of pride.
"Yes, you're very amazing. But please, next time don't climb onto my desk to dance."
"Hee hee~.
"
Doudou herself also laughed a little embarrassedly.
"Sweet Potato Bwother, let me tell you, I met a big bad guy yesterday," Doudou suddenly said, puffing out her cheeks with her hands on her hips.
Shen Siyuan looked at Yin Xingyue, wanting to ask her what had happened.
But Yin Xingyue shook her head, indicating she didn't know.
"Tell me, what happened?"
"I saw an uncle tie up an Auntie and hit her really hard with a whip. The Auntie was crying 'waaah waaah,' she was crying so sadly…" Doudou said angrily, waving her little hands.
Hearing this, Shen Siyuan's jaw nearly dropped. What on earth had she been watching?
"You didn't reveal your form and scare them, did you?" Shen Siyuan said.
Doudou shook her head, "It was so scary, I got scared and ran away."
"I wanted to find Big Bwother, but Big Bwother wasn't here, so I met Elder Sister…" Doudou scratched her head, and then it dawned on her.
She said a little sheepishly, "And then I forgot. Big Bwother, you have to hurry and call the Police to catch the bad guy."
Shen Siyuan had a dumbfounded expression, not knowing how to explain it to her.
So he humored her and asked casually, "Where did you see this?"
"In a broken-down building over there," Doudou said, pointing in a direction.
"Huh?"
Hearing this, Shen Siyuan sensed something was off.
After some detailed questioning, he learned that she was talking about an unfinished building.
Could they be outdoor enthusiasts? But the situation seemed a bit off.
This was the city district. Who would play such intense games in an unfinished building late at night?