We were out watching the New Year's Eve fireworks when my son ran straight up to a police officer and demanded a hug. The problem was, the officer he was hugging... was my ex-boyfriend. My instinct was to turn and run, but then I heard this little kid drop an absolute bomb: "Mommy! I found Daddy!" 01 On New Year's Eve, I took Leo out to see the fireworks. I took my eyes off him for one second, and the little guy vanished. Cold sweat instantly broke out on my forehead. I frantically searched through the massive, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. I screamed, "Leo! Leo!" Just as I was panicking enough to start looking for a cop, my eyes caught something. I saw Leo's tiny little body desperately tugging at the utility belt of a tall police officer. He kept chanting, "Mister! Mister, hold me!" The man had a sharp, cold jawline and devastatingly handsome features. Standing tall in his uniform, he was incredibly striking, commanding attention even in the dense crowd. He looked down at the little dumpling tugging at him, and the corner of his mouth unconsciously curled into a gentle smile. He crouched down, smoothly hoisted Leo up, and set him securely on his broad shoulders, holding him tight. He even asked softly, "Can you see better now, buddy?" This picture-perfect scene of a handsome officer protecting a child immediately drew the crowd's attention. Several people pulled out their phones, snapping pictures of the heartwarming moment. Amidst the noise and cheering, I was the only one standing completely frozen in place. Someone next to me nudged my arm. "Is that your kid? Why aren't you going over to get him?" I opened my mouth, but I had absolutely no idea what to say. The kid was definitely mine. But the man used to be mine, too. Wait, scratch that. He was mine. 02 I hesitated, unsure of how to approach them. After all, I was the one who dumped Arthur. After three years of dating, I didn't even give him a reason. I just sent a single text: [I don't think this is working out anymore. Let's break up.] Arthur called me relentlessly and sent countless messages. I blocked every single one. I ruthlessly left the city, thinking I would never cross paths with him again for the rest of my life. I never expected that during a brief trip back to my hometown to visit some graves with Leo... I'd run straight into him. Looking at his increasingly mature, handsome face, the years had only added a sharper, harder edge to his features. I suddenly remembered the final message he ever sent me. Having given up on desperately begging, his tone was freezing cold: [Mia, for the rest of your life, you better pray you never cross my path!] [Because if you do, I will destroy you!] His personality had always been tough and uncompromising. He was a regional taekwondo and kickboxing champion—a fact he had... well... demonstrated during our relationship. I fully believed he could destroy me. So for all the years since I left him, I didn't even dare to double-park my car. I lived in constant fear that the cop writing the ticket would turn out to be him. I hesitated for a long time. I watched my kid excitedly pulling Arthur's hair and rubbing his dirty face all over Arthur's uniform, leaving a massive dark smudge on the pristine navy-blue collar. I decided it was safer to stay hidden. I figured I'd just keep a close eye on Leo. Once the fireworks were over and he got down, I'd secretly follow him, grab him, and run home. But I never anticipated that right as the countdown to the fireworks began, the little guy would suddenly start twisting his head around, scanning the crowd. The second he spotted me, his huge eyes lit up like floodlights. I panicked. I was just about to mouth the words: "Don't yell! Mommy will come get you in a minute!" But he excitedly smacked Arthur's handsome face and screamed at the top of his lungs: "Daddy! My Mommy is right there!" 03 Me: ... Arthur: ? Amidst the absolute chaos, only Leo looked incredibly proud, raising his chin triumphantly. He shot me a sly, expectant look, clearly saying: "Mommy, I did a great job, right?" 04 Okay, fine. It was my fault. I shouldn't have spent late nights crying over old photos of Arthur and me. And I definitely shouldn't have answered Leo when he pointed at the screen and asked, "Mommy, who is that?" I boldly declared: "That's the person Mommy loves." But my absolute, catastrophic mistake was... When he asked, "What does 'the person you love' mean?" I gave him a highly inappropriate explanation: "It means the person Mommy loves exactly like how a mommy is supposed to love a daddy." So, his toddler brain connected the dots: Daddy, Mommy, and Love. He also understood that Mommies and Daddies were supposed to be together. Therefore, he firmly concluded that Arthur was his biological father. Under Arthur's scrutinizing, deeply shocked gaze, the little guy extended his short, chubby arms toward me, waving frantically. "Mommy! Come here! We're supposed to be together!" Me: ... I genuinely did not want to move. Because the look in Arthur's eyes felt like he was about to eat me alive. Not to mention the crowd around him, who were practically vibrating with excitement. "Oh, they're a family! No wonder they looked so perfect together." "Exactly! The dad is gorgeous, the mom is beautiful, and they have such an adorable kid. What a happy family." "Don't be shy, young lady, go to your husband!" My face was burning red. I shook my head frantically. But Leo burst into loud, heartbroken wails, hiccuping pitifully. "Mommy... Mommy, come here..." Oh god. Son, doing this makes me look like I'm committing child abuse. Finally, Arthur couldn't stand it anymore. With his long legs, he slowly strode through the parting crowd until he was standing right in front of me. His signature scent—a mix of crisp mint and the lavender detergent he always loved—wafted over me, absolutely undeniable. A flood of familiar memories rushed to the surface of my mind. "Arthur, you sweat so much every day! Use this detergent, it smells so, so good!" The man gave a faint smirk, reached out his long arm, and pulled me flush against his chest. "Not as good as you." My face flushed scarlet, and I struggled playfully, tugging on his ear. "Ahhh! Officer Arthur, how are you so smooth?! Do all the girls chasing you know this?" He laughed, pressing an incredibly tender kiss to my lips. "I'm only like this with you, Ms. Mia." The memories slowly settled. I looked up at the man standing before me, who was significantly taller than I was. As the fireworks bloomed overhead, illuminating the moment our eyes met, I heard his deep, low voice. "Long time no see, Mia." I forced a strained smile. I was just about to offer a polite greeting when I heard a furious, gritted question: "Is this kid mine?" 05 Obviously not. The kid was over five years old. We broke up exactly three years ago. The math simply didn't add up. Arthur clearly realized this too, and his handsome face turned even darker. He gripped Leo's chubby little legs tightly to make sure he didn't fall off his shoulders. But the veins bulging on the back of his hands made it glaringly obvious just how furious he was. My heart was hammering in my chest. I watched the rest of the fireworks display in sheer terror. Just as I was about to grab the kid and make a run for it, a group of his fellow officers swarmed us. "Bro, is this the sister-in-law you never stop talking about?" "Yeah, yeah! It's her! She's the lock screen on your phone!" Me: ? Arthur, who had been pursued by countless girls his entire life and was basically a legendary catch, actually kept a photo of me this whole time? And made it his lock screen? My heart gave a sudden, violent lurch. I couldn't help but look at the man beside me. His jaw was clenched tight. He barked coldly: "Shut up!" "Fall in line! Get back to your posts!" The officers quickly scattered. But Leo still refused to let go of Arthur. His massive eyes filled with tears, and he asked pitifully, "Daddy, where are you going?" I panicked and tried to forcefully pull Leo away. But the kid was clinging to Arthur like a koala. Arthur furrowed his brow, a flicker of genuine tenderness crossing his eyes. Ultimately, he crouched down, opening his mouth as if to say something. Leo's lower lip quivered. Looking devastatingly sad, tears immediately spilled down his cheeks. "Daddy, Leo wants to go home with you!" "Are you throwing Leo away again?!" The heartache in Arthur's eyes instantly spilled over. Before I could even try to stop him, he scooped Leo up into his arms. His voice was deep and heavy. "Let's go. Daddy's taking you home." Me: ? Huh? 06 The little guy seemed to genuinely adore Arthur. Even after we got into the police cruiser, his tiny hand kept a death grip on the corner of Arthur's uniform shirt. Arthur had no choice but to speak softly, coaxing him to sleep. It was actually bizarre. Ever since he turned two, the kid had been a nightmare at bedtime. Normally, he wouldn't close his eyes before 2 AM. But Arthur only had to murmur a few soothing words, and Leo immediately closed his eyes, falling into a deep, peaceful sleep nestled against his chest. Me: ? Son, acting like this makes your mother look completely useless. Arthur handed the sleeping child back to me and climbed into the driver's seat. "Where to?" "Xing'an Apartments." Arthur started the engine and let out a cold, sharp scoff. I suddenly realized why. When we broke up, Arthur said he was going to come find me. I told him I had moved. I told him he would never find me! The reality was... not only did I not move, I had been living right next door to his precinct this entire time. This is so awkward. I offered a sheepish smile, desperately trying to think of something to say to praise this dedicated public servant for driving me home. Suddenly, he asked coldly: "Where's the kid's father?" "Did you get a divorce?" Me: ? Bro, we broke up three years ago. How is it biologically possible for me to have a five-year-old son? In the dark cabin of the cruiser, a flash of deep sorrow crossed Arthur's sharp profile. He said chillingly, "You met him while I was studying for the civil service exam, didn't you." It wasn't a question. It was a statement. During our second year of dating, Arthur was completely consumed by studying for his police exams, while I was preparing to apply for grad school overseas. We were long-distance and rarely saw each other. So... Arthur actually thought I had cheated on him during that time? I felt a flare of irritation and leaned back against the seat. "Arthur, I can't believe you think I cheated on you! "I am so incredibly hurt!" My tone was bright and teasing, exactly how I used to talk to him when we were deeply in love. Arthur stiffened violently and turned to look at me. A fleeting look of desperate hope flashed in his eyes: "So... this child... "Whose is he?" 07 Me: "Well, he's definitely not yours." Arthur: ... 08 I really wasn't lying. The kid was actually my brother's. But my brother wasn't my biological brother. I was an orphan, my parents having passed away when I was very young. When I was 14, my brother, who had come to my rural village to invest in a tourism project, adopted me. He took me out of the village, paid for my education, and was even preparing to send me overseas for my master's degree. Everything was perfect. He married his high school sweetheart, and my sister-in-law treated me wonderfully. My original plan was to bring Arthur home to meet them before I left for grad school. But then— My brother and sister-in-law were in a horrific car accident while on vacation. They both died, leaving behind their two-year-old son, Leo. I looked down at the child sleeping soundly, completely innocent and carefree in my arms. I remembered my sister-in-law's dying wish. "Mia... don't let him... become an orphan. From now on... you are his mother." The memory rushed back, suffocating me. I looked at the man sitting next to me—handsome, radiating integrity, with a brilliant future ahead of him. I swallowed all the words I wanted to say. Arthur seemed to sense my withdrawal and got angry. He turned his face away, refusing to look at me. "Don't flatter yourself. I don't care about your business. "I was just asking." 09 I nodded, saying quietly: "Yeah. I know." Arthur had been a "school heartthrob" his entire life, and now he had such a respected, honorable career. There were probably countless girls lining up for him. How could he possibly still care about me? My eyes caught the name lighting up his phone screen: [Lindsay.] A girl's name. Wait, why does that name sound like his younger sister? As I was silently questioning it, Arthur hung up the call and flipped his phone face down. He shot me a glance and said flatly, "With you here, it's inconvenient." True. When your ex-girlfriend and your current girlfriend collide, it's obviously going to be inconvenient. Just then, the car pulled up to Xing'an Apartments. I hurriedly grabbed Leo and stepped out, constantly repeating my thanks: "Thank you... Thank you..." But with a heavy child in my arms, I couldn't get the car door open. Arthur got out, walked around, and pulled my door open. I lost my balance and stumbled forward, falling straight into his chest. To make sure Leo didn't get squished, I instinctively twisted my body, but my head crashed uncontrollably against Arthur. My soft lips grazed the exposed skin of his neck. A reflexively soft murmur escaped my lips: "Thank you... Officer Arthur." This posture, this exact tone of voice. It was exactly how I used to beg for mercy when Arthur had me pinned to the bed, playfully teasing and tormenting me. Arthur's entire body went rigidly stiff. His ears instantly flushed crimson. The red rapidly spread all the way to his cheeks. He steadied me and let out two incredibly unnatural, forced coughs. "You. Stand up straight. "Stop trying to seduce me. I have no interest in you." Me: ... He was exactly the same as before. Serious and stoic, but with a hidden layer of arrogant, introverted vanity. "I know." After solemnly thanking Arthur again, I carried Leo toward my building. But I never expected to run into a group of unwelcome guests right at the entrance. 10 "Give us the kid back!" It was my sister-in-law's adoptive parents. Ever since my brother and sister-in-law died, they had come knocking multiple times. But it wasn't because they wanted the child back. It was because they wanted to monopolize the massive life insurance payout my brother and sister-in-law left behind. I had witnessed with my own eyes how they abused Leo in the past, which is exactly why my sister-in-law desperately pleaded with me on her deathbed: "Please, never let Leo fall into their hands." Right now, I held the child tightly against me, covering his ears, and snapped: "He is my child! Who are you people? Get lost!" Mr. and Mrs. Zhang refused to leave. "Bullshit! Leo is my daughter's kid! You're an unmarried girl with no kids of your own, what gives you the right to raise him? "Give him back!" They lunged forward to rip the child from my arms. Leo was terrified and burst into tears. He clung desperately to my neck, screaming for his mother. I shielded him with one arm and used the other to shove the two elderly people away. They started screaming at the top of their lungs: "Everyone, come look! This girl is kidnapping a child! "She doesn't even have a husband, but claims the kid is hers! Come look at this!" Several residents came out of their apartments to watch the commotion, pointing and whispering at me. "I know her. Isn't that the Chen family's daughter? She's not even married, where did she get a fatherless kid?" "Maybe the kid belongs to her dead brother, and she's trying to keep him to steal the inheritance..." Dead. Brother. Seeing Leo's massive eyes darting around nervously. I clamped my hands tighter over his ears. "Stop talking nonsense! Get the hell out of here!" Leo realized the danger I was in. Ignoring what the people were saying, he screamed: "Leo has a Daddy! "Leo's Daddy is right there!" Leo pointed his chubby little finger straight ahead. In the dim light of the corridor, Arthur suddenly appeared. The sickly yellow hallway light cast deep, unreadable shadows across his sharp, severe features. I couldn't read his expression. I could only feel the violent trembling of Leo's tiny hands clutching mine. Silently, a wave of intense anxiety washed over me. After all, we had been broken up for years. He had always been raised with strict discipline. He absolutely despised getting involved in messy, chaotic drama like this. Humoring Leo's little game earlier tonight was already completely out of character. There was no way he would publicly acknowledge being this "son's" father. ... My mind was a chaotic mess. Just as the old couple lunged forward to grab the kid again— A deep, resonant voice echoed from the doorway, carrying an involuntary, undeniable warmth. "Son, come here. "Daddy's got you."
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