Chapter 201 The baby is missing

On this day, the brother and sister Xiao Qi and Xiao Lin suddenly had an idea to experience life in Xiao's Teahouse and work as waiters for a day.

Xiao's mother took two sets of Xiao Xiao's old work clothes and gave them to the siblings Xiao Qi and Xiao Lin.

Wearing ancient-style clothes, Xiao Qi and Xiao Lin looked at each other with curiosity, stretched their arms and legs, and looked very excited, as if they were ready for a big fight.

Xiao Xiao, the temporary person in charge of the two siblings, casually found a seat by the window in the teahouse. There was a plate of snacks and a pot of tea on the table. Xiao Xiao held a book in his hand and read it leisurely, and from time to time he looked up to see if there was any problem with the two siblings.

……

The two siblings were very excited and did their job very well.

In addition, most of the teahouse’s customers are regulars, and many of them know the brother and sister.

After all, twin boys and girls, or twin girls, always attract more attention and make a more impressive impression.

Therefore, the somewhat awkward movements of the two siblings would not cause dissatisfaction among the guests, but would instead receive their teasing and guidance.

The two siblings chatted and laughed with the guests and seemed to be having a great time.

The teahouse was filled with a harmonious atmosphere.

Seeing this, Xiao Xiao couldn't help but laugh.

……

When Mr. Zhou walked into the teahouse, the familiar customers called out, "Hey, Mr. Zhou, how come you have time to come today?"

"Old Zhou, why aren't you at home taking care of your grandson?"

"Mr. Zhou, would you like a plate?"

……

After the old acquaintance greeted him with a few jokes, he noticed that something was not right with Mr. Zhou's expression.

"What's wrong, Lao Zhou? Why do you look so bad?"

"What happened?"

"Lao Zhou, what are you looking for?"

……

Mr. Zhou, who came in, seemed to have not heard what others said at all. He just searched around the teahouse anxiously, obviously looking for something.

Everyone couldn't help but fall silent, looking at each other, but they didn't bother Mr. Zhou anymore.

……

Mr. Zhou’s complexion became worse and worse.

No? !
Isn't there one here too?

Mr. Zhou suddenly saw Xiao Xiao sitting at the table by the window. His eyes lit up and he took a few big steps towards him.

"Xiaoxiao, have you seen the baby?"

The baby likes Brother Xiao Xiao very much, so maybe he will come to find Xiao Xiao.

Mr. Zhou asked anxiously, a hint of anticipation flashing through his worried expression.

Xiao Xiao:?
"Baby, no."

"What's wrong, Grandpa Zhou? What happened?"

Xiao Xiao frowned and spoke of his somewhat uneasy guess, "Is the baby missing?"

Mr. Zhou's performance is obvious, and it is easy to draw this conclusion.

"What, the baby is missing?!"

Before Mr. Zhou could reply, the regular customers who were paying close attention couldn't help but shout out.

"What's going on, Lao Zhou? How come the baby is gone?"

"Have you searched everywhere?"

"How did you find out the baby was missing?"

……

Xiao Xiao's answer made Mr. Zhou feel depressed all of a sudden.

"Grandpa Zhou, take a rest."

Xiao Xiao stood up and helped Grandpa Zhou sit down on the stool. He was worried about the baby, but Grandpa Zhou's condition was also worrying.

Mr. Zhou was silent for a while, until the noises around him gradually faded away. Then he spoke with some difficulty, his voice dry and hoarse.

"My husband and I took our baby to play in a nearby park. Everything was fine at first, and the baby had a lot of fun playing with other children."

Xiao Xiao poured a cup of tea and handed it to Grandpa Zhou.

Old Zhou took it but didn't drink it. He just held it in his hand. The back of his old hand was dull and the slightly rough fingertips were faintly white.

"We were chatting with other children's grandparents and didn't pay attention for a moment." When he said this, Mr. Zhou's face was full of regret, his hands trembling slightly, and the tea in the cup shook violently, and even a few drops splashed out and spilled onto Mr. Zhou's hands.

Fortunately, this pot of tea has been left for a while.

Even if it is not cold, it is not hot either. It is warm and will not burn the elderly.

……

"When we looked over again, all the other children were there, except the baby."

"We initially thought he had gone somewhere else or to the toilet."

"After all, the baby has been to this park many times."

"But then we looked everywhere, and there was no baby anywhere."

"Nowhere."

Mr. Zhou's voice was trembling, a trembling that was caused by his attempt to remain calm but still unable to suppress the uneasiness in his heart.

“That’s when we panicked.”

"Others also helped us look everywhere, but found nothing."

“We called the police immediately.”

“The police soon arrived.”

"But this is an old neighborhood, and the park is also quite old, and several surveillance cameras there have been broken for a long time."

"There was no trace of the baby in the intact surveillance footage."

Old Zhou took a deep breath, his brows and eyes were gloomy.

"Police are conducting a search centered on the park."

"My wife and I couldn't sit still and were looking everywhere."

"We thought the baby might go home alone first, but he didn't."

"Then I thought, Bao Bao has a good relationship with Xiao Xiao, will he come to play with Brother Xiao Xiao?"

"But there isn't one."

"Where else is there?"

"He hasn't been to kindergarten for more than half a year because of his previous hospitalization, and it's so far away."

"But just in case, my wife still went all the way to the kindergarten."

"The kindergarten door was closed, and the shop owners along the way said they didn't see any children passing by."

……

"Originally I thought the baby was most likely at Xiaoxiao's place, because I promised him that I would bring him to play with brother Xiaoxiao in the afternoon."

Mr. Zhou lowered his head, his eyes were red, and his voice was hoarse and dry, so vague that it was almost impossible to hear what he said.

Everyone was silent.

After a long time, the first person broke the stagnant atmosphere, and then others also spoke up to comfort Mr. Zhou.

"Old Zhou, don't worry, the baby will be fine."

"Yes, maybe the child was naughty and hid in some corner."

"And the police have been notified. The police will look for it, and we will help you find it too."

"Old Zhou, relax. The baby will be fine."

……

In fact, everyone also understands how pale and empty their words of comfort are, so even if most people say they are optimistic, their brows can't help but frown.

It would be fine if the baby really walked away by himself.
Some people have already sighed deeply in their hearts.

His voice was so dry that it almost stuck together. The "chuan" character between Zhou Lao's brows became more profound. He picked up the teacup in his hand and drank it all in one gulp in a daze.

The tea has gone cold.

Bitter and astringent
The tea foam stuck in his throat made Mr. Zhou feel even more uncomfortable.

"Grandpa Zhou, tea."

Xiao Xiao handed another cup of tea to Mr. Zhou.

Mr. Zhou was stunned for a moment, then he took the teacup and poured it down his throat again.

The perfect temperature moistened his sticky throat.

The throat felt much more comfortable, which made Mr. Zhou's brows relax a little.

But soon, Mr. Zhou frowned again.

(End of this chapter)