Chapter 60

Xu Mo looked up and saw a man in his thirties, dressed in a black suit with white gloves, standing tall and handsome, exuding a strong masculine aura.

Xu Mo couldn't help but think: From the way he addressed Xiao Man's mother, this must be the 'Uncle Liu' Xiao Man mentioned.

As soon as Xiao Man saw the man, she let out a loud scream. She was so frightened that she could only wail and cry, her voice choked with sobs, and she could hardly speak. She clung tightly to Xu Mo's neck and said in a broken voice, "Wah... Dad... It's him... Xiao Man... Xiao Man... Wah... didn't lie, really... Wah... it was him... Wah... who pushed Xiao Man into the river."

Seeing her like this and feeling her small body trembling uncontrollably in his arms, Xu Mo felt a sharp pain in his heart, filled with pity. But he was emotionally reserved and simply held Xiao Man tightly, saying nothing, just giving the man a faint glance.

The man glanced at Xiao Man, seeming to breathe a sigh of relief, and said to Xiao Man's mother, "I came over as soon as I received your call. Thank goodness, Xiao Man is fine." Then his face showed a look of surprise and confusion, and he asked, "What's wrong with Xiao Man? Why is she so scared of me?"

Xiao Man's mother, Yang Yin, stared at the man with a suspicious look and asked sternly, "Guohua, Xiao Man says... you pushed her into the river?"

Liu Guohua cried out in protest, "I've been with a few friends all along, never apart. How could I have come here to push Xiao Man? They can all vouch for me. If you don't believe me, I can call them and you can ask them." Saying this, he took out his phone and was about to call his friends.

Yang Yin also found it hard to believe that Liu Guohua could have pushed Xiao Man into the water. Seeing him about to make the call, she quickly stopped him, "That's not necessary."

Liu Guohua didn't insist and put his phone away. He then glanced at Xiao Man again and smiled bitterly, "Xiao Man has always had a grudge against me, so it's no wonder she thinks this way." He sighed, looking at Yang Yin with a look of reluctance and regret, "Sigh! Since Xiao Man is so opposed, maybe... we should... break up."

As he said this, he reached out and grabbed Yang Yin's hand, staring straight into her eyes with a look of deep affection and pain, as if he was deeply in love with her.

"Break up?" Yang Yin's heart trembled at his gaze, and she lowered her head, hesitating. Liu Guohua was well-mannered, handsome, and had excellent manners. Among the men she had dated, no one could compare to him except for Xiao Man's father.

Hearing him suggest a breakup, she felt a pang of regret, but she couldn't ignore her daughter. If Xiao Man continued to treat Liu Guohua this way, it would be hard to continue the relationship. After some thought, she said, "Let's wait a while and let Xiao Man calm down before we decide."

Liu Guohua glanced at Xiao Man again. Xiao Man was hugging Xu Mo's neck, her back to him, and she didn't dare to turn around, still crying. Liu Guohua didn't recognize Xu Mo and was surprised to see Xiao Man being so close to him.

Xu Mo's eyes met Liu Guohua's, and he instinctively felt a strong aversion. Seeing him staring at Xiao Man's mother, he became even more suspicious. But he remained calm, silently determined, and said nothing.

He lowered his head and looked at Xiao Man in his arms, feeling even more pity for her.

Thinking back to the first time he met Xiao Man, in that cold, snowy world, where the whole world seemed to have abandoned him, it was only this little girl who made him feel a glimmer of warmth. She had brought him back from the pain and despair of losing Xiao Qing, helped him in times of danger, and made him fall in love with the world again, giving him the strength to live on...

Thinking of this, his nose tingled, and his blood rushed to his head, his emotions becoming intense. He couldn't resist kissing Xiao Man's forehead and whispered, "Sweetheart, Dad will take you home."

In the past, when Xiao Man called him Dad, he never objected but never agreed either. This was the first time he called himself Dad, and he knew that this title meant he would take on the responsibility of this little girl's joys and sorrows, past, present, and future.

He felt a weight on his shoulders, knowing it was the responsibility of a father. From today on, his fate would be forever linked with this little girl, inseparable.

Hearing him call himself Dad, Xiao Man was slightly stunned, then jumped with joy in Xu Mo's arms, forgetting her fear and sadness, and repeatedly called, "Dad! Dad!" She kissed Xu Mo's face, her heart almost bursting with happiness.

Yang Yin, seeing this, felt embarrassed with so many people watching. She thought, "If Xiao Man calls this man Dad, others will think he is my ex-husband and Guohua is the third party. I don't know what they will think of me. It's best to leave quickly."

She then called out to Liu Guohua and said to Xiao Man, "Xiao Man, go home with Mom."

Xiao Man, being young, had quick emotions. She was now completely immersed in the joy of Xu Mo agreeing to be her dad, forgetting her fear and panic. Hearing her mother call her, she made a face at her mother and said, "I don't want to go back. I want to stay with Dad."

She then turned to Xu Mo and said in a sweet voice, "Dad, why did you leave last time? Xiao Man couldn't find you and missed you so much that she cried for days."

Xu Mo smiled and said, "I'm back now, aren't I? Well, Mom wants you to go home, so I'll take you back."

Hearing this, Xiao Man said happily, "If Dad goes back, I'll go back too."

Yang Yin, hearing their conversation, was taken aback. She then thought, "This is good. As long as Xiao Man goes back, everything can be discussed. If Xiao Man likes him, it's fine for him to come back. Our house is big, and it can easily accommodate ten more people, let alone just one. I'll treat him like a hired nanny."

Seeing Xu Mo holding Xiao Man and how close they were, she didn't stop them but also didn't get too close, leading the way to her house.

Xu Mo followed behind, deliberately slowing his steps to keep a distance from Yang Yin. He leaned close to Xiao Man's ear and whispered, "Sweetheart, tell Dad where Uncle Liu lives. Keep it quiet, don't let Mom hear."

Xiao Man looked puzzled, not understanding why he was asking, but following Xu Mo's instructions, she leaned close to his ear and whispered, "27 Jinghua Road, third floor, apartment E. Xiao Man has been there many times with Mom." She paused and then added, "Dad, why are you asking where Uncle Liu lives? He pushed Xiao Man into the water, and Xiao Man hates him."

Xu Mo said calmly, "It's nothing," but he remembered the address well.

Xiao Man, having experienced a life-and-death situation and multiple shocks, was already extremely tired. By the time Xu Mo took her home, she had fallen asleep in his arms.

Xu Mo laid her on the bed and, glancing at the table beside her bed, saw a photo frame. Inside was a photo of Xiao Man, clearly taken recently. In the photo, Xiao Man was wearing a white ballet dress, her left foot on tiptoe, her right leg curled, her hands raised above her head, and her head tilted back, as if she were flying.

Yang Yin, seeing him looking at the photo, explained, "This was taken when Xiao Man won a ballet competition at her school last year."

Xu Mo said, "Oh," and opened the frame, took out the photo, and put it in his pocket.

Yang Yin, seeing his actions, was taken aback. Although she didn't say much, she thought, "This man is so impolite. I know he took Xiao Man's photo as a keepsake, but he didn't even ask me first."

Xu Mo leaned down and kissed Xiao Man's forehead again, then left her house.

He stood at the intersection, asked for directions to Jinghua Road, and found it nearby. He walked over, and as he got closer, he clenched his fists, thinking, "Xiao Man was so scared; what she said must be true. Even if it's not, I have to treat it as if it is. I can't play with her life. If she gets hurt, I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I'm leaving this city soon, so I need to take care of this threat first."

When he reached 27 Jinghua Road, apartment E, he carefully checked and found a drainpipe that he could climb.

He nodded, left the place, and waited until midnight when everyone was asleep. Then he climbed up the drainpipe.

The weather was getting warmer, and Liu Guohua didn't close his windows at night. When Xu Mo entered through the balcony, Liu Guohua was sound asleep, snoring loudly.

Xu Mo walked quietly to his bed, pulled out a dagger, and, after a moment's hesitation, stabbed him in the heart.

It was his first time killing someone, but for Xiao Man, he didn't hesitate. As Liu Guohua tried to scream, Xu Mo covered his mouth.

Xu Mo pulled out the dagger, looked at the body, and thought, "I can't leave any clues to avoid causing trouble for Xiao Man."

He went to the kitchen, took a bucket of cooking oil, poured it on Liu Guohua's body, and set it on fire. As the flames rose, he noticed the five clear fingernail marks on Liu Guohua's right hand.

The marks were fresh, fine, and close together, clearly made by a child. Xiao Man hadn't lied; this man had indeed pushed her into the water, and she had scratched his hand before falling.

Worried that Yang Yin might notice, he had worn gloves when he came.

Xu Mo then went to the kitchen, turned on the gas, closed the windows, and climbed down the drainpipe, leaving the city.

——————

PS: This chapter is finally over. Starting from the mountain, these two segments were written in a hurry, compressing at least 20,000 words.

However, the purpose was clear: to force Xu Mo to leave the city. After the story was clear, I didn't waste too many words.

Flip to the next page for AD.

Flip to the next page for AD.