My Youth Began With Him

“Sis-in-Law, what are you and my brother doing?” Qin Ning asked, feeling guilty.

“We’re playing golf.”

“Oh, with Rick?”

“Yeah, we’re still in New Orleans.”

“Oh, when are you guys coming home?”

“Tonight, probably. Our flight is later today.”

“Oh, okay.”

“What’s wrong, Ning? Did something happen?”

“N-nothing… I was just wondering… did Pudding and Little Bean call you today?”

“Pudding sent me a phone message at around 7 this morning, but that’s it. What are they doing right now?”

“They played chess with my dad all morning.”

“Tell them to behave themselves, and don’t let them bully your dad.”

“I will, Mian. Have fun, I’ll see you guys tonight!”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Huo Mian muttered to herself, “Why does Ning sound so weird?”

“Honey, what’s wrong?” Qin Chu asked.

“Nothing, Ning just called to ask when we’re going home. I guess Uncle Qin asked her to call.”

“Oh, okay, we’ll head back tonight,” Qin Chu said, turning back to play golf with Rick. The fact that the twins may have gone missing didn’t cross their minds at all.

Back in Los Angeles, Qin Chu’s uncle had just called the local police office, telling them to keep alert for missing twins. Qin Ning, on the other hand, was in such a panic that she added Su Yu on WeChat.

A while ago, she saw Pudding call Su Yu and remembered his WeChat ID. Worried that Su Yu might refuse her friend request, she added, “I’m the twins’ aunt.”

As expected, Su Yu added her in less than five seconds.

“Hi Mr. Su.”

“Hi.”

“I’m the twins’ aunt.”

“I know who you are, you’re Qin Ning, right?”

Pudding had been creating opportunities for Qin Ning and Su Yu, so they weren’t strangers to each other.

“Yes, I am.”

“Did you need me for something?”

Although it was bright and sunny outside in Los Angeles, it was around midnight in China. Su Yu had just gotten ready for bed when he saw someone add his WeChat. He was confused and wondered who in the world would be bored enough to send him a friend request so late at night.

“Did Pudding and Little Bean… video-chat with you?”

“Recently?” Su Yu asked, slightly surprised.

“Yeah, when was your most recent video chat?”

“Last night, I think. They usually call me right before bed and tell me what they did.”

“Oh…”

“What’s wrong?” Su Yu was immediately alerted.

“Oh, nothing, I was just wondering… um, Pudding and Little Bean like to joke around, don’t take their jokes to heart, okay?”

“I know, I’ve known them for three years and are used to them,” Su Yu chuckled.

“Okay then, you should go to bed. Goodnight,” Qin Ning said, ending their brief call.

Then, she got up from her seat, as anxious as could be. “Dad, what should we do, Chu and Mian are coming home tonight, if the twins are really missing then what am I supposed to tell them? I promised them that Pudding and Little Bean will be fine with me!”

Then, she looked down in guilt as tears streamed down her eyes.

“You are all useless! How could you have let the kids leave from right under your nose!” Uncle Qin glared at the bodyguards; wasn’t Qin Chu the one who hired them? Weren’t they supposed to be ex-Navy-Seals?

How could they let two three-year-old girls sneak away! Moreover, how did the twins manage to run away without anyone noticing?

Qin Chu’s uncle looked down at his watch; it had been two hours since the twins disappeared, and the entire mansion was in a mess.

What if something bad had happened to them? What if… they were kidnapped?

“Daddy, what should we do now?” Qin Ning asked amidst tears.