In the winter night, the pines stood tall like giants, spreading out their bodies to block the blizzard and the howling northern winds, clustering together to form a gigantic cradle that allowed the baby nurtured in the darkness to sleep peacefully.
Gao Ming walked through the pine forest, where the clamor of the outside world couldn't be heard, and all around was dead silence, with only the occasional fall of snowflakes onto his clothing.
Picking up the used medicine box, Gao Ming arrived at the meeting point agreed upon with the little girl; the tree hollow was empty, the smelly cotton and the cloth doll had both vanished without a trace.
Listening to the sound of falling snow, Gao Ming glanced in the direction of East Lake; the night had deepened, and the flesh seeds in his pocket emitted a strong call, seemingly urging Gao Ming to cast them all into East Lake.