Chương 6: I Keep Him!
When Yuanwei and Pingguo arrived at the police station, the little one was fast asleep. So soundly that his guardian refused to hand him over to anyone, not wanting to disturb his sleep. It was the first time he had slept since they had known each other. He looked just as adorable in his sleep as he did awake; Pingguo melted with love every time her eyes landed on him.
The young woman explained to the officers the sequence of events. Everything pointed to either abandonment or a foiled kidnapping, according to them. Both possibilities were equally likely in such a situation, and it remained to be seen which one was correct.
"Don't worry, madam..."
"Lady," Pingguo corrected timidly, tucking away her unruly strands. "I'm single, sir."
Indeed, Pingguo could only maintain her image, especially in front of the charming officer questioning her with patience.
"Oh! Excuse my mistake; I thought your companion was your partner."
"Oh no, far from it! Indeed, he's my friend..." Yuanwei's look dissuaded her. "... my boss."
The officer reconsidered, smiling warmly at the beautiful woman. While Yuanwei watched them chat, a grimace of disgust stretched the corner of his lips. All that was missing was tea and biscuits; the two were laughing heartily at silly jokes.
"Can we continue, please?" intervened the CEO, annoyed.
They composed themselves, and the officer continued seriously.
"A circular note will be posted on our websites, and we will conduct investigations. In case the baby is sought by his parents, we will do everything to reunite them."
"That's good. Fortunately, the community can rely on dedicated individuals like you in their work," Pingguo said. "I'm really glad to have you, truly."
The sudden camaraderie between the secretary and the officer completely sidelined Yuanwei, and he was greatly displeased with the feeling.
"Oh, me too. I must say it's also a pleasure to see people with such big hearts still exist; you've done well."
"Oh, you flatter me, sir."
They exchanged smiles and complicit laughs, leaving the man sitting next to Pingguo more than uncomfortable. Yuanwei's disapproving looks intensified the discomfort.
"Oh... I think that will be all for today," Pingguo added. "You must be tired; go home and get some rest. You know, even superheroes need some sleep."
"Yes..."
Woyin now hesitated to smile, as Yuanwei dissuaded him with his sternness. Before leaving, the young officer stopped Pingguo again. Without arousing suspicions from her companion, he handed a card to the young woman.
"Yes, what is it?"
"It's better if I keep your contact in case there are updates. Here."
Bingo, a nice opening. Pingguo wanted to take it, but out of nowhere, Yuanwei's hand snatched the card from the officer.
"Take mine too," he said. "That way, we can discuss things man to man. Right?"
"Y-Yes, of course."
Yuanwei used a tone that one never said no to; Pingguo frowned and took the lead. She left the station, frustrated by the loss of a potential suitor, a police officer no less. She groaned and sat on the steps outside, cursing Yuanwei both aloud and in her mind.
"What a jerk, seriously!"
"For whom does he take himself? I'm not his child! I can't even flirt in peace with him hovering around; my life is a misery with Yuanwei Hua."
As she pouted, Pingguo frantically lowered her head towards Taiyang, welcomed by his radiant smile and wide-open hazel eyes. He almost looked like he was mocking her; she was adorable when she pouted. Faced with this radiant smile, Pingguo had no choice but to let go of her frustration. She caressed him, moved.
Taiyang was rather happy; a child separated from a loving mother couldn't spend so much time away without searching for her. What if he had been abandoned?
"If I wish not to find your parents, it would be selfish of me... but I really want to see you every day. In the morning and at night, to cradle you, make you bottles, and buy you pretty clothes matching mine. I want so much..."
The silence of the night was interrupted by distant murmurs of the city, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the surrounding trees. Pingguo lost herself in her thoughts, briefly reliving fragments of her own painful past. Memories of her lonely childhood, marked by the indifference of those close to her, haunted her. Unexpectedly, the young woman burst into tears. Deep down, this baby wasn't so different from Pingguo; his parents hadn't abandoned him on the street, but their disengagement towards him was similar. She had never received Christmas presents, no birthday celebrations, not even cakes. At night, she went to bed without anyone coming to kiss her or wish her goodnight. In the morning, she woke up alone to go to school; her mother didn't wake up to make her a good breakfast or pack lunch. She had lived as an invisible being to her family throughout her adolescence until she left for university in Beijing. Since then, no calls from her mother, father, and her sister lived her life without really caring about her. Only financial troubles brought them back to her; Pingguo was only good for solving their problems.
It seemed her mother had remarried; in any case, she had told her to consider her dead. Her father no longer wanted news of the three mistakes of his life and sought solace at the bottom of bottles. Both had rebuilt their lives separately, leaving two lost girls in the midst of this whirlwind. They no longer cared about them; they too were ultimately abandoned in nature. With all this unhealthy experience, Pingguo didn't want this little angel to go through the same ordeal one day. No way.
It was as if Taiyang was a glimmer of hope, an opportunity to give someone the love and attention she had never received.
Yuanwei left the station and found Pingguo sitting on the steps. He approached, and when he heard her sniffle, Yuanwei understood that the tough-as-nails woman was melting like snow in the sun because of such a story, which didn't really concern her. It wasn't she who had abandoned or kidnapped this baby; she had no commitment to him. Yuanwei would never understand people; they were too sensitive. The young man sighed, stopped at her side, and offered the handkerchief from his jacket to the young woman. Pingguo looked up, her eyes wet.
"There's really no need to be so moved," her boss told her. "It's not your fault, nor the kid's. Stop crying; otherwise, you'll make him melancholic."
Pingguo looked at Taiyang; her boss might be right. She didn't want her Taiyang to lose his blessed smile; she had to stay strong. She took the handkerchief and wiped her tears before blowing her nose, to the shocked eyes of Yuanwei. Before Pingguo could realize and understand, it was already too late.
"T-Thank you," she said, trying to return the fabric.
But Yuanwei's eyes discouraged her from handing back the piece of silk; she put it in her bag.
"I'll wash it and bring it back to you," she added. "Don't worry."
"It's not necessary; keep it. Well! Let's go, it's getting late."
Pingguo stood up but remained static.
"Where are we going?"
"To the Child Protection Center; you need to
hand him over to the authorities."
"No!"
Yuanwei froze; it was the first time Pingguo had spoken to him in that tone. They had argued many times, but she had never raised her voice like this.
"What..."
"I don't want to. Taiyang stays with me; I want him close until his parents are found."
"You... you can't make such a decision on a whim. This is a child, he's still very young, and he needs someone qualified to take care of him."
"So what? One is not born a mother; I can learn. I know how to feed him, change him, calm him, and even put him to sleep. What more do you want?"
"I-It's not just about that, Pingguo. It's not a game; do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes, I understand. And I agree; that's why I am deadly serious."
She was starting to act stubborn again; Yuanwei absolutely didn't need this childish game now. He took a deep breath and expressed his impatience.
"Hey, Pingguo-ah! That's enough now!"
"I said, I'm keeping him!"
It was the same tone as earlier; it silenced Yuanwei immediately. They locked eyes for a minute that seemed to last an eternity, and Yuanwei gave in.
"Fine, do what you want."
Yuanwei descended the stairs quickly, visibly annoyed. Pingguo ran after him to the car; before he could refuse, she took a seat in the front. Yuanwei opened the driver's door and bent down, looking tired.
"Get out, quickly."
"Come on, give me a ride. You see, it's already night, and I can't take the metro with a baby at this hour."
"It's 8:34 PM; it's not that late. Moreover," Yuanwei added, "you won't be the first woman to take the metro with a baby at this hour. You refused to hand him over, so start taking responsibility for your decision. Get out."
"As you...speech! If you think this will make me regret, you're wrong. Goodbye, sir!"
The young woman got out and started walking. Yuanwei watched her go with a strange desire, the desire to stop her. But if he did that, she wouldn't back down from her crazy idea. She needed to understand that she was absolutely not cut out to take care of a child, no matter how he tried to make her see reason. So, with a heavy heart, Yuanwei started the car and drove in the opposite direction. Pingguo bit her lower lip, upset by his boss's indifferent behavior. Or rather, by Yuanwei Hua. After all, they knew each other personally. Even outside of work, he remained as cold and haughty towards her.
"Mean black wizard!"
"It doesn't matter, Taiyang. We'll manage without him," she said teasingly to the baby.
Further on, Pingguo managed to hail a taxi to go home.
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