The white-collar woman shook her head slightly. "I don't know if we've just happened to miss him every time, or if he hasn't been living at home lately."
"He hasn't been living at home?"
The little girl looked confused.
If he wasn't living at home, where was he living?
"He just hasn't been staying at home for the time being."
The white-collar woman lowered her head and explained to the child, "Maybe your uncle went on a business trip, or maybe he went on vacation."
"In any case, he won't be coming home for a while."
The little girl opened her mouth.
What about Pangpang?
"So—"
The white-collar woman stroked the child's head. "Didn't your dad and I tell you to wait patiently for a few days?"
"When that uncle comes back, we'll take you to see him."
"Okay?"
"No!"
The little girl shook her head hard, her small features drawn tight with stubbornness. "I want to find Pangpang!"
"Pangpang is going to be eaten."
"Pangpang..."
The little girl's eyes reddened.
"Ah..."
The white-collar woman sighed.
She crouched down and gently wiped away the tears welling in the corners of the child's eyes.
"You silly girl..."
"Why are you so stubborn?"
"Pangpang is gone."
"We can't find him."
Even though the child's appearance made her heart ache, she had to make her accept the truth.
This time, the child had come to the police station, and nothing had gone wrong.
But what about next time?
What if the child ran off by herself to look for Pangpang somewhere else while they weren't paying attention?
The thought made her terribly worried.
Big tears rolled down the little girl's cheeks.
The white-collar woman reached out, but the next moment, she seemed to have been burned and drew her fingers back.
"Xiao