"What do we do? What do we do? They're going to take Xue away!" Luo Ye followed Xiaofan back to his shabby little home, clutching the baby tightly. Her eyes were red with panic.
In just three months, she had grown deeply attached to the child—so much so that calling their bond "mother and daughter" didn't feel like an exaggeration. The thought of someone ripping Xue from her arms hurt more than death.
Xiaofan said nothing at first. From one perspective, this beautiful girl had spent three months by his side because of the baby. They had never spoken of love or romance, but to say he had no feelings for her would be a lie. Luo Ye was beautiful, kind-hearted, talented, and brilliant—the kind of girl any boy would dream of as a wife.
But above all, he had come to see Xue as his daughter. To him, Luo Ye and the baby were family now. If someone tried to break them apart, it would be unbearable.
"Say something! What should we do?" Luo Ye urged him, anxiety rising. She had always lacked decisiveness; during these months, she had grown used to relying on Xiaofan's decisions when it came to the baby.
"We'll leave tonight," Xiaofan said at last, his voice firm. "I'll take Xue somewhere no one can find us." School, exams, the future—none of it mattered. Only Xue did. For her, he would sacrifice everything.
"Leave? To where?" Luo Ye lowered her head, pressing her cheek against Xue's tiny face. The baby gurgled and reached for her, leaving red scratches on her skin. Luo Ye didn't even notice.
"To Huanghe City. I'll rent a place in some back-alley neighborhood, write my novels, and raise her." His plan was rough, but it was all he had.
Xiaofan had talent in gaming and had been writing game-related web novels for over two years. Though not famous, he had a steady trickle of readers. If he gave up school and focused fully on writing, he could probably make three to five thousand yuan a month—enough to support himself and Xue.
"Huanghe City… but if you leave, how will I see Xue again? And what about your studies?" Luo Ye's eyes dimmed with worry.
"You can come visit. As for school… some sacrifices are worth it." Xiaofan's gaze lingered on her. He wished he had the strength to protect her, protect Xue, and protect the little home they had created—but he was still just a seventeen-year-old student.
"My family might agree to adopt Xue. But… they'd never let you see her again. Or me, for that matter." Luo Ye hesitated. Knowing her brother, he'd probably throw money at Xiaofan to make him disappear, then take the child away forever.
"She's my daughter. No one is taking her from me," Xiaofan's tone hardened. He liked Luo Ye, but his attachment to Xue was now unshakable. He could accept never seeing Luo Ye again if her family forced it—but losing Xue was impossible.
"Then… maybe wait. Let me talk to my family first. If I can convince them, maybe there's a way for you to stay with her." She still sounded uncertain.
Xiaofan didn't respond. Deep down, he doubted it would be that simple.
Just then, Luo Ye's phone rang. She looked at the number and froze.
"Brother… you're downstairs?" she asked, moving to the window. Below, a black military-style SUV was parked. A tall man in a black suit stood by it, looking up at her with his phone pressed to his ear.
His name was Luo Yi—her older brother.
"Are you coming down, or should I come up?" His voice through the phone was sharp, almost threatening.
"Don't come up. I'll come down. Just give me a few minutes," Luo Ye pleaded.
"Five minutes. If you're not down, I'm coming up." He hung up.
Luo Ye turned, tears welling in her eyes as she hugged Xue again. The baby looked up at her innocently, confused by the sudden tension.
"Go," Xiaofan said softly. "Talk to them. Don't worry about Xue—I'll take good care of her."
"My account's frozen… I'll figure out another way to get you money. Just promise me you'll keep her safe." Luo Ye's tears streamed freely now.
"This will bring you a lot of trouble. Take care of yourself first. I'll manage the rest." Xiaofan shook his head.
"Thank you. Please… take care of her." Luo Ye placed Xue back in his arms.
The baby blinked up at her, seeming uneasy, as if sensing her sadness.
"Be careful with your family. Don't argue too much—just explain everything calmly. They'll understand." Xiaofan urged her gently.
"If I don't call you by eight tonight, it means things went badly—or that they've locked me down. If that happens, take Xue and leave immediately." Luo Ye wiped her tears, her voice steadier now.
"I understand. Don't worry about us. Just keep yourself safe. I'll wait for your call. If there's none by eight, I'll leave with her." Xiaofan nodded.
Tears streamed down her face as she walked toward the door. At the last second, she turned back, rushed over, and embraced both Xiaofan and Xue together.
Xiaofan trembled. In three months of living like a "family," this was the closest she had ever come to him—though perhaps it was just by accident.
"Xue… Mommy will find a way to keep you. Be strong, little one. You must stay safe!" Luo Ye kissed the baby's cheeks again and again, then finally tore herself away and left without looking back.
Xiaofan watched her disappear down the stairs, his chest hollow. The warmth of the past three months threatened to shatter. He knew convincing her family would be nearly impossible. Tonight, their fragile happiness might end, and he and Xue would be forced into hiding.
If they fled the city, who knew when—if ever—they'd see Luo Ye again?
Perhaps sensing his sorrow, Xue began to cry in his arms. He soothed her gently until she calmed down.
Glancing at the clock, he set an alarm for eight o'clock. If no call came by then, he would leave. He could endure losing Luo Ye—but not Xue. Losing her was unthinkable.
He began to pack: clothes, diapers, formula, bottles—all crammed into a large bag. He had just finished when a phone rang suddenly.
Xiaofan froze.
That ringtone… it wasn't his.