It was already late at night when Chen Mo returned to the safe house.
The lights were off in the living room. Mia was curled up on the sofa, clutching a blanket, her head nodding. The news was still playing on the TV.
The host on the screen looked very serious.
" The Vought International stated that recent urban safety incidents are all under control, and residents are asked to maintain their confidence."
Chen Mo stood at the door for two seconds, then casually turned off the TV.
"That's the same old thing you're saying."
Mia was startled awake by the sound and groggily looked up. She glanced at Chen Mo first, then saw the paper bag he was carrying, and her eyes lit up instantly.
Chen Mo placed the bag on the table; inside were several donuts and a carton of milk bought from a convenience store.
"Don't look at me, I just bought these on the way here," he said, changing his shoes casually. "I didn't bring them specifically for you."
Mia had already climbed to the edge of the table, took a small bite of the donut, and her cheeks quickly puffed out.
Chen Mo looked at her like that, smiled, and reached out to pinch her belly.
"Oh dear, you've got a little belly now. Looks like Allen's been taking good care of you."
Mia twisted her body to avoid Chen Mo's wicked hand, then looked longingly out the window. The streetlights were still on, and the music from the night market could be faintly heard.
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.
"Want to go out?"
Mia nodded.
"What time is it? The little one should be asleep by now." Chen Mo said, glancing at the clock on the wall and then at Mia's eyes. "However, considering your difficult past, a little indulgence now and then isn't a bad thing."
Mia didn't understand, but she did understand that she could go out, so she immediately stood up, clutching the blanket.
Chen Mo reached out and pressed her head down.
"Put the blanket down. We're going out to play, not to sleep under a bridge."
A few minutes later, Chen Mo changed into a regular hoodie, put a cute jacket on Mia, and casually tied up her slightly messy hair.
After he finished braiding it, he stared at the crooked little braid in silence for two seconds.
"Never mind, as long as it's still recognizable as a human cub, that's fine."
Mia touched her hair, had no objections, and obediently took his hand.
The night market was a bit far from their accommodation, but Chen Mo carried Mia and they arrived in the blink of an eye.
After removing the psychic shield, Chen Mo placed Mia on the ground.
"Oh dear, I haven't even gone shopping at Xida yet! It feels like I've been busy with something the whole time I've been here, not a single day has been a break!"
This night market is near office buildings, and all the cattle and horses that work here at night have finished their shifts, making the streets more lively than during the day. All the roadside stalls are set up, selling hot dogs, cotton candy, and light-up headbands, all crowded together.
While superheroes are busy flying around in the sky, ordinary people still have to go to work to earn money for food.
Life can be just so unfair sometimes.
Chen Mo bought Mia a pair of light-up rabbit ears and put them on her head. Mia looked up at him, her eyes somewhat blank.
"Don't say that," Chen Mo said, "You actually look quite convincing wearing it."
Mia raised her hand and touched the rabbit's ears, a slight smile curving her lips.
Chen Mo led her along, buying her cotton candy, roasted corn, and small cakes whenever she looked at them for a second. Since he was spending Vought's money anyway, he didn't feel guilty.
Mia stopped in front of the claw machine.
Inside the transparent cabinet sat a small blue-headed cat with round eyes, who didn't look very bright.
Chen Mo glanced at the machine, then at the price.
"Ten yuan a time?" His lips twitched. "That's a bit of a rip-off, isn't it?"
Mia had already reached her hand towards the glass, and the silly cat inside swayed slightly.
Chen Mo looked down at her.
"Don't cheat, kids should have sportsmanship." He paused, then added, "Although your abilities are indeed quite suitable."
Mia withdrew her hand and stood obediently to the side, looking at Chen Mo expectantly.
Chen Mo inserted a coin and manipulated the clamp to slowly descend. The first clamp caught the cat's head, and it rose slightly before thudding back down.
Mia looked up at him.
Chen Mo remained unfazed.
"The machine has a problem; it's not a technical issue."
The second time, the silly cat fell again.
The third time, the clip didn't even touch the silly cat.
The guy drinking milk tea next to me watched for a long time, his expression gradually becoming more restrained.
Chen Mo turned to look at him.
"Laugh if you want to, don't hold it in and hurt yourself."
The young man immediately looked down at the floor; it really was a hard floor.
Mia looked at the machine, then at Chen Mo, and finally gently extended a finger. The silly cat inside the machine swayed, and was pushed into the most convenient position just as the clamps fell.
Smack
The silly cat fell into the entrance/exit.
Chen Mo remained silent for a moment, then took the doll out and placed it in her arms.
"Alright, I'll consider it assistance, not cheating."
Mia hugged the silly cat and nodded seriously.
"Hmm, that doesn't count as cheating."
Chen Mo led her on a stroll, and when they passed the basketball shooting machine, she set her sights on it again.
This time, Chen Mo didn't give the machine another chance. He casually picked up basketballs and threw them into the basket one after another, and the scoreboard quickly jumped to an exaggerated number.
The boss's expression changed from initial enthusiasm upon seeing them emerge from the claw machine to a stiff, lifeless look.
"Dude, don't be nervous." Chen Mo tossed the last ball in, clapped his hands, and said, "I'm not trying to scam anyone today, just trying to make the kids happy."
The shop owner chuckled twice and handed over a large prize.
"Hey, thanks for being so kind, bro."
Mia hugged the silly cat, removed the rabbit ears from her head, and added a small tin crown.
Just then, the door of the convenience store on the street corner was pushed open.
Annie was wearing a loose coat, a baseball cap pulled down over her head, and carrying a bottle of water. She had only come out for some fresh air, but when she reached the door, she suddenly stopped.
At the other end of the crowd, a young man led a little girl away from the basketball machine.
The other person's back view was quite ordinary.
Wearing a black hoodie and jeans, and carrying a bag of snacks, she looked like a young parent taking her child out for a late-night stroll.
But Annie stopped in her tracks.
She saw Chen Mo talking to Mia with his head down, his tone languid.
"Don't wear this crown backwards, or people will think you just escaped from some children's cult."
Mia didn't react, she just straightened the crown a little.
That tone sounds so familiar.
He owed it so naturally, yet it made people feel like he was genuinely taking care of someone.
She remembered that day in the Vought Tower conference room, when the Deep cornered her, and that person suddenly kicked the door open like that, talking nonsense but being ruthless with his hands.
Annie gripped the water bottle tightly and slowly followed.
Chen Mo noticed it, of course.
He didn't turn around, but simply led Mia to the carousel, bought tickets, and lifted her onto a small white horse.
After Mia sat down, she turned to look at him with some fear.
Chen Mo waved his hand.
"Don't worry, this horse won't bite. If it does bite you, I'll tear it apart."
The staff member standing nearby froze for a moment.
Chen Mo nodded at him.
"Don't be nervous, you're just teasing a child."
The carousel slowly began to turn, and Mia held the dorky cat. Chen Mo stood outside the railing watching, his hands in his pockets, looking relaxed and calm.
Annie finally walked up behind him.
" The A-Train." Her voice wasn't loud, but it was very serious. "It's you, isn't it?"
Chen Mo turned his head and glanced at her.
"Miss, you've mistaken me for someone else," he said. "I get carsick, I don't travel by train."
Annie was not swayed.
"That day at Vought Tower, it was you."
"There are so many people at Vought Tower every day." Chen Mo smiled. "You can't just assign me an identity because I look like a good person."
Hearing this, Annie became even more certain.
That's the tone.
That tone of voice that pretends to be a stranger when you clearly know everything.
She looked at the little girl on the carousel. The little girl was very quiet, holding her dazed cat, and slowly raised her hand to wave as she passed in front of them.
Chen Mo also raised his hand and waved it.
As Annie watched this scene, her tension suddenly lessened considerably.
She had always thought that the person who replaced the A-Train would be some kind of monster. But now this monster was standing in the night market, buying cotton candy for children and even struggling with claw machines.
This world is truly absurd.
"Aren't you afraid I'll tell Vought?" Annie asked in a low voice.
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.
"If you really wanted to snitch, you wouldn't have come alone," he said. "Besides, Vought is on my side now."
Annie opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know how to respond.
The carousel stopped, Mia, carrying the silly cat, stepped out. She looked up at Annie, then at Chen Mo.
Chen Mo reached out and straightened the crown on her head.
"What are you looking at? She's just a random woman on the street." He said, "She's perfectly normal."
Annie blushed slightly.
She took a deep breath, as if she had finally made up her mind.
"I'm not here to arrest you," she said. "I just want to confirm who saved me."
Chen Mo looked at her for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.
"Is everything confirmed?"
Annie nodded.
"Almost."
"Then let's go back to sleep." Chen Mo took Mia's hand. "Even little kids know it's time to go home at this time."
Mia held the dazed cat and quietly watched Annie.
Annie's face flushed even more, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around the water bottle.
"Are you free now?" she asked softly. "There's a coffee shop nearby; I'd like to buy you a coffee."
Chen Mo paused, glancing down at Mia.
Mia blinked, then suddenly clapped her hands twice in a daze.