Eating Melons in the Police Station

Chapter 7

Mao Feixue’s reaction was similar to Little Wang’s. She was stunned for a while before hesitantly asking again, “What did you just say?”

Little Wang recounted the entire matter of the paternity test report to Mao Feixue, even objectively describing Zhong Jin’s reaction. “Director Zhong seemed quite calm at the time.”

Although Mao Feixue was shocked, she knew Little Wang wouldn’t joke about something like this. There was only one possibility now. “Could the testing center have made a mistake?”

“That’s possible too. The teacher at the testing center said that if we’re not reassured, we can collect blood samples from both the father and daughter and run the test again.”

After saying this, Little Wang looked a bit lost.

“Sister Mao… could this involve some personal misconduct?”

Mao Feixue had already calmed down quickly and lowered her voice.

“It’s not necessarily what you’re thinking. Zhong Jin was previously married, and the child’s age aligns with the time he was married. There might be some other circumstances… In any case, until the truth comes out, don’t mention this to anyone. This matter might be more complicated than we imagine. That includes Rao Shishi—don’t tell her either.”

Mao Feixue knew Little Wang was close to Rao Shishi, so she emphasized this point.

“Sister Mao, I won’t say anything. Don’t worry.”

Just as they were speaking, there were a few knocks on the door, followed by Zhong Jin’s voice. “Deputy Director Mao, are you there?”

Mao Feixue responded, “Yes.” She quickly walked to the door and unlocked it.

Little Wang’s face turned bright red, as if she had been caught gossiping about someone behind their back—and that someone happened to be her superior. It was beyond awkward.

Mortified, Little Wang hurriedly greeted Zhong Jin and then bolted away.

Zhong Jin watched Little Wang leave calmly before turning to Mao Feixue. “You know about it now, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.”

Zhong Jin nodded. “Okay. Tomorrow’s the weekend. I’m taking her back to Jing City and will return by Monday. If anything comes up at the institute, contact me by phone.”

Mao Feixue understood. Zhong Jin had only been transferred to Haishan last year. Before that, he had always lived in Jing City, so the child must have been born there. If they wanted to uncover the truth, they would naturally need to return to Jing City.

When Zhong Jin was booking the flight tickets, he suddenly remembered that Zhong Yuntong didn’t have any identification—no household registration or birth certificate. She couldn’t board a plane or take a high-speed train. He contacted Mao Feixue again and had the institute issue a temporary identification document, which allowed them to pass through airport security smoothly.

Zhong Yuntong stood by the window in the departure hall, her big eyes wide with amazement. Outside the window was the runway, and a plane was taxiing and taking off under her gaze. She turned to Zhong Jin excitedly.

“Are we going to fly on that big bird later?”

“Yes, it’s called an airplane.” Zhong Jin followed Zhong Yuntong’s pointing finger and looked out. The setting sun over Haishan cast a warm glow on the plane’s wings, making the heavy metal appear light and ethereal.

Outwardly, Zhong Jin seemed calm, but inside, he was a mess. After losing all his family, and thinking he would spend the rest of his life alone, a child who shared his blood had suddenly appeared. Zhong Jin didn’t know if this was a blessing or a curse.

He sat with his legs bent, slightly hunched over, his mind in turmoil. But human emotions are not always shared. Zhong Yuntong’s little face was flushed with excitement, her thoughts entirely focused on the upcoming flight.

She ran over to Zhong Jin, stood in front of him, and placed her hands on his knees, looking up at him. “Dad, where are we flying to? Are we flying to another world?”

The elderly couple sitting across from them immediately frowned.

Zhong Jin explained, “Not another world. We’re flying to Jing City.”

He glanced at the frowning couple and added, “From now on, speak softly. Don’t disturb others. No loud talking or crying. If you need anything, tell me quietly. Understand?”

Zhong Yuntong stood on her tiptoes, leaned close to Zhong Jin’s ear, and whispered, “Okay, okay.” She didn’t understand why, but if her dad said to be quiet, there must be a reason.

Once on the plane and seated, Zhong Yuntong’s initial excitement didn’t last long. She started to feel something was off.

She tugged on Zhong Jin’s shirt sleeve, covering her ears and whispering, “My ears hurt.”

Zhong Jin suggested she try yawning to relieve the pressure. Zhong Yuntong covered her ears, opened her mouth wide, and tried to yawn. The pain in her ears made her want to cry, but remembering her dad’s instructions, she comforted herself in a small voice.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry. Be strong, Yuntong.”

But her ears kept hurting more and more.

She pouted and whispered, “Sorry, Dad, I might cry.”

Zhong Jin gently pressed her ears and asked, “Can you hold on a little longer?”

A flight attendant noticed the situation and brought over some milk. She crouched down and said to Zhong Yuntong, “If your dad feeds you some milk, it might help with the ear pain.”

Zhong Jin opened the milk bottle, and Zhong Yuntong drank it eagerly. The act of swallowing did indeed ease the pain in her ears.

After finishing the milk, Zhong Yuntong sprawled out on the seat, rubbing her belly and letting out a small burp. She then turned to look out the window at the clouds. The big, fluffy clouds reminded her of the cotton candy Rao Shishi had once treated her to. Zhong Yuntong opened her mouth and pretended to take a bite, chewing as if she were enjoying the sweet treat.

*

Zhong Jin owned a house in Jing City, but he didn’t go back. Instead, he booked a room at a budget hotel. After dropping off their simple luggage, he went to the balcony to make a phone call.

When he returned to the room, he found Zhong Yuntong lying flat on the floor, limbs stretched out stiffly, in a strange pose that reminded him of a flattened duck. He had never seen a child lie like that before—it was more like the way the dog at the police station sunbathed by the entrance. Rao Shishi always called that dog “the flattened duck,” and now Zhong Yuntong looked like a larger version of it.

Zhong Yuntong rested her chin on the floor, lifting her eyelids weakly and whispering, “Dad, I’m so hungry I’ve flattened.”

Despite his confusion, Zhong Jin couldn’t help but chuckle at her words.

There was a McDonald’s downstairs from the hotel. Zhong Jin took the child out for food, ordering two meals—one adult combo and one kids’ meal.

The kids’ meal came with juice, a hamburger, mashed potatoes, and a mini pair of Crocs as a toy. Zhong Yuntong was truly hungry. While Zhong Jin wiped her hands with a wet wipe, her eyes stayed fixed on the hamburger, and she urged in a tiny voice, “Hurry up, please.”

Once her hands were clean, Zhong Jin said, “You can eat now.”

Zhong Yuntong immediately grabbed the hamburger and took a big bite, her cheeks puffing out instantly.

Zhong Jin wiped the corner of her mouth with a tissue, where some salad dressing had spilled. “Take smaller bites.” He then inserted a straw into the juice box and handed it to her, letting her take a sip.

Zhong Yuntong alternated between bites of the hamburger and sips of juice, the fine hairs on her cheeks swaying with her movements. As she ate, she kept glancing behind Zhong Jin.

Curious, Zhong Jin turned around and saw a family of three sitting behind them. They had ordered a lot of food, almost covering the entire table.

A little girl around Zhong Yuntong’s age sat between her parents, waiting with her eyes closed for her mom to feed her. The girl was dressed beautifully in a sparkling princess dress and shiny little shoes, with a glittering tiara on her head.

Zhong Jin glanced at them and turned back. Zhong Yuntong’s gaze lingered on the girl in the princess dress, her dark pupils reflecting the sparkles from the tiara.

Was she envious of the princess dress and tiara?

She probably was.

Zhong Yuntong’s outfit—a discounted T-shirt and shorts—had become wrinkled after the flight. Zhong Jin now realized why they were on sale: they wrinkled too easily. She had slept on the plane, and her braid was slightly messy and loose.

Despite her delicate, doll-like beauty, she had been living a makeshift, almost nomadic life these past few days. Yet she remained well-behaved. Apart from crying when she first met Zhong Jin, she hadn’t shed a tear since—a sweet and thoughtful child.

In that moment, Zhong Jin forgot about his own troubles. He even felt a pang of pity for this little girl in front of him.

"What are you looking at?" Zhong Jin asked. Whether Xiao Tong mentioned a princess dress or a sparkling crown, he had already decided to buy it for her.

Xiao Tong stared at him with her big eyes, her long, thick eyelashes fluttering twice. Covering her mouth, she whispered in an extremely soft voice, "Chicken leg." Because of her deliberate attempt to keep her voice low, her movements seemed oddly furtive, like a little puppy sneaking around.

Zhong Jin, "What? Can you speak up a bit?"

Xiao Tong still spoke in a tiny voice, "Can I talk loudly now?"

Only then did Zhong Jin remember that before boarding the plane, he had told her not to speak too loudly so as not to disturb others. She had truly taken his words to heart and remembered them until now.

"You can speak normally, but don’t be too loud."

"Oh," Xiao Tong immediately pointed to the table behind them, her eyes filled with longing. "Why is that little chicken wearing crispy clothes?"

Zhong Jin, "..."

Xiao Tong finally got her wish and started munching on the crispy chicken leg, holding it with both hands. Her cheeks were soon smeared with grease. Zhong Jin, having finished his own meal, sat beside her, wiping her hands and face to keep the oil from getting on her clothes.

When they left the restaurant, it was already dark outside. The CBD buildings behind them were still brightly lit, and the cars with their red tail lights formed an endless line of traffic. Delivery riders on electric scooters weaved through the stagnant flow of vehicles. It was a familiar scene, but after being away for a year and now returning with a child, Zhong Jin felt as though everything had become strangely unfamiliar.

Carrying Xiao Tong, Zhong Jin crossed the pedestrian crossing and headed toward the shopping mall across the street.

Seeing that they weren’t heading back to the hotel, Xiao Tong kicked her legs in protest, "I want to sleep."

"We’re going to buy clothes first."

Xiao Tong immediately bumped her forehead against Zhong Jin’s shoulder, "No buying. Sleep."

Zhong Jin ignored her.

Xiao Tong, "Ahhhh, my eyes are about to close."

Zhong Jin, "Then close them for a little while."