NOVEL WEB Chapter 492: Consequences
"Professor Meng, taking Little Shi out to play again? Not going to kindergarten today?"
Someone familiar with Professor Meng immediately greeted him with a smile upon seeing him.
Before his retirement, Professor Meng was a mathematics teacher at Nandu University, but he is now retired and taking care of his granddaughter at home.
The Little Shi that people mention is his granddaughter, Meng Shishi.
"She caught a cold a couple of days ago, so I'm letting her rest at home for a few days," Professor Meng said with a smile.
Professor Meng has lived here for many years and is very respected by everyone.
"Little Shi, here's a banana for you."
A familiar person handed Little Shi a banana. She didn't take it immediately; instead, she turned to look at her grandfather.
Seeing Professor Meng nod, she reached out and took it.
"You should thank Grandma Yao."
"Thank you, Grandma," Little Shi said in her childish voice.
Little Shi is only five years old this year, attending the last year of kindergarten. The little girl, tender and sweet, is the apple of Professor Meng's eye; he takes her wherever he goes.
His wife passed away early, and after retirement, he felt lonely, but luckily, Little Shi was there to keep him company.
He takes Little Shi with him wherever he goes.
"Little Shi, where are we going with Grandpa?"
"To play in the park."
"Then stay close to Grandpa and don't get lost."
"Okay, I will hold Grandpa's hand and won't lose him."
The passerby laughed, and Professor Meng laughed along with them.
"Little Shi is really great."
The passerby praised and hurried away.
Little Shi looked at the banana in her hand.
Professor Meng immediately understood what she meant and said with a smile, "We've just had breakfast; eat it later."
"Then you hold it for me," Little Shi handed the banana to Professor Meng.
Upon hearing this, Professor Meng casually took it.
"Don't eat it secretly," Little Shi added.
"You're so stingy, not even letting Grandpa have a bite," Professor Meng said with amusement.
"Well... I'll give you half," Little Shi thought for a moment and said.
"Haha, Grandpa won't eat your banana, don't worry," Professor Meng said with a smile.
Little Shi glanced at the banana in Professor Meng's hand and ran forward.
While running, she urged Professor Meng to hurry up.
"You should slow down and watch out for cars,"
Professor Meng sped up a few steps, caught up with Little Shi, and held her hand again.
He took a few deep breaths and realized he was really getting old, running just a short distance left him out of breath.
"Professor Meng, taking your granddaughter out for a stroll again?"
Another familiar person greeted Professor Meng.
Professor Meng stopped and chatted with the person for a few moments.
After the person left, he continued to walk with Little Shi towards the park.
But after just a few steps, he noticed Little Shi kept turning back to look across the street.
He couldn't help but ask curiously, "What are you looking at?"
"A grandma is waving at me."
"Grandma?" Professor Meng turned to look across the street.
There were only a few hurried young people on the street opposite, certainly no grandma as Little Shi said.
But Professor Meng didn't pay much attention, holding Little Shi as they continued forward.
They quickly reached the park entrance.
At this moment, quite a few people were coming out of the park, most of whom were elderly people who had just finished exercising, some holding long swords, some with kung fu fans, all with sweat glistening on their temples.
Seeing Professor Meng, they all greeted him with a smile.
Once inside the park, there were still many elderly people exercising.
Little Shi saw someone dancing and immediately broke free of her grandfather's hand to run over and twist around, while Professor Meng stood nearby watching with a smile.
When Little Shi got bored of one thing, she ran to the next place.
In the park, Professor Meng didn't always hold onto Little Shi.
Taking her to the park was for her to bask in the sun and run around more.
"Grandpa, hurry up," Little Shi urged as she turned around again.
But this time, Professor Meng wasn't in a hurry to catch up. Instead, he walked over with his hands behind his back at a leisurely pace.
"Grandpa, why are you so slow? Did you not have enough breakfast?" Little Shi said discontentedly.
"Grandpa ate more than you this morning."
"Then why do you walk so slowly, like this?"
Little Shi put her hands behind her back, hunched over, and imitated her grandfather's walking style, making Professor Meng burst into laughter.
"Because I'm old, an old grandpa."
"Then I am an old grandma, cough cough, old man, walk a little faster."
"Haha, no rush. We have plenty of time to wander slowly."
"Aren't you going home to cook?"
"Not cooking."
Little Shi, hearing this, widened her round eyes and said, "Then what are we eating for lunch?"
"We'll eat out for lunch today."
Upon hearing this, Little Shi cheered, then quickly asked, "Is it KFC?"
"No, that's too unhealthy. If your parents find out, they'll definitely blame me."
"Then is it McDonald's?" Little Shi asked again.
"Is there a difference between the two?" Professor Meng said helplessly.
"I think KFC tastes a little better," Little Shi said seriously.
"Even if it does, you just recovered from a cold, so you can't eat too much of this junk food," Professor Meng said.
"Why do you call it junk food? It's not smelly at all, it's fragrant. I didn't smell KFC's scent by the trash can."
Professor Meng: ...
Professor Meng playfully bantered with his granddaughter while they walked across the lawn to a shaded area.
There were quite a few elderly men chatting and playing chess here.
Upon seeing Professor Meng coming over, they all greeted him.
Initially, Professor Meng kept an eye on his granddaughter, but every time he looked back, she was playing with other children, so he gradually relaxed.
Especially when he watched a chess game, he completely forgot about his granddaughter.
"Old Zhang, you shouldn't have moved that pawn earlier, and that cannon..."
Professor Meng knew the etiquette of not commenting while watching a game, but after it ended, he couldn't refrain from sharing his thoughts.
"Professor Meng, don't just talk the talk. Let's have you play a game against Master Yu."
Old Zhang's opponent was a technician in a machinery factory before retiring, so everyone called him Master Yu.
"I certainly wouldn't be a match for Professor Meng; he's a top professor," Master Yu said sarcastically.
The two had always been at odds when they were younger; Master Yu thought Professor Meng was a pretentious scholar, while Professor Meng thought Master Yu was an uncultured brute.
However, when it came to chess, Professor Meng wasn't always sure he could beat Master Yu.
So, to save face, Professor Meng rarely played against Master Yu.
"Top professor, are you afraid?"
"Me, afraid of you? I have to look after the child. Unlike you, lazing around every day," Professor Meng shouted.
Master Yu glanced around and asked with a smile, "Then where is your child?"
"Little Shi, she..."
Professor Meng turned to look where Little Shi was playing but didn't see her.
However, Professor Meng wasn't alarmed; he thought she had run off elsewhere, so he got up and walked over.
"Little Shi..." Professor Meng called.
But there was no response.
"Little Shi, Little Shi..."
"Has anyone seen my Little Shi?"
Professor Meng gradually began to panic.
Regardless of whether they knew him or not, everyone nearby started helping to look.
But Little Shi was still nowhere to be seen, and Professor Meng's heart slowly sank to the bottom, feeling a wave of despair.
In a daze, he saw a small figure tied at the limbs, blindfolded, sobbing and whimpering, like a haunting nightmare appearing before his eyes.