In the master bedroom of the Yuan Mansion, Feng Du Du laid her head on Yuan Ting Liu’s chest and he stroked her hair.

‘Ting Liu, I really miss Gun Gun,’ Feng Du Du said. ‘When will you let me see Gun Gun?’

‘If you listen to me, I’ll let you see Gun Gun in two days,’ Yuan Ting Liu said.

‘I have listened to you,’ Feng Du Du said.

‘I confess,’ Yuan Ting Liu said. ‘I wanted you all to myself for a little while longer. Satisfied?’

Feng Du Du hugged Yuan Ting Liu’s neck and she smiled at him. He felt he wasted years denying he loved Feng Du Du. It was too late. By the morning, he would be separated from Feng Du Du forever.

‘Ting Liu, I want time to past faster so I can see Gun Gun,’ Feng Du Du said.

Feng Du Du kissed Yuan Ting Liu’s cheek. After the day he confessed to her, she saw him slowly change. He was gentler with her to show he cared about her.

Yuan Ting Liu hugged Feng Du Du tightly.

‘If one day I’m not here anymore, you have to listen to me and let Ting Du take care of you,’ Yuan Ting Liu said.

‘Ting Du is only fifteen,’ Feng Du Du said. ‘I’m twenty-five. How can Ting Du take care of me? I don’t need anyone else to take care of me, I only want you.’

‘It’s only a hypothetical situation,’ Yuan Ting Liu said.

‘I’ll go wherever you go,’ Feng Du Du said.

‘What if I die?’ Yuan Ting Liu asked.

‘I’ll die with you,’ Feng Du Du said.

‘If you die with me, what about Gun Gun?’ Yuan Ting Liu asked.

‘Ting Du will take care of Gun Gun,’ Feng Du Du said. ‘Gun Gun loves Ting Du. Ting Liu, have you thought about letting Ting Du marry Gun Gun?’

Yuan Ting Liu pinched Feng Du Du’s nose.

‘Do you want Ting Du to suffer?’ Yuan Ting Liu teased.

Feng Du Du hit Yuan Ting Liu’s chest.

‘Why would Ting Du suffer?’ Feng Du Du asked. ‘Don’t you think Gun Gun is adorable, warm and loving?’

‘Yes, Gun Gun is loveable,’ Yuan Ting Liu said.

Yuan Ting Liu silently stroked Feng Du Du’s hair. She was proud that Yuan Gun Gun was their daughter.

Yuan Ting Liu saw Na Liu Ting Du’s caller ID on his phone. He let go of Feng Du Du, and walked to the study room.

‘Ting Du, what did you find out?’ Yuan Ting Liu asked.

‘Dad, the owner of the plaque has no criminal record,’ Na Liu Ting Du said. ‘Also, I don’t think the owner kidnapped Gun Gun for money.’

‘I agree,’ Yuan Ting Liu said. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow morning.’

‘Bye dad,’ Na Liu Ting Du said.

Yuan Ting Liu went back to bed.

‘Ting Liu, are you worried about something?’ Feng Du Du asked.

‘No,’ Yuan Ting Liu said.

‘Ting Liu, whenever you’re worried about something, you can share your worries with me,’ Feng Du Du said.

‘Let’s sleep,’ Yuan Ting Liu said.

Yuan Ting Liu was worried what Yuan Gun Gun’s kidnapper wanted if the kidnapper didn’t want money.

***

At nine in the morning, in front of Yuan’s company headquarters, a silver Rolls-Royce stopped in front of Yuan Ting Liu and Na Liu Ting Du. The luxury car confirmed that the kidnapper didn’t want money.

‘Mr Yuan, I thought I said my master only wanted to see you,’ Jia Tu said.

‘The letter didn’t say I had to see your master alone,’ Yuan Ting Liu said.

The passenger doors were unlocked. Yuan Ting Liu and Na Liu Ting Du sat in the car. The silver Rolls-Royce quickly disappeared from Yuan’s company headquarters.

The Rolls-Royce stopped in front of a private airport. The three young men stepped onto a small private jet to fly to the Hao Mansion.

Yuan Ting Liu and Na Liu Ting Du didn’t understand why someone would build a mansion near a forest of wild animals.

Jia Tu pressed a secret knob and the front door opened.

‘Come inside,’ Qiu Li Luo said.

Yuan Ting Liu and Na Liu Ting Du were surprised to see a beautiful woman with long white hair waiting for them behind the door.

‘Thank you Jia Tu,’ Qiu Li Luo said. ‘You can leave.’

‘Yes mistress,’ Jia Tu said and left.

Qiu Li Luo closed the door. Yuan Ting Liu and Na Liu Ting Du followed her to the living room. The men thought the mansion was furnished like a Victorian home.

Yuan Gun Gun jumped off the sofa, she ran to Yuan Ting Liu and hugged him.

‘Daddy!’ Yuan Gun Gun called.

Yuan Ting Liu held Yuan Gun Gun tightly in his arms. His little girl was safe.

‘Daddy, what took you so long to come here?’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘I really missed you and mummy.’

‘What about me?’ Na Liu Ting Du asked. ‘Gun Gun, didn’t you miss me?’

‘Big brother Du,’ Yuan Gun Gun called.

Yuan Gun Gun stretched her chubby arms for Na Liu Ting Du to hold her. Yuan Ting Liu loosened his hold on Yuan Gun Gun and Na Liu Ting Du held her.

Yuan Ting Liu assessed the man sitting on the sofa. The man didn’t look like a simpleton.

Hao Yan Que thought the little round ball’s dad had icy eyes.

‘Mr Yuan, I have something I want to discuss with you in private,’ Hao Yan Que said. ‘Come with me.’

‘Ting Du, stay here and play with Gun Gun,’ Yuan Ting Liu instructed.

Yuan Ting Liu followed Hao Yan Que to the study room.

‘Big brother Du, lollipop,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

Na Liu Ting Du kissed Yuan Gun Gun’s cheek. He picked up a lollipop from the coffee table, and gave it to Yuan Gun Gun. He thought she was a sweet little mouse.

Yuan Gun Gun unwrapped the lollipop and she held it in front of Na Liu Ting Du’s mouth.

‘Big brother Du, eat,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

Na Liu Ting Du sighed inwardly and put the lollipop in his mouth. He stroked Yuan Gun Gun’s hair that was brushed smoothly.

‘Gun Gun, did you have fun here?’ Na Liu Ting Du asked.

‘Yes,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘Aunty Li let me eat delicious food. She gave me a pink butterfly clip. Big brother Du, is it pretty?’

‘Yes,’ Na Liu Ting Du said. ‘Gun Gun looks like a little princess.’

‘Big brother Du, look at this beautiful dress aunty Li helped me wear,’ Yuan Gun Gun said.

‘It’s beautiful,’ Na Liu Ting Du said. ‘Gun Gun, did you miss home?’

‘Yes,’ Yuan Gun Gun said. ‘I missed big brother Du, mummy and daddy.’

Na Liu Ting Du kissed Yuan Gun Gun’s cheek again. When he was with Yuan Gun Gun, all his worries disappeared. He even forgot why he and Yuan Ting Liu came to the Hao Mansion.

***

End of Chapters Ten to Eleven