"Did it hurt the bone?" Chu Xiaoge murmured to herself, moving Chuchu’s hand and asking, "Does it hurt like this?"

"The bone doesn’t hurt, it’s the flesh..." Chuchu pouted and shed a few more tears.

After all, she’s her flesh and blood. Seeing Chuchu cry, how could Chu Xiaoge not be heartbroken?

Ever since Chuchu was little, whenever she got bumped or bruised, Chu Xiaoge would be unbearably distressed.

Now there’s a bruise on that fair arm, how could she, as a mother, feel at ease?

If it were anyone else’s child, Chu Xiaoge would have been furious by now.

But this time... it was Chuchu’s own grandfather who did it.

Chu Xiaoge gritted her teeth, knowing she shouldn’t lose her temper, but the anger in her heart just wouldn’t subside!

She had thought Shang Bifang would cherish Chuchu for Shang Dongyuan’s sake, after all, she’s his granddaughter.

Who could have guessed he would be so heavy-handed with such a young child?

Seeing Chu Xiaoge’s face darken, Shang Dongyuan knew she was heartbroken too.

He was distressed too, but he was in a more difficult position...

He reached out to pinch his brow, sighed inwardly, and then hugged Chu Xiaoge’s shoulders, ready to take her away.

"Mom and Dad, we’re leaving now."

Since staying wouldn’t lead to any communication, they could only take the child and leave first.

Chu Xiaoge didn’t speak, she just held the child and prepared to leave.

On the other side, Shang Bifang was a bit displeased; he hadn’t seen the child for a while...

"You..." Shang Bifang opened his mouth to try and stop them.

Beside him, Hong Ling quickly grabbed his arm and shook her head, "Let them go back first."

"You... oh..." Shang Bifang was helpless, he could only sigh.

Hong Ling knew Shang Bifang wanted to see his granddaughter, which was why he insisted on having Chuchu over.

But his method was a bit too extreme.

Chuchu clung to her mother’s neck like a koala, refusing to let go. Though she’d stopped crying, her thick eyelashes were still wet with tears.

She lay on her mother’s shoulder, pouting, silent, as if exhausted from crying.

Chu Xiaoge gently stroked Chuchu’s back, providing silent comfort.

The family of three returned to the car.

Shang Dongyuan sat in the driver’s seat, while Chu Xiaoge sat in the back with Chuchu.

Looking at the mother and daughter behind him, Shang Dongyuan couldn’t help but reach out and rub Chuchu’s head.

"Going home?" Shang Dongyuan asked.

Chu Xiaoge nodded, remaining silent.

Seeing this, Shang Dongyuan turned back and started the car.

Throughout the journey, no one spoke.

Chuchu whimpered a couple of times, then fell asleep on her mother’s shoulder.

Shang Dongyuan occasionally glanced at the rearview mirror.

From the mirror, he could see that Chu Xiaoge’s face never looked good.

He didn’t know what to say, so he remained silent.

The car quickly returned to the home of Chu Lianghua and Li Li.

It was early evening, and the old neighborhood was bustling with people cooling off outside. When they saw Chu Xiaoge and Chuchu get out of the car, several neighbors came over to ask.

"Xiao Ge, didn’t your family leave early this morning? Said you were going to another city? How come you’re back this afternoon?"

Chu Xiaoge hadn’t expected these usually quiet neighbors to suddenly greet her, especially while Shang Dongyuan was present!

Listening to them, Chu Xiaoge glanced guiltily at Shang Dongyuan. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

As expected, upon hearing they left early to go to another city, his face instantly fell.