Four years ago, a little girl disappeared vanish mysteriously strangely after school.
At that time, I had just lost my job and was selling snacks at the gate of a kindergarten.
It was said that the parents had been outside the gate, but didn’t pick her up.
Later, the family members made a scene and demanded huge compensation.
The kindergarten also closed down.
Four years later, I changed my job and got access to the materials of the case from that year.
Some things that happened when I was setting up the stall gradually became clear in my mind.
And these things could completely overturn the whole case.
1
July 12, 2020
At that time, the subway station nearby hadn’t been built yet.
Most parents came to pick up their children by car.
Ding Yutong was always led by her mother after school and bought a red bean cake from me.
Then, she got into a new – energy car and left.
She always said to me with a smile:
“Uncle, your red bean cake is so sweet!”
Once she even said to her mother:
“The thing I look forward to the most every day is to eat red bean cakes!”
Ding Yutong was the name of that girl.
I learned this later when I watched her parents making a scene.
It rained heavily on the day she disappeared.
On rainy days, there would be twice as many cars picking up children as usual.
So the kindergarten would send children out of the school gate in two batches on rainy days.
The interval was about 20 minutes.
Ding Yutong’s class, the senior class (2), was arranged to go out of the school gate in the second batch.
But when all the children in the class had left, the head teacher noticed that one child was missing.
Ding Yutong didn’t come out.
She had taken the roll call when they were lining up and waiting.
She quickly went to look for her.
But she searched the whole campus and didn’t see Yutong.
The problem was that during the whole dismissal time.
Yutong’s mother had been outside the gate and didn’t see her either.
Later, the school authorities thought that Yutong must have run out with the first batch of students.
The school and the police checked the face – scanning records and surveillance videos.
They didn’t find any signs of Yutong going out.
Besides, her mother was right at the gate.
Even if she ran out, she should have looked for her mother.
So, on this stormy evening.
Ding Yutong disappeared just like that.
2
August 6, 2024, 09:00 am
Four years passed just like that.
Yutong had never been found.
The kindergarten at that time had become a ruin.
During these four years, I passed the exam to become an auxiliary policeman.
After being assigned to my post, I often patrolled in this area.
The perception of time became slow here.
I seemed to see a bustling gate, and a girl running towards me and saying:
“Uncle, your red bean cake is really sweet.”
Everything seemed like it was just yesterday.
It was not until I took the opportunity of the bureau sorting out files and opened the file of Ding Yutong’s disappearance case that I realized that four years had really passed.
That little girl who was over 5 years old.
Had reached the time when she could be declared dead.
3
July 21, 2020
It was my last day of setting up the stall at the gate of the kindergarten.
The kindergarten didn’t open, and Yutong’s parents didn’t show up either.
I heard that they had already received a huge compensation from the kindergarten.
The kindergarten would also close down from then on.
At dusk, I packed my things, and couldn’t stop feeling lost.
Until a little boy called me.
“Uncle, you’re still here.”
“Uncle is going to close the stall. You can’t eat today.”
“No,” the boy waved his hand, “I’m not here to eat. I want to give you the money.”
“What money?” I asked, looking puzzled.
“Yutong told me last Tuesday that she bought something from you and didn’t pay.
She asked me to bring the money to you after school.
But it rained too heavily that day after school, so I left.
Fortunately, you’re still here today.”
Yutong, rain… I was shocked.
“Little friend, is the Yutong you mentioned Ding Yutong?” I asked him, squatting down halfway.
“Yeah.” The boy blinked.
Last Tuesday… it was the day Yutong disappeared!
That day, she didn’t show up at my red – bean – cake stall, and there was no such thing as not paying.
Besides, it was forbidden to go out before the kindergarten dismissal.
How could she come out in advance to buy red – bean cakes?
The little boy saw that my expression was wrong and asked in a low voice:
“Uncle, did something happen to Yutong?”
I nodded.
He sighed and said:
“Uncle, Yutong really liked the red – bean cakes you made, but…”
“But what?” I asked.
“But actually, she never ate one.”
4
August 6, 2024, 09:30 am
When looking through the file, I noticed a detail.
The “Evidence List Description” stated:
The school’s surveillance videos and face – scanning records might have omissions due to overlapping images or blind spots.
Therefore, the key evidence that Ding Yutong didn’t go out of the school gate during the dismissal time in this case came from her mother’s testimony:
“From the time the first batch of children came out until the last child left, I didn’t see Yutong. And if she saw me, she would run towards me immediately.”
It was this testimony that completely put the blame on the school.
At that time, the police must have carried out many inspections and visits and chose to believe what her mother said.
But testimony is not the same as physical evidence.
What if her mother was lying?
5
July 21, 2020
“What do you mean?”
The little boy was startled by my sudden loud voice.
He said timidly:
“Just that she didn’t eat it.”
“How could that be! She came to buy every day and said my red – bean cakes were very sweet! She also said that the thing she looked forward to the most every day was…”
“But uncle,”
The little boy interrupted me:
“Did you really see her put it in her mouth?”
This sentence was drowned out by the traffic noise.
It became one of the countless extremely clear dreams in my later life.
In my dreams, I was always re – examining the process of Ding Yutong coming to my stall to buy red – bean cakes every day.
She would appear on time when the kindergarten dismissal bell rang.
A little girl always wearing a blue overalls dress.
The clothes were a bit old, but still clean and bright.
She would say goodbye to the teacher affectionately.
She would bounce and run to my stall.
She became the first loyal customer to buy red – bean cakes every day.
She would smile sweetly at me.
Then look eagerly at the cakes in the pot and smack her lips.
“Uncle, give me a red – bean cake.”
She would stuff two coins to me.
“Thank you, uncle!”
After getting the red – bean cake, she would hold it in her hand as if it were a treasure.
Then she would walk carefully towards her mother.
Finally, she got into that new – energy car.
She had never eaten that red – bean cake in front of me.
Not even once.
Not even taking a small bite.
6
August 6, 2024, 10:30 am
“I asked you to help sort things out, not to dig up old scores!”
The team leader slapped the file of Ding Yutong on the table.
“But captain, it’s been four years. If we don’t figure it out, she will be declared dead.”
“Don’t I know that? Do I need you to teach me?”
I didn’t dare to say anything more.
The captain picked up the cup and took a sip of tea:
“We in the bureau have never given up looking for this girl in recent years.
Several special operations have failed.
Moreover, her parents are not active in looking for her.
You know, nowadays, parents,
Once they get the money and after a long time, they don’t care about anything…”
“Captain,” I said in a pleading tone:
“Could you, for the sake of my overtime work these two days,
Do me a favor.”
“What?”
“Ask Brother Liu, who was in charge of this case at that time, to go over the clues with me again.
Just for one day today, okay?”
The person responsible in the file was Liu Shujun from the third team.
“The clues from the past are useless after she’s been missing for so long.
Could it be… you suspect her parents?”
I didn’t speak but stared at him.
“We’ve suspected that before,
But at that time, the kindergarten had no evidence to prove that they didn’t lose the child.
Her parents blocked the door and posted on short – video platforms.
The internet went crazy, and everyone was blaming the kindergarten.
The Education Bureau and the city put pressure on us.
They asked us to come up with results quickly, determine the compensation, and calm down the public opinion…”
“I know that, captain.”
“Ah… then I’ll give you one day.”
Before leaving, the captain patted me on the shoulder:
“Some things, the longer you work in this line, the more you’ll understand.”
7
November 13, 2020
I don’t understand.
I thought about these two questions for a long time but couldn’t figure them out.
Why did Yutong ask someone to pay me two yuan that day?
If Yutong came to buy every day, why did that boy say she had never eaten one?
I changed to set up the stall at another kindergarten.
Whenever the dismissal bell rang.
In my eyes,
There would always be a little girl in a blue overalls dress.
Bouncing towards me.
Then, my thoughts would bring me back to these two questions.
Day after day, week after week.
Until an ordinary afternoon.
A small opportunity.
Made me suddenly understand one of the questions.
That day was the weekend.
I had nothing to do at home, so I still set up the stall.
As expected, not many people bought.
I lay on the table and dozed off.
In my dream, vaguely, I felt a hand pushing me.
I suddenly raised my head.
A little girl was standing beside me.
“Please give me a red – bean cake.”
“Oh, okay.”
I stood up and skillfully packed a cake and handed it to her.
She took the cake and looked at me with a sweet smile.
I thought she wanted something else and was about to ask.
But then, she turned around and ran away.
She didn’t pay.
I stood there be in a daze, watching her back disappear into the alley not far away.
I didn’t call her.
This kind of thing happened occasionally.
I just considered it as treating her.
I sat down again and continued to lie down and sleep.
I don’t know how long it had passed. I heard someone calling me vaguely.
“Uncle, uncle…”
This time it was a boy’s voice.
“Oh, coming…” I looked up, yawned, and grabbed a red – bean cake to pack.
At this time, I saw a person standing behind the boy.
It was the little girl just now.
There were still crumbs of red – bean cake on her mouth.
Her eyes were red, and her shoulders were shrugging.
Obviously, she had just cried.
“I’m not here to buy a cake.
My sister was too naughty just now. She ran to your place to buy a cake without paying.”
The boy said as he handed me two coins.
“Here, uncle. I’m returning the money to you.”
8
August 6, 2024, 11:10 am
“How did you know that!”
Brother Liu from the second team asked me in surprise.
Just now, I took the file and found him,
And told him a clue I found.
“Those two people really hid this thing well.
I didn’t find out until I went to their home for a routine follow – up visit later.”
Brother Liu said, recalling:
“When I entered the door, I saw their balcony and was stunned.
You said the child had been missing for so long.
Why were there a row of freshly washed children’s clothes hanging on the balcony?
Her parents were reluctant to say at first, trying to change the subject falteringly.
But how could I not ask clearly about this kind of thing?
After I emphasized it several times, they told me that these clothes were not Ding Yutong’s.
That’s when I knew.
Ding Yutong actually had a younger sister.
9
November 13, 2020
At night, I couldn’t sleep.
It must be right!
It must be like this!
The little boy and his sister during the day kept lingering in front of my eyes.
I repeatedly recalled who had come to my place to buy red – bean cakes on the afternoon when Yutong disappeared.
Those who bought before the kindergarten dismissal.
And who were younger than Ding Yutong.
Tossing and turning, I suddenly remembered.
There was one person who fit.
It was a little girl I had never seen before.
She didn’t seem to be from this kindergarten.
I didn’t remember what she looked like or what she was wearing.
But I remembered one thing.
She paid.
And she should also be old enough to go to kindergarten.
Why could she run out before dismissal?
Could it be that I was wrong?
No, no!
There must be something I didn’t think of!
10
August 6, 2024, 11:40 am
“What? You said that on the day Ding Yutong disappeared,
Her sister bought a cake at your stall before school, and Ding Yutong knew about it?”
“I’m afraid so.” I said.
Brother Liu frowned and lit a cigarette.
“Damn… then this really has a problem.”
“What’s wrong, Brother Liu?”
“Think about it. If they were in the same kindergarten, it would make sense. But the problem is…” Brother Liu took another puff,
“I asked before. Ding Yutong’s sister is not in the same kindergarten as her.”
“Then there’s only one possibility.” I said.
“Yes, only one possibility,” Brother Liu’s expression became serious:
“Someone brought her sister there in advance that day.”
11
August 6, 2024, 11:50 am
“Is this related to Ding Yutong’s disappearance?” I asked.
“We can’t judge yet, but there must be a problem!”
Brother Liu said as he picked up the phone:
“Captain, are you in the office?”
Ten minutes later, Brother Liu and I arrived at the captain’s office.
Brother Liu briefly reported what we had just said.
“It’s almost four years since this case happened. It’s okay for you to go and confirm it at this time,” the captain said,
“But be careful. They’re not suspects yet.”
“Received.” Brother Liu and I replied together.
The captain added:
“And no matter how much you focus on the details from the past, it’s not enough.
The key to the problem always lies in reality.
Why did Ding Yutong disappear during those twenty minutes?
Where is Ding Yutong after four years?”
12
April 17, 2021
Yeah.
Even if we knew she had a sister, so what?
During this period, I changed to set up the stall at a kindergarten in the city center.
It was about four stops away from Yutong’s kindergarten.
One day, I saw the little boy who had come to pay back the money for Yutong before.
It seemed that after that kindergarten closed down, he transferred here.
I called him over and treated him to a cake.
During the conversation with him, I could tell that
The environment and teachers here were much better than those in the previous kindergarten.
But I thought the tuition fees must be much more expensive.
“Uncle, do you remember Yutong?” the little boy suddenly asked.
“Yeah, what’s wrong?”
“She disappeared.”
“I know.”
“She’s really pathetic. Uncle,
I repeated a grade when I transferred here this time.
And her sister is in our class.”
When I heard the words “her sister”, my heart skipped a beat:
“Why do you say Yutong is pathetic?”
“She was deceived by her parents!
Her sister has a lot of pocket money!”
13
August 6, 2024, 12:40 pm
After having lunch with Brother Liu in the cafeteria,
We rushed to Yutong’s parents’ home.
A girl who looked like an elementary school student opened the door.
She should be Yutong’s sister, Ding Ziqing.
She was almost as tall as my waist.
If Yutong hadn’t disappeared, she should be this tall now.
“Mom, the police are here.”
Ding Ziqing shouted and ran back to the room.
Yutong’s mother came out of the kitchen and glanced at us.
“Long time no see, Qin Lijuan.” Brother Liu took out his police ID and handed it to her.
“Oh, I was washing dishes inside just now.”
She wiped her hands on the apron, took it, and glanced at it symbolically.
“Have you two officers eaten? I can cook you a bowl of noodles.”
“No trouble. We ate before coming.”
Brother Liu looked around. “Are you and your daughter home alone?”
“Yeah, her dad is on a business trip to a project again.”
“Then I won’t bother you much. We’re here again about Yutong.”
Hearing the name Yutong, the girl inside also ran out.
“What grade is this child in?” Brother Liu asked.
“Grade three.”
“Time flies so fast. If Yutong hadn’t disappeared, she would be in grade three too.”
“What’s wrong, officer? Is there any news about Yutong?”
“No. You know, it’s been almost four years since she disappeared. Logically, after four years, we can apply to declare her dead…”
“We won’t apply. Yutong must be found!” Qin Lijuan interrupted us.
“I know. This time, we’re not asking you to apply. We just have a few questions to ask.”
“Ask me? What do you have to ask me?”
“It’s about a detail that we’ve never asked you about on the day Yutong disappeared.”
“It’s been so long. What detail?”
“Were you alone when you went to pick up Yutong that afternoon?”
Hearing this question, a hint of hesitation flashed in Qin Lijuan’s eyes.
“Yeah, I have a commuting car. I always drive alone to pick her up.”
Brother Liu and I exchanged a look, then he pointed at Ding Ziqing. “What about her? Who picks her up?”
“Her… I pick her up too.”
“That means on that day after school, you picked up the younger sister first and then went to pick up Yutong, right?”
Qin Lijuan’s eyes started to wander. “I can’t remember who I picked up first that day.”
“Can’t remember?” Brother Liu frowned.
A chill ran down my spine.
Brother Liu and I both understood at the same time that this woman was lying.
After Yutong disappeared, she and Yutong’s father first went to the kindergarten, then directly to the police station and stayed there until very late.
So they must have picked up the younger sister first. The answer was beyond doubt.
Qin Lijuan also realized the problem and quickly said, “I remember now. The one I picked up first that day was…”
At this time, Ding Ziqing interrupted. “Mom, of course you picked me up first. It was my birthday that day. You said you had something to do at night and came to the kindergarten early to celebrate my birthday.”
Qin Lijuan quickly took over. “Yeah, her dad and I were supposed to go out of town together that night, but then something happened to Yutong…”
“Oh, I see.” Brother Liu nodded thoughtfully.
The air fell silent.
The faucet was making a clattering sound.
It should be coming from the kitchen.
“I… I’ll go turn off the faucet… You two sit for a while.”
“No, no.” Brother Liu waved his hand. “We’re going back to the station. Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Okay… Then if there’s any news about Yutong…”
“Don’t worry. We’ll notify you as soon as possible.”
After going out, everything in front of us was the same as just now.
But everything was actually different.
What if…
The couple wasn’t going out of town that day.
What if they had known all along that something would happen that night.
Could all of this really be premeditated?
14
August 6, 2024, 13:30 pm
“But why would they do such a thing? Yutong is their daughter…”
Back at the station, Brother Liu lit a cigarette in distress.
And I remained silent.
When Ding Ziqing said that it was her birthday that day,
I suddenly remembered a cruel fact that I should have thought of long ago.
I tilted my head slightly. The cold air from the office air – conditioner blew into my eyes.
I recalled a long – ago evening.
Yutong didn’t buy a red – bean cake but stayed with me and chatted for a long time.
15
May 17, 2020
“Uncle, my mom will come a bit late today. Can I sit here with you for a while?”
After hearing my agreement, she carefully sat down next to me.
During the school – dismissal time, there were many people buying cakes.
She blinked her big eyes, staring at me while I was busy.
When she saw I was too busy, she would obediently hand me a few packing bags.
After I finished, I saw her sitting quietly aside.
I took a red – bean cake and handed it to her.
She smiled sweetly but waved her hand at me.
“Uncle, I won’t eat today.”
“Eat it. This one is free.”
“But mom said I can’t take things from others casually.”
“This isn’t casual. You just helped me, so this is your payment.”
“Really, uncle!”
“Yeah!”
She took it with surprise and stared at the cake in her hand carefully, reluctant to take a bite for a long time.
“Today Yutong really gets to eat it! It’s really so sweet. The sweet milk flavor, the crispy skin, and the red filling…”
She tasted it as if it were a precious treasure.
If I didn’t know her, I would have thought this little girl was eating it for the first time.
But it really was her first time.
After eating, she licked her lips, still wanting more.
Then she rummaged in her schoolbag for a long time.
Until she looked up and handed me something.
It was a crystal key – chain with a small ice – and – snow world inside, as dreamy as a fairy – tale.
“Uncle, my mom said I have to give all the good things to my sister first, delicious food, fun things… But I’ve been keeping this for myself.”
She lowered her head.
“My sister said today that I’m not her sister. I had a fight with her and cried to find mom, but mom said it was all my fault. I shouldn’t have bullied my sister.”
“So…” She looked up with tears in her eyes. “I’m afraid she’ll take this away too. Can you keep it for me for now, uncle?”
“Why me?” I took it and asked.
She broke into a smile through her tears.
“Because I trust you, uncle. You can make such sweet cakes, so you must not be a bad person!”
That day, when the first star in the night sky rose slowly,
I pushed my cart and sent her home.
That day, because she had a fight with her sister, her parents didn’t even want to come and pick her up.
“Uncle, when I grow up, I’ll buy all your cakes so you don’t have to work so hard anymore!”
She was very happy that I sent her.
She bounced all the way home, talking to me the whole way.
When we reached downstairs of her home, I stopped.
She looked back at me, a bit reluctant to leave.
“Thank you, uncle. It feels so good to have someone protect me! I really hope you can always be by Yutong’s side.”
“Don’t worry. I’m at the gate every day. Come whenever you want to eat. Go back quickly.”
I watched her go upstairs.
She knocked on the door on the left of the third floor.
Through the window of that house, I saw inside.
The lights were bright, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
But when Yutong opened the door, the light in her eyes disappeared.
16
August 6, 2024, 14:00 pm
“Yutong isn’t her biological daughter.” I said to Brother Liu.
“Impossible! We suspected that at that time, but on Yutong’s birth certificate, the parents are indeed the two of them.”
“Then how do you explain that Ding Ziqing said it was her birthday on July 12th?”
Hearing me say this, Brother Liu’s eyes widened, then he suddenly grabbed the phone.
“Check the date of birth of Ding Ziqing for me and send it to me right away.”
Two minutes later, he saw the text message and slumped into the chair.
“How could we not have noticed at that time!
The difference between their birthdays is less than six months!”
“Right, so I said Yutong isn’t her biological daughter.”
“Then everything makes sense! Damn, how could I be so stupid four years ago!”
“Brother Liu, the external pressure was too high four years ago. It’s not your fault. Everything is still in time now.”
Brother Liu stood up.
“Yes, it’s still in time! Let’s go to Qin Lijuan’s home again and bring her back to the station!”
“But we don’t have any direct evidence.”
“Just the forgery of the birth certificate is enough,” Brother Liu said as he picked up his phone. “I’ll report it to the chief and call in all the colleagues who were involved at that time. This time, we must get to the bottom of it!”
All the way, the police siren wailed.
I sat in the car, staring out of the window in a daze.
I had been waiting for this moment for a long time.
At this moment, I didn’t know what kind of result I would wait for next.
Was it still in time?
Was everything really still in time?
Yutong, where are you?
Are you still alive?
Uncle has been keeping the fairy – tale world in the key – chain for you!
17
August 6, 2024, 15:40 pm
When we knocked on Qin Lijuan’s door again,
The way she looked at us was not surprise but fear,
The fear of a guilty conscience.
Brother Liu expressionlessly showed her the A4 paper with the official seal.
“Please come back to the station with us. You’re suspected of forging a birth certificate and planning Ding Yutong’s disappearance.”
“What? Police officers, you must be mistaken!”
Even after being taken back to the station, she still repeated this sentence.
Regarding the forgery of the birth certificate, because the evidence was right in front of her, she had to admit it.
But regarding Yutong’s disappearance, she said she had always treated Yutong like her own daughter,
And that we were completely slandering her.
The interrogation reached a deadlock.
We really didn’t have iron – clad evidence that they had planned Yutong’s disappearance.
But at the same time, we were carrying out two tasks.
One was to place Ding Ziqing under temporary guardianship and conduct a careful search of their home.
The other was to gather all the responsible comrades at that time and re – sort out all the clues of this case.
While waiting anxiously, I said to the captain,
Could you give me ten minutes? I want to interrogate Qin Lijuan alone once.
The captain agreed.
18
August 6, 2024, 17:00 pm
Seeing me come in, Qin Lijuan immediately shouted,
“Police officer, have you found out? You can’t slander people!”
I didn’t respond to her but walked straight up to her.
“Yutong’s mom, do you remember me?”
The other party stared at me in confusion for a long time, then shook her head.
“Aren’t you a new police officer?”
“Yes, but we met a few years ago, and we saw each other quite often.”
“Ah, I don’t remember!” Qin Lijuan was obviously stunned.
“Do you remember that Yutong would buy a red – bean cake next to the school gate every day after school?”
She didn’t answer me immediately but lowered her eyes that had been looking at me.
I believed she remembered who I was.
I was even more certain that she could figure out that the person in front of her must be here to uncover the crimes hidden for four years and reveal the long – hidden truth.
The four – year – long entanglement of confusion and guilt gradually became heavy in my hands.
I felt like I was holding two drumsticks, walking step by step on the steps of justice,
Finally reaching the moment to beat the drum and appeal for justice.
“Oh! So it’s… Congratulations. Now you’ve become a police officer.”
There was still a fake smile on her face.
“You say, is Yutong a sensible child?”
The fake smile disappeared from her face.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Four years ago, every time Yutong happily ran towards you with a red – bean cake in her hand, you would ask her the exact same question: Yutong, are you a sensible child?
At this time, she would look at the cake in her hand reluctantly, nod obediently at you,
Then get into the car with you.
At this time, Ding Ziqing should already be in the car.
I couldn’t hear what happened after getting in the car, but I guess,
Your next sentence must be:
Since you’re a sensible child, you should give the delicious food to your sister…”
Qin Lijuan interrupted me. “Are you bored? Do you care so much about your cakes? They’re both my daughters. I can let whoever I want eat it!”
“But Yutong isn’t your daughter!” I almost shouted this sentence.
“Just because Yutong isn’t your biological daughter,
You showed your hypocrisy and cruelty incisively and vividly towards a five – year – old girl.
Was it just a red – bean cake? The two yuan for buying the red – bean cake was her only pocket money every day, her most beautiful expectation every day!”
I recalled Yutong stretching out her little hand and handing me two coins every time.
There was her body temperature on them. She must have held them in her hand for a long time.
“And your own daughter goes to the best kindergarten, has endless pocket money, and eats all kinds of good things.
But you lied to Yutong, saying that her sister had no pocket money.
How cruel you are! You made her watch things she had never enjoyed being eaten and taken away one by one.
All the reasons were that she had to be a sensible child!”
The blank charge sheet for four years was now being filled in stroke by stroke by me.
I wished I could hold her hand and make her write down clearly all the sins she had committed.
“So what? Does this kind of thing fall within the police’s jurisdiction?”
A sarcastic smile appeared on her lips.
The wolf in front of me finally took off its disguise and showed its fangs.
I stood up from the chair, rushed in front of her, and stared at her.
“You not only wanted to take everything from her, but you also wanted to use her and abandon her!
Her disappearance that day was clearly planned by you.
You brought your younger daughter there in advance. Yutong saw her sister holding a red – bean cake in her hand.
Because you always said her sister had no pocket money, Yutong naively thought she didn’t pay and asked her deskmate to bring the money to me.
That day, you must have said something to her. She disappeared voluntarily!
After that, where did Yutong go?
Tell me! It’s still in time!
Say it!!”
The wolf in front of me still maintained a sarcastic smile.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. She was lost by the kindergarten.”
Just as I was about to grab her arm, the door suddenly opened.
Brother Liu rushed in.
He was holding a painting and showed it in front of Qin Lijuan.
The drawing paper had turned yellow.
The creases on it were like ravines, splitting the picture into pieces.
Both Qin Lijuan and I stared wide – eyed.
We both recognized the content of the painting.
It was a fairy – tale – like ice – and – snow world.
Snow, green trees, red lanterns, and small houses.
“What does this painting mean?”
Brother Liu slapped the painting on the table.
“Ding Ziqing said Yutong went into this painting. What does it mean?!”
19
June 24, 2022
Two months before I decided to take the exam to become an auxiliary policeman.
“Uncle, this should be the last time I come to eat red – bean cakes from you.”
I looked up.
It was that little boy, Yutong’s former deskmate.
He popped up like an elf.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because I graduated!”
He said, proudly pointing at the bright red certificate in his hand.
“Congratulations! Then today’s red – bean cake is on me, uncle.”
He thanked me happily and picked up the cake to eat.
So, he had already graduated.
I took out the key – chain Yutong gave me from my pocket and rubbed it repeatedly in my hand.
“That’s Yutong’s, right?” the little boy asked, looking at me.
“Yeah, you remember it too.”
“Of course. When I was Yutong’s deskmate, she took it out and looked at it every day.
She said she would definitely go to the world inside one day.”
“Did she buy it herself?” I asked.
“No, her mom gave it to her.”
I felt something was wrong.
The little boy said while eating,
“Her mom said the world inside was very beautiful and that one day, she would take her there.”
I suddenly understood.
This key – chain and that so – called world were a false and cruel guide.
Just like what I had seen in the news before.
When parents abandon their children, they would take them to an amusement park.
In the fairy – tale – like park,
In the laughter of a bustling crowd.
One look back.
And the child is alone.
20
August 6, 2024, 18:40 pm
“You’ve been guiding and brainwashing her, saying you would take her to a place, preparing to abandon her!” Brother Liu shouted at Qin Lijuan.
“Yutong wasn’t missing. She was deliberately abandoned by you!
You swindled a large sum of money and lived a comfortable life here.
You’re so cruel. You used public opinion to force us so that we had no chance to discover the truth!”
Qin Lijuan was stunned by Brother Liu’s questioning and didn’t answer for a while.
However, when she came to her senses, she still remained sarcastic and defiant.
“Just because of a painting, you’re making such a fuss!”
Brother Liu calmed down. “Do you think we only found this painting?
Four years have passed. You must have disposed of all the evidence cleanly, but you forgot this.”
Brother Liu took out several sheets of paper.
It was a used – car transaction voucher.
Shortly after Yutong disappeared, they sold their previous car and bought a better one.
Brother Liu immediately went to the home of the buyer at that time and asked if there was anything unusual with the car when he took it over.
The buyer said there was no obvious anomaly, but the car was extremely clean, even the corners had been cleaned.
However, Brother Liu still noticed that he was hiding something from his eyes.
Under persistent questioning, the man said he also found one thing.
He was curious and found that the car’s on – board system had been reset.
So he restored it.
From the “driving track”, he found that one night,
this car drove to a remote place in the suburbs and stayed there for a long time.
Brother Liu immediately checked the record at that time.
That day was the day Yutong disappeared.
21 Epilogue
August 6, 2024, 19:40 pm
The criminal investigation teams of two sub – bureaus and police dogs were all mobilized.
At the same time, the cross – provincial arrest of Yutong’s father was also in progress.
Before the cruel truth came to light, colleagues in the bureau clarified some things.
A week after Yutong was born, her biological mother secretly left.
Because she had long discovered that Yutong’s father had an affair with Qin Lijuan, and Qin Lijuan was also pregnant.
Without hesitation, Yutong’s father simply changed Yutong’s biological mother to Qin Lijuan.
Qin Lijuan had always been resistant and hateful towards this child who was not her own.
When Yutong was five years old, they finally decided to abandon her.
But in the end, what exactly happened?
What happened during those twenty minutes?
An hour later.
Brother Liu’s call came, and I burst into tears on the phone.
“Has Yutong… been found?”
Brother Liu was silent on the phone for a long time.
After half a minute of silence, I finally heard his choked voice.
“Found… It should… be her…”
The little girl who used to bounce around in my memory forever stayed in the sudden early autumn four years ago.
The phone dropped to the ground.
By the time I came to my senses, I had rushed to the interrogation room and pinned Qin Lijuan to the ground.
“She was only four years old. Why did you kill her! Why did you kill her!”
I only remember a group of people pulling me.
And I kept repeating this sentence.
22
August 6, 2024, 22:40 pm
It was almost eleven o’clock, and no one in the whole building left.
Many people spontaneously came to the entrance of the building.
Everyone’s eyes were red.
Waiting for the little angel buried for four years.
Waiting for the two demons to be brought to justice.
23
22:51 pm
Yutong was brought back and directly sent to the forensic identification center.
24
23:47 pm
Colleagues from the special team 400 kilometers away called and said that Yutong’s father had been caught.
Under his confession, we learned the truth of what happened during those twenty minutes that day.
25
July 12, 2020, 15:12 pm
“Is that world really calling me?”
Through the iron gate of the kindergarten, Yutong looked at her sister eating a red – bean cake and asked her mother timidly.
“Yes, you must go today.
Mom won’t pick you up. Tell the teacher you’re going home by yourself.”
“But I don’t want to leave this home. I don’t want to leave my sister.” Yutong said sensibly.
Qin Lijuan finally lost patience.
“You don’t have a home. Who’s your sister? You’re just a bastard!
Get out of this home and disappear from this world!”
The five – year – old Yutong couldn’t understand these vicious words.
She cried loudly and turned to her sister for help.
But from her sister, she heard an even more cruel truth.
Mom and dad gave her sister a lot of pocket money.
Today was her sister’s birthday, and mom and dad prepared a big cake for her.
The red – bean cake that Yutong regarded as a treasure was dispensable to her sister.
Ding Ziqing finally threw the red – bean cake on the ground and said to her word by word:
“I’ve never regarded you as my sister. Mom said you’re a burden!”
The rain started to fall gently.
There were more and more people at the gate.
No one noticed the crying Yutong.
As the school gate opened and several children started to scan their faces to go out,
Yutong quietly followed them and rushed out.
She opened the car door and saw a big cake on the back seat.
Something she had never seen or tasted.
Everything that the five – year – old Yutong knew collapsed in an instant.
She cried and grabbed her sister’s hand.
She had never dared to do this to her sister before.
“Why did you lie to me! Why did you all lie to me!”
“You bastard, how dare you touch me!”
Qin Lijuan dragged her into the car and pressed her hard on the seat.
Yutong, who was already crying so hard that she couldn’t breathe, died under Qin Lijuan’s knee.
In the last moment, her eyes were wide open, staring at the big cake that didn’t belong to her.
After finding that Yutong stopped breathing, Qin Lijuan panicked.
At this time, she heard the shout from the kindergarten gate.
“Parents of senior class (2), please get ready to pick up your children.”
Looking around, no one saw what had happened.
Nor did anyone see Yutong running out.
A bold idea emerged in the devil’s mind.
26
August 29, 2022
After finishing the last question of the auxiliary policeman recruitment exam, I let out a long sigh and looked out of the window.
The sunlight outside the window dispelled the long – lasting haze.
I thought that Yutong must be somewhere in the world,
waiting for me to find her.
I was sure I could find her.
27
September 22, 2024
Tonight was my farewell dinner for leaving the job.
Everyone expressed their reluctance to me, including the team leader.
He said, “I know you became an auxiliary policeman just for this case.”
I toasted him and smiled.
When we were parting, he asked me,
“After resigning, what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll go back to my old business.”
28
One year later.
The once – closed – down kindergarten reopened, welcoming its new life.
On an early autumn evening, the familiar red – bean – cake stand was waiting quietly outside the gate.
It was on the eve of National Day, and the kindergarten was rehearsing programs. Melodious singing drifted out.
——Happiness is having you by my side, giving me wings…
I was so immersed in it that I didn’t notice someone calling me.
“Uncle, please give me a red – bean cake.”
The little girl in front of me was wearing a simple dress, stretching out her tender little hand, holding two coins.
It was as if she had come through time.
I handed her a red – bean cake.
“You’re uncle’s first customer today. Uncle treats you!”
“Really? That’s great.” She took it with a smile.
“However, uncle has a little request. Can you eat it right here?”
“Sure.”
She giggled and took small bites to taste.
With every bite.
She was saying goodbye to the regrets of the past.
She suddenly looked up.
“Uncle, your cake is so sweet!
Uncle, you…
Why are you… crying?”
(The End)
