On a joyous midsummer day, the morning sunlight spilled into every corner of the room. Little Sheng Fang was already dressed to the nines in his custom-tailored page boy suit, his bowtie impeccably tied.
"Anyone would think Qingqing is the one getting married," Aunt Ping chuckled as she styled his hair into a dashing look. "So formal!"
Sheng Fang and Sheng Peirong protested in unison: "Aunt Ping—"
"Our Qingqing is still young!"
"Our little one is still a baby!"
Uncle Li and Yu Jingying had married simply with just a registry office ceremony in their youth, but now, deciding to renew their vows, they donned full wedding attire for this long-overdue celebration.
This intimate ceremony was a solemn promise for their future.
Sheng Fang was the sole page boy. They'd originally planned to invite Tiantian to join, but their little niece was still too wobbly to even lift her head, leaving Fang Fang to fly solo.
CID colleagues arrived early, braving the scorching sun with undimmed enthusiasm, immediately launching into their signature banter.
"Word is Uncle Li dropped twenty pounds!"
"His old clothes hang loose now—like a sack!"
"No surprise! While we devour cheese-baked pork chops, he nibbles two lettuce leaves. Even cuts sugar from his iced coffee!"
Sheng Fang flitted about like a jubilant sparrow.
Little Sun muttered, "What's proper to say? 'Wishing you many sons' seems off..."
Liang Qikai guffawed, jerking his chin toward the couple's son: "The 'son' is right here."
"Son," Sheng Fang tugged Little Li's sleeve, "wanna be page boys together?"
"Hard pass!" Little Li waved vigorously.
"Just say 'happiness for a hundred years'!"
"A match made in heaven, united forever!"
Little Li rubbed his goosebumps: "Or 'bathe in love eternally'."
The pint-sized page boy, accompanied by Zhu Qing, returned to the bridal suite where Yu Jingying fussed with final touches. "How do I look?"
"Super—" Sheng Fang blurted.
"Gorgeous!" Zhu Qing concurred, nodding emphatically.
Yu Jingying studied her reflection.
Time had etched faint lines at her eyes.
Yet every crease now brimmed with contentment.
Many questioned why "old folks" would make such a fuss.
But to them, precisely because youth had fled, seizing joy mattered more.
As Yu Jingying tucked stray hairs behind her ear, Zhu Qing stepped behind her. "Let me help, Jingying."
...
Under the floral arch, Uncle Li stood more resolute than ever.
The two decades lost were irretrievable, but their rediscovered love made every remaining sunrise precious.
Reading vows from his card, his voice held unprecedented gravity.
Yu Jingying dabbed her glistening eyes. "My makeup's ruined."
Below, ONSD and CID officers gaped.
"Madam Yu crying? Am I hallucinating?"
"Uncle Li's wiping his eyes too—unbelievable!"
Zeng Yongshan covered her face. "I'm getting teary too."
"'Getting'?" Xu Jiale teased. "You're a waterfall already..."
Their son pretended to cringe at his parents' mushiness, yet clapped hardest of all, palms stinging red, eyes suspiciously shiny.
Colleagues whooped as party poppers erupted, showering golden ribbons. Sheng Fang plucked one from his hair, puffing it away: "Whee!"
The strand pirouetted before settling on his shoulder.
"I promised you a lollipop next time," Yu Jingying reminded him. "Remember?"
"Nope." The toddler cocked his head, then shook it firmly—the long-ago pledge forgotten.
Laughing, she ruffled his hair and offered wedding candy instead. "This do? Lollipop's IOU."
Beaming, Sheng Fang accepted it, reciting rehearsed blessings that sparked fresh laughter.
Soon he was distributing sweets like a tiny ambassador of joy.
"Luck shared!" Zeng Yongshan popped one in her mouth.
Weng Zhaolin watched him wistfully. "When will my niece scamper about like you?"
Eyebrows wagged—even Weng himself now called Sheng Fang "Uncle Fang"!
At photo time, the whirlwind page boy was finally corralled.
"Smile! Eyes here!"
"Three, two, one!"
The photographer crouched, framing the newlyweds and their beaming guests.
"Click—"
"CONGRATULATIONS!" erupted as the shutter snapped.
Arm in arm, Li Jingsong and Yu Jingying glowed brighter than the midday sun.
Ribbons glittered overhead as Sheng Fang tilted his sunlit face upward, dimples deepening.
This universally adored child basked in unconditional love, reflecting it outward like human sunshine.
...
Cheng Xinglang's new home was strategically located—mere minutes from Ho Man Tin.
Agent Wang's VIP clients had paved his golden career path.
During viewings, property-savvy Zhu Qing and Sheng Fang helped envision each room's potential until Cheng Xinglang instantly knew: This was home.
Moving day approached.
Over breakfast, Sheng Fang chattered about new routines:
"Dr. Cheng will drop me at kindergarten, then go to HQ with Qingqing." No more school buses.
"Uncle Hu will miss me," he mused, swinging jam-smeared feet.
"Finally free of his most demanding passenger!" Aunt Ping laughed.
Sheng Fang took a crunchy bite. "Then congratulations to him!"
Zhu Qing chuckled and playfully booped Sheng Fang’s little nose.
The new semester hadn’t started yet, and little Sheng Fang was still on summer vacation, but his mind was already painting a vivid picture: himself skipping ahead with a backpack, while Zhu Qing and Dr. Cheng Xinglang walked side by side behind him.
"First, we’ll drop you off at kindergarten..." Sheng Peirong lifted her coffee cup with elegant poise. "The remaining twenty minutes of the drive will be the ‘dating time’ Xinglang managed to secure."
Sheng Fang’s eyes widened in realization. "Sneaky adults!" he accused, shaking his head dramatically.
Sheng Peirong nudged his little head. "Such a cheeky child."
Months passed quietly, and Zhu Qing and Cheng Xinglang grew closer.
Sheng Peirong often saw them together—sometimes Cheng Xinglang came over for dinner, other times they took Sheng Fang out, and occasionally, the two would sneak off alone, leaving the little boy pouting in his room.
Whenever they stood side by side, Zhu Qing’s smile was effortless.
Their compatibility put Sheng Peirong at ease.
"Qingqing," Aunt Ping called from the kitchen window, "Dr. Cheng’s car is here."
"I’ll head out now, then."
Little Sheng Fang hopped down from his high chair and toddled to the floor-to-ceiling window, pressing his chubby cheeks against the glass.
"I wanna go too," he whined, envy dripping from his voice.
Being an adult seemed so much better—they got to work all the time and barely had holidays.
Why wasn’t school starting already?
...
On the day Cheng Xinglang moved into his new home, colleagues from the forensics department and the B Division of the Serious Crimes Unit gathered in his spacious living room.
Everyone knew Dr. Cheng had become a permanent consultant for the CID, and no one envied this more than Ah Ben. These two—whether at crime scenes, in the autopsy room, or even the morgue—could communicate with just a glance, working in seamless sync like the perfect partners.
Ah Ben sighed. Back when Dr. Cheng was abroad, he’d been left all alone, with no one to share his misery. Now that Cheng was back, he was either orbiting around Madam Zhu or her little nephew. Ah Ben was still lonely.
"Someone tell me," Ah Ben grumbled, raising his beer, "Zhu Qing stole my partner!"
Zhu Qing laughed. "Want him back?"
"No," Cheng Xinglang immediately interjected.
"See?!" Ah Ben wailed. "Look at this!"
Hao Zai chimed in, "What can you do? Maybe ask Anzai or Wen from the Government Laboratory if they’ll come keep you company."
"Don’t even mention them," Ah Ben groaned. "They’re dating now—won’t even hit Lan Kwai Fong anymore."
"Ben-ge," Xu Jiale patted his shoulder. "If everyone’s doing so well, maybe you should reflect on yourself?"
"Enough with the sarcasm. Just find me a girlfriend."
His pitiful plea unexpectedly won sympathy from the youngest Sheng.
When they first met, Sheng Fang had pretended to be a little ghost to scare him. A year later, they’d warmed up to each other, and the boy had begrudgingly accepted this forensic friend with too many teeth in his smile.
"Next time, I’ll introduce you to a girlfriend," Sheng Fang declared, sounding every bit the little adult.
Ah Ben immediately crouched down, slinging an arm around him.
"When’s ‘next time’?" He paused. "But the people you know, I already know. Can’t you expand your social circle? Stop just hanging around your niece."
It was true—Sheng Fang’s social circle overlapped almost entirely with his.
Cornered, the little boy huffed and turned away, presenting Ah Ben with nothing but the back of his head.
"Next time? When’s next time?" Ah Ben pressed. "When exactly is ‘next time’?!"
"Just tell him..."
Sheng Fang dashed off, throwing himself into Zhu Qing’s arms. "Qingqing, Qingqing, he’s so annoying!"
"Hear that?" Cheng Xinglang smirked at the dejected Ah Ben. "The kid says you’re annoying."
...
Cheng Xinglang had never taken Sheng Fang to his old home in Ho Man Tin.
Even though the bloodstains existed only in his memories, long painted over, he couldn’t shake the feeling that such a place—steeped in pain—was no playground for an innocent child.
But now, things were different.
Since moving into his new place, Sheng Fang had become a frequent guest.
While CID work had no fixed weekends, forensics did. On Saturdays and Sundays, one call from Sheng Fang, and within thirty minutes, Dr. Cheng would arrive to pick him up without delay.
Sheng Peirong had reminded her little brother not to trouble Dr. Cheng too much.
But for Cheng Xinglang, time spent with Sheng Fang was never a burden. What began as love for Zhu Qing extending to her family had slowly become something more—many of his warmest moments now included the little boy.
Sheng Fang often stayed at Cheng Xinglang’s place all day, treating it like a second home.
He even had his own room there.
"This side needs to be flat!" The little boy knelt on the freshly made bed. "I’ve watched Aunt Ping do this—it’s just like that."
Together, they smoothed out every wrinkle in the sheets. Sheng Fang rolled across the bed, sat up, and then diligently flattened the creases again.
"Having a room means naptime," Cheng Xinglang said.
"What?" Sheng Fang plugged his ears, feigning innocence. "Didn’t hear a word."
Cheng Xinglang pretended to reach for his phone, threatening to tattle to his niece.
"No! Way!" The little ball of energy launched himself at him.
Soon, he was hauled back.
Lying in the center of the bed, Sheng Fang asked hopefully, "Can we rock it?"
This was a game he’d seen on TV—parents holding opposite ends of the sheet, gently swaying their child like a boat. Though his own parents were gone, his niece and her driver gave him just as much love.
But Cheng Xinglang couldn’t manage it alone.
It wasn’t until Zhu Qing arrived that evening that Sheng Fang’s wish finally came true.
The little boy sat in the middle of the sheet, while Zhu Qing and Cheng Xinglang each held a corner, swaying him gently.
Sheng Fang clutched the edges, his round eyes peeking over the fabric.
Even if his grin was hidden, the crescents of his eyes gave him away.
They rocked him for what felt like forever—softly, like a swing, or a cradle.
"Higher!"
As the motion grew, Sheng Fang flopped onto his stomach, arms and legs flailing in delight.
"Just like a little turtle." Zhu Qing couldn't help but laugh.
Cheng Xinglang chimed in, "A little turtle that can't even flip itself over."
Sheng Fang wouldn't allow the adults to tease him like this, so he rolled around in protest.
Joyful laughter filled the air.
In this simplest of games, a pure childlike innocence was being tenderly nurtured.
...
Sheng Fang loved amusement parks more than anything.
Whether it was Liyuan Amusement Park, the play area at his kindergarten, or even the "Fairy Tale Kingdom" in his basement at home—every time, the little boy would lose himself in excitement.
Now, his beloved playground had become Dr. Cheng's new home.
Unfamiliar with the "terrain" of this new place, every unfamiliar corner became the perfect hiding spot for their game of hide-and-seek.
Zhu Qing and Cheng Xinglang stood side by side against the wall, their hands firmly covering their eyes.
"Absolutely no peeking!" Sheng Fang, halfway hidden, popped back out to remind them.
Zhu Qing nudged Cheng Xinglang lightly with her elbow. "Sheng Fang said no peeking."
"I’m following the rules!"
Zhu Qing had never played like this as a child. Back then, living in an orphanage, simply having enough to eat and growing up safely was already a challenge—there was no room for such playful games. As for Cheng Xinglang, his life before and after the age of eight was like night and day; those carefree moments had long been severed by shadows.
Now, the two adults were indulging in childish games with Sheng Fang, yet they seemed even more delighted than the little boy, laughing harder than he was.
"One, two, three..."
"Eighteen, nineteen, twenty!"
"Ready or not, here we come!"
Sheng Fang hid behind the curtains, his small body pressed tightly against the wall. As a future "Officer Fang," he was an expert at tracking sounds. When he heard heavy footsteps approaching, he immediately held his breath, covering his little mouth with his hands to stay silent.
At first, the two adults searched earnestly, but gradually, they slowed their pace, strolling leisurely around the living room.
They exchanged a knowing glance and quietly pointed at the tiny feet peeking out from under the curtains.
The sheer fabric draped over the little figure, outlining a round silhouette.
Then, the two "villains" of "Fang Fang Prison" began teasing the child.
"Where did Sheng Fang go? Where are you?"
"How strange, we can’t find him..."
"Have you seen our Sheng Fang?"
Behind the curtain, Sheng Fang giggled silently, his small shoulders shaking uncontrollably—though he didn’t notice.
"Where is he?"
"How is this little rascal so good at hiding?"
The calls went on for a while, the intervals between them growing longer.
Why couldn’t they find him?
Sheng Fang couldn’t wait any longer. With a dramatic "whoosh," he flung the curtains open and jumped out. "I’m right here!"
But Zhu Qing and Cheng Xinglang acted as if they hadn’t seen him, still looking around in confusion.
"Where did Sheng Fang go?" Zhu Qing asked, feigning worry.
"I know," Cheng Xinglang said gravely. "Maybe he’s learned how to turn invisible?"
Sheng Fang was utterly baffled. He looked down at his little hands and waved them in front of their faces.
Was he really invisible?
Just as they were about to burst into laughter, Zhu Qing and Cheng Xinglang quickly turned away, struggling to suppress their grins.
Behind them, tiny footsteps pattered in frantic circles—the little boy was beside himself.
A child without even a kindergarten diploma was still easy to fool, and they couldn’t resist dragging out the joke a little longer.
"Maybe he went home by himself? But he doesn’t know how to drive."
"Could he have taken a taxi?"
"I hope he brought money..."
Sheng Fang dashed to the full-length mirror, pinching his cheeks and patting his round belly. "I’m right here!"
He sprinted back to Zhu Qing and Cheng Xinglang, jumping up and down with all his might.
"Here! Here! I’m right here!"
Finally, the two couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into laughter.
Sheng Fang’s "invisibility" had worn off, and his scrunched-up little face relaxed into a grin as he laughed along with them.
"Now it’s your turn to hide!"
In the next round, the little boy mimicked their tactics.
He strolled around the living room, hands behind his back, stopping right in front of Zhu Qing and Cheng Xinglang.
"Where are they? Where are they?"
"Gone!"
Then, he dashed to the fridge. "Guess I’ll have some ice cream!"
With that, he tore open the wrapper, sat on the sofa, and began eating as if no one else existed.
Zhu Qing was stunned.
He actually thought of that!
"How is he so clever?" she gasped.
Cheng Xinglang laughed. "He takes after you."
...
By evening, the young master of the Sheng household’s stomach growled loudly.
Sheng Fang, the perfectly content little guest, curled up on the soft sofa, waiting for dinner.
The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, where Cheng Xinglang was focused on preparing the meal.
"Need any help?" Zhu Qing leaned against the doorframe.
Cheng Xinglang turned, resting his hands on her slender shoulders and gently guiding her out. "No, go watch TV."
Zhu Qing took a couple of steps before looking back. "Am I a child? Watch TV—"
"Child! Come watch cartoons!" Sheng Fang called from the living room.
Even if they claimed they wanted to help, the aunt-nephew duo would only cause chaos in the kitchen.
In the end, they were assigned the vital mission of "getting soy sauce."
The new home was missing some seasonings, and Sheng Fang volunteered enthusiastically for the shopping trip, his little hand shooting up.
Zhu Qing followed discreetly behind—though her professional detective skills were overkill for tracking a child. He had been tailed before during solo trips to the market, yet he remained blissfully unaware, coins jingling in his chubby hand as he skipped along, utterly carefree.
Sheng Fang was a reliable little uncle—until halfway there, he forgot what seasoning they needed. So, he simply asked the shopkeeper to pick one of each.
"Little one, can you manage by yourself?"
"I can!"
Clutching the plastic bag, which left a faint red mark on his plump arm, he paid and trudged back home, huffing and puffing.
As he wandered, he spotted a man with a suitcase standing by the roadside, studying a piece of paper.
Safety lessons at kindergarten had taught him not to engage with strangers.
But Teacher Ji never said he couldn’t initiate conversation.
Ever the dutiful little officer, Sheng Fang’s sense of responsibility surged at the sight of an out-of-towner struggling with directions. He stepped forward to help.
"Where are you trying to go?" Sheng Fang asked.
The man turned, looking down at the little boy in surprise before pointing at the address on the paper. "I’m looking for this place."
Sheng Fang glanced at the address, then looked back up.
His neck ached from tilting upward as he stared at the other person’s face, blinking his eyes.
"I know where you're going," Sheng Fang declared without hesitation. "I'll take you there!"
"You know the place?" The other man pressed his thin lips together. "Thank you."
Before he could finish speaking, the young master of the Sheng family shoved a heavy plastic bag into his hands. "You carry it."
The man froze, but for some reason, he took it.
Bottles and cans clattered noisily inside the bag.
Zhu Qing had been hiding behind a lush, leafy tree, watching Sheng Fang strike up a conversation with the stranger. Finally, she couldn’t hold back any longer and stepped out.
The moment she saw the man’s face, her eyes widened involuntarily.
"It's over there—" Zhu Qing pointed enthusiastically, a rare display of warmth in her voice. "We’ll take you."
One child offering help was confusing enough, but now an adult had suddenly appeared—clearly having been lying in wait for some time.
This looked like a textbook scam operation.
Rumor had it that modern fraud rings specifically recruited attractive people to gain their targets’ trust…
"Let’s go!" Sheng Fang urged impatiently.
"..." The man tightened his grip on his suitcase handle. "No."
"We’re taking you to find your brother!"
"It’s true! We’re not scammers!"
The man clutched his suitcase tighter, eyeing the pair warily.
How did they know he was looking for his brother?
"What are you scared of?" Sheng Fang patted his little chest proudly. "We’re police officers!"
Zhu Qing: "..."
"Sheng Fang, shut up."
The man took another step back, his suspicion deepening.
And they still claimed they weren’t con artists?
Earlier, the moment Zhu Qing stepped out from behind the tree, her gaze lingered on the man’s face, and she recognized him instantly.
His features were identical to Cheng Xinglang’s—only lacking the latter’s sunny disposition, replaced instead with quiet reserve.
Compared to his brother, the younger man had fairer skin and softer facial contours, but the resemblance was unmistakable. Combined with his age, height, and the suitcase in his hand, any professional detective could have pieced together his identity from these clues.
After much effort, the aunt-nephew duo finally managed to drag him into the elevator.
Zhu Qing exhausted her words trying to explain patiently.
The man remained skeptical. "Just who are you to him?"
"I’m his little un—" Sheng Fang jumped up.
Mid-leap, Zhu Qing pressed a hand on his head, shoving him back down.
"Sheng Fang, hush."
Could he at least say something convincing?
"He’s going to be my nephew-in-law," the little elder declared solemnly, waving a hand with practiced maturity.
The man’s wary eyes darted between them, his grip on the suitcase handle tightening further.
The adult’s deception was flawlessly crafted—claiming to be Cheng Xinglang’s girlfriend sounded perfectly reasonable.
But just as he was about to believe her, the kid would blurt out some bizarre addition, making it painfully clear that the little scammer wasn’t nearly as polished.
The whole scene was beyond suspicious.
With a ding, the elevator arrived at the right floor.
Zhu Qing gave up on explanations and strode ahead to knock on the door.
Knock, knock, knock—
The door opened, and the familiar aroma of sweet-and-sour pork ribs wafted out.
The man in the doorway stiffened—this was his father’s signature home-cooked dish. Memories of childhood, of two brothers fighting over the last piece of meat, flashed vividly in his mind. He had tried countless times to recreate that taste but never succeeded.
"Dinner’s ready—" Cheng Xinglang looked up, his voice cutting off abruptly.
Time seemed to freeze as he stood there, stunned.
Sheng Fang tugged at his sleeve. "Don’t cry now."
Cheng Xinglang’s breath hitched, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.
The child who had once trailed after him had now grown into a tall, steady man. Eighteen years had passed, and in this sunset-drenched evening, the past and present finally overlapped.
The mischievous older brother who had dragged his little sibling into trouble.
The shy, smiling younger brother who had always been so well-behaved.
The brother who had never given up searching, meticulously preserving every clue, convinced his sibling was still alive.
The younger brother who, to protect his elder, had silently followed the criminals away…
The past glowed softly with the warmth of time, intertwining with reality.
Now, at last, they stood face to face again.
Golden sunset light streamed through the corridor window, casting a warm glow between them.
So summer truly was the season of reunions.
"Ge."
The single word came out choked, laden with restrained longing.
A simple term of address, locked away in his heart for so long—but never forgotten.
As Cheng Xinglang took the suitcase, his fingers trembled faintly.
His gaze lingered on his brother’s face, then shifted to Zhu Qing’s gentle smile, before finally settling on Sheng Fang’s grinning, tiny-teeth-filled expression.
In that moment, he finally understood what Zhu Qing had once told him.
The most important people are all by your side.
"Perfect timing," Cheng Xinglang murmured, his voice rough with emotion, eyes crinkling with joy. "You show up right after I move into a new place."
"You searched for me for eighteen years," his brother replied with a quiet laugh. Then, after a pause, "After landing, I went to the police station for your address. Took me just half a day to find home."
Sheng Fang’s small hand was clasped in Zhu Qing’s as he tilted his head up, snickering mischievously—
Liar. You were totally lost earlier.
