“Ah, that strange uncle from the animal shelter,” Zhou Chengyun pointed at him.
Fan Shang walked over, looking puzzled at Deng Jie. “Who are you?”
“Chengyun, where are your dad and daddy? Why are you with this person? Who is he?” Fan Shang’s suspicion grew.
“Thank you, sir, but I believe there’s no need to explain our relationship to a stranger,” Deng Jie replied coldly, and after saying that, she pulled Zhou Chengyun away.
Zhou Chengyun struggled to keep up and had to break into a run.
Fan Shang looked on, even more suspicious. After all, this was the child of a man he had liked; what if something went wrong…
“Hey! Why did you leave me again?” Fan Shang’s sister, Fan Yan, angrily approached.
“Shh!” Fan Shang put a finger to his lips. “I saw a friend’s child with a stranger, and I suspect he’s being abducted.”
“Really?” Fan Yan tensed up. “What should we do? Call the police?”
“Wait a moment; let’s follow them first,” Fan Shang suggested.
The siblings stealthily followed Deng Jie and Zhou Chengyun.
Finally, Zhou Chengyun chose his gift, happily pulling out a credit card from his jacket to hand to the cashier. “Sister, there’s no password.”
Deng Jie had initially intended to pay for him, but the items he had chosen were too expensive. After considering it, he thought he could buy it but would barely afford anything for the next few years.
Deng Jie watched as Zhou Chengyun swiped the card and tucked it back into his pocket, a complicated look flashing in her eyes.
“Brother, did you see that? The child is paying for the items! And look at where he’s placing the card; something must be wrong! We should call the police; this kid obviously comes from a rich family, buying things worth several thousand. That man is dressed in cheap clothes; they couldn’t possibly be related,” Fan Yan said, tugging at Fan Shang’s sleeve.
“I know; don’t spook them. Just keep an eye on them. I’ll call the police,” Fan Shang said, patting Fan Yan’s shoulder before stepping out to make a call. He had a police friend, and it was best to have him check the situation before making any conclusions.
Fan Yan ran over and grabbed Fan Shang’s arm. “They’re heading downstairs; we need to catch up!”
Deng Jie led Zhou Chengyun to the café on the first floor. “What would you like to drink, Chengyun?”
Zhou Chengyun sat upright in the chair, his legs dangling away from the ground, and said, “I want strawberry juice.”
Deng Jie walked to the counter to place the order. “Chengyun, keep an eye on the gifts, and don’t let anyone take them.”
After about ten minutes, Deng Jie brought a tray to the table. As she handed the strawberry juice to Zhou Chengyun, her thumb accidentally dipped into the juice. Concealing her action from Zhou Chengyun, she casually placed the juice before him. “Chengyun, here’s your strawberry juice. It smells delicious.”
Zhou Chengyun was focused on the gift he bought for Shuai Chang, not noticing Deng Jie’s gesture, and joyfully hugged the strawberry juice, preparing to take a sip.
A glint of malice flickered in Deng Jie’s eyes.
“Wait!” a man burst in and snatched the strawberry juice away.
Deng Jie was taken aback and, upon noticing the police uniform on the man, felt a jolt of anxiety. “Officer, is there a problem? If you’re really thirsty, I can buy you another cup. It’s not right to take from a child.”
Her words successfully attracted the attention of everyone else in the café.
Before Deng Jie could take pride in her intervention, Fan Yan entered.
“Brother Liu, I saw him put his thumb in the strawberry juice from outside. This drink definitely has a problem.”
Liu Zhi took out his badge and showed it to Deng Jie. “Police inquiry. What’s your name? What’s your relation to this child?”
Deng Jie bit her lip, lowering her gaze. “I’m Deng Jie, his nanny.”
“Child, is he your nanny?” Liu Zhi asked Zhou Chengyun.
Zhou Chengyun was confused by the sequence of events but didn’t doubt the police were good people. He nodded. “Uncle Deng is taking care of my little brother.”
Liu Zhi’s expression turned serious. “Does the child’s parents know he’s out with you?”
Deng Jie shook her head. “No.”
“So, you took the child out without telling anyone?”
Deng Jie remained silent with her head down, biting her lower lip.
Zhou Chengyun reached out to tug on Liu Zhi’s sleeve. “Officer, it was me who asked Uncle Deng to take me to the mall to buy a birthday gift for Dad. I wanted to give him a surprise, so I didn’t tell them.”
Liu Zhi asked, “Did you ask Deng to bring you out from home?”
Zhou Chengyun replied, “No. I was learning to paint in the afternoon, and Uncle Deng came to find me, then said he would take me out to play.”
Liu Zhi pressed, “How could the art teacher let you leave with a stranger?”
Zhou Chengyun lowered his head, whispering, “Because Chengyun pretended to be sick.”
Liu Zhi asked, “Did you come up with pretending to be sick on your own?”
Zhou Chengyun shook his head. “Uncle Deng said so.”
Deng Jie turned pale.
Liu Zhi asked, “Deng, do you have the contact information for the child’s parents?”
Deng Jie looked dazed. “…Yes.”
Deng Jie hid her schemes, not wanting to face Zhou Zhen Ting’s accusatory gaze, and called Zhou Zhen Fei.
When the call connected, Liu Zhi took the phone. “Hello, is this Zhou Chengyun’s uncle?”
Zhou Zhen Fei replied curiously, “Yes, isn’t this Deng Jie’s phone? What happened to Chengyun?”
Liu Zhi explained, “My name is Liu Zhi, an officer from XX police station, badge number XXXXX. I encountered a suspicious man at Fengyue Shopping Mall with a child, who claims he’s the nanny, and the child’s name is Zhou Chengyun, your nephew.”
Zhou Zhen Fei immediately stood up. “Deng Jie was already dismissed from our family some time ago! Where did he abduct my nephew? Officer, where are you right now? I’ll come immediately.”
Liu Zhi provided the police station’s location and took Deng Jie back to file a report. If that cup of strawberry juice tested positive for harmful substances, Deng Jie would face serious consequences.
As witnesses, Fan Shang and Fan Yan also went to the police station to provide statements.