Zhao Xiaohua was very anxious. Report to the authorities? Yes, she must report to the authorities, the Government, but she didn’t know where the Government was. Zhao Xiaohua calmed herself; she couldn’t panic. Go back, that’s right, go back and find Second Brother. Zhao Xiaohua sprinted back. She ran all the way to Zhao Dahe’s house, crying as she knocked on the door. Qin Zheng opened the door, "What’s wrong, Xiaohua?" "Second Brother, Brother Qin Zheng, Xiaoshu is gone. They told me to report to the authorities, but I don’t know where the Government is, so I ran back. What should we do, Second Brother?" Zhao Xiaohua choked on her words but managed to explain the situation clearly. "How could Xiaoshu be missing?" Zhao Dahe asked. "I told Xiaoshu to go out for a walk to distract himself; otherwise, he was too worried about Mom," Zhao Xiaohua said. "Everything was fine, but he suddenly vanished outside the Fuding Bun Shop." "Qin Zheng, you go find Yun Ying and ask for help. Xiaohua, don’t worry, we’ll go out and look for him now." Zhao Dahe said. Before leaving, Zhao Dahe found Yue Sihai and others, knowing that there’s strength in numbers. The students in the house were all amazed at how Zhao Dahe’s leg healed, but no one wasted time on that; finding Xiaoshu was the priority, weighing the importance and urgency. Zhao Xiaohua led Zhao Dahe along the route she and Zhao Xiaoshu had taken. Some vendors still remembered Zhao Xiaohua and Zhao Xiaoshu. Some said they hadn’t noticed. Yet, despite asking all the way to the Fuding Bun Shop, they couldn’t get any useful information. It was as if Xiaoshu had vanished into thin air. Zhao Dahe’s mind raced. Logically, if there were kidnappers, with so many people on the street, someone should have seen them. Xiaoshu had been learning kung fu from Mom; even Qian Zhenzhen occasionally suffered at his hands in surprise attacks. If someone really tried to do something, Xiaoshu would have had time to call for help, right? Considering these, Zhao Dahe could only come to one conclusion—Xiaoshu left on his own. Only this could explain why no one paid attention. This kid speaks little but has his own ideas. Could he have gone looking for Mom? Though Zhao Dahe felt it was highly likely, it was still just his speculation. "Let’s go to the Government and see what the officials say." Zhao Dahe said. As a result, at the Prefect’s Mansion, Zhao Dahe and Zhao Xiaohua met Ren Zhong. "Why are you here? Did your Mom ask you to pass a message?" Ren Zhong asked Zhao Dahe. "No, our mom returned to Huaiyuan County and hasn’t come back yet. My dad has already gone looking for her. We’re here at the Government because Xiaoshu is missing," Zhao Dahe succinctly explained their purpose. Ren Zhong’s face immediately grew serious, "What happened? Tell me everything carefully." Zhao Dahe calmly recounted how he and Zhao Xiaohua went out and then Xiaoshu disappeared. After hesitating for a moment, he also shared his conjecture. "Here’s what we’ll do, you’ll draw a portrait of Xiaoshu, and I’ll have the Government Official carry it to the city gates to ask around, see if it rings a bell," Ren Zhong also leaned towards Zhao Dahe’s speculation, but still needed to search. "Okay." Zhao Dahe agreed. No one had gained any results. The guards had absolutely no recollection. "Perhaps he hasn’t left the city?" someone suggested. "Or perhaps he was hidden in cargo and transported out," someone else suggested. The former, might be good news. Zhao Xiaohua burst into tears. "It’s all my fault; if I hadn’t dragged Xiaoshu out, he wouldn’t have disappeared." "Crying now won’t solve anything," Yun Ying spoke without expression, "My people have inquired of all circles; because the Prefecture Test is coming, the security in Qingzhou Prefecture is excellent. The kidnappers haven’t shown themselves recently." Yun Ying paused, "Based on Xiaohua’s story, I think it’s possible that Zhao Xiaoshu left on his own accord." As for where he went, that’s unknown. No leads; hanging on was pointless. Zhao Dahe thanked everyone involved and, with Zhao Xiaohua, whose eyes were swollen from crying, headed back. Zhao Xiaoshu was sitting comfortably in Zhao Dahe’s room. "Xiaoshu, where did you go? You scared me!" Zhao Xiaohua rushed forward, hugging him while crying and asking. Zhao Xiaoshu looked at Zhao Xiaohua apologetically, "I’m sorry, I was just so lost in thoughts about Mom that I didn’t hear what you said. When you stopped, I didn’t notice and ended up walking away with others. By the time I came to, I realized I was lost." Zhao Dahe instinctively sensed something wasn’t right. Qingzhou Prefecture is quite large, and getting lost is possible. But with so many people searching for him, they couldn’t find him, and now he returned on his own. "A lot of people went out looking for you." Zhao Dahe stared closely at Zhao Xiaoshu. "I’ve worried everyone," Zhao Xiaoshu said, "Perhaps we just coincidentally missed each other." Missing one or two people might be a coincidence, but for a group to miss him, is it really that coincidental? But seeing Zhao Xiaoshu’s guilt-ridden expression, Zhao Dahe couldn’t bring himself to say anything reproachful. He was worried about Mom too. "I’m going to let everyone know." Zhao Dahe sighed and left the room, resigning to the fact that with Mom gone, as the eldest, he had the duty to take care of them. Regardless, as long as he’s back, it’s fine. "Mom will surely be alright, right?" Zhao Xiaoshu seemed to be speaking to himself, but also as if asking Zhao Xiaohua. "She will definitely be alright!" Zhao Xiaohua declared firmly, "You can’t be so absent-minded; you found your way back this time. If it happens again... what if..." "No way it’ll happen again, before Mom comes back, don’t go out." Zhao Xiaohua interrupted herself. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽 If any mishaps occurred, wouldn’t Mom be heartbroken when she returned? "Okay." Zhao Xiaoshu promised. "I know, you were certainly frightened too," Zhao Xiaohua continued, "I’ll make calming soup for you. I’ll go to the Hundred Herbs Hall to get the medicine and brew it for you." "Okay." Zhao Xiaoshu agreed again. "Then you rest in your room." Zhao Xiaohua patted Zhao Xiaoshu’s shoulder, "Once the calming soup is ready, I’ll bring it to you." "Thank you, Sister Xiaohua." Zhao Xiaoshu said earnestly. "It’s no trouble; I’m your sister; taking care of you is my duty." Zhao Xiaohua gently flicked Zhao Xiaoshu’s forehead, "I’m off, you go quickly back." Xiaoshu might truly have been scared by getting lost, the whole person seemed a bit off, not quite like his usual self. He seemed to have a look of reluctance in his eyes. A silly boy indeed, already back, what’s there to be reluctant about. Zhao Xiaohua quickly got the herbs and returned. Zhao Xiaoshu hadn’t gone back to his room; he was currently being lectured by Zhao Dahe. "Second Brother, it wasn’t Xiaoshu’s intention, just give him a gesture of reprimand, don’t overdo it, or when Mom returns, I’m definitely telling!" Zhao Xiaohua said with her hands on her hips. "He got lost and caused such a commotion, am I not even allowed to say a few words?" Zhao Dahe glared at Zhao Xiaohua, "Mind your own business, we brothers are talking, what’s a little girl doing interrupting?" "Second Brother, when Mom returns, I will definitely tell." Zhao Xiaohua retorted. "Do as you please, Mom is the fairest; she’ll never judge unjustly." Zhao Dahe huffed.