Eating Melons in the Police Station-Chapter 88

Little Tong heard Qiu Sheng’s voice coming from the phone and immediately put down the children’s makeup toys in her hands. She turned and ran over, tugging at Zhong Jin’s arm with both hands, eager to talk to her mother.

Zhong Jin switched the phone to the front-facing camera and handed it to Little Tong, letting her hold it herself.

The child clutched the phone and was momentarily startled when two unfamiliar elderly faces appeared on the screen, but then she spotted Qiu Sheng and Qiu Chen squeezed in behind them.

With her lips smeared in bright red lipstick, she grinned widely and chirped, "Mommy, Uncle, it looks so crowded over there!"

And it *was* crowded—the screen could barely fit everyone.

Qiu Sheng wrapped an arm each around Qiu Zhengrui and Tao Siyuan’s shoulders. "Little Tong, these are your grandparents. Say hello."

Little Tong blinked and announced loudly, "Hello, Person! I’m doing makeup."

Zhong Jin rested a hand on her head and whispered, "She means for you to greet them properly—say 'Grandma and Grandpa.'"

Qiu Zhengrui burst into hearty laughter.

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It was clear the old man was overjoyed at suddenly having a granddaughter. No matter what the child did, it delighted him.

This time, Little Tong understood. Clutching her little hands and widening her dark-lined eyes, she said earnestly, "Hello, Grandma and Grandpa. I’m Zhong Yuntong, and I’m doing makeup."

Qiu Zhengrui nodded repeatedly. "Hello, Zhong Yuntong."

Suddenly, his voice caught. He opened his mouth but was too emotional to speak, quickly stepping out of frame.

Only now, with a lively child right before their eyes, did Qiu Zhengrui and Tao Siyuan truly grasp that they had a granddaughter—a little girl bound to them by blood.

These past few days, Qiu Zhengrui’s siblings had gathered in Jing City for a reunion. Seeing others surrounded by grandchildren, it was impossible not to feel a twinge of envy. Just yesterday, they’d been longing for grandkids of their own—and today, a plump-cheeked granddaughter had fallen right into their laps. It felt like a dream.

Seeing Qiu Zhengrui walk away wiping his tears, Qiu Sheng followed to comfort him.

Now only Tao Siyuan and Qiu Chen remained on the screen. Tao Siyuan wasn’t sure what to say, so she simply stared at Little Tong, trying to discern whether the child’s features were pretty beneath that mess of makeup.

After all, Tao Siyuan was a notorious aesthete. A granddaughter was wonderful, but if she were also beautiful? That would be perfection.

As Tao Siyuan studied her, Little Tong met her gaze with big, sparkling eyes, utterly unselfconscious.

Then the little girl reached into her collar, pulled out a small jade pendant, and proudly displayed it. "Hello, I have this. Look, please!"

Tao Siyuan couldn’t help but laugh.

In that moment, she thought—even if the child wasn’t pretty, her charm was enough. But then again, with parents like Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng, how could she *not* be adorable? Reassured, she relaxed.

Qiu Chen leaned in from behind Tao Siyuan, his face crowding the screen. "Zhong Yuntong, have you finished your homework today?"

Little ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‍Tong stiffened like a startled kitten, waving her colorfully painted hands in panic. "I’m very busy. Goodbye!"

With that, she jabbed the screen and hung up immediately.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhong Jin whisked her to the bathroom to wash her face. The makeup stains were stubborn, so she borrowed a dab of Qiu Sheng’s facial cleanser, finally restoring Little Tong’s cheeks to their usual milky softness.

The winter air was dry, so after patting her face dry, Little Tong reminded her, "Put on lotion."

Zhong Jin fetched the children’s milk cream from the cabinet and smoothed a little onto her face and hands.

Just as she finished freshening up the child, Qiu Sheng’s video call came through again.

This time, Zhong Jin handed the phone directly to Little Tong. "It’s Mommy. You answer."

When the call connected, the grandparents and uncle were still huddled together. Seeing the freshly scrubbed, cherubic little girl—now as pristine as a New Year’s painting—they were even more smitten, at a loss for words.

Little Tong knelt on the carpet, one arm hugging a plush velvet dog, the other holding the phone. Even meeting her grandparents for the first time, this social butterfly wasn’t the least bit shy.

In her clear, loud voice, she declared:

"I go to Ginkgo Kindergarten, Little Class!"

"I can do math, Grandpa! If you don’t believe me, test me!"

"Grandpa, Grandma, you’re old people, right? I *love* old people. Did you know? When old people smile, their wrinkles look like flower petals!"

Her artless chatter had Qiu Zhengrui and Tao Siyuan laughing heartily.

Meanwhile, Zhong Jin sat on the sofa, absently staring at the round back of Little Tong’s head—until Sang Biao clambered onto his head to cause mischief. He grabbed the critter by its wings and plucked it off.

Little Tong now had her grandparents and uncle to love her, which should have been a good thing, but Zhong Jin couldn’t quite explain why he felt an inexplicable melancholy.

Watching them laugh and chat happily only made Zhong Jin feel increasingly lonely.

In this world, Little Tong was the only family he had left. Now, more and more people were diverting her attention away from him, and this discomfort stemmed from an instinctive sense of crisis.

It wasn’t until Little Tong ran over and tugged at his sleeve that Zhong Jin snapped out of his thoughts. “What is it?” he asked.

Little Tong stood in front of the sofa, looking up at him with pleading eyes. “Grandpa and Grandma said they’ll send someone to pick me up for a visit. Can I go?”

Zhong Jin blinked at her, then shook his head slightly, whispering, “Tell them you don’t want to.”

Little Tong immediately ran back to the carpet, flopped down, and announced loudly into the phone, “My dad says no. Bye!”

She was about to hang up when Zhong Jin quickly rose from the sofa—dislodging Sang Biao, who tumbled to the side with an annoyed squeak.

In two strides, he snatched the phone from Little Tong’s hand, only to be met with the stunned faces of Qiu Zhengrui and Tao Siyuan on the screen.

Zhong Jin forced an awkward laugh. “Kids can be so mischievous. I was worried she’d be a bother. I’ll bring her to Jing City when I take my annual leave at the end of the month, and we’ll visit you then.”

Qiu Zhengrui waved it off. “What’s wrong with a little mischief? We have maids and drivers. If necessary, I can even hire extra help just to play with her.”

Zhong Jin stood his ground. “She’s been with me since she was born. She can’t be away from me.”

Just as Qiu Zhengrui was about to argue, Qiu Sheng—knowing all too well how stubborn Zhong Jin could be—stepped in. Even she hadn’t been able to take Little Tong alone, let alone anyone else.

She intervened with a few placating words and promptly ended the call.

*

The next day was the winter solstice, and the cold was particularly biting. Before leaving in the morning, Zhong Jin told Aunt Liang that his colleagues at the station were having a dinner gathering, so she didn’t need to come over to cook.

“Alright,” Aunt Liang agreed. “I’ll clean up the house before I go.”

Zhong Jin knelt to help Little Tong into her boots, then carried her outside.

At the station, Xiang Zimo was also there. His grandparents were visiting relatives, and Xiang Ruicheng was tied up with work, so Mao Feixue had brought him along.

The lobby was chilly despite the heater running, the constant flow of people in and out letting in drafts.

Zhong Jin quickly herded the two children into his office, settling them on the sofa with a shared blanket and a tablet playing cartoons.

With only one device, they each held it with one hand, their heads pressed together as they watched. Whenever something funny happened, they burst into giggles in unison.

After working for a while, Zhong Jin glanced over. The two kids were now forehead-to-forehead, their little hands intertwined.

He stood abruptly, strode over, and forcibly separated them, wedging a pillow between them. His tone was brusque. “Lean against your own side of the pillow. Keep some distance.”

The kids had no idea why their dad was acting so weird, but the cartoon quickly recaptured their attention, so they obediently let him rearrange them.

Zhong Jin had just returned to his desk when his phone rang.

It was a video call from Qiu Sheng. Zhong Jin braced himself—were her parents calling again?

But when he answered, only Qiu Sheng appeared on the screen.

He exhaled in relief—only for it to vanish as Qiu Sheng said, “My parents are going to Haishan to see Little Tong. I can’t stop them.”

Zhong Jin: “......?”

Qiu Sheng: “I’m swamped with work and can’t go with them. What should we do?”

Zhong Jin: “......?”

So, after divorcing his ex-wife, he now had to face her parents alone—and possibly even share a roof with them? Could life get any more awkward?

Before this, he’d already spent Mid-Autumn Festival with his ex-wife’s suitor, fought his ex-brother-in-law for custody, and indirectly lived off the man’s wealth.

Every day was stranger than the last.

Zhong Jin took a moment to process this before asking, “If you can’t come, can Qiu Chen at least make it?”

If Qiu Chen were there, it might not be so bad. After spending nearly half a month together, their relationship had improved drastically. He could act as a buffer.

Qiu Sheng sounded apologetic. “I’m really sorry—I know this is uncomfortable for you—but Qiu Chen can’t come either. His company’s swamped at year-end.”

Zhong Jin said nothing.

Qiu Sheng continued, "I'll arrange for them to stay at a hotel and try not to disturb you too much. Also, I’ve asked my brother to assign a secretary to accompany them. If anything comes up, just let the secretary handle it."

Since she had already gone to such lengths, Zhong Jin couldn’t refuse any further. After all, it was only natural for grandparents to want to visit their granddaughter.

What Zhong Jin hadn’t expected was how quickly Qiu Zhengrui and his wife would arrive. Qiu Sheng had called him in the morning, and by afternoon, he received her message with their flight details—they were scheduled to land in Haishan around 6 p.m.

Zhong Jin draped his coat over his arm and left his office to look for Little Tong.

He checked several interrogation rooms but couldn’t find her. Finally, he spotted her in Gu Le’s office.

Little Tong was perched on the desk, wearing a bunny-ear sweater, nibbling on a hawthorn candy lollipop. Her little boots were off, and her chubby feet dangled in the air, swinging back and forth.

As Zhong Jin stepped in, he heard her chirp cheerfully, "Please treat me to hotpot tonight, thank you!"

Rao Shishi was seated nearby, leaning against the desk with her back to Zhong Jin, munching on a box of milk skin snacks. Unaware of his presence, she teased, "Little stinker, you want hotpot too, huh? Then go tell your dad. If he agrees, we’ll go."

Since it was a police station gathering, the final say naturally rested with the chief.

Zhong Jin cleared his throat lightly. Rao Shishi turned around, instantly flustered.

She forced a laugh. "Chief... haha."

Zhong Jin wasn’t as stern as he used to be. Seeing her awkward expression, he even cracked a faint smile.

"I won’t be joining the dinner tonight. You all can decide what to eat."

He walked over, bent down to pick up Little Tong’s boots, and helped her put them on. The little girl tilted her head and asked, "Aren’t you coming for hotpot? Then I want to go."

"You’re not going either. Your grandparents are arriving, and we need to pick them up."

Little Tong’s lips quivered, her eyes welling up with tears. "I don’t want to! I want to go eat hotpot with everyone!"

The station had been swamped lately, leaving little time for gatherings. This dinner was something she’d been looking forward to for ages.

To a child, grandparents she’d never met couldn’t possibly compare to the officers she saw every day. Being with them was her greatest joy.

Zhong Jin softened his tone. "After we pick up your grandparents, I’ll take you for hotpot."

Little Tong kicked her legs and wailed, "No! I want to stay with Sister Shishi and the others!"

Once her boots were on, Zhong Jin lifted her off the desk, his voice turning firmer. "Enough. I’ve explained it to you—your grandparents are coming, and we have to greet them. Why can’t you understand?"

The moment he raised his voice, Little Tong stopped fussing.

But the disappointment lingered. After waiting so long, having her plans suddenly canceled would upset even an adult, let alone a child who couldn’t regulate her emotions.

Little Tong slumped against the desk leg, clutching her lollipop with both hands, head bowed. A fat tear rolled down her cheek and landed on the bunny-ear collar of her sweater. It lingered for a moment before slowly soaking into the fabric, leaving behind a faint damp spot.

Zhong Jin’s resolve wavered.

Just then, Gu Le handed him an out. "Why don’t you go pick them up alone? We’ll take Little Tong for hotpot, and you can fetch her afterward."

Little Tong reached out, tugging at Zhong Jin’s pinky finger, her voice pleading. "Please, Daddy? I really want to go."

His heart had already melted into a puddle, though he kept up his tough-chief facade. Lips pressed tight, he muttered gruffly,

"Fine. I’ll come get you later."

A child’s emotions were written plainly on her face. Though her eyes were still wet with tears, her lips stretched into a wide grin.

She threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Daddy! You’re a... a beast with a human face!"

"...That’s ‘kind-hearted and beautiful.’ Your idioms are improving, but let’s not misuse them."

As Zhong Jin left the office, he caught the officers stifling laughter, their shoulders shaking. He sighed inwardly—*She’s my own flesh and blood. She’s got immunity.*

*

The scene at the airport, when Zhong Jin met Old Qiu and Madam Tao, was every bit as awkward as he’d anticipated.

Just as he was debating how to address them, Qiu Zhengrui said coolly,

"‘Uncle’ will do. You and Qiu Sheng are divorced. ‘Mom and Dad’ wouldn’t be appropriate anymore."

Zhong Jin replied evenly, "Uncle, Auntie, the car is parked outside."

Qiu Zhengrui glanced behind him, frowning. "Where’s the child?"

"She’s with the officers at the station. I’ll pick her up after we get you settled."

Qiu Zhengrui fell silent. He exchanged a glance with Tao Siyuan, both wearing expressions of disappointment that clearly read, *"The kid’s not here, so why did you even come?"*

Zhong Jin had nothing to say to that. After all, the elderly couple had come specifically to see their granddaughter. As the ex-son-in-law, it was only natural they wouldn’t be thrilled about his presence.

The three of them sat in the car in awkward silence.

The air was stifling, so Zhong Jin leaned forward and turned on the car’s stereo. A music station was playing, a male voice singing:

*"Years later, here I am now, living better than you—thanks to your inspiration."*

Zhong Jin nearly groaned. Of all the songs to randomly land on, why *this* one? Turning it off now would only make things more obvious, so he gritted his teeth and kept driving.

At a red light, he glanced sideways at Qiu Zhengrui, whose expression had also darkened at the lyrics.

Truth be told, Qiu Zhengrui had played a role in pushing Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng toward divorce. Though he hadn’t been the deciding factor, he *had* crossed lines back then.

From the very beginning, Qiu Zhengrui had opposed their marriage.

To him, interests would always come first.

Zhong Jin was someone he’d watched grow up, and he knew the man’s character was beyond reproach.

But the moment Zhong Jin enrolled in the police academy and abandoned the family business, he became worthless in Qiu Zhengrui’s eyes.

Qiu Sheng’s marriage was meant to strengthen the Qiu Group’s alliances—in other words, a political union. Qiu Zhengrui couldn’t accept his daughter marrying a detective. He didn’t care about noble ideals like "protecting the nation"; he wanted tangible benefits.

So Qiu Sheng, once the obedient daughter, had rebelled under Zhong Jin’s influence. They lived together unmarried, stole their household registrations to elope, and strained relations between the Qiu and Zhong families.

On the day they registered their marriage, there was no grand wedding, no blessings from family—just Zhong Yan popping open a bottle of champagne in celebration.

It wasn’t until a year or two later that Qiu Zhengrui grudgingly accepted the situation.

The families sat down again to discuss dowries, bridal gifts, and wedding photos, eventually throwing a lavish, dignified ceremony. Zhong Jin and Qiu Sheng, long since married, even pretended to be newlyweds on their honeymoon.

Honestly, Zhong Jin couldn’t have cared less about reconciling with Qiu Zhengrui.

But he didn’t want Qiu Sheng caught in the middle—after all, he was still her father. So he played along with Qiu Zhengrui’s demands, including the performative wedding, where he acted the part of the perfect groom with grace.

When guests praised the Qiu family’s son-in-law as outstanding, Qiu Zhengrui hypocritically agreed.

Back then, Zhong Jin had thought: *As long as Qiu Sheng and I can love and stay together, nothing else matters. I can endure a little humiliation.*

Because Zhong Jin never stirred conflict, their marriage had maintained at least a surface-level harmony with the Qiu family.

Until Zhong Jin’s parents died in a car accident.

In the aftermath, he was in no state to love anyone—he barely had the strength to save himself.

That was when Qiu Zhengrui came to him.

Zhong Jin still remembered every word.

*"Back then, your parents opposed you joining the police. You ignored them. Now you’ve indirectly caused their deaths. If you don’t want to do the same to Qiu Sheng, walk away."*

At the time, there was no evidence linking the accident to retaliation from drug traffickers. Even the bureau’s leadership assured Zhong Jin it was just a coincidence—a tragic fluke.

His family’s deaths had nothing to do with him.

But Qiu Zhengrui’s words sent him spiraling. *What if?* What if it *was* retaliation? Then Qiu Sheng, as his wife—his last remaining family—could be the next target.

After agonizing over it, Zhong Jin filed for divorce.

Now, this group of people who should have gone their separate ways were awkwardly shoved back together by Little Tong’s arrival.

With that history hanging between them, the cramped car was thick with unspoken tension.

Thankfully, they soon reached the hotpot restaurant where Zhong Jin’s colleagues were gathered. He asked the Qiu elders to wait in the car while he went inside to fetch Little Tong.

Dinner was winding down inside. A few of the rowdier young officers were teaching Little Tong a drinking game—losers had to lick vinegar off chopsticks, which they’d tricked her into believing was alcohol.

Her face scrunched up from the sourness, tiny fists clenched as she shook them wildly, whimpering, *"Wah! Wah!"*

The moment the taste faded, she eagerly demanded, *"Again!"*

Zhong Jin walked over, and the officers felt a little guilty, worried they’d be scolded again for teaching Little Tong how to play finger-guessing games. But Zhong Jin didn’t say anything, simply telling Little Tong, “Let’s go home. Your grandma and grandpa are waiting in the car.”

Having eaten and drunk her fill, Little Tong was in a cooperative mood. She stretched out her hands to Zhong Jin and said, “Carry me out.”

Zhong Jin lifted her from the high chair, and Little Tong waved her tiny hand at everyone. “Bye-bye.”

As they stepped out of the hot pot restaurant, they saw Qiu Zhengrui and Tao Siyuan getting out of their car across the street, standing by the roadside waiting.

Spotting Zhong Jin carrying Little Tong toward them, the elderly couple hurried forward eagerly.

They pinched Little Tong’s hands and patted her round little head. They had missed the child so much the night before that they couldn’t sleep, but now that she was right in front of them, they didn’t quite know what to say.

Perched on Zhong Jin’s arm, Little Tong wrapped her arms around his shoulders and greeted them politely, “Hello, Grandma and Grandpa. I’m Zhong Yuntong.”

Once in the car, the two elders acted as if they’d never seen a child before, exclaiming over everything along the way:

“Look at these chubby little hands!”

“She’s quite tall for her age!”

“Her hair is so lovely.”

“And those big, bright eyes!”

Zhong Jin had initially planned to take them straight to their hotel, but seeing how excited they were, he knew sending them back would only lead to another sleepless night. So he asked,

“Uncle, Auntie, would you like to stop by the house for a while?”

The freshly minted grandparents agreed without hesitation.

Back at home, they rummaged through their luggage and pulled out some snacks they’d brought for Little Tong—local specialties only available in Jing City.

There were ox-tongue pastries, pineapple cakes, yogurt twists, and even a small sugar figurine carefully stored in a tiny box.

Aside from the treats, Qiu Zhengrui and Tao Siyuan each handed her a red envelope.

The envelopes were thin—likely containing checks.

Little Tong, accustomed to her parents paying with their phones, had no real concept of money. She assumed that as long as you had a phone, you had endless funds.

So whenever Rao Shishi complained about being broke, Little Tong would glance curiously at her phone, puzzled. Wasn’t the money inside it?

Now, holding the red envelopes, she had no idea what they were for and casually tossed them onto the carpet.

She trotted over to her toy corner, fetched her little tricycle, and turned its small basket upside down, positioning it near the coffee table. She then turned to Qiu Zhengrui and said,

“Grandpa, please put the snacks in my basket. Thank you.”

Qiu Zhengrui, who was usually the one giving orders, now eagerly followed his granddaughter’s instructions, carefully arranging the treats in her basket.

Little Tong pedaled her tricycle to the snack cabinet, methodically placing each item inside.

Tao Siyuan watched fondly and remarked, “What a well-behaved child.”

Kneeling in front of the cabinet, Little Tong organized the snacks with precision.

Like Zhong Jin, she had a habit of sorting things by category and color, aligning everything neatly. Her high standards meant it took a while.

But with her no longer in the living room, the atmosphere among the three adults grew awkward.

Zhong Jin broke the silence. “Qiu Sheng mentioned Secretary Dong would be coming too. Has he arrived yet?”

Tao Siyuan replied, “Oh, he had some unfinished business. He’ll fly in first thing tomorrow.”

“Mm.”

The conversation lapsed again.

The three of them silently watched Little Tong, until the poor child, sensing their collective gaze, turned around and asked, “What?”

Zhong Jin stood up. “Make yourselves at home. I’ll go change.”

Without waiting for a response, he strode toward the master bedroom.

All the doors in the house were kept unlocked to prevent Little Tong from accidentally locking herself in. After changing into a set of ash-gray loungewear in the walk-in closet, Zhong Jin stepped out to find Little Tong had sneaked into the room, her tiny purse slung over her shoulder.

He raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing in here?”

Little Tong beckoned conspiratorially. “Squat down. I have something for you.”

Zhong Jin knelt.

From her purse, she pulled out a small handkerchief, its contents carefully bundled inside. Pinching the corners, she unfolded it layer by layer.

Then, cupping the handkerchief in her hands, she presented it to him. “I only have one. It’s for you.”

On the cloth lay a cold piece of brown sugar glutinous rice cake.

Zhong Jin vaguely recalled that Little Tong had once brought him one before—back then, he’d thrown it in the trash.

She whispered urgently, “Daddy, eat it quick. Don’t tell them.”

As she spoke, she cast a nervous glance toward the living room, afraid her grandparents would be upset if they found out they were keeping treats to themselves. But she only had one piece, so she had to give it to her favorite person.

Under Little Tong’s eager gaze, Zhong Jin picked up the piece of brown sugar glutinous rice cake and took a small bite.

Little Tong swallowed hard. “Is it good?”

Zhong Jin could tell she wanted some, so she offered the other end. “Take a bite from this side.”

Little Tong waved her hand. “I already had some at the restaurant—this is for you.” Holding Zhong Jin’s arm, she nudged the cake closer. “Eat a big bite.”

Zhong Jin obediently took a large mouthful.

Kneeling on the floor, Little Tong cupped her cheeks and beamed. “You know what? I love you the most. When I wanted to eat it earlier, I only took it out to lick it a little. I couldn’t bear to actually take a bite.”

Zhong Jin paused mid-chew. “You licked this?”

Little Tong raised two fingers proudly. “Only three times.”