Chapter 213

Xie Zhiyan paused, then understood. "Xiao Xueyi has been away on official business recently. I met with Lü Jieguo before, and he seemed like a normal person. I'll go to his workplace and ask someone about the situation."

We all live in the same compound and see each other often. My comrade's child is pitiful, so I'll help him if I can.

Shu Ying glanced at the time, put down her chopsticks, and said, "You don't need to worry about it. I'll go. It's getting late. You should go and get back to work. If you encounter anything you can't handle, I'll come find you."

Having no evidence and no idea about the child's condition, it's unreasonable for the couple to keep asking around.

Yangyang and Yueyue packed their schoolbags, and Shuying took them to school. Their homeroom teacher, Ms. Lu, greeted them at the gate. Shuying patted Yangyang on the back and said, "Go on, Mom will come to pick you and your sister up tonight."

Yangyang led Yueyue into the school, and Teacher Lu said happily, "Yueyue's mother, these two children are very well-behaved at school, and many children like to play with them."

Shu Ying smiled and took a step to the side. "Thank you for your help, Teacher Lu. There's something I need to ask you. I haven't seen Shi Tou much lately. Has he been to school?"

Teacher Lu remembers that Shi Tou was a bit withdrawn and mostly played by himself. She also taught him for a while, and the little guy was very polite.

“I really didn’t notice. His homeroom teacher, Ms. Li, is here. I’ll call her over and ask her for you.”

Shu Ying nodded and said softly, "Thank you."

As Teacher Li walked over, her voice followed.

“I was thinking the same thing. Shi Tou took leave three days ago. His mother came to visit, saying he was sick. That little guy usually looks so strong, how come he's been sick for so long this time?”

Shu Ying had doubts. "Sick? He was perfectly fine just a few days ago."

The most common cold among children is caused by wind and cold, but it's not cold season now.

Teacher Li shook her head, "I don't know. His mother said he has some kind of infectious disease and is worried about infecting other children. She said he'll come back when he's better. I was even saying I'd go to his house today to check on him. Maybe it's because the child's immune system is weak."

Shu Ying understood and decided to go to Shi Tou's house anyway. "I understand, thank you, teacher. I'll leave the children in your care."

Teacher Lu said with a warm smile, "Don't worry, Yueyue's mother."

After leaving the school, Shu Ying hesitated. Lü Jie had already asked Shi Tou for leave, so he should have been recuperating at home. But Yang Yang and Yue Yue had been calling him for so long, and he hadn't heard a word.

Even though the illness is severe, as long as they are still conscious, they have the ability to respond.

Shu Ying felt a tightness in her chest, instinctively sensing that this matter was not so simple.

At least when Yueyue and Yangyang were at the door, Shitou could make noise from the second floor, but based on the two children's descriptions, Shuying always felt that Shitou was not at home at all.

This doesn't feel right.

She patted Yangyang's head and gently instructed, "You and your sister must listen to your teachers at school. Mom is going to visit Brother Shitou's house."

Although Yangyang was a little worried, he knew he couldn't do anything, so he held Yueyue's hand and nodded obediently.

After returning from school, Shu Ying walked straight towards Shi Tou's house.

She's been here for a long time, but she hasn't really visited anyone. However, the direction of Shi Tou's house is easy to recognize. Last time at Liu Xiulan's house, she saw Lü Jie coming out of that house.

"Knock knock knock..."

When she reached the door, Shu Ying hesitated for a moment, but after thinking it over again, she knocked on the door. However, no one answered.

She was a little puzzled. "Is anyone home?"

The courtyard was quiet, not like anyone lived there.

"Didn't you hear me?"

Shu Ying was puzzled, so she knocked on the door with even more force.

"Lü Jie, are you home?"

Perhaps her voice was indeed a bit loud, for when Mrs. Wang next door opened her door and saw it was her, she said, "Lü Jie went out early this morning, as did I. I vaguely saw a figure when I went to the toilet this morning. There shouldn't be anyone home now. Why don't you come over later?"

Shu Ying was a little anxious. If Shi Tou was really sick, how could Lü Jie leave the child at home alone?

"They went out?"

Liu Jing, who lives across the hall, happened to be returning from grocery shopping. "If you have anything urgent, just tell me first. I'll keep an eye out for her, and as soon as she gets back, I'll have her come over to you."

Shu Ying waved her hands repeatedly, "No need, I just haven't seen Shi Tou these past two days, and I was thinking that something might have happened, so I came to check on him."

She actually had some doubts in her heart about whether Shi Tou had been abused. After all, this was in the compound, with people coming and going. In addition, Shu Ying had no evidence, so she couldn't just barge in. Besides, Lü Jie shouldn't be so stupid as to shoot herself in the foot.

Upon hearing Shu Ying's words, Wang's wife and Liu Jing remembered.

“I haven’t seen this child for two days. He’s usually quiet and doesn’t talk much. He’s quite mature for his age. He’s not very lively, so no one really notices him. I’ve been thinking something’s been missing these past two days.”

Sister Wang took out her own quilts and aired them in the yard. Upon hearing this, she straightened up, seemingly deep in thought.

"This child is pitiful. He lost his biological mother at such a young age. It's no wonder he's quiet and reserved. Every child who lives with their biological mother is lively and energetic. Xiao Xueyi isn't home often. Once a stepmother comes, a stepfather comes too. We shouldn't interfere in other people's family matters. It's just a pity for this child. He's in his own home, but he lives like a dependent. He has to be mindful of others' feelings at such a young age."

Liu Jing simply sat down at her doorstep and started picking vegetables, letting out a helpless sigh with a hint of heartache in her voice.

“It’s not my own child, so I can’t really care about him. We can’t really say much about this kind of thing. That child usually seems very well-behaved. I even saw him sweeping the yard last week. He’s so small, he’s not even as tall as the broom. Sigh, if his biological mother knew, I don’t know how heartbroken she would be.”

Shu Ying was still worried, and when she saw Li Dongfang walking towards her, she called out to him without hesitation.

"Sister-in-law, did you call me?"

Shu Ying nodded, then glanced in the direction of Shi Tou's house. "The teacher said Shi Tou has been sick and has taken three days off. I knocked on the door just now but no one answered. I'll have to trouble you to go to the hospital and ask if there are any medical records for the child. Also, if you see Shi Tou in the compound, please have someone tell me immediately."