The world is easy to change, but one's nature is hard to change, so to speak.

However, she's no longer that girl of the past. 

Jing Sa nervously and restlessly waited for her answer. She didn't know what else to do, then her phone rang.

It was Xiao Li's call again.

"Leader Jing, we are now going to the victim's home. Are you going to come along?"

"Yes, give me the address.” She fumbled for her pocket notebook and jotted it down carefully.

Once the call ended, she faced Xiaxiao once more, "I don't want you to make a decision right away, but at least give it a thought. Don't even think of saying no, I'm going to the child's house right now. It's near your house, do you want me to take you back?”

Xiaoxiao's car happens to be in maintenance and won't be picked up until tomorrow.

“In my neighborhood?”

It occurred to her that every time she goes home from a morning run, she would encounter children who like to play with Sesame. Several of whom were exactly six or seven years old.

Jing Sa's face was ecstatic, “Why? You're interested!”

Xiaoxiao coldly stopped her head from getting hot, “I was just asking.”

How could Jing Sa let this opportunity go, “Feel free to ask, it's on the way anyway, I'll take you back.”

Sensing her hesitation, she simply pushed her towards the locker room. “Let's go, hurry up and take a shower, there is a free ride for you, why do you still hate it?”

Xiaoxiao did care a bit. She quickly took a shower and changed her clothes.

The two got in the car and headed straight for their destination.

After arriving, Xiaoxiao looked out the car window in surprise at the familiar little shop, where she usually buys her breakfast.

At the moment, there was no steam or the sweet smell of soymilk in the clean, tidy shop,  just a group of people, many of whom are familiar faces from Aunt Wu's shop that she usually encountered every time she came.

Aunt Wu is no longer as smiling and welcoming as she used to be, her eyes are already red and swollen with tears, and her m.u.f.fled cries can be heard from afar.

“After cla.s.s, I took Xiao You to eat crepes that my daughter-in-law used to prepare for him. When he said he needed to go to the bathroom, I let him go. I bought the crepes and I waited for a long time, but he never came back! I looked everywhere! I sent someone to look for him in the bathroom, but no one was there!" While retelling the course of events, Aunt Wu's sobs resumed, "If anything happens to Xiao You, how am I going to face my son, just kill me and forget it!"

At first, she only thought that her grandson had gone somewhere to play, since they've been there countless times. It was only when she couldn't find him after a long search that she began to panic. She's been watching the news lately, too, but she didn't really take it seriously. Xiao You has been attending that education center for two years, and there has never been an incident. Besides, the mall was located too far away from the previous kidnapping incidents, so she was somewhat comforted. It had never occurred to her that Xiao You would vanish just like that. In her alarm, she called the police.

All she wanted now was for everything to be a false alarm, and for Xiao You to come back from nowhere wild and dirty like he did before.

Uncle Wu took a sharp drag of his cigarette and scolded Aunt Wu, “How can you let Xiao You go to the bathroom alone, it's where people come and go, you have no conscience!”

"Lao Wu, don't be too harsh, haven't the police been called already? This isn't something done on purpose. What's more, when the kids are that big, who'd have thought that he'll go missing on a trip to the bathroom!" 

The woman trying to comfort them sounded familiar. Xiaoxiao recognized it as the voice of the woman who loves to match people and  has always been kind to her.

“Your son and your daughter-in-law had warned you a thousand times before the trip, but now you've lost the child. When your son and daughter-in-law return, let me see how you will answer!”

Aunt Wu cried even harder, grabbing a policeman and about to kneel down, “Comrade, please, please help me get my grandson back, please, I'll kowtow to you!”

After saying that, there was a heavy thud, and the crowd cried out again in a frenzy.

Jing Sa was standing outside the car and was listening to Xiao Li's report. It was nothing more than an inventory of places around the mall where children might go, but nothing came of it.

“So it's true that the circ.u.mstances of his disappearance are similar to the first few children?”

Xiao Li nodded gravely, “Now, what's only missing is the letter from the kidnappers.”

Jing Sa clenched her fists tightly, “We can't let him get away with it this time!"

Her eyes s.h.i.+fted to the pa.s.senger seat where Xiaoxiao who didn't get out was sitting. Her eyes hardened with resolve.

After a while, a low hum came out from her throat, m.u.f.fled words, “Give me the information!”

Jing Sa rushed to her side excitedly, “You're finally willing to help me, I know you…….”

No expression could be detected from Xiaoxiao's unforgettable face, only the usual detachment was visible between her brows. 

She interrupted deadpan, “Don't put gold in your own face, I just don't want no place to eat breakfast later!”