After releasing Mujin, Zhou Ruiyang planned to leave right away.
But he noticed a pack of bird food still in his hand.
Oh no—what to do with this?
The vendors here were all mobile stalls. They definitely didn’t offer seven-day returns or fifteen-day exchanges.
He needed to dispose of this bird food somehow.
Just then, he spotted the direction the little Sparrow had flown. He set off after it.
He’d bought this food specifically for that Sparrow. The little guy had a temper, but Zhou Ruiyang was magnanimous. He still wanted to deliver it.
Besides, the Sparrow flew unusually slow. An ordinary sparrow would’ve vanished by now. But it glided leisurely, almost as if luring him to follow.
Zhou Ruiyang trailed the Sparrow to the artificial bird nests.
Before he could find it, a child’s crying reached his ears.
He forgot about the Sparrow instantly. Stepping forward, he asked, “What’s wrong, little sister?”
The girl lifted tear-filled eyes. She sobbed, “Mommy’s gone.”
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll take you to find her,” Zhou Ruiyang said with a smile, extending his hand.
But the girl shrank back, looking timid. In a childish voice, she whispered, “Mommy just said to stay nearby. Not to go with strangers…”
Zhou Ruiyang’s lips twitched.
Did he look like a bad guy?
Still, the mother’s lesson was right. Luckily, it was him here. A real criminal could’ve caused trouble.
“Describe your mommy. I’ll bring her over, okay?”
“Hmm… She wears a blue dress. Yellow curly hair. Big eyes!”
“Got it. Wait here. I’ll be back soon!” Zhou Ruiyang turned and ran off.
He was so focused on finding the mother, he didn’t notice Mujin perched on a branch above. She watched him, eyes crinkled with a silent smile.
I don’t know why you’re here…
But well done, Xiao Yang.
Leave this to me.
Mujin leaped from the treetop. Mid-fall, she flapped her wings and soared skyward.
In three days, she’d mastered flying fairly well.
She climbed twenty meters high, overlooking the entire park.
Every scene and visitor lay beneath her. Her vision was sharp—even from this height, she saw each face clearly.
But something strange happened.
Mujin scanned the park. No woman in a blue dress with yellow curly hair appeared.
She frowned.
Such striking features should stand out. Why couldn’t she find her?
Had the girl misremembered?
Impossible. That child seemed clever. She wouldn’t forget this.
Wait…
Mujin recalled their conversation: “Mommy just said to stay nearby…”
Just said?
Why would she say that suddenly?
Unless…
Her mother expected them to “get separated”?
Deliberately? To abandon the child?
No. The girl was five or six—old enough to have records and memories. She couldn’t be discarded.
Plus, she wore stylish clothes and pretty hair clips. Like a little princess from a wealthy family.
Wealthy? Ah…
Could it be a kidnapping?!
Mujin thought it likely. She flew higher, shifting focus beyond the park.
To the parking lot outside.
If the girl vanished near the woods’ edge, her mother would’ve just left the park. Even with a slow walk, ten minutes max.
Mujin’s pupils narrowed. The world zoomed in like binoculars, locking onto vehicles starting up in the lot.
With sharp dynamic vision, she scanned each car. Finally, her eyes widened.
There!
A woman in a blue dress, yellow curly hair, stood by a gray minivan. Several men surrounded her.
Mujin landed on the van’s hood.
No one noticed a sparrow. The men inside kept talking boldly.
“Relax, madam. We’ll release you once the money arrives,” the driver grinned, cigarette dangling.
“We don’t have the money now—”
“Not our problem.”
The van started moving. Mujin wanted to follow but remembered—she was just a sparrow. Chasing thugs was useless.
She memorized the license plate. Then she flew back to the woods, finding Zhou Ruiyang.
He was weaving through trees when a dark shadow dropped from above. He skidded to a halt.
Peering closely, he gasped, “Ah! It’s you, little guy!”
Huh?
Mujin tilted her head.
How did he recognize me?
Aren’t all sparrows identical?
She didn’t dwell on it. Landing before him, she blocked his path. Then she grabbed a twig in her beak and scratched a crooked number on the ground.
Zhou Ruiyang stared down, stunned.
Heaven—this sparrow could write license plates?!
But why? A performance trick?
Mujin spread her wings. She pointed her wingtip toward the girl’s spot, then at the number. She chirped urgently.
“Chirp chirp chirp chirp!”
“Oh, I get it,” Zhou Ruiyang nodded, reaching into his pocket.
Mujin’s eyes brightened. Good—he was smart after all.
“Here.”
He pulled out the bird food pack, sprinkling grains onto his palm.
He thought she wanted a treat. But the little Sparrow flew into a rage, swatting the food away.
“Chirp!”
Zhou Ruiyang stood dumbfounded.
Strange—wasn’t she asking for food?
Seeing his blank stare, Mujin chirped furiously again.
Damn it! Why couldn’t she speak?!
If only she could talk, this’d be easy!
As frustration bubbled, an idea struck her.
Got it!
She took off, darting into the woods.
