If You Could Hear My Heart

Ayu gave him an indifferent glance but said nothing.

Miao Xiu walked over and placed a toy water gun in Xiaobao's hand.

"Uncle bought this for you, go and play."

Unexpectedly, Xiaobao refused to accept it and shook his head. "Mom said not to take things from strangers."

"I'm not a stranger. I know your Uncle Xiao Mo," Miao Xiu explained reluctantly.

"I don't believe you." Xiaobao tossed out those two words flatly.

"…" Miao Xiu's face darkened.

"Go back to where you came from," Ayu spoke up, clearly directing her words at Miao Xiu.

Miao Xiu glanced at Ayu and leaned in to whisper near her ear, "I think if you have my help, the thing you're trying to accomplish could be twice as effective."

"I'm just Xiaobao's teacher," Ayu replied coolly.

"Don't try to lie to me. Don't forget, we've known each other for five years, Senior Sister." Miao Xiu's lips curled into a smile, his face calm and serene.

He called her "Senior Sister" simply because they had the same teacher, and Ayu had started six months before him.

Actually, in terms of age, Miao Xiu was a few months older than Ayu.

"Miao Xiu, don't mess around," Ayu said coldly.

"How could I mess around? President Shen told you to draw out the snake, but you're just going to sit and wait for a few days?"

"I have my own plans; I don't need you interfering!"

"Take this, don't mention it." Miao Xiu shoved a cartoon card into Ayu's hand.

Ayu reached out and opened it; it turned out to contain all of Bai Man's movements since coming to C City!

"How did you get this?" Ayu was shocked; many of these movements were ones she hadn't been able to figure out!

"Senior Sister, never forget—I'm the teacher's favorite student," Miao Xiu grinned confidently, his eyes gleaming.

"Teacher, let's go ride the carousel," Xiaobao tugged at Ayu's hand.

His teacher had been chatting with this uncle for so long and wasn't paying attention to him.

"Do you think Bai Man will come to the amusement park today?" Ayu asked bluntly, her eyes flashing sharply.

"With this many people around, would you if you were her?" Miao Xiu replied, half-smiling.

"So you're saying…"

"If I charged for talking this much, I could've made a million by now," Miao Xiu casually slipped his hands into his pockets, smiling as he looked at Ayu. "But for Senior Sister, I'll make an exception."

"I didn't ask you to tell me," Ayu snapped, throwing the card onto him before turning to leave.

"Senior Sister, don't be mad, I was just joking. You ought to know, in my heart, you're the most important," Miao Xiu teased.

"Save those words for your girlfriend."

"Isn't my girlfriend you?"

Ayu froze mid-step, suddenly turned her head and gave him a cold stare that was as sharp as a blade. "Stop joking around. Don't forget who's the top in spear technique for the whole grade."

"…" Miao Xiu broke into a cold sweat.

Back in police academy, he'd been a slacker. Though his intelligence was off the charts, he wasn't skilled at hands-on techniques.

Neither spear technique nor arrest technique were things he could excel at. If he'd known he'd be threatened by a woman like this one day, he'd have trained properly back then.

"Don't get mad, let me make up for it," Miao Xiu chased after her. "I've got a tracker here. If Bai Man shows up at the amusement park, it'll immediately give me her location."

"Sorry, I've got one too." Ayu coldly glanced at him.

"…" Miao Xiu was speechless. How could he forget they graduated from the same school?

This little device had been something he'd invented back then, and he couldn't resist showing it off. Later… everyone knew about it.

Thinking back now, he regretted not applying for a patent. He could've made a fortune.

"But there's one thing I know you absolutely can't do!" Miao Xiu said with full confidence, looking at Ayu.

Sunlight fell across his face, his handsome profile radiating a bright and cheerful smile.

Ayu wasn't interested. She prepared to hold Xiaobao's hand.

"I can help you coax a little kid," Miao Xiu glanced at Xiaobao.

Annoyed, Xiaobao said, "Uncle, I'm not a little kid!"

"If you're not a little kid, then what are you?" Miao Xiu crouched down. "You're shorter than Uncle, younger than Uncle, so you're a little kid."

Xiaobao glared at him but said nothing, huffing loudly.

Miao Xiu leaned close to Ayu's ear and whispered a few words. Ayu frowned and paused for quite a while before nodding reluctantly.

She trusted this junior brother of hers. At least, Miao Xiu was smarter than her—she had to admit.

Miao Xiu and Ayu took Xiaobao for a stroll around the amusement park. Sure enough, it seemed the same gender had more to talk about.

Xiaobao quite liked Miao Xiu. The key was that Miao Xiu wasn't stingy at all. Whatever Xiaobao wanted, Miao Xiu would buy it for him.

His mom didn't allow him to eat fried chicken, so he begged Miao Xiu to buy some for him.

"Uncle Miao, you and Teacher look like you're a couple," Xiaobao said, looking up at them.

Xiaobao hadn't noticed anything unusual. He just felt his teacher wasn't as cheerful as usual today—perhaps her mood was off.

"Of course. Do you think we're a good match?" Miao Xiu shamelessly teased Xiaobao, grinning brightly.

"A great match!" Xiaobao nodded fervently.

Ayu glared at Miao Xiu. "Don't talk nonsense in front of a child."

"Uncle likes you very much. Here's a sugar figurine as a reward," Miao Xiu bought a sugar figurine and handed it to Xiaobao.

Ayu didn't drive Miao Xiu away; she felt she really couldn't handle kids. Miao Xiu was a perfect substitute.

The only problem was that Miao Xiu was too clingy—you could see him anywhere.

To Xiaobao, Uncle Miao was different from other uncles. He got along very well with Uncle Miao.

At this moment, the "beep-beep" sound came from Ayu's backpack.

Ayu's nerves immediately tightened. She scanned her surroundings cautiously and carefully took out the tracker from her bag.

Miao Xiu, of course, knew what that sound meant. He continued playing with Xiaobao but subtly shielded Ayu with his body.

Ayu glanced at the device. Based on facial recognition and height measurements, someone in the bumper car area of the amusement park was approaching.

When Ayu had put the tracker away, Miao Xiu whispered, "What location?"

When Miao Xiu got serious, all traces of humor vanished. His face was tense, his features sharp, his gaze as predatory as a hawk's.

Ayu quietly told him the location, and both of them remained outwardly calm.

Shen Chi was right: Bai Man hadn't found a chance to act over the last few days, but now with Xiaobao out in public, it was the perfect opportunity.

It was risky, sure, but Ayu would protect Xiaobao no matter what.

Moreover, Miao Xiu was here too.

Though her junior brother seemed unreliable on the surface, as someone who'd known him for five years, she knew very well what he was capable of.

"I'll take Xiaobao to the car. Lure her over," Miao Xiu instructed calmly.

"Alright, I'll head to the restroom."

The two exchanged a nod of understanding. Miao Xiu bent down to Xiaobao's level. "Feeling hot?"

Xiaobao shook his head. "Not hot, but I haven't finished playing yet."

"Come with Uncle to the car for a bottle of water. Uncle is thirsty," Miao Xiu said.

Xiaobao, being sensible, nodded. "Okay…"

And so, Xiaobao held onto Miao Xiu's hand with one hand, clutching various snacks with the other, and followed him toward their car.