Chapter 11

They soon arrived at the coffin shop, and An Xiang led An Zimo out.

After several years, the coffin shop looked even more run-down. An Zimo could not help doubting what he saw. Could this really be a place that sold beds?

An Xiang pushed the door open and walked in. Two paper effigies leaned crookedly on either side of the entrance. The interior was dim, and the owner sat idly in a wicker chair, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he read a newspaper.

"Have a look around if you want anything. We have coffins and urns."

An Xiang looked around. "Sir, do you take custom orders? I'd like a children's version."

A children's version...

The owner lifted his head from the newspaper and stared at An Xiang's face for a good while. Customers came and went at the coffin shop every day, but hers was the only face he remembered.

Then the owner noticed An Zimo beside her.

"Make a coffin to fit his measurements." An Xiang showed the owner a picture she had saved beforehand. "I'd like this sort of cartoon design. It'll be very cute."

The owner: "..."

Was this girl serious?

"The price is negotiable, but please be sure to use the best materials." Children had delicate skin. Whatever else she skimped on, she could not skimp on a coffin.

The owner had, after all, weathered his share of storms. Although he thought there was something a little wrong with An Xiang's head, only an idiot would turn down money. As long as she paid, he could put not just Peppa Pig on it, but Dragon Ball too.

After paying and leaving her address, An Xiang left the coffin shop feeling relaxed.

"The coffin will be ready in a few days." An Xiang patted the round back of An Zimo's head. "There's no need to rush, Momo. You can sleep with Mommy anytime."

Who was in a rush?

Who wanted to sleep with you?

Over the past two days, An Zimo's ability to accept things had grown steadily stronger. Although he still thought sleeping in a coffin was insane, he quickly accepted this reality too.

It was just sleeping in a coffin. At least it was better than sleeping in a childish crib.

Their next destination was Star City Mall.

The children's clothing section was on the first floor. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the colorful children's clothes in all sorts of styles were dazzling.

Almost every girl harbored a dream of playing dress-up, and An Xiang was no exception.

She excitedly pulled An Zimo into one of the stores and took little jeans, little trousers, and all sorts of jackets and T-shirts off the racks.

"Momo, try these on." Holding the clothes, An Xiang looked at him with sparkling eyes.

An Zimo did not move.

His brows drew together slightly, and a hint of rejection mingled in his eyes.

Clearly, he did not like them.

That look was like a bucket of cold water dumped over her head, instantly deflating An Xiang. Her lips moved as she mumbled dejectedly, "If you don't want to try them on, Momo, you don't have to." She did not like forcing children to do things they disliked. Although disappointed, she did not insist. Her son's happiness mattered more than an adult's.

"Hello, please pick out some in his size, then wrap them all up." An Xiang also picked out a few pairs of shoes, piling large and small bags together.

After she paid, the sales assistant said, "We offer free delivery. If carrying them is inconvenient, ma'am, we can have them delivered directly to your home."

"Then sorry for the trouble."

It was getting late, and they had bought almost everything they needed. An Xiang planned to take An Zimo out for a meal before going to the milk tea shop.

The mall was crowded with people coming and going, and the main entrance was just ahead.

When she looked down, all she could see was the whorl on top of An Zimo's head. Even without thinking, she knew the boy's expression was indifferent.

"Is there really nothing you want, Momo?" An Xiang stopped and pointed at the toys in the display window beside them. "Look at those. You can have anything you want."

An Zimo swept his gaze over them, then his eyes stopped.

A "Mecha Warrior" collaboration mecha, priced at 388.

The red-and-white mecha toy was sealed in a plastic box, with the animated series' logo printed on it.

His eyes went blank as memories filled his mind.

[An Zimo, how dare you steal money!!!]

[You're too old to be playing with toys!]

[I'll teach you to play!]

She swung her arm, using the toy to strike the top of his head hard, again and again.

An Zimo looked away, lowered his head, and slowly pulled his hand out of An Xiang's palm.

To him, there was nothing in this world he could like.

Watching that small, thin figure walking ahead alone, An Xiang blinked, then turned to look at the toy thoughtfully.

"Momo!"

An Xiang caught up and called him to a stop, bending down to meet those dark eyes filled with gloom. "There's an ice cream shop over there. Mommy will buy you one. Will you eat it while you wait for me?" Afraid he would feel uneasy, An Xiang added, "I want to go to the restroom."

An Zimo neither expressed acceptance nor showed resistance.

She led An Zimo back, handed him the ice cream she had bought, and finally settled him on a bench.

An Xiang crouched down, her warm palm rubbing his fluffy hair. Her smile was faint and gentle. "Be good and wait for Mommy, then. Mommy will be right back. Remember, you mustn't go with strangers."

An Zimo licked the ice cream and watched An Xiang disappear into the distance before quickly looking away.

Idiot.

The restroom wasn't even in that direction.

She probably couldn't resist dumping him.

The strawberry ice cream was far too sweet and cloying. He had never liked overly sweet food. Frowning, he stood and tossed it into the trash can ahead. Just as he turned around, an old woman who had appeared from somewhere stooped into a half crouch in front of him.

The old woman was plainly dressed and looked kindly. With a pained expression, she tugged at An Zimo. "Child, Granny's stomach hurts. Could you help Granny over there to sit down?"

With a gloomy face, An Zimo shook off the hand reaching for him and coldly said, "No."

His refusal could not have been more blunt. The old woman probably had never encountered a child like this. She froze for a moment, then immediately pulled a bag of candy from her pocket. "Sweetheart, look. Would you like some? This candy is delicious."

An Zimo stood with his hands in his pockets, unmoved.

He walked around the old woman and headed straight ahead. Because of his height, he did not see the way clearly, and his forehead bumped straight into a long leg.

A quiet grunt escaped An Zimo's throat. He raised his head and glared fiercely at the person.

"Child, don't go!"

The old woman was still doggedly pursuing him from behind.

Extremely irritated, An Zimo said to the person he had bumped into, "She's a human trafficker. If you have a phone, contact the police."

He had originally not wanted to bother with this trafficker and her pathetic scam, but her pestering had worn his patience thin.

The old woman had not expected to be exposed so quickly. At once, her back stopped aching and her legs stopped hurting, and she took off toward the entrance.

"Security!"

"Hurry, catch that person!"

Hearing the shout, the security guards patrolling nearby reacted quickly and subdued her in a single move.

An Zimo looked away and returned to his original seat.

The two people from earlier had not left. They stayed where they were, staring at him. An Zimo raised his eyes, his gaze meeting the man in front head-on.

His eyes were like a wild beast's, in stark contrast to the coolness in the man's eyes.

The assistant stood behind him and reminded him, "President Pei, the meeting is about to begin. This child..." He studied An Zimo carefully, somehow feeling that he bore a striking resemblance to President Pei.

No, surely not.

The assistant broke out in a cold sweat. Their President Pei had so few worldly desires. How could he have a son this old?

But there were plenty of people in the world who looked alike. Besides, this child looked like a country bumpkin, without a trace of refinement. It was probably just a coincidence.

Having thought it through, the assistant immediately felt relieved.

Pei Yizhou lowered his eyes and raised his wrist. There were less than five minutes left before the meeting began.

"Stay here," he said in an even voice. "Find out where his parents are. If he's gotten separated from his family, take him straight to the security office."

"All right. I'll join you shortly." The assistant answered and walked straight up to An Zimo.

Pei Yizhou took one last look at the unfriendly-looking child on the bench. That wary, rejecting expression somehow struck him as amusing. He withdrew his gaze and walked straight into the elevator under those watching eyes.

A little while after Pei Yizhou left, An Xiang finally returned.

An old-school melodramatic story needs this kind of perfectly timed missed encounter. (Dog-head emoji)

Don't ask why the male lead isn't suspicious. There really are plenty of people in this world who look alike. I once met a girl who looked incredibly like me, but I wouldn't suspect she was my long-lost sister!

With the male lead's personality, even if he thought there was a resemblance, he wouldn't connect it to himself.

I specifically edited the author's note to explain this.

Red packets for the first hundred comments. Today, I'm Short Little Orange.