Finding no trace of the child after searching everywhere, I realized the seriousness of the matter. I looked at the traffic in front of Pei Shi Yu's residence. Once he wandered off, where would we even begin to look? We wouldn't even know where to start.

Just as I was at a loss, I saw Pei Xianglong walking out, and at a slow pace, not looking anxious at all. Pei Shi Yu went up to him and asked, "Dad, the child is missing. Shouldn't you be the first one down here looking for Xiaolong?"

"He won't get lost. He'll be back on his own later."

I didn't understand if he was truly carefree, or if this had happened before. He didn't seem worried at all, and even started comforting Pei Shi Yu, "Shi Yu, you go ahead and take care of your own business. I'll call you when Xiaolong comes back."

Then he focused his attention on me, saying in a defensive tone, "Stay away from this person. He's no good."

Hearing this, I wasn't angry, but felt that something was wrong. My previous impression of him was of a very stern person, radiating a murderous aura when face to face. But at this moment, that lethality was nowhere to be found. It wasn't that he had become kind, but that his thinking seemed a bit off.

Such a young child goes missing from home, who wouldn't be anxious? Yet he was certain he would return on his own. This judgment just didn't make sense.

The longer the time passed, the greater the threat to the child's safety. Searching for someone in the vast crowd was like looking for a needle in a haystack. I started to worry for them and quietly said to Pei Shi Yu, "Stop dawdling here. We need to split up and search in different directions. You drive and look to the left. I'll take a taxi. Let's keep in touch by phone."

At this moment, Pei Xianglong suddenly stood in front of his daughter, separating us with a protective gesture.

While pushing Pei Shi Yu, he said, "Go to work. Xiaolong will be fine. He'll be back soon. He's been disobedient lately, so it's good for him to suffer a little."

"Dad, look at the cars on the road. Aren't you worried at all? If he goes off with someone, will he ever come back!"

Pei Shi Yu's words hit the nail on the head, but they still didn't resonate with Pei Xianglong. He walked back into the residential area on his own, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Looking at his departing figure, I really couldn't understand what the old Mr. Pei was thinking. Logically speaking, the proper reaction should be distress and panic, considering his only grandson was missing.

I turned my gaze to Pei Shi Yu, and was about to say something, but she sensitively cut me off before I could speak, "You don't need to say anything."

The phone in my pocket suddenly vibrated. It was General Manager Li calling. As soon as I answered, I heard his urgent voice, "Lin Che, you guys hurry to Shi Yu's office building. Xiaolong took a taxi from the entrance. I've already contacted the driver. He said he dropped him off at the building entrance."

"Understood. We're heading over there now."

I hastily put away the phone. My long legs were already moving towards Pei Shi Yu's car. She followed my pace and asked, "What's wrong? Has Xiaolong been found?"

"Yes." I replied without turning my head.

On the way back, Pei Shi Yu's driving skills came in handy. Her slender fingers skillfully turned the steering wheel. I gripped the handrail on the door tightly, not daring to breathe loudly.

The car screeched to a halt directly in front of the company entrance. I quickly got out of the car, breathing a sigh of relief as if freed from a burden. I saw a hint of smoke rising from the tires.

I walked inside first, and immediately saw a small figure huddled in a corner of the sofa. I was about to bend down and ask him about it when Pei Shi Yu angrily rebuked him.

"What are you doing here? Who told you to come? Is it okay to run away from home all by yourself?"

Xiaolong didn't say a word, stubbornly holding back tears in his eyes. He looked like he had been wronged. I thought Pei Shi Yu would go over to comfort him, but she did the opposite, reaching out to grab Xiaolong's hand and continuing to press him aggressively, "I'm asking you a question. Who said you could come out on your own? What if you got lost? Where would I go to find you?"

The continuous questioning, even through the air, felt a bit cruel. Just as I was about to say something for Xiaolong, the child replied in a very soft voice, "Grandpa is going to scold me. It's scary."

"But you still can't come out on your own."

The tears that had been held back finally couldn't be contained. I saw large tears streaming from his eyes. While crying, he said, "I just wanted to find Mommy. She hasn't come home in so long."

Pei Shi Yu finally put away her stern expression, sat down, hugged Xiaolong, and her tone became gentle, "Mommy will naturally come back when she's done with work. No matter how Grandpa scolds you, you can't run out on your own again. If he scolds you again, you can call me, understand?"

"Grandpa will also hit me."

Xiaolong continued to accuse Pei Xianglong, and because there was no air conditioning in the lobby, his little face was already a little red, looking extremely pitiful.

I remained silent throughout. The child was found, which was fortunate. I walked outside the lobby. Pei Shi Yu's car was not turned off. Being careless, at the same time, can be understood as worry and anxiety.

A taxi quickly stopped behind Pei Shi Yu's car. It was General Manager Li getting out...

"Xiaolong is here, right?"

"Yes, he's quite capable. He knew to wait for Pei Shi Yu on the sofa."

"That's good. He's the only family treasure of the Pei family."

General Manager Li spoke as he walked inside, and I followed behind...

"Xiaolong, Uncle was so worried about you. You can't run out like this in the future."

General Manager Li smiled and touched Xiaolong's head. It was clear that he was more affectionate than Pei Shi Yu. Then he picked up the child from the sofa and started joking, "How much money do you have in your pocket? You even know how to take a taxi. Lend some to Uncle."

Xiaolong believed it was true and took out a few red bills from his pocket and placed them in General Manager Li's hand.

"Who gave it to you?"

"Grandpa gave it to me."

"If you really hadn't been found, your grandpa would have been an accomplice."

Pei Shi Yu seemed to realize this as well, stood up, took the money from General Manager Li's hand, and put it directly into her own pocket.

"It's been a busy day. Let's go back. I have important matters at the company."

Today was actually the weekend, so although the doors to Pei Shi Yu's company were open, the receptionist wasn't at work. Only a few employees were occasionally entering and exiting the elevator.

Pei Shi Yu walked out first. General Manager Li carried the child, and I quickly went up to open the car door.