Eating Melons in the Police Station-Chapter 129

The more Qiu Sheng thought about it, the more uneasy she became. What if someone had seen Little Tong teleporting around? The hotel was full of security cameras—what if she had been caught on footage?

Even if no one had witnessed her spatial jumps, the image of a three-year-old child sitting alone in the dead of night eating cake was unsettling enough to give any passerby a heart attack.

Qiu Sheng braced herself for the possibility that Little Tong might end up on Haishan’s trending news with a headline like:

"Shocking! Mysterious Small, Plump Creature Spotted Near Haishan Hotel Late at Night—Two Men Flee in Terror."

Just as Qiu Sheng’s imagination was running wild, Little Tong rolled over in bed, sat up, rubbed her eyes, and called out sleepily, "Mommy."

Qiu Sheng was about to ask if she had sneaked out again last night using her invisibility.

But before she could speak, the chubby little girl burrowed under the covers and pulled out a square cake box. Peeking inside, she then looked up at Qiu Sheng, holding the edge of the box and announcing:

"Mommy, I saved a piece for you."

Little Tong placed the cake on the bed, then slid down to the floor, picked it up again, and waddled over on her short legs to hand it to Qiu Sheng.

The box had originally held half a cake, but now only a quarter remained. Still, the remaining slice had the biggest strawberry on top.

"Mommy, eat it now. It’s morning, so you can have it."

The night before, Qiu Sheng had declined the cake, telling Little Tong that she didn’t eat sweets at night. The little girl had remembered and saved it for her until morning.

Little Tong stood by the coffee table, her cheeks still smudged with dried cream, watching as Qiu Sheng took a bite. Then, with a completely straight face, she turned and toddled off to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

The cake had been tucked under the covers all night, and though it didn’t smell spoiled, Qiu Sheng wasn’t keen on eating it.

While Little Tong was washing up, she quietly tossed the cake into the hallway trash bin and waited until the cleaning staff had taken it away before slipping back into the room.

Later, dressed in matching striped maxi dresses, mother and daughter walked hand-in-hand beneath a row of tall palm trees. Swinging Little Tong’s hand gently, Qiu Sheng tentatively asked:

"Sweetheart, do you still sneak out at night using your invisibility?"

Little Tong shook her head, raising a finger and declaring very seriously, "No more. It scares people, and the police might catch me."

It seemed she had taken her parents’ warnings to heart. Relieved, Qiu Sheng let the matter drop.

Haishan’s streets were dotted with colorful ice cream carts, painted in bright yellows and blues, serving oversized cones piled high with wafers, Oreos, and other toppings.

The day before, Qiu Sheng and Little Tong had shared two of these massive treats—so big that by the end, Qiu Sheng’s cheeks had gone numb from the cold.

Spotting one of those unmistakable carts up ahead, Qiu Sheng silently groaned. She quickly tugged Little Tong’s hand, steering her toward a side path.

But it was too late. Little Tong had already seen it. Pointing excitedly, she chirped:

"Mommy, ice cream! Please buy me one, thank you!"

Qiu Sheng pretended to have just noticed it herself, feigning surprise. "Wow, an ice cream cart! But we already had some yesterday, right?"

"Right!" Little Tong bounced up and down. "It was soooo yummy yesterday, wasn’t it, Mommy?"

"We can’t have too much ice cream in a row, sweetheart," Qiu Sheng tried to reason.

"Right!"

Little Tong nodded vigorously, her big eyes shining.

"Too much ice is bad, so we won’t eat any when we go back to Jing City."

Exactly—once they returned to Jing City in a couple of days, they wouldn’t have this chance again.

Qiu Sheng’s resolve wavered.

In the end, worried that too much ice cream would upset Little Tong’s stomach, Qiu Sheng bargained with her until the little girl reluctantly agreed to share just one cone.

Carrying the towering ice cream, Qiu Sheng led Little Tong to a small patch of greenery, where they settled onto a stone step.

Little Tong could hardly wait. The moment Qiu Sheng sat down, she leaned in, gripping her mother’s knees and opening her mouth wide for the first bite.

Qiu Sheng popped a wafer into her child’s mouth before quickly scooping a large chunk of ice cream for herself.

After finishing the wafer, Little Tong opened her mouth again. "Mommy, ice cream!"

Qiu Sheng fed her a tiny spoonful, then took another big bite for herself. The late autumn air in Haishan carried a slight chill, and the cold treat sent goosebumps prickling up her arms.

But to keep Little Tong from eating too much, she bravely kept taking larger bites herself.

Little Tong quickly noticed that Qiu Sheng always gave her cookies and tiny ice creams, while she herself took big, hearty bites. Little Tong immediately protested.

She tightly grabbed Qiu Sheng’s wrist, leaned her head toward the ice cream, and took a huge bite. Then, cupping her little hands over her mouth, she chewed slowly, trying to keep the overflowing ice cream from spilling.

Not to be outdone, Qiu Sheng abandoned her spoon and took a big bite too.

A playful competition erupted between mother and daughter, and soon the ice cream was gone, leaving them both hissing from the cold.

Little Tong placed her hands on her belly and shared her wisdom with Qiu Sheng in all seriousness:

"Mommy, next time you eat, just open your mouth really wide like this. If your mouth is big enough, you can take a bite of anything!"

Qiu Sheng patted her head and chuckled. "Sweetheart, you’re really going all out for food, aren’t you?"

Little Tong puffed out her chest proudly. "Mommy, let’s go ride bikes!"

Since they were visiting Haishan, cycling along the coastal path was a must—it was a breathtaking route, and the pictures shared online had already filled them with excitement.

After checking travel guides, Qiu Sheng planned to rent a shaded tricycle at one of the rental shops near the entrance of the path, so she could pedal leisurely with Little Tong in tow.

Hand in hand, they walked toward the rental shop. Passing by an elementary school, they happened to catch the midday dismissal. Students poured out, flooding the streets with their backpacks.

Worried Little Tong might get jostled, Qiu Sheng scooped her up and moved with the crowd.

Carrying her was tiring, but luckily, they didn’t have to walk far before spotting the bike rental shop.

Little Tong pointed excitedly. "Mommy, I see the bikes!"

But Qiu Sheng paused, then turned in another direction. Little Tong, clinging to her neck, repeated, "Mommy, the bikes are over there."

"Sweetie, hold on a moment," Qiu Sheng murmured, quickening her pace.

Once they left the school area and the crowd thinned, Qiu Sheng set Little Tong down and took her hand again.

Little Tong swung their joined hands. "Mommy, what’s wrong?"

Qiu Sheng gestured toward a group of uniformed students ahead and whispered, "Those boys behind them… I think they might be following that girl."

Read 𝓁at𝙚st chapters at ƒrēenovelkiss.com Only.

Little Tong didn’t understand what "following" meant, but Qiu Sheng’s serious expression made her wary. She tightened her grip on Qiu Sheng’s hand and pressed her lips together, suddenly acting stealthy.

As they walked, Qiu Sheng kept an eye on the students.

At the front was a girl—about ten years old, thin, her oversized uniform hanging loosely. She seemed aware of the boys behind her, lips pressed tight as she hurried forward.

Something about her gait struck Qiu Sheng as odd—was she limping slightly?

Behind her were six boys, taller and stockier, laughing and shoving each other, occasionally huddling to whisper before erupting in raucous noises.

Qiu Sheng stayed silent, observing. She wasn’t sure if they meant harm—kids that age could just be acting weird.

Little Tong whispered, "Mommy, are we gonna fight the bad guys?"

"Not yet," Qiu Sheng explained gently. "I’m not sure if they’re really bad. Let’s follow them until that girl gets home, then we’ll rent our bikes, okay?"

"Okay! Let’s protect her! I’m not scared!" Little Tong declared, squeezing Qiu Sheng’s hand.

The students turned onto a quieter street, where shops gave way to old apartment buildings.

The boys suddenly rushed ahead, cornering the girl under a tree. With fewer people around, Qiu Sheng couldn’t approach openly. She pulled Little Tong behind a building corner, listening intently.

The boys spoke in hushed tones, but one voice, sharp and clear, carried:

"Let us see."

"What’s the big deal? It won’t hurt you. We won’t tell anyone."

"You lift it, or I will."

Qiu Sheng’s pulse spiked, her face flushing hot. Sweat slicked her palms.

She ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‍immediately dialed the police, murmuring into her phone:

"I’m a tourist, so I’m not familiar with the area, but I’ll try to describe it. I see He'an District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital—I’m east of it, near three walk-up apartment buildings. Yes, I turned left past a Haidilao hot pot restaurant."

"Okay, I’ll wait here."

Hanging up, she crouched to Little Tong’s level.

"Mommy’s going to stop them. Hide here. If we fight, turn invisible—don’t let anyone see you. When the police come, sneak back to me. Understand?"

Little Tong clenched her tiny fists, chest puffed out. "I promise!"

Qiu Sheng ruffled her hair. "Good girl."

Standing, she gave Little Tong one last look and stepped forward.

Though the boys were just elementary students, they were nearly as tall as Qiu Sheng—and there were six of them. Heart pounding, she gripped the pepper spray in her pocket.

"What are you doing?" she called, stopping a meter away.

The boys turned. The girl in the center was pale, lips trembling.

"Everything okay? Need help?" Qiu Sheng asked.

A stocky, dark-haired boy grinned. "Auntie, we’re just classmates hanging out. No big deal."

Hands still in her pockets, Qiu Sheng smiled. "Glad to hear it. But if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask."

After speaking, Qiu Sheng didn’t leave. She simply stood there, watching them.

Another tall, lanky boy said, "Auntie, we’re fine. You can go ahead."

Qiu Sheng gave them a gentle smile. "I’m waiting for someone here."

The boys exchanged glances. Seeing that Qiu Sheng wasn’t budging, they turned to call the girl. "Miao Qingyue, let’s go. Time to head home. Come on."

Qiu Sheng looked at the girl and shook her head slightly. The slender girl immediately shook off the boy’s grip on her arm and whispered,

"You guys go ahead. My stomach hurts. I don’t feel like leaving right now."

The boys huddled together, muttering under their breaths, and made as if to leave. But Qiu Sheng stopped them again, her voice soft and warm.

"Do you know where Old Man Wen’s Coconut Chicken restaurant is?"

At their age—barely in their teens—they were naturally eager to help and chatty. The boys stopped in their tracks without suspicion, all talking at once as they gave directions.

Qiu Sheng listened carefully, occasionally asking, "Is that place any good?"

In truth, Old Man Wen’s Coconut Chicken was a restaurant she had visited with Little Tong just the day before. The food had been mediocre and overpriced.

Sure enough, the students chimed in again, "It’s not good. Just a tourist trap."

Qiu Sheng asked, "Then do you have any recommendations for good places to eat? This is my first time in Haishan. I’d appreciate your suggestions."

And so, the conversation flowed back and forth. Qiu Sheng kept steering the discussion, deliberately stalling for time until she spotted a few uniformed figures appearing at the end of the street. Only then did she quietly let out a sigh of relief.

When the police arrived, they immediately called out to the students. Qiu Sheng quickly ran back to the building where she had been earlier and found Little Tong gripping a few red bricks at the corner, peeking out cautiously.

Qiu Sheng picked her up and kissed her on the cheek. "You were amazing, sweetheart."

Little Tong clung to Qiu Sheng’s neck, nuzzling against her. But when she noticed a police officer approaching them, she immediately patted Qiu Sheng’s head. "Mommy, put me down."

Qiu Sheng set her on the ground, and Little Tong straightened up, hands pressed to her sides, standing ramrod straight before shouting loudly,

"Hello, Officer Auntie!"

The ponytailed policewoman stopped in her tracks and returned the greeting with a crisp salute. "Hello."

The formal response caught Little Tong off guard. She tilted her head up, stammering after a long pause,

"I... I am Zhong Yuntong. I’m a good person."

The officer burst out laughing. She took two steps forward, bent down, and gave Little Tong an affectionate hug before straightening up and showing her badge to Qiu Sheng.

"Hello, I’m Captain Rao Shishi. Were you the one who called the police?"

"Yes," Qiu Sheng replied.

"Would you mind coming to the station with us? We’ll need you to give a statement."

"Of course."

Little Tong rode in the police car with Qiu Sheng to He'an Police Station, accompanied by the group of students.

During the ride, the boys confessed to the officers—they hadn’t meant to harass their female classmate. They just wanted to see her prosthetic leg. They’d never seen one before and were curious.

Officer Rao, who had been so warm with Little Tong earlier, now wore a stern expression as she reprimanded them sharply. "Constantly bothering someone, making them uncomfortable—that’s harassment."

The stocky, dark-skinned boy retorted, "Anyway, we’re just elementary school kids. We’re not adults, so even if we break the law, we won’t go to jail. You can’t do anything to us."

"Tch. Quite the attitude," Officer Rao scoffed.

She pulled out her phone and dialed the administrative office of He'an District’s First Elementary School, notifying them of the situation. After hanging up, she leveled a look at the boys.

"Give me your parents’ numbers."

The boys might not fear jail, but they certainly feared their parents and teachers. They immediately broke into a chorus of protests, with two even bursting into tears. The boldest of them, the dark-skinned boy, turned on Qiu Sheng accusingly.

"Auntie, how could you do this? We helped you with directions, and you called the cops on us?"

Qiu Sheng glanced out the window, then gave them a meaningful look without saying a word.

By the time the police car arrived at the station, the school’s administrative director and several parents who lived nearby were already waiting. After a brief exchange, everyone was ushered into an interrogation room.

Qiu Sheng had just finished recounting what she had witnessed to Rao Shishi when the door opened again, and in walked a bald officer holding a thermos.

This officer looked older, tall and broad-shouldered, with an intimidating presence. His sharp gaze swept over the room, and the boys instinctively shrank back.

Rao Shishi greeted him. "Deputy Chief Hu."

She turned to introduce him to the parents. "This is our deputy station chief, Hu De."

Hu De gave them a nod before pulling out a chair and sitting down, his expression dark and foreboding.

Just as Hu De entered the interrogation room, Zhong Jin stepped out of his office. He lingered in the lobby for a moment, exchanging pleasantries with a few former colleagues, before striding out of the station.

Zhong Jin knew Qiu Sheng had brought Little Tong to Haishan, so he had flown in early that morning. Upon arriving, he first stopped by the station to catch up with old coworkers. It had been four or five years since he’d last been back, and while many faces were new, the familiar ones felt like no time had passed at all.

During his years in Haishan, Zhong Jin had been closest to Hu De. Today, Hu De had dragged him into his office for a long chat.

Only after Hu De left did Zhong Jin finally manage to slip away.

He guessed that Qiu Sheng would likely stay at one of the higher-end hotels. Haishan only had three star-rated options. He planned to search them himself—as long as he stayed nearby, Little Tong would surely catch his scent and come find him.

Father Zhong’s instincts were correct. Just as he stepped out of the station, Little Tong’s nose twitched twice inside the interrogation room.

She glanced at the adults, who were still deep in serious discussion, then silently slid off her chair and tiptoed toward the door.

Qiu Sheng called softly after her, "Sweetheart, where are you going?"

Little Tong pressed her back against the door and whispered, "I’m going out."

Hu De noticed their exchange. He studied Little Tong for a moment before saying to Qiu Sheng, "Kids can’t sit still for long. Let her go play."

Seeing Qiu Sheng’s hesitation, he added, "Don’t worry. No child could possibly go missing inside a police station."

Reluctantly, Qiu Sheng relented. "Stay inside the station, okay? Don’t run off, baby."

With permission granted, Little Tong stretched onto her tiptoes to pull the door open and slipped out into the hallway. The corridor was empty, and a glance toward the lobby confirmed no one had spotted her. She ducked into a recessed doorway, her body gradually fading into transparency.

Zhong Jin had just hailed a taxi. He got into the car, gave the name of the hotel, and as the door closed, the taxi smoothly pulled away. Suddenly, he felt a weight settle into his lap. Looking down, he found himself staring into a pair of bright, wide eyes.

Little Tong sat on Zhong Jin’s legs, grinning up at him. "Daddy."

Zhong Jin wasn’t startled, but the driver, hearing the word "Daddy," turned around with a strange expression. "Where did this child come from?" he asked, baffled.

"She got in with me," Zhong Jin replied calmly.

The driver muttered, "That’s odd. I didn’t see her earlier."

"Maybe she’s too short. You just didn’t notice."

The driver mumbled a few more words under his breath before falling silent. In situations like this, people usually just assumed they’d missed something.

"Did anyone see you when you left just now?" Zhong Jin asked Little Tong quietly.

Little Tong shook her head proudly. "Nope."

"And Mommy?"

"She’s at the police station."

"You came from the police station?"

"Yep."

Zhong Jin didn’t know why they’d ended up at the police station, and he didn’t have time to dwell on it. His first thought was that even if no one had seen Little Tong disappear, the police station had surveillance cameras. If they realized the child was missing and checked the footage, seeing her vanish into thin air would be impossible to explain.

"Driver, could you turn around and head back to He'an Police Station?"

The driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror. "Didn’t you just get in at He'an Police Station?"

Zhong Jin nodded. "Yes. I left something there. Need to go back and get it."