Right Here Waiting For You - Chapter 24: The Seriousness of This Matter

“I…,” at the mention of this, Ning Tiantian’s eyes shifted back and forth. She said somewhat guiltily, in a pitiful little voice, “forgot…”

At this moment, Li Yanmo really wanted to see what was inside her brain. His tone somewhat stern and serious, he asked, “Ning Tiantian, don’t you know the seriousness of this matter? It’s okay to lose the necklace, but what if you got lost? Whatever would I have done?”

Sensing that it hadn’t come out right, he paused for a moment, before continuing.

“Not just me, but how about our parents, the preschool teachers, and your good friend, Cookie?”

It was Ning Tiantian’s first time facing such a fierce Li Yanmo. Tears rolling down her face, she answered, “I didn’t think so much…”

Now that she has seen Inky, she finally realized how inappropriate it was for her to leave the Dinosaur Museum abruptly, without giving any notice.

“All right, stop crying.” Li Yanmo’s expression softened upon realizing that Tiantian had acknowledged her mistake. He bent down in front of her and wiped her tears. But the more he wiped, the more tears there were, as if it was a tap that couldn’t be turned off. “Stop crying. I’ll take care of everything.”

He tried to keep his voice gentle. For a nine-year-old child, his words were surprisingly persuasive.

Looking up at him, Ning Tiantian said, “It’s good to have you, Inky.”

Li Yanmo stood up, took out his cell phone from the pocket of his school uniform, and rang the preschool teacher, Miss Mi. “Yes, Tiantian is with me now. You don’t have to worry. Mhm, I’ll send her home.”

“What did the teacher say?” Tiantian asked feebly.

“She informed the parents.”

……

Tiantian took a deep breath, but visibly relaxed as something occurred to her. “Mama Li couldn’t bear to hit me.”

“But…” He called his mom just now, and his mom said that she hadn’t received any calls from the preschool, because they were obliged to provide the details of Tiantian’s immediate family members on the application form.

So the person who had received the call from the preschool was…

Li Yanmo frowned.

“No buts. Inky, could we go look for the necklace?” Ning Tiantian gazed at him imploringly, as she held his hand.

Li Yanmo just stared at Tiantian.

Looking at the oblivious Tiantian, Li Yanmo almost felt sorry for her. Your parents are probably on their way back right now, and all you’re concerned about is looking for the necklace?

Li Yanmo stared her in her eyes, and asked seriously, “Is the necklace that important to you?”

“Yes, it’s very important to me,” Ning Tiantian replied earnestly, “but Inky is more important.”

“Mm, it’s not that far anyway. We can have a look.”

Li Yanmo looked down, a blush spreading on his handsome visage.

“Wait! Wait! Students can’t leave school grounds just like that!” The school security officer immediately blocked their way, his eyes focused on Li Yanmo.

Li Yanmo’s face remained blank as he pushed him aside, saying indifferently, “Well, give me a demerit then!”

He then led Ning Tiantian out of the school.

The school security officer had a look of confusion on his face, but Li Yanmo’s demeanor deterred him from trying again.

“Inky, will you really receive a demerit?” Ning Tiantian was shocked.

“Maybe.” As if.

Ning Tiantian bit her lips and lowered her head, suddenly halting her footsteps.

“What’s wrong?” Li Yanmo suddenly looked at her quizzically.

“Go back to class, Inky. I won’t look for the necklace anymore. And I can go home on my own.”

She’s said before that Inky was more important than the necklace, and Inky had also said that he would marry her if he wanted to–with or without the necklace.

Li Yanmo couldn’t help ruffling her hair affectionately. “Idiot.”