The Kitty Became a Cutie and Was Pampered in the 80s
Chapter 543: Overwhelming Luck (2)_1

Chapter 543: Chapter 543: Overwhelming Luck (2)_1

"..." The second son’s expression was somewhat sorrowful. Although his little sister had died decades ago, her passing remained an unspeakable pain within the family.

"This child..." The elderly family member sighed, gazing ahead as if lost in thought; their eyes moistened, and in a soft voice, they said, "Make sure to investigate thoroughly."

"Okay," the eldest son nodded, understanding what she meant without needing to ask.

This episode didn’t cause much of a stir for Jiaojiao, and once Master Zeng had almost finished tidying up the restaurant, she went in to sit down on a chair, resting her head on the table, and quietly waited for the Ruan family to return.

Xiu Xi sat beside her, in the same posture, except his eyes were fixed on her the whole time.

Jiaojiao sighed countless times and eventually laid his hand on hers.

Jiaojiao looked over.

"Take a nap," Xiu Xi said.

"Don’t want to," Jiaojiao responded with squinting eyes, shaking her head and continually switching hands to support her head.

Master Zeng and his apprentice were calculating the day’s losses, and after roughly estimating, they sighed; the month’s effort had been in vain.

Chefs in particular hate to see food wasted, and the thought of dishes contaminated with shards of glass and pottery, not even fit for pigs, caused them physical pain.

Jiaojiao waited a long time until after nine o’clock at night when the Ruanlin family and Shu Jiao returned in Ruan Xia’s car.

The street was already silent. As soon as the car stopped, Jiaojiao jumped up from her chair. Master Zeng, too, snapped out of his dozing and hurried to open the restaurant door.

"Granny, Mom." Jiaojiao peered out into the dim street light but only saw Ruan Xia and the others; she didn’t see her three uncles or her father, and her heart sank.

"My sweet, have you eaten?" the matron of the Ruanlin family, weary but unyielding, immediately embraced Jiaojiao and asked as she got out of the car.

Jiaojiao nodded, looking towards Shu Jiao.

Shu Jiao seemed very tired, with dark circles under her eyes. She rubbed her nose bridge and, feeling her daughter’s gaze, curved her lips into a gentle smile, stroking her little head, "Sweetheart, why are you still up so late? There are rooms in the back; you should go sleep for a bit."

"Mom, Dad and the others..."

"They’ll be fine. Mom’s here, Granny’s here, what is there to fear? They’re just staying temporarily at the police station, and your godfather’s there too. Don’t be afraid, it’s going to be okay," Shu Jiao reassured her kindly.

But Jiaojiao understood all too well that the fact her three uncles and Ruan Jian|guo hadn’t come back meant the issue was really serious.

Seeing the visibly overstrained Shu Jiao and matron of the Ruanlin family, Jiaojiao felt a pang in her heart and refrained from asking further.

Since it was already getting late and they would need to hurry early the next day, the Ruanlin family and Shu Jiao decided not to go back. Ruan Xia, too tired to make the trip back and forth, and with Master Zeng and his apprentice having left earlier, left only the women. To be prepared in case anything else happened later in the night, and because no one would be there to attend to it, he couldn’t leave. Fortunately, it wasn’t very cold. He pushed a few tables together, curled up with a spare blanket, and slept in the hall. Xiu Xi slept with him.

And Jiaojiao slept in the storeroom with Shu Jiao and the matron of the Ruanlin family.

Jiaojiao was too tired; she relaxed a bit once the Ruanlin family and Shu Jiao returned.

She fell asleep quickly with the gentle coaxing of the Ruanlin matron, but in her half-asleep state, she could hear the muted conversation between the two women.