Win My Husband Over to Find My Child
Chapter 169: Eenie Minnie Miney Mo~

Chapter 169: Eenie Minnie Miney Mo~

While the children continued chatting happily over the new gifts, Calix kept listening to Director Li’s story. All of her words were registered in his mind.

According to the head of the orphanage, one of the visitors quickly saved the drowning Calliope. She was already hugging tightly to the crochet fox toy when being carried from the lake.

Fortunately, Calliope didn’t suffer from any bad side effects aside from having a fever that night. She also profusely apologized for trying to get into the lake, causing her to fall.

"Calliope said she got the toy from Water Fairy," Director Li exhaled a sigh of helplessness, "We initially thought it belonged to another child in the park but, none of them came forward to claim it."

The trip to the lake park was cut short because of the incident. Calliope fell asleep soon after waking up from her drowning. They wanted to get her checked in the nearest hospital.

Noticing the unfamiliar crochet fox toy, Director Li wanted to leave it to the lost-and-found center. Its true owner might be looking for it. Most probably, it belonged to another child.

But, Calliope slept while keeping her arms tightly around the toy. She cried when any of them tried to get it out of her arms.

"We told the park to announce about it before leaving for the hospital. But, no one came forward to claim it so... Calliope has grown attached to the toy."

Calliope had a long fever after the drowning accident but, she was still cheerful. Whenever her fellow friends came to visit and accompany her in the shared bedroom, she boasted of how cute her new friend named Mimo was.

"Perhaps... it’s indeed given by Water Fairy," said Calix after Director Li finished her story. Arching his brows, he uttered, "I’m glad to hear she’s fine. She’s quite chatty."

Director Li shifted her gaze to Calliope, smiling fondly at her. The little one was playing with her friends, showing off their new gifts to each other. The room ambiance only grew better as the seconds passed by.

"Mr. Xu, you can say she’s the leader for the children here. Hehe, they listen well to whatever she says."

Letting out a chuckle, Calix nodded, "Seems like it."

They stopped talking about the incident, moving their focus back to the children.

Calix quietly stared at Calliope, his gaze was unfathomable. No one knew what kind of thought swirling in his mind right now.

Soon, the gift-giving ended. Director Li scanned the room, smiling at each of the children.

"Everyone, do you remember what your teachers have taught you before? What do you say when you receive gifts?"

The children responded in unison, "Thank you, misters."

"Play and study well," Calix chuckled, happy to see how bright the children’s expressions were, "So, what are we gonna do now?"

"Play! Let’s play!"

"Granny, can we play outside?"

Director Li was not entirely immune to the children’s pleading. Because they still had time before their scheduled morning nap, she allowed them to play outdoors.

"Mister, let’s go play catch ball!"

"Do you know how to play hopscotch?"

"Hurm~ What else should we play?"

Calix and the bodyguards headed outdoors, following the energetic children. They left the toys, books and stationery sets in the room.

The weather outside was good as the sun beaming through the place. The chilly spring air helped to lower the temperature.

Calix thought how well this orphanage was taken care of despite showing signs of being old. The yard was neatly trimmed with beds of flowers adorning the area. He hadn’t seen the backyard yet.

"Eenie minnie miney mo~ Who is the seeker, who are the hiders~"

The children decided to play hide-and-seek. With a look in his eyes, Calix signaled the bodyguards to follow along while warning them not to use their hiding ability on the children.

The bodyguards, "..."

Boss Xu, we know it without being told ah. How could we use our skills on these innocent and naive children?

While the adults were staring at each other, the children finally decided on the seeker.

"It’s Noah! Noah is the seeker!"

"Yeahhh!"

"Everyone! Wait for Noah to start counting!"

Calix and the bodyguards broke their eye contact, realizing the game would start in mere minutes. They saw a young boy aged five to six standing facing a tree while closing his eyes.

"I will start counting from thirty!" announced the boy named Noah, his voice blaring in the front yard, "Thirty... twenty-nine... twenty-eight..."

"RUN!"

"Everyone! Hide!"

The little turnip heads broke into laughter, scattering to find the perfect hiding spots from Noah. The inside of the building was off-limits. They could only hide in the yard, including the backyard.

Calix waved a few times, signaling for the bodyguards to quickly do the same as the children. Paying attention to them no more, he dashed in a random direction, eager to look for a great hiding spot.

Logan and his colleagues watched their boss fleeing from the yard, helplessness and bewilderment imbued in their eyes.

Haha... They didn’t expect they would play hide-and-seek with children today.

Noah was still counting, his voice was barely audible from where Calix was heading to. He intentionally rushed to the backyard, thinking that he might be able to find a good place to hide there.

While wandering in the backyard, Calix caught a few movements coming from the bushes and behind the trees. It seemed like some children chose to conceal their presence there.

"Haha... if only Leslie knows what I’m doing now."

Calix let out dry laughter when the image of Leslie was conjured in his mind. He was tempted to share the good times he spent with the children but, he didn’t want to abruptly reveal his whereabouts.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Calix pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind. He barely heard Noah announcing he would go looking for the hiders now, prompting him to sneak into the nearest bush.

Crawling behind the bush to the next, Calix racked his brain. Even though this game involved children, he still didn’t want to get caught quickly.

Hurm... Where should he hide ah?

Was there any good place here? How about on the tree?

"Ah? Uncle hides here too?"

Slightly startled, Calix looked in the direction of the familiar voice. His eyes caught Calliope crouching behind the bush next to the one he was hiding now.

"Poppy?" Calix whispered, unable to believe his eyes, "Are you hiding here too?"

Calliope shook her head. She brought her crochet fox toy along, hugging the plushie with one arm while the other pointed in a direction.

"I’ll hide there. Uncle wanna come along?"

"Huh?"

Intrigued by what the child had in mind, Calix nodded. He wanted to see where Calliope planned to hide from the seeker. For some reason, he had a hunch it would be an interesting spot.

Calliope brought Calix sneaking through one bush to the next. The little one knew which way to use to avoid being caught early on. They faintly heard the shouts coming from Noah and the children he captured.

"Handsome Uncle, here!"

Calliope pointed in a direction – to a tree. Calix’s jaw almost dropped to the grassy field.

"What the..."

Under Calix’s surprised gaze, Calliope crouched on the ground. Her little body easily slipped into the tree hole hidden between the bushes.