Eating Melons in the Police Station-Chapter 117
After leaving the police station, the father and daughter went to visit Aunt Liang and Sang Biao.
Since Zhong Jin and the others had returned to Jing City, Aunt Liang had stopped working as a nanny. She rented a storefront in the old district and opened a fruit shop, managing the business while also looking after her young grandson.
Aunt Liang’s mother had passed away the year Little Tong started middle school. After her mother’s death, she finalized her divorce with her husband.
Now alone, as she often put it, this was the most peaceful and carefree time of her life.
Sang Biao, the chicken, had been raised like a dog. Still in diapers, he had already become the honorary "second boss" of the fruit shop, greeting customers every day like a little mascot. Customers adored him so much that they’d go out of their way just to buy fruit from "Sang Biao’s shop."
As they approached the store, Little Tong immediately spotted Sang Biao dozing in his dog bed.
Standing outside, she whistled sharply with her fingers in her mouth. Hearing the familiar sound, Sang Biao jolted awake, shook out his majestic feathers, and peered outside with his shiny black bead-like eyes.
The moment he saw Little Tong and Zhong Jin, Sang Biao waddled over on his stubby legs, his round body swaying excitedly as he clucked his way toward them.
He circled Zhong Jin and Little Tong once in excitement before finally pressing his head into Little Tong’s outstretched palm, as if both sulking and asking,
"Why did you take so long to visit me?"
Little Tong picked Sang Biao up just as Aunt Liang came out, having heard the commotion.
Zhong Jin handed her some souvenirs they’d brought from Jing City. After exchanging pleasantries, Aunt Liang bustled about, cutting fresh fruit for them and setting out an array of snacks in front of Little Tong.
With both hands occupied holding Sang Biao, Little Tong couldn’t eat. She glanced at the milk candies on the plate, then at Zhong Jin.
He immediately understood, unwrapping one and popping it into her mouth.
After finishing the candy, Little Tong eyed the marshmallows next.
Zhong Jin forked a piece of orange and offered it to her instead. She shook her head in protest, but he insisted, "You can’t just eat sweets. Have this orange first, and then I’ll give you a marshmallow."
Little Tong reluctantly accepted the orange, only to scrunch up her face at the sourness.
Aunt Liang laughed from the side. "Little Tong, you fell for it again! Oranges taste extra sour right after candy."
True to her habit of never wasting food, Little Tong forced herself to swallow the sour orange despite her watering mouth.
Just as she was about to glare at Zhong Jin in betrayal, he swiftly stuffed a marshmallow into her mouth.
After spending some time at Aunt Liang’s place, Little Tong tried to take Sang Biao back to the hotel when it was time to leave.
Zhong Jin reasoned with her patiently at first. "How are we supposed to stay at a hotel with Sang Biao? And didn’t you say you wanted to buy new soccer shoes at the mall? Do you think they’ll let you bring a chicken inside?"
Little Tong clung stubbornly to Sang Biao. "Then I’ll call Uncle Qiu Chen. He’ll figure it out."
The troublemaker had grown up but remained just as mischievous. She already knew—if she called Qiu Chen, he’d agree immediately. His current motto was, "Money’s no issue as long as the kid’s happy."
But Zhong Jin didn’t give her the chance to act up. Hands in his pockets, he said calmly, "Zhong Yuntong, I’ll count to three."
He didn’t even need to start counting before Little Tong immediately set Sang Biao down.
Just then, the baby in the stroller began crying. Aunt Liang got up to prepare a bottle, and Little Tong followed, watching curiously.
After preparing the baby’s formula, Aunt Liang poured half a glass of milk and handed it to Little Tong.
She took the glass and downed it in one go, finally resigning herself to leaving—though not without a pout—as she followed Zhong Jin out.
Raising a food-obsessed child left Zhong Jin with little recourse.
As Qiu Sheng often joked, "Our Little Tong is a tough kid—hardly ever cries. In all her years, she’s only cried about ten times. And out of those ten, nine were over food."
Little Tong, grinning, would always add, "And the tenth time was because Mom and Dad wouldn’t let me into their bedroom."
Qiu Sheng, who’d meant to tease her for being a glutton, would end up blushing instead.
After leaving Aunt Liang’s, the father-daughter pair took a taxi to the mall.
Xiang Zimo and his friends had invited Little Tong to play soccer the next day, but she hadn’t brought her cleats, so they needed to buy a new pair.
As they entered the mall, they passed the first-floor area where Little Tong used to ride the mini train. Noticing her lingering gaze, Zhong Jin teased, "Want to ride it again?"
Little Tong glanced longingly in that direction but still shook her head: "I'm too old for that now, aren't I?"
After taking a couple of steps forward, she tugged at Zhong Jin's sleeve: "I'd feel awkward going alone. Come with me."
In the end, Zhong Jin found himself hunched in the tiny cartoon train carriage, his long legs awkwardly folded, while his "leaky cotton-padded jacket" (Little Tong) sat in the front carriage, laughing so hard she nearly toppled over.
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She even snapped a photo of Zhong Jin squeezed into the ridiculous little train and posted it in their family group chat.
Qiu Chen replied with an "I-can't-even-look" meme.
Qiu Sheng commented: [Little Tong, great shot! Dad looks so young here.]
Ms. Tao Siyuan chimed in: [Stop showing him—I only want to see my precious Tongtong!]
Early the next morning, Little Tong arranged to meet her friends for soccer at the stadium. On the way there, she suddenly decided to pick up Sang Biao to join the game.
Zhong Jin grumbled about the hassle but still pulled out his phone to reroute their ride to the fruit shop first.
Little Tong clung to Aunt Liang's arm, cooing, "Auntie, I'm playing soccer later!"
Aunt Liang, well-versed in her role, promptly mixed half a cup of baby formula for her: "Drink up. Play your best."
When they arrived at the city stadium, the rest of the team hadn’t shown up yet—except for cheerleader Miao Yueyue, who arrived first. Dressed in a short skirt and wielding pom-poms, her mechanical legs gleaming under the morning sun, she looked like a futuristic warrior.
Spotting Little Tong, Miao Yueyue waved her pom-poms excitedly and jogged over.
They waited in the stands until the District Experimental Kindergarten soccer team members trickled in.
The team, named [Team Hope], consisted of 11 kids selected through rigorous trials for their stamina, speed, and strength. Though they mostly trained at school, they occasionally played friendly matches against other kindergartens.
Despite their small size, the kids took the sport seriously, playing with surprising skill. The parents had their own group chat and often organized off-campus activities, keeping everyone close.
This time, when Little Tong returned to Haishan, Xiang Ruicheng rallied the group chat: "Xiang Zimo’s coming to play soccer with Little Tong—who’s in?" The response was overwhelming.
Though the team had disbanded long ago, the group remained active. With summer break in full swing, the call was answered instantly—9 out of 11 kids showed up, the other two away on trips.
Without opponents, they couldn’t hold a proper match, but the kids still had a blast playing practice drills.
Zhong Jin sat in the stands with Sang Biao in his arms, a thermos of goji-infused water at his side, his gaze fixed on Little Tong. In her sky-blue jersey, she darted across the field like a flicker of light in his dark eyes.
The girl thrived outdoors. After a recent trip to the Maldives with her grandma, her once-fair skin had tanned to a warm wheat shade. With a sweatband on her forehead and her long hair braided into a neat ponytail, she weaved past two boys before Luo Jiahao rushed to block her.
Planting her feet, Little Tong executed a sharp, clean slide kick—sending the ball straight into the net.
The parents erupted in cheers from the stands, Zhong Jin whistling proudly.
Sang Biao, nestled in his arms, perked up at the familiar sound, fluffing his feathers and peering around for his tiny companion.
Xiang Ruicheng clapped, turning to Zhong Jin with a grin:
"Remember when Little Tong was this tiny? Chubby and barely moving. Who’d have guessed she’d turn into such an athlete?"
Another parent added, "Yeah, when Zhong Yuntong played forward, Team Hope never lost a game."
Zhong Jin kept a straight face, but inwardly swelled with pride: The Heavenly Cloud Demon Dog’s power and reflexes are no joke.
As they chatted, a stray ball rolled toward the stands. One of the kids called out,
"Uncle Zhong, could you kick it back? Thanks!"
Zhong Jin stood, adjusted Sang Biao, and sent the ball flying with a single tap. Reseating himself, he discreetly wiggled his toes inside his dress shoes.
Probably shouldn’t have worn leather soles—my big toe’s throbbing now.
As noon approached, the temperature gradually rose. The children, drenched in sweat from running around, eventually grew too tired to continue and plopped down on the soccer field to rest. Some clutched water bottles like little buffaloes, gulping down water, while others sat or sprawled out to catch their breath.
The sun grew fiercer, and one by one, everyone began to leave.
Little Tong pushed herself up from the grass with her hands and dashed over to Zhong Jin, leaning on his knee. "Dad, let’s go home too. I’m hungry."
Zhong Jin removed her sweat-drenched hairband and wiped her face with a wet wipe before patting the spot beside him. "Come sit with me for a while."
Little Tong settled next to him, and despite the sweltering heat, she pressed against his arm as usual.
Fresh from running around, the child radiated heat like a little furnace, and soon Zhong Jin was sweating too.
Xiang Ruicheng and Xiang Zimo walked over and invited them to join for lunch. Zhong Jin noticed the restrained longing in Xiang Zimo’s quiet gaze but still steeled himself and waved them off. "You go ahead. Little Tong and I will stay here a little longer."
Disappointment flickered in Xiang Zimo’s eyes, but he politely waved back. "Goodbye, Uncle Zhong. Goodbye, Little Tong."
"Goodbye."
Zhong Jin watched them leave.
Xiang Zimo had grown noticeably taller since their last meeting. His eyes were clear and bright, his lips pressed together in quiet determination, the budding resilience and vigor of youth already evident in him.
Once Xiang Ruicheng and Xiang Zimo disappeared from view, the vast soccer field was left with only Zhong Jin, Little Tong, and Sang Biao.
Little Tong rested her chin on Zhong Jin’s knee, giggling. "Dad, are you worried I’ll have a puppy love with Xiang Zimo?"
Zhong Jin scolded her in a low voice. "Don’t talk nonsense. You’re still so young—what do you know about puppy love?"
Unfazed, Little Tong kept grinning. "Then why didn’t you go eat with them?"
Zhong Jin pressed his lips together, hesitating before admitting, "When I kicked the ball earlier, I think… maybe… I might’ve broken my toe. I can’t really stand up right now."
The smile vanished from Little Tong’s face. Her eyes widened in alarm, and her voice shot up.
"WHAT? Your foot’s broken and you didn’t say anything?!"
Zhong Jin hurriedly covered her mouth. "Not broken, not broken! Keep your voice down."
