They hadn't found him yet. Liu Duo was getting agitated, and her brows locked tightly.

Ye Ling saw that and panicked too, "Duo Er, Ran Er will be fine. Don't worry too much."

That was all he could say to comfort her, as well as himself.

Liu Duo looked at Ye Ling, who was sweating and breathing hard as he approached her. She draped an arm over his shoulder, "Ling, I'll listen to you. I won't fret, and neither will you. Alright?"

She didn't want anything to happen to Ye Ling when they hadn't even found Liu Ran yet! That would just double their trouble.

"Go home first," Ye Yang spoke. Perhaps Liu Ran had returned.

He was also worried about Ye Ling. He might get sick again, as the weather was hot, and he was under emotional stress.

Aunt Li agreed, "Right, let's go back first."

Old Liu had other ideas, "You all go back first. I'm heading back to the farm to retrieve our tools."

He hadn't forgotten about them.

Ye Yang nodded, and then he went home with the others.

When they got to the bamboo forest, they came across Ye Liu, Ye Mo, and Li Wazi.

They had just been about to look for them to get their help to look for Liu Ran. Little Lian had told them that Liu Ran hadn't come home!

Short-fused Ye Mo furrowed his brow and popped a question, "Dear wife, Little Lian said the brat hasn't returned home, and his textbook was found in the bushes. What's happening here?"

Liu Duo shook her head and furrowed her brow too, "How should I know? When I got to the schoolhouse he was already gone, and I only found his book in the bushes on my way back."

Ye Liu, also furrowing his brow, said, "Let's go home first. We'll think of something."

He could tell from their faces that they had been searching for a long time but had found nothing.

When they arrived back at home, Little Lian placed Little Huzi in his cradle and poured some water for them.

She cast a glance at her mother, as though to ask for her opinion.

Aunt Li shook her head, still worried sick about Liu Ran.

Li Wazi suddenly spoke up, "Hey, do you think Ran Er might have been taken away by his parents?"

He thought that was a real possibility. Where else could the boy have gone?

Ye Liu didn't quite agree with him. He shook his head, "Impossible! Besides the fact that his parents wouldn't do that behind our backs, Ran Er wouldn't leave without informing us first!"

As far as he could tell, Liu Ran was an obedient, diligent, and sensible kid. He wouldn't do something so irresponsible as that to make them worry.

"If he really did that, I'll break his legs the next time I see him!" Ye Mo yelled fiercely!

He wondered, Where did that pesky brat go? This is frustrating!

At that moment, they were deep in thought, wondering where Liu Ran might be. Where could he have gone?

Try as they might, they couldn't think of anything. Right then, Ye Xuan showed up at their door.

Seeing him there, Ye Mo threw a nasty fit and broke out in a harsh tone, "Who says you can come here? Scram! Mind your own business!"

When Liu Ran was at home, he would always come visit under the guise of tutoring him, and every single time, Ye Mo felt like punching him, but he resisted.

They had no idea why Liu Ran had suddenly disappeared. His temper was already boiling, and he could beat up the man if he were up to any funny business!

Ye Xuan merely shook his head and sneered at Ye Mo's fiery temper. He didn't get angry as he strolled through the yard.

Hei Xiaomeng had already seen him many times, so it no longer barked at him. Ye Mo wasn't pleased about that, so he had punished it in private several times.