Du Zhiyuan’s small body trembled in the water as he whimpered softly and swam towards the shore.

The icy pool water lapped over his chest, yet it was nowhere near as piercing as the panic swirling inside him.

His little arms and legs flailed urgently and chaotically, almost choking on the water several times. Tears mixed with the pool water blurred his face and even his vision.

His mind was filled with the scene he just witnessed: his mother leaning into the arms of a stranger, smiling so gently—a truly relaxed smile he hadn’t seen since dad left.

He had clearly told his mom that if she could be happy, it wouldn’t matter if she found a new dad.

But seeing it for real made him realize how scared he was.

He feared that with a new support, mom would forget dad.

Feared that this new dad wouldn’t like him and would take all of mom’s attention away.

Feared that from now on, he would no longer have a home.

"Wah~"

Just as he grabbed onto the pool ladder, Du Zhiyuan couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into tears, his cries overwhelming the playful sounds in the pool, drawing glances from those around.

Xie Wanning and Du Jianghe almost jumped up simultaneously.

"Zhiyuan." Xie Wanning’s heart tightened instantly, dispelling any amorous thoughts, as she rushed over in slippers, squatting at the ladder to reach for her son, "Baby, what’s wrong? Did you choke on water? Does anything hurt? Tell mom."

But Du Zhiyuan recoiled sharply, avoiding her hand with tearful eyes, pointing at Du Jianghe behind her while trembling and crying, "Who is he... Mom, are you going to leave me? Are you forgetting dad? With a new dad, do you not like me anymore..."

These words were like a small knife, piercing Xie Wanning’s heart, almost bringing tears to her eyes again.

She was both pained and amused, reaching out to fish her son out of the water, wrapping him tightly in a towel, wiping away the water and tears from his face, whispering softly but seriously in his ear, "Silly baby, look carefully, who is that?"

Sniffling, Du Zhiyuan raised his head, following his mom’s gaze.

Du Jianghe stood a few steps behind Xie Wanning, slightly bending down to meet his eyes.

Sunlight fell on his face, a face etched deeply into Du Zhiyuan’s memory, now as clear as ever.

Du Zhiyuan’s cries came to a halt, his mouth opening wide, eyes bulging, not noticing the tear drop falling from his chin.

Staring blankly at Du Jianghe, his small body still trembling slightly from the earlier crying, he finally squeezed out a light, trembling, and incredulous whisper: "Da... Dad?"

"It’s me, Zhiyuan."

Du Jianghe’s voice turned hoarse instantly. He took two steps forward, squatted down before his son, extending his hand with fingers trembling slightly from excitement, "Dad is back."

Du Zhiyuan looked at the hand offered to him, instinctively shrinking back at first, nestling closer to Xie Wanning.

He was afraid, afraid it was a mirage of his own, that if he reached out, dad would pop like a bubble in water, "pop" and be gone.

But that hand stayed quietly still before him, carrying a familiar warmth.

Du Zhiyuan bit his lower lip, hesitated for a few seconds, then suddenly broke free from Xie Wanning’s embrace, diving into Du Jianghe’s arms, wrapping his small arms tightly around his neck, bursting into tears once again.

This time, it was no longer about panic or grievance, but all accumulated longing, grievance, and yearning of more than half a year exploding in an instant.

...

-----------------

Meanwhile, the roadside general store was welcoming its busiest period of the afternoon.

Duoduo, carrying a half bag of oranges, hopped cheerfully as she pushed open the store’s wooden door, making the bell above jingle merrily.

Lin Jianming was standing behind the counter, serving tourists. Seeing his daughter return, he greeted with a smile, "Is everything done?"

"Brother said he’ll take care of it."

Duoduo placed the oranges on the counter, nimbly fetched a small stool and placed it beside the counter, climbing onto it and sitting properly behind the counter like a little adult.

Lin Jianming chuckled, ruffling her hair, just about to speak when an elderly couple entered through the door, curiously looking at the old items displayed in the store.

Duoduo immediately sat up straight, warmly greeting the couple, assuming the demeanor of a seasoned hand.

Meanwhile at home, Dou Dou and Tang Tang were engaged in a game of "chase".

Dou Dou and Tang Tang had long forgotten their conflict over Qingbufang.

It all started when Dou Dou somehow obtained a bag of gummy candy and eagerly ran to Tang Tang, generously offering her the topmost strawberry-flavored gummy, "Here, this is the tastiest."

Tang Tang stared at the pink gummy for two seconds, opened her mouth to take it. As the sweet fruit flavor dissolved in her mouth, she immediately beamed at Dou Dou, giggling "han~han~," the earlier displeasure vanishing in an instant.

Xiao Ya sat quietly on the plush living room carpet, watching them with eyes full of envy, yet too shy to join in.

"Hey, Xiao Ya, come have some too." Dou Dou noticed her in the corner, waving the package at her enthusiastically, her mischievous eyes curving into crescents, "We have grape flavored ones, they’re really good."

Xiao Ya was momentarily stunned, her cheeks blushing lightly, as she shuffled over, picked the smallest gummy, whispered "thank you," then retreated to the corner, savoring the candy in small bites, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Just eating candy is no fun, let’s play a game."

Dou Dou placed the candy on the coffee table, hands on hips, her little face full of excitement, "Let’s play a ’ghost-catching’ game, the Ghost Messenger catches the ghosts, you tap their shoulder to catch them, and the loser has to give their candy to the winner."

Her mind racing with ideas, she quickly began assigning roles once the words were out, "I’ll be the Ghost Messenger for the first round, you two be the ghosts. I’ll count to thirty, and you hide. Then I’ll come to catch you, and you can hide anywhere in the house except Potato’s room."

Tang Tang blinked, not quite understanding, but nodded vigorously, chewing her candy and responding with a "han~han," looking silly, yet a sly glint momentarily flashed in her round eyes.

Feeling nervous, Xiao Ya wrung the edge of her shirt, her head almost lowering to her chest, murmuring, "Can I... not play? I can’t hide well, I’d be caught quickly..."

She had not played many games with other kids, scared of holding them back, and even more afraid of embarrassing herself, making others unhappy.

"It doesn’t matter."

Dou Dou sprinted over, grabbing her hand and shaking her arm, "It’s just a game, win or lose, it’s fine."

Swayed by Dou Dou’s enthusiasm, the fear in Xiao Ya’s heart subsided a bit, as she gently nodded, murmuring, "Well... okay then."