The Complex Feelings and Encounter at the Zoo

However, this time, except for the network at home, Chen couldn't be found on the Internet anywhere else.

"Stop being so suspicious." Bihua smiled. "He has to go to class too, you know."

However, even when they met, he had never revealed the school he was attending.

"Do you mean you want me to investigate? There's only one university in this district. Even if we include other districts, there are only five. If you want me to check..."

"No..." Mo said, with a hint of hesitation.

He wasn't Chen. Even though he had thought he was before.

Perhaps because his delusion had been shattered, that day, he always felt that the Chen'ai in front of him was not the Chen'ai he had known before.

His responses were as intelligent as ever. However... there always seemed to be something missing.

His tone should be a bit more mischievous and a bit more arrogant. He had once said that because of a word from his supervisor, he had stayed in the laboratory by himself for several days out of resentment. Although it only proved that his own idea was wrong, it also planted the seeds of his future interest.

This was somewhat similar to Chen...

Also, when talking to him, there were several things that felt strange...

He couldn't quite put his finger on it...

For example, when he was thinking, he had the habit of gently pushing his glasses. This was quite normal, as many people had this habit. However, doing it every five sentences made Mo even suspect a term called obsessive - compulsive disorder.

"You're not being overly suspicious of his behavior just because you're disappointed, are you?" Ever since Bihua had met Chen'ai, she had been his die - hard supporter.

"No... It's just that he always likes to ask me things like whether I've been happy recently, whether I've slept well, and whether my work has been going smoothly..."

"Didn't you two talk about everything before? It's only natural for him to care about you."

Mo just shook his head.

Because of an unknown emotion, Mo no longer invited Chen'ai to meet in person.

Then, because he was afraid that he wouldn't know what to say if they met online, gradually, he even stopped going online.

Mo started to like staring at the screen in a daze, which made Bihua issue a warning.

"You can't do this anymore, Little Mo. I'll get angry."

"...Sorry."

He had read the letter hundreds of times, and even the creases on the letter were about to break.

In his letter, not a single word was about his recent work.

Pressing the letter against his chest, Mo now even felt that this letter was just a consolation. Because he couldn't even reply, and he didn't know where to send the reply. He wanted to ask him why he didn't come back that day.

He wanted to ask him if he knew about the city explosion that still couldn't be investigated to the end until now.

Hesitating for a while, he turned on the computer at home and looked for Chen'ai. Chen'ai wasn't there.

Of course, he hadn't been online for more than ten days. Chen'ai naturally couldn't be waiting for him anymore...

Little Mo?

Ah, he's here.

Little Mo, let's go out and have fun, okay? Didn't you say you still wanted to go to the zoo? Little Mo?

Should he reply... But he didn't know... whether he should... Chen would be angry, right...

Little Mo? Little Mo, why are you ignoring me... After we met, you don't like me anymore? Did I say something wrong?

He didn't know... He just didn't like his occasional, sharp gaze. Nor did he like the way he spoke.

Little Mo... Why are you ignoring me? Do you think I'm ugly?

Sighing softly, Mo started to reply.

Okay, let's go to the zoo. I happen to have something to tell you.

To be honest, the current situation was a bit awkward.

When Ye Rufeng heard about this, he also came along.

With the way Ye Rufeng sized up Chen'ai, even an ordinary person would know what was on his mind. Mo couldn't help but think.

Chen'ai seemed to be a bit uncomfortable being looked at by Ye Rufeng. He touched his head from time to time and checked his clothes. He replied to Ye Rufeng's questions haphazardly.

Another person who shouldn't have appeared was a little boy. He was about six years old, wearing suspender pants and a light - pink long - sleeved shirt with a Mickey Mouse pattern. The little boy had been holding Chen'ai's hand at first. Then, after Chen'ai and Ye Rufeng clearly formed a small conversation circle, he let go of his hand and wandered around by himself.

"Sorry, could you help me take care of my younger brother for a while?" Chen'ai said to Mo hurriedly when he saw that the little boy seemed to be walking away.

"No problem!" Mo hurriedly ran over too, ignoring Ye Rufeng's attempts to keep him. He had long been looking for an opportunity to leave this awkward situation.

"What do you mean by this?" Ye Rufeng glared at Chen'ai.

"...What's the meaning of asking him to take care of my younger brother?" Chen'ai smiled at him.

The little boy was small in stature, with fair and tender skin and big eyes. He was so cute that any woman passing by would "strike up a conversation" with him.

Mo followed along, thinking about his own things.

After the little boy's hands were full of soda, popcorn, and balloons given to him by others, he stood in front of the birdcage and looked back at Mo.

Mo just walked, distracted for a while. This was a place where he and Chen used to come often. Besides being not far from the town center, the cheap entrance fee was an important factor. They didn't have extra money.

When he came to his senses, he found that the little boy was waiting for him.

Oh right, luckily... He almost forgot to follow him. Mo walked forward with a bit of guilt.

On holidays, the zoo was extremely crowded. Except for a few people, most of them were students or from the working - class. Chen'ai's worry was right. There were quite a few children kidnapped here every year.

Bang. A man bumped into Mo heavily. Mo let out a muffled groan and took a step back.

"You've got two pairs of eyes, yet you can't even watch where you're going!" The man spat on Mo's leather shoes.

Mo, wearing sunglasses, just gave him a cold look. However, when he was about to speak, he found that the little boy was walking towards him.

"What are you looking at! Don't you even say sorry when you bump into someone!"

The little boy pulled the man's pants.

"What!" The man impatiently looked down.

The little boy raised his hand, and the un - drunk soda was splashed onto the man's crotch.

The cold drink made the man's face turn green.

"He peed his pants."

After saying that, the little boy threw the paper cup at him again.

Mo stared blankly at this scene, really not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"You little brat..." The man twisted his face and was about to reach out to grab him with a ferocious expression.

Mo quickly blocked his hand, and the little boy also ran behind Mo.

"Sorry, the child doesn't know any better. How much is this pair of pants? I'll pay you."

"Pay? Can you afford it? Do you know how much this pair of pants costs!" The man shouted.

"He looks like a bad guy. Let's call the police." The little boy grabbed Mo's clothes and said coldly.

"What did you say!?"

"No need. I'll pay him... Is a thousand enough?"

"A thousand is too much." The little boy said. However, the man had already snatched the banknote and walked away without looking back.

The little boy looked at Mo.

"It's okay. It's just a small amount of money." Mo squatted down and smiled gently. "Thank you for standing up for me. Can I treat you to a soda?"

"No. Only kids drink soda." The little boy pouted and walked away angrily.

"Oh? Then what do you want to drink?" Following the little boy slowly, Mo couldn't help but ask with a smile.

"Juice."

"Pfft... Okay, okay, sorry." Mo quickly apologized because the little boy was already glaring at him.

The little boy held Mo's hand with one hand and held the drink with the other, strolling leisurely with Mo in the zoo. Mo helped carry the balloon, and the popcorn given by strangers on the way was thrown into the trash can by Mo.

When children of similar age passed by them, screaming and chasing each other, Mo couldn't help but think.

What kind of child is this... So smart, so well - behaved, and so cute...

"What are you thinking?" The little boy asked. His eyes were moist and bright, making Mo sigh softly in his heart. He's so beautiful now. What will he be like when he grows up?

"I was thinking that you and your brother are really alike. Both smart and beautiful." Mo sincerely sighed.

"...Do you like my brother?" The little boy's tone was unfriendly.

"Ha... How is that possible." Mo sighed and smiled. "I already have someone I like, but he's not here."

"...Then, does that person who came with you like you?" The little boy asked again.

"This... Where did you get so many questions?" Mo looked at him in surprise.

"Because he's jealous of my brother." The little boy said, sipping his drink.

Mo was even more 惊愕. He looked at the little boy as if his eyes were about to pop out.

As soon as the words were spoken, a thick wall of people appeared in front of them.

"Eh? What are they looking at?" The little boy curiously stood on tiptoes.

"Ah... Oh, let me see." Mo, who had come to his senses, quickly looked at the sign in front.

"Rhea." Mo said. "A newly - bred monster. It looks... quite ugly." Mo frowned. "Do you want to see it?"

"Yeah." The little boy stretched his neck.

"...Let me carry you. Come on." Mo smiled and held out his hand to him.

"...No." The little boy turned his head away. "I'll wait for them to leave."

"Come on. I'll carry you up onto my shoulders to see." Mo smiled gently.

"No."

"Don't worry. You're not heavy." Mo suppressed a smile and pretended to persuade him seriously.

"...No." The little boy said, with a somewhat impatient tone.

"...Otherwise, we'll have to wait for a long time." Mo continued to suppress his smile and persuade him.

"...Then, will you wait with me?" The little boy lowered his head and looked at his shoes.

"Of course. But I'm afraid your brother will wait too long." Mo said.

"Let's ignore him and just have fun ourselves." The little boy said, pulling Mo's hand.

"Accompany me to other places. I haven't come out to play for a long time."

"Do you and your brother usually have a good relationship?"

"...Just so - so." The little boy sat on a large rock by the pond, looking at the swans in the pond.

"What's your brother like usually?" Sitting on the grass beside the little boy, Mo asked. Although it was unethical to use such a young child, he couldn't let the opportunity to find out about Chen'ai slip away.

There were too many secrets about Chen'ai... Although, after seeing his younger brother, most of Mo's guard had disappeared.

The little boy turned his head and looked at Mo.

"Why are you asking this?"

"...I want to know more about your brother." Mo said.

"...He's a nice person." The little boy said, turning his head back and continuing to look at the swans.

"Do you like swans?" Mo asked, with a gentle smile.

"...Just so - so. I'm just a bit envious." The little boy said dreamily. "Look at them. They're swimming leisurely, and they seem to have nothing to worry about."

"Although that's the case, they're still locked in this small pond." Mo said.

"...So, I envy them. At least they don't realize that they're locked up."

"Why do you say that?" Mo sensed something and asked.

"...Just thought of it. Just saying it casually." The little boy stood up and also sat beside Mo.

"You're so nice. There must be a lot of people who like you, right?"

"...Probably." Mo looked up and down at this precocious child. "What about you? How many girlfriends do you have?"

"...None." The little boy hugged Mo and said sullenly. "Who is the person you like? Can you tell me?"

"...You don't know him." Mo laughed.

"Tell me." The little boy coquettishly said.

Really... Mo sighed softly.

"The person I like... His name is Chen."

The little boy secretly smiled.

"Hey, what are you laughing at? I heard that!" Mo scolded with a smile.

"Nothing... Just think the name is so funny." The little boy muttered.

"This is just how I call him..." Mo sighed softly and stroked the little boy's back. "But I haven't seen him for a long, long time."

"I think he feels the same way." The little boy said in a low voice.

"Yeah. So, I have to be patient too." Mo said.

"...Actually, I'm really worried that you'll like my brother."

"Ha... Actually... I came out today to tell him that we shouldn't meet again in the future... Not even online."

"Eh? Why?" The little boy exclaimed.

"...I don't feel very comfortable. The way he makes me feel is just strange..." Mo said.

"He's a really nice person... But not as nice as me. Don't be afraid. He won't do anything to you." The little boy quickly said.

"...I'm not afraid that he'll do something to me... It's just that I'm worried... Anyway, it's just some things that kids don't need to know." Mo gently pinched the little boy's cheek.

"Will you still come out to play with me in the future?" The little boy lowered his head.

"Of course." Mo said. "It's different being with you. I don't have to worry about all those things."

"Then, it's a deal." The little boy hooked his little finger.