An An, being small, was good at hiding. Under Shen Feng's guidance, they arrived at the laboratory entrance.
"Shen Feng, where's Mom?" An An looked at the large sign in front of him. The surroundings were open ground, and it seemed his mother wasn't here.
Shen Feng paced anxiously on the spot, unwilling to lead An An inside.
Seeing it pace, An An asked, "Is it inside here?"
Shen Feng's paws, gripping An An's leg, showed visible urgency.
On one side was the scent of his master within the dangerous zone, on the other, his young master approaching the dangerous zone.
"We can't go in?" After a brief tug-of-war with Shen Feng, An An squatted down and stroked the dog's head. "Is it dangerous?"
In the vast and silent open ground, a small child with a mighty, majestic dog – such a scene always attracted attention.
On the upper floor of the hospital building, a woman in a black sweater stood by the window, observing quietly. "Interesting."
She made a phone call, speaking concisely, "That woman went in not long ago, and now a little brat has arrived."
Whatever the other person said, she suddenly smiled. "Yes, we can start with this child."
An An, of course, was unaware of the strange aunt watching him from upstairs. He was busy hiding.
Two people emerged from the laboratory, burly figures. They were carrying someone and hurrying out.
An An and Shen Feng hid by the wall, listening to the conversation between the two men.
"Alas, the drug's effects are also limited! Old Zhou is such a good person."
"I really don't know when this will end! The Teacher Huo who came the other day was quite capable, but now she also..."
"Yes, she looks so thin, I wonder if she can hold on until the drug is researched."
"I don't know when it will be our turn. I feel unwell all over every day now..."
They gradually walked away, leaving only An An with a look of panic. "Shen Feng, did you hear that? The Teacher Huo they mentioned must be Mom! We have to go see her!"
Shen Feng, hearing the tearful tone in his voice, wagged its tail vigorously, clearly anxious as well. It whimpered and then dashed into the laboratory.
It was safer for the young master to stay outside; it needed to see its master!
Unexpectedly, An An chased after it as it ran inside.
The laboratory was bustling with activity, and Shen Feng deliberately avoided people. An An even managed to crack the password-protected door that was the only barrier.
Huo Rou was attempting to purify other drugs according to Mrs. Ren's plan when she suddenly heard a knock.
She was suspected of being infected, and at this hour, no one would normally seek her out.
"Qin Ningyi?" she looked back.
There was nothing at the glass window. She frowned and turned around, only to hear another tapping sound from behind.
"Who?" She casually picked up a fruit knife from the table and turned back with sharp eyes.
Scanning the area, she finally saw a small hand waving by the windowsill.
The hand holding the knife trembled, her gaze faltered, and she suddenly stood up.
"An An?" she whispered in disbelief.
An An stood on tiptoe, and as soon as he saw her, his eyes reddened. "Mom!"
Huo Rou walked a few steps towards the window. A furry head then poked out from the windowsill. Shen Feng was panting with its tongue hanging out.
The glass quickly fogged up.
An An disdainfully wiped it with his hand. "Mom, hurry up and open the door!"
Huo Rou shook her head. "An An, it's very dangerous here. You should leave quickly."
An An was stubborn, standing motionless by the window, his small red eyes staring at her as if in accusation.
"Mom, you said you wouldn't leave An An," he said word for word.
Shen Feng also whimpered softly beside him.
With Shen Feng's backing, An An became even more resolute about not leaving.
Huo Rou suppressed her tears and shook her head. "I didn't abandon An An."
"Then you left without telling me." An An tilted his head to the side, his glasses quickly fogging up with his breath, making it impossible for Huo Rou to see his expression.
But she knew An An was angry and waiting for a hug.
Just like she herself had been years ago.
He said in a muffled voice, "You told me before that you were going abroad to help Uncle Shen, did An An ever stop you? Mom, you said An An was the most obedient child, why don't you tell me now?"
"I..." Huo Rou didn't know how to explain.
She suddenly understood the look in her mother's eyes through the glass window back then.
Talking about national affairs and the world to a small child was too abstract; they would only feel abandoned.
She sent a message to Qin Ningyi, asking him to come pick up An An.
If she couldn't explain, she wouldn't explain for now. As long as An An was safe, that was all that mattered. Besides, apart from some soreness, she had no other symptoms, so perhaps she could get out of here safely?
An An secretly tilted his head, glancing at her. Huo Rou's face was not covered now, and he could clearly see the watery light and love in her eyes.
He unconsciously fiddled with his dangling fingers. It seemed Mom was also quite sad...
In that case, he really couldn't go in. He sniffled, suppressing the panic in his heart. He was a man, he couldn't be scared, or Mom would be even more scared!
An An fiddled with his fingers for a long time. It wasn't until Shen Feng started tugging at his pant leg that An An turned back and took off his small backpack, slinging it over his front.
One by one, he took things out of his backpack.
"This is medicine. Take it quickly when you feel unwell." An An placed the medicine bottles on the counter, which was the item exchange point.
Huo Rou looked at the medicines. The bottles were clearly new ones given to him by Shen Wuyou.
Shen Wuyou had also come.
"Mom has medicine here," Huo Rou grabbed a test tube from the workbench and shook it. "Keep An An's medicine for yourself."
An An's face was stern, and he didn't listen. He continued to take things out. "These candies are also for you. Mom, eat them when you're unhappy. And these little bread rolls, don't go hungry..."
An An babbled on until Qin Ningyi's boots appeared in his sight. He then stopped, looked up, and burst into tears.
"Wuwuwu! Daddy!" An An's fear was released all at once. "Mom locked herself inside. Is she sick like the others?"
Qin Ningyi gently held An An in his arms. He looked at the pile of things on the counter, felt the weight of the small backpack between him and An An, and his heart softened completely.
An An, sniffling, recounted what he had seen at the entrance, feeling even more distressed. The child who acted like a man in front of Huo Rou couldn't help but cry when facing his support.
"Mom will get better," Qin Ningyi stroked An An's head repeatedly, patiently and with great certainty.
His father's embrace was always solid and strong. An An tightly gripped Qin Ningyi's arm, and listening to his promise, he finally felt some peace of mind.