I put you in charge of the child, and you raised a monster!

"My mom made it."

After Shen Ling'er finished speaking, she hugged the dolphin a little tighter.

The photographer took a few pictures in the direction she pointed. The gray-white lines were uneven, and the nameplates were a bit old, but she arranged them neatly, as if they were the most important things in the room.

Zhao Lei looked down at the ball of thread wrapped around his cardboard.

"Can this part be filmed too?"

Shen Ling'er glanced at it. "Yes."

Just as Zhao Lei smiled, she added, "On the opposite side."

Aunt Wu couldn't stop laughing. Zhao Lei hugged the cardboard to his chest and sighed.

"At least I managed to spin it."

"Hmm." Shen Ling'er nodded, "It's starting to look better."

This was a much better review than "dumplings." Just as Zhao Lei was about to cherish it, the production crew's car arrived to pick everyone up and take them back to their accommodations. The wool and spindles were left in the workshop, while Aunt Wu carefully put away the practice cards. Shen Ling'er put the dolphin into her backpack and even reached out to check the knots on the name tags one last time.

Yang Mi stood at the door waiting for her.

"Is the check complete?"

"alright."

"Let's go then."

Shen Ling'er took her mother's hand and walked outside. The wind from the grassland blew in their faces, carrying the scent of hay and earth. Her hair was slightly ruffled by the wind, and as soon as Yang Mi reached out her hand, she leaned closer to her mother.

Zhao Lei walked behind, holding the ball of thread in his hand.

"Did I achieve anything today?"

Bai Sisi glanced at the cardboard in his hand. "Yes."

"What is it?"

"There's an extra wad of thread."

I'm talking about progress.

Shen Ling'er didn't even turn her head: "You didn't throw the spindle out today."

Zhao Lei nodded. "That's definitely an improvement."

As he reached the courtyard gate, his pace suddenly slowed.

"What's wrong?" Bai Sisi asked.

"I'm wondering if there are wolves on the grasslands."

"There are wild animals, but we won't go where we shouldn't go." The person in charge happened to be passing by. "The activity area has been marked out, and no one should leave the hospital alone at night."

Zhao Lei nodded and tapped the cardboard twice with his fingers.

Shen Ling'er turned to look at him. "Are you worried?"

"I am respecting the grassland."

"If you truly respect this, don't present your concerns as plans to go see it."

I wasn't planning to go.

"Then what are you looking at?"

Zhao Lei looked down at the undulating grassy slopes in the distance. "They're quite tall."

Shen Ling'er turned her head and continued walking forward.

"The grass didn't provoke you."

……

After dinner, the production team arranged a simple group activity in the courtyard.

The person in charge brought out a map of the ranch area and explained the route for the next day. Everyone would follow designated paths within the ranch to observe the sheep drinking, shearing, and separation into pens, avoiding the distant, uninhabited pastures. The map showed several thick lines marking fences, water troughs, sheep pens, and rest areas.

The children gathered around the table looking at the picture. Chen Doudou traced the lines with her finger.

"We'll start from here, walk to the sheepfold, and then come back."

"Yes," the person in charge said.

Shen Ling'er didn't look at the thick line, but instead looked at the blank space at the edge of the map.

What's this side of the road?

"The old pastoral route," the person in charge replied, "is no longer used."

"Why don't you leave?"

"A section of the ground collapsed, and the route was later changed."

Zhao Lei leaned over. "It's not drawn on the map."

"That's why she asked," Yang Mi said softly.

Shen Ling'er looked for a while, then asked, "Where did it collapse?"

The person in charge pointed to a slope on the map that was bypassed by the new route. "It's roughly here. There are signs over there; you won't go that way."

Zhao Lei turned to look at her. "You wouldn't be thinking of—"

"I'm not going."

Zhao Lei immediately shut his mouth.

Shen Ling'er pushed the map back onto the desktop. "We'll follow the route I drew tomorrow."

The person in charge smiled. "Of course."

"Then you need to put up signs at the intersections," she said. "Otherwise, people might think that the old pastoral trail is also passable."

Zhao Lei turned his head to look at her. "Are you talking about me?"

Do you know the way?

"I know the way back."

"You walked to the kitchen door when you came back today."

"There's a light there."

"There are lights in the accommodation."

Zhao Lei couldn't find a reason for the moment, so he had no choice but to put the ball of thread on the cardboard back into his pocket.

The person in charge took the map to confirm with the staff. The rest of the people dispersed. Yang Mi led Shen Ling'er back to the house. As they walked past a row of wooden fences in the courtyard, the little girl suddenly stopped.

At one corner of the fence, a crossbeam is slightly upturned outwards.

She squatted down to look at it, but didn't touch it.

"What's wrong?" Yang Mi asked.

"This one's loose."

The staff member responsible for the night patrol heard this and came over to check. "It is indeed loose. We'll fix it first thing tomorrow morning."

Shen Ling'er stood up. "Don't let the child run away from here now."

The staff nodded and brought out eye-catching reflective tape to surround that small section.

Zhao Lei came out of the house and witnessed this scene. "You're even meddling in the fence?"

"It can't stop people."

"Then why are we even bothering to surround it?"

"Let people know that we can't go this way."

Zhao Lei looked at the reflective strip. "So the signage was for people after all."

"You're only finding out today?"

He thought for a moment. "I used to think it was for the grass."

Bai Sisi poked her head out of the house. "If you say that again, I'll put one around your neck tomorrow too."

Zhao Lei immediately went back inside.

The night wind blew across the grassy slope, and the wooden fence creaked softly.

Shen Ling'er looked up at the sky. There were many stars, and the moon was partially obscured by clouds. She held Yang Mi's hand and didn't stop.

"Mom, what do you want to eat tonight?"

"Didn't you already eat?"

"Tomorrow's."

Yang Mi smiled. "We'll see tomorrow."

"We can think about it tomorrow."

"Then let's think about it first."

The two went inside. In the yard, the newly hung reflective strip gleamed briefly under the light, like a quiet boundary.

Chapter 252

The next morning, everyone gathered outside the courtyard gate.

The ranch staff first checked the children's shoes and clothes, then gave each of them a hat. The brim wasn't wide, but it blocked most of the sunlight. Zhao Lei put on the hat and looked at himself through the glass door.

Does this color make my skin look darker?

Bai Sisi pulled his hat brim down a little. "So you don't look like you're looking for the camera."

Zhao Lei nodded. "That's good."

Shen Ling'er sat on the steps, tying a slipknot on her hat drawstring. She pulled the end of the drawstring tight, then tested the tightness with her fingers to make sure it wouldn't constrict her chin before standing up.

Upon seeing her action, Zhao Lei immediately looked down at his hat drawstring.

"Does this even need to be knotted?"

"It's windy, the hat will fly away."

Zhao Lei tied the rope very tightly.

Shen Ling'er glanced at it. "Are you afraid your hat will fly off, or your head?"

He quietly relaxed a little.

The manager led everyone along the internal path of the ranch. The path was a compacted dirt track, with fences stretching into the distance on either side. The wind rippled across the grass, and sheep grazed on the slopes. Several sheepdogs lay quietly in the shadows in the distance, not wandering off.

Looking at the flock of sheep, Chen Doudou couldn't help but ask, "Don't they understand human language?"

"Of course they don't understand," Zhao Lei said. "They listen to dogs."

The staff member explained with a smile, "The sheepdogs will assist in herding the sheep according to commands and hand gestures, but today we won't let everyone try to direct them; you can only watch from a safe position."

Zhao Lei lowered his raised hand again.

Shen Ling'er walked beside Yang Mi and looked down at a light-colored stone slab by the roadside. There were several fine engravings on the stone slab, pointing towards the sheepfold.

"Is this a mark?"

"These are serial numbers left over from the ranch," the person in charge said. "They're used to inspect the fence in sections."

Shen Ling'er bent down and looked for a while. "Number four."

The person in charge was somewhat surprised. "You recognize him?"

"That one in front is number three."

Zhao Lei looked down at the road. "How come I didn't see it?"

"You're watching the sheep."

"The sheep is quite large."

Shen Ling'er stood up. "The stone didn't hide."

After walking for a while, everyone came to a water trough. The trough was made of metal and had an automatic water replenishment float device attached to it. The staff demonstrated how to check the water level and clear the grass from the side of the trough. The children were instructed to observe from the outside and not to get close to the equipment.

Chen Doudou saw the clouds reflected in the sink and leaned against the railing, watching them for a long time.

"There is a sky in the water."

"The sky didn't go in," Zhao Lei said. "It's the water reflecting the light."

Why isn't it moving?

As soon as he finished speaking, a gust of wind blew, causing small ripples on the water's surface. The cloud shadows dispersed.

Shen Ling'er reached out and patted Chen Doudou's shoulder, gesturing for him to move away from the railing. "Don't lean on it."

Chen Doudou immediately stood up straight.

Zhao Lei looked down at the fence. "It's very sturdy."

"You know it's sturdy?"

"have no idea."

"Then don't put the weight on it."

Zhao Lei nodded and removed his hand from the railing.

The staff opened the water inlet valve, and the water level in the tank slowly rose. The float rose with the water surface, and the valve closed immediately. The whole process was simple, but Zhao Mengmeng watched it very attentively.

"If there's too much water, it will shut off by itself?"

"Yes," the staff member said, "like a very simple switch."

Shen Ling'er stared at the position of the buoy. "Something's not right here."

The person in charge walked over. "Where?"

"The tank is full, but it's still leaking."

Several people looked down at the water tank. At first, they couldn't see anything. After a while, the water level slowly rose a little more, the float was pushed to the metal edge, and a very faint hiss came from the valve.

The staff immediately shut off the main valve. "It is indeed leaking; it's probably due to an aging gasket."

Zhao Lei looked at Shen Ling'er. "How did you find out?"

"The water is moving."

"I also looked at the water."

You're looking at clouds.

Zhao Lei fell silent.

The person in charge arranged for someone to replace the parts and then led everyone to another water station. Along the way, there was a small red bucket upside down outside the fence. The staff picked it up, preparing to take it away.

Shen Ling'er suddenly said, "Don't turn it over yet."

The staff member stopped. "What's wrong?"

A small field mouse was lying motionless under the bucket. The staff didn't allow the children to approach; instead, they put on gloves, moved the bucket, and then contacted the ranch veterinarian to determine the appropriate course of action.

Zhao Lei glanced at her and immediately brought Zhao Mengmeng to his side.

"How do you know there's something down there?" he asked.

There was grass at the bottom of the bucket.

"It was probably blown in by the wind."

"The grass was pressed out from inside."

The person in charge looked at the opening of the bucket, then at the ground. "It definitely looks like something hid there."

The children were led to the other side. Chen Doudou glanced back, but Shen Ling'er reached out to block his view.

"Stop looking."

"Could it be asleep?"

"no."

Chen Doudou pursed her lips and didn't ask any more questions.

Continuing on, the group passed a patch of low bushes. Ranch staff reminded them not to pick the shrubs or put their hands deep into the foliage. As Zhao Lei passed by, he suddenly saw a small bird perched on a log, a blade of grass in its beak.

"It's building its nest."

"Maybe," Shen Ling'er said.

"Why are you saying 'maybe' for everything now?"

"Because I didn't check."

"It's right there."

"So you can only see it carrying grass, but you can't know what it's going to do."

Zhao Lei thought for a moment. "Maybe they want to build a house."

Shen Ling'er looked at him. "See, that's what you call guessing."

The ranch guide smiled and led everyone onward. A small bird carried a blade of grass into the bushes and quickly disappeared.

Zhao Lei took a few steps, then looked back again.

I didn't go near.

"Um."

"I'm just watching."

"The eyes didn't reach over."

Zhao Lei was satisfied. "This is progress."

Shen Ling'er didn't refute, but simply pulled her hat brim down a little. The sunlight had risen high, making the distant fence shine.

Chapter 253

During the midday break, the ranch arranged for everyone to eat under the shed.

On the table were stewed beef, stir-fried potatoes, and freshly baked multigrain pancakes. Zhao Lei put a pancake on Zhao Mengmeng's plate and then put a large piece on his own.

Shen Ling'er looked at him. "Didn't you just say you wanted to eat less?"

"I don't want to think about it anymore."

How many steps did you walk this morning?

"have no idea."

"Then why do you feel hungry?"

Zhao Lei was stumped. "I got hungry from walking."

"This is the answer."

"Can I eat it?"

"able."

He confidently took a bite of the pancake.

Yang Mi picked up a small piece of beef and placed it in Shen Ling'er's bowl. "Eat slowly, don't choke."

Shen Ling'er lowered her head and ate a couple of bites, then suddenly looked up at the window.

Next to the shed, a small feed truck was parked outside the fence. Some light yellow pellets were scattered around the wheels, and several sparrows were pecking at them. After getting out of the truck, the driver was preparing to carry a bag of feed into the warehouse.

"That bag is open," Shen Ling'er said.

The driver looked down. "It looks alright."

"It leaks from the bottom."

He lifted the bag and, sure enough, there was a narrow gap through which a few grains of feed had fallen. The person in charge had someone bring an empty bucket to fill with the feed to prevent further spillage.

Zhao Lei glanced at the sparrows. "They were the first to notice."

"They only see food," Shen Ling'er said.

"You see the bag is leaking."

"Um."

"Then you're better than a sparrow."

Shen Ling'er picked up a piece of potato. "It's different."

"What's different?"

"Sparrows don't talk while they're eating."

Yang Mi couldn't help but laugh. Zhao Lei lowered his head and ate his pancake, deciding to temporarily stop trying to compare himself to the sparrow.

After the lunch break, the ranch manager led everyone to see the sheep penned up. Inside the pen were several flocks of sheep, and the staff, based on ear tags and record tags, led the sheep that needed to be checked to a separate small enclosure nearby.

Shen Ling'er stood outside the safety line, watching quietly.

Zhao Lei shielded his eyes from the sunlight and looked at the flock of sheep. "How do they know which way to go?"

"It relies on training and guidance," the staff member said. "The sheepdogs are responsible for blocking the way they shouldn't go, and the staff will cooperate by opening and closing the fence."

A black and white sheepdog moved slowly along the outer edge of the flock. It didn't bark loudly, but stopped and turned to block the gap when the flock began to veer off course. The flock quickly changed direction and headed towards the narrow gate.

Zhao Mengmeng watched intently. "It's so smart."

"Yes," Bai Sisi said.

Zhao Lei squatted down and lowered his voice. "You said I'd be training for a few days, could you help out too?"

Bai Sisi gently patted him. "Don't herd the sheep into the kitchen yet."

Am I really that unreliable?

Shen Ling'er looked at him. "You just dropped your cake into your hat."

Zhao Lei looked down and sure enough, there were a few crumbs inside the brim of his hat.

"This is temporary storage."

"Then don't save the sheep too."

The staff led a sheep into the small pen to check its ear tag. The sheep refused to go in, stopped by the door, and gently pawed at the ground twice.

Zhao Lei watched nervously. "Is it unhappy?"

"They might not be used to it yet," the staff member said. "We'll guide them gradually, without forcing them."

Shen Ling'er looked at it for a while. "The horizontal bar by the door is too low."

When the staff went over to take a look, they found that the barrier was indeed not fully raised, and the sheep's horns were likely to hit it. After he adjusted the barrier, the sheep was able to pass through smoothly.

Zhao Lei immediately said, "You saw it?"

"Um."

"I also saw it wasn't leaving."

"You saw the sheep but didn't move."

"What's the difference?"

"Didn't you see the door was blocking it?"

Zhao Lei glanced down at the horizontal bar and stopped arguing.

After the inspection, the staff let everyone try combing a gentle sheep with the ranch's special wooden combs. The children took turns, one at a time, with a staff member accompanying them. Shen Ling'er didn't rush to be first, but waited for Zhao Mengmeng to finish combing first.

When it was her turn, she first looked at the sheep's ears and eyes, then asked, "Is it scared?"

"This one's already used to it," the staff member said. "Just be gentle with it."

Shen Ling'er picked up a wooden comb and began combing the sheep's fur from its shoulders and back. She didn't use much force, nor did she repeatedly comb the same spot. The sheep stood quietly, its tail swaying gently.

Zhao Lei watched intently from the side. "Do you usually style your hair like a dolphin?"

Shen Ling'er's hands didn't stop. "Dolphins don't have fur."

"There are dolls."

"Dolls don't need to be groomed."

"What does it need?"

"Don't ask."

Zhao Lei shut his mouth.

After finishing combing, Shen Ling'er put the comb back on the tray, and casually removed a few strands of wool stuck to the comb teeth, putting them into a small bag prepared by the staff.

Yang Mi asked, "Are you going to take it back?"

"Keep it."

"to whom?"

Shen Ling'er picked up the large dolphin. "Give it to him."

Zhao Lei peeked inside. "Its name tag already has a line, why would it want more?"

"Leave it."

Does it have clothes?

"no."

"How do you use the wool?"

"Leave it for now."

Zhao Lei looked at the bag of wool but ultimately didn't ask any more questions. He was already familiar with the answer. Things Shen Ling'er usually kept had a purpose when she put them away, but she wasn't planning to reveal it now.

Chapter 254

The weather changed in the afternoon.

The clouds hung low in the distance, and the wind picked up on the grass. The ranch manager canceled the planned outdoor photoshoot and asked everyone to go back inside. Staff took a headcount, confirming that all the children and parents were present.

Zhao Lei helped close the courtyard gate and then pulled the latch.

Shen Ling'er stood aside watching him.

"How did it go this time?"

"It's closed."

"Have you seen the following?"

Zhao Lei glanced down at the crack in the door and reached out to confirm. "I've checked."

"Will the door open by itself when it's windy?"

"The bolt is inside."

"Then why are you pulling it?"

"Make sure the latch isn't loose."

Shen Ling'er nodded. "This time it's okay."

Just as Zhao Lei was about to laugh, the wind suddenly slammed against the door. The latch made a soft click.

He immediately reached out to support her.

Shen Ling'er didn't laugh at him. "Have the staff look at it again."

After the person in charge came to inspect, they added a temporary securing strap to the outside of the door latch. Everyone returned to the main house, and the children were placed in the activity room on the inside.

The rain didn't fall immediately. The wind outside first pressed lines of varying depths into the grass. In the distance, a row of wooden stakes held a typhoon flag that was blown straight by the wind.

Chen Doudou peered out the window. "Are they going to fly away?"

"No," Lin Jia said, pulling him away from the window. "Don't press yourself against the glass."

Zhao Lei looked at the flag. "What if the wind breaks it?"

"We'll fix it when the wind calms down," Shen Ling'er said.

"Can't we go out now?"

"cannot."

"I didn't say I was going out."

"You were already standing by the door."

Zhao Lei quietly moved back to the chair.

Not long after, a ranch worker pushed a narrow-wheeled cart from the storeroom, bringing in spare water buckets. As the cart reached the middle of the yard, its front wheel suddenly got stuck. The person pushing the cart stopped, looked down to check, but couldn't find anything blocking it.

Shen Ling'er stood up. "Don't push me."

The staff member released the handle.

A thin, almost invisible wire was wrapped around the side of the car's wheel. The wire was wound around the axle, and the other end was hooked onto a blade of grass that had been blown down by the wind. The workers put on gloves and used pliers to remove the wire.

Zhao Lei stared at the piece of wire. "How did it get here?"

The person in charge frowned. "It's probably left over from when the old fence was removed."

"Could someone have deliberately placed it there?" Zhao Lei asked.

Shen Ling'er walked to the window, not approaching the car. "I don't know."

Lin Yan took out his phone and photographed the location and winding method of the wire. "Let's give it to the ranch for confirmation first. We can't conclude that someone tampered with it based on this alone."

The person in charge nodded and led a team to check the surrounding fence and ground. After finding nothing else unusual, they put the wire into a bag and marked the location where it was found.

Zhao Lei looked at the car and said in a low voice, "You can't usually see this kind of thing."

"So you have to look at the wheels," Shen Ling'er said.

"Not watching where you're going?"

"Look at both the road and the wheels."

"When I walk, I just need to look at my feet?"

"Look ahead first."

Zhao Lei thought for a moment. "This order suits me quite well."

The wind gradually subsided, but the rain clouds persisted. The ranch manager said that no one would be going out today. The activity was changed to helping sort wool indoors, dividing the wool collected in the morning into several baskets according to coarseness and fineness.

Upon hearing the word "tidy up," Zhao Lei volunteered to move the baskets.

He picked up a bamboo basket full of wool, but after taking only two steps, he noticed a small clump leaking from the bottom. He stopped, put the basket on the table, and reached in to pick it up.

"Don't grab it with your hands," Shen Ling'er said.

Zhao Lei stopped. "Is there something?"

"There are grass thorns in the wool."

The staff brought tongs and first picked out the obvious debris, then put on gloves to sort it. Zhao Lei stood by the table, responsible for handing over the empty baskets.

"I didn't reach out this time."

"I saw it."

"Nothing else that needs to be pointed out?"

"have."

Zhao Lei's body stiffened.

Shen Ling'er pointed to the edge of the table. "Place the basket flat."

He looked down and saw that one side of the bamboo basket was dangling off the table, ready to tip over at the slightest touch. Zhao Lei quickly pushed it back to the center of the table.

"This reminder is very timely."

"If you've seen it, I don't need to say anything."

"I saw it too late."

Shen Ling'er sat down at the table, holding the giant dolphin. She picked up a clean piece of wool, gently pulled apart the fibers, and removed a knotted blade of grass.

Aunt Wu's tools, left behind that morning, were in the corner. Zhao Lei saw the spindle and immediately went around it.

Shen Ling'er asked, "Are you afraid of it?"

"I respect it."

"It doesn't have class today."

"Then I won't bother you."

Shen Ling'er glanced at him and placed the grass stalk she had picked out onto the paper. A little grayish-white powder still clung to the grass stalk.

Lin Yan saw it too. He didn't make a direct judgment, but took out a transparent bag and carefully put the grass stalks away separately.

The ranch manager confirmed that the wool came from the regular pens, and the sorting and transportation records matched. The hay stalks likely came from the drying area, which didn't mean anyone had entered the ranch's inner area. Lin Yan noted all this down, planning to check the drying points again when the weather was better.

Zhao Lei breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this.

"Then someone must have hidden another box?"

"There is currently no evidence," Lin Yan said.

"That grass stalk is just a grass stalk."

Shen Ling'er looked at him. "Now you can say 'maybe'."

"I learn quickly."

"Just remember not to say anything carelessly."

"This is also a form of learning."

The activity room quieted down. The rain outside finally began to fall, pattering against the roof with a dense, even sound. Chen Doudou sat on the carpet building blocks, while Zhao Mengmeng helped Bai Sisi divide wool into small balls. Shen Ling'er leaned against Yang Mi, closing her eyes and listening to the rain for a while.

Yang Mi asked in a low voice, "Are you sleepy?"

"A little."

"Go back to your room to sleep?"

"You can sleep here too."

Yang Mi folded her coat and placed it behind her back. Shen Ling'er leaned into her mother's arms, still holding the large dolphin in her arms.

Zhao Lei saw her close her eyes and deliberately lowered his voice. "She didn't bother with me today."

Bai Sisi also lowered her voice. "You didn't cause any trouble today."

Zhao Lei thought about it carefully. "I think it's because the environment has improved."

Shen Ling'er did not open her eyes.

"You sat down."

Zhao Lei immediately sat up even more steadily.

Chapter 255

The day after the rain stopped, the ranch reopened the nearby activity trails.

After inspecting the fence and the vehicle, the staff returned the temporarily isolated area to the ranch management. Instead of going back to the old ranch trail, they followed the same route from the previous day to the top of a low hill.

From the top of the hill, one can see vast grasslands. Several flocks of sheep graze in the distance, their tiny white dots moving slowly with the waves of grass. The wind is gentler than the day before, and a faint rainbow arches across the sky.

Zhao Mengmeng looked at it for a while, then whispered, "So beautiful."

Zhao Lei nodded. "This can be filmed."

The director raised his camera. "Everyone, stand closer."

Shen Ling'er didn't go over. She squatted on the edge of the hilltop, looking at a small blade of grass bent by the wind.

Yang Mi stood next to her. "What's wrong?"

"Grass seeds".

"Want to see?"

"Um."

The staff confirmed that the slope was safe before allowing her to approach. The grass seeds were mature, with tiny husks that would scatter at the slightest touch. Shen Ling'er didn't reach out to pinch them; instead, she took a folded piece of paper from her bag, placed a corner of the paper under the grass spikes, and gently touched them.

A few grass seeds fell onto the paper.

"Are you going to take it back?" Yang Mi asked.

"Take it back to Aunt Wu to see."

Zhao Lei walked over. "She can even spin thread from grass seeds?"

"Won't."

"Then why are you taking it back?"

"have a look."

Zhao Lei nodded. "That's one use too."

"You didn't say a single point of nonsense today."

"I am making progress."

Shen Ling'er folded the paper and put it into a transparent bag. Then she stood up and brushed the grass clippings off her knees.

The person in charge reminded everyone that it wasn't advisable to linger at the top of the slope, as there was still a section of stone path ahead. The group slowly walked back along the route. Zhao Lei, holding Zhao Mengmeng's hand, was still counting the stone slabs under their feet.

He suddenly stopped halfway through his journey.

"What's wrong?" Bai Sisi asked.

Zhao Lei looked down and pointed to a stone slab. "There's a crack here."

Shen Ling'er walked to his side and glanced at him. "I saw it."

"I didn't step on it."

"You step on the side."

"right."

"Then let's walk over there."

Zhao Lei, holding his daughter's hand, avoided the crevice. He walked slowly, but his steps were steady. After passing through, a hint of pride appeared on his face.

"I discovered it myself this time."

Shen Ling'er nodded. "Mm."

"What kind of skill is that?"

"Watch where you're going."

"I will always be watching where I'm going."

"You used to only look at the soles of the feet."

"So what should we look at now?"

"The soles of the feet and the front."

Zhao Lei glanced back thoughtfully. Shen Ling'er had already led Yang Mi forward.

Back at their ranch accommodations, the production crew prepared a group photo in the yard. All the families stood in front of the wooden fence, with a wide-open grassy slope in the background. The photographer adjusted the positions so that the children were in the front row.

Shen Ling'er stood beside Yang Mi, holding the giant dolphin. Yang Mi straightened her hat brim and wiped a speck of dust from her cheek.

"Okay," the photographer said, "look here."

Everyone looked at the camera.

Zhao Lei suddenly took out the ball of thread he was holding and held it to his chest. "I also have works."

Bai Sisi glanced at it. "You want to take a picture with it?"

"Consider this a memento."

Shen Ling'er glanced at it. "Don't block Mengmeng's view."

Zhao Lei immediately lowered his hand.

The shutter clicked a few times. The photographer looked at the photos and was about to take another one when Shen Ling'er walked out from beside Yang Mi and stood at the very front of the group photo.

"What's wrong?" Yang Mi asked.

The little girl placed the dolphin on a low stool and then turned the nameplate towards the camera.

The gray-white lines looked quite ordinary, even a little rough, in the sunlight.

Shen Ling'er stepped back to her mother's side and reached out to take her hand.

"Take one more picture."

The photographer raised his camera again.

This time, Yang Mi looked down at her daughter, while Shen Ling'er looked at the camera. Her expression still held a hint of pride, as if everyone already knew who had created this plot point.

Zhao Lei, standing to the side, suddenly whispered, "Doesn't this look more like a family photo?"

Shen Ling'er looked at him. "You stand to the side."

"I'm also from one of the families featured on the show."

"You're standing even further to the side."

Bai Sisi smiled and pulled Zhao Lei back a little.

The shutter clicked again.

……

That afternoon, the production team informed the guests that the next stop would be temporarily postponed. A new flock of sheep had arrived at the ranch and needed to acclimatize, so the accommodations needed to be rearranged. While everyone was still present, the director announced that filming was entering a break phase and no activities would be scheduled for the evening.

Upon hearing the word "rest," Zhao Lei finally relaxed completely.

"Can I pack this ball of yarn away now?"

"You did it yourself, so you should keep it yourself," Bai Sisi said.

"I thought the production team wanted to keep it as a prop."

Shen Ling'er walked by. "Nobody wants it."

Zhao Lei tucked the tangled thread from the cardboard into the box. "You're being too direct."

"fact."

Yang Mi was tidying up her daughter's backpack. The name tag for the dolphin was still hanging in its original place, the knot firmly tied, not loose.

Shen Ling'er opened her backpack and suddenly stopped.

There was an extra piece of paper inside.

The paper was new, folded into a neat little square, without a signature or any markings from the production team. She didn't open it immediately, only glancing at the edge.

Zhao Lei noticed her movement. "What's wrong?"

"It's not mine."

Yang Mi removed her hands from her backpack. "Should we call Sister Xu?"

"Let's look outside first."

A corner of the paper was covered with a speck of light gray powder. Shen Ling'er didn't touch it with her hand, but instead asked Lin Yan to bring a transparent bag to put the paper and powder together. After confirming that there were no other objects around, Lin Yan used clips to unfold the paper.

There is only one line of text above.

"The yarn is woven very well."

There was no signature.

Shen Ling'er stared at those words, her expression unchanged. After reading the paper, she glanced at the name tag on the dolphin.

Yang Mi gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

Do you recognize this character?

"I don't know him."

"Who put that there?"

"have no idea."

Zhao Lei stood to the side, his tone unusually restrained. "Was someone watching the backpack the whole time?"

"I just left it in the room." The staff member recalled for a moment, "There were people going in and out of the door, but they were all organizing their luggage. I'll go ask."

Lin Yan carefully put the paper bag away. "I'll handle it according to the records first. We can't assume who sent it just because of a single sentence."

Shen Ling'er nodded. "Mm."

Zhao Lei looked at her. "Aren't you angry?"

"Why are you angry?"

"Someone has been in your backpack."

Shen Ling'er thought for a moment. "He didn't take anything."

"That won't work either."

"I know."

She picked up the dolphin from the table, checked its name tag, and then put it back on top of her backpack.

Lin Yan arranged for staff to check the room's entry and exit records. No one noticed anything unusual. The security camera at the door was partially obscured by the luggage rack, making it impossible to see the backpack's location. The note had no fingerprints, and there were no other clues to confirm the person's identity.

That night, Shen Ling'er didn't mention the paper again.

Yang Mi washed her hair and dried it for her. The little girl sat on the edge of the bed, holding a piece of newly spun gray-white thread in her hand, looking at it over and over several times.

"Do you like it?" Yang Mi asked.

"like."

"Then keep it safe."

Shen Ling'er put the thread into the small box and touched the name tag again.

"Mother."

"Um?"

"When we get back, we'll knit the yarn even better."

Yang Mi tucked her hair behind her ear. "Okay."

"Teach me."

"it is good."

"We can't show this to Uncle Zhao Lei."

Just then, Zhao Lei's voice came from outside the door: "I heard you."

Shen Ling'er closed the box.

"Then we absolutely mustn't show it to him."

Yang Mi smiled and hugged her daughter. Outside the window, the night wind blew across the grass, and the distant sheep bells rang a few times before gradually falling silent.

The production crew prepared to depart early the next morning.

As soon as the car drove out of the ranch and passed that familiar grassy slope, Shen Ling'er suddenly sat up straight.

"Wait a minute."

The driver immediately slowed down and stopped the car in a safe area.

Yang Mi looked at her. "What's wrong?"

"There are people over there."

Everyone looked in the direction she was pointing.

Outside the fence on the slope stood a tall man. He wore an ordinary dark coat, his back to the road, and held an old wooden box in his hand. The wind blew up the hem of his coat, then quickly fell back down.

Nobody recognized him.

Lin Yan gestured to the driver not to get out of the car and to contact the ranch staff first. The man seemed to hear the car and slowly turned around.

The dolphin in Shen Ling'er's arms slipped.

She didn't hold it properly as usual.

Zhao Lei noticed that her hands were trembling.

"Ling'er?"

The little girl stared out the car window, her lips pressed tightly together.

The man didn't approach or wave. He just stood there, watching the people in the car across a grassy slope.

Yang Mi stood up from her seat and gently placed her hand on her daughter's back.

"Is it him?" she asked.

Shen Ling'er did not answer.

Outside the vehicle, the man put down the wooden box and raised his hands to indicate that he had nothing else with him. Ranch workers rushed over from a distance and spoke with him first. After a few words, the man took out his identification from his pocket and handed it over.

Lin Yan couldn't see the words on the certificate clearly, but she noticed that the staff member's expression had changed.

He picked up the walkie-talkie, listened for a few seconds, and then turned to the director and said, "The police and the production team have confirmed his identity."

No one spoke in the car.

"Who is he?" Zhao Lei asked.

Lin Yan looked at Shen Ling'er, then at the man standing on the grassy slope.

"Shen Fei".

Upon hearing that name, Yang Mi's eyes immediately reddened.

Shen Ling'er still did not move.

The car door didn't open. She remained seated, her arms tightly clasped around the dolphin, as if afraid that if she let go, the person in front of her would disappear.

Yang Mi took her hand.

"Ling'er".

The little girl turned her head and glanced at her mother.

"He's back?"

"Um."

"Aren't you leaving this time?"

Yang Mi did not answer immediately. She looked out the window, her voice soft but firm.

"I'm not leaving."

Shen Ling'er remained silent for a long time before finally pushing open the car door.

Zhao Lei instinctively wanted to follow, but Bai Sisi stopped him.

"Let her go by herself."

Shen Ling'er got out of the car and walked slowly across the grass. She didn't walk fast, nor did she run. The man stood still, waiting for her to approach.

Shen Ling'er stopped when the two were only a few steps apart.

"Why are you so late?"

Shen Fei looked down at her, his face expressionless.

"Something came up on the way."

"What is it?"

"We'll talk about it later."

Shen Ling'er stared at him for a while, then raised her hand, first touching his cuff, then his collar, and finally looking up at his face.

"You have no blood on you."

"no."

"There are no injuries."

"no."

"Then why didn't you come back sooner?"

Shen Fei did not answer.

He crouched down, his gaze level with his daughter's. Shen Ling'er reached out and grabbed his collar, as if to confirm that he was really standing in front of her. After holding on for two seconds, she suddenly threw herself into his arms.

Shen Fei reached out and hugged her.

Yang Mi got out of the car and stood a few steps away from them. She didn't speak, but simply raised her hand to cover her mouth.

Shen Fei looked up at her.

"I'm back."

Yang Mi went over and hugged both his daughter and himself.

"This time you're back, don't leave again."

"it is good."

Shen Ling'er buried her face in her father's shoulder, her voice muffled.

"What did you bring?"

Shen Fei pointed to the wooden box on the grassy slope. "It's for you."

"Is it edible?"

"cannot."

She immediately relaxed a little. "What's that?"

"There should be a place to put the thread your mother made."

Yang Mi was taken aback.

Shen Fei opened the wooden box. Inside, there was a soft cloth, and in the corner were several balls of wool yarn of different colors. There was an empty space at the top, just big enough to hold Shen Ling'er's grayish-white yarn.

Standing by the car, Zhao Lei finally couldn't help but whisper to Lin Yan, "Who exactly is he?"

Lin Yan looked at the family and gently shook her head.

"have no idea."

The ranch staff handed back the identification. The cover contained only a single, brief line of text, enough to identify the person, but no one read it aloud. The production crew didn't press further. Aside from Yang Mi and Shen Ling'er, no one recognized him; and all the speculation about him remained just that—speculation.

Shen Fei did not explain.

He simply handed the wooden box to his daughter.

Shen Ling'er took it, first looked at the empty space inside, then took out the small ball of yarn from her backpack and put it in.

"This place is too big."

"We can make another one."

"My mother taught me."

"it is good."

"You should learn too."

Shen Fei nodded. "Okay."

Zhao Lei looked at him. "Mr. Shen, you can also spin thread?"

Shen Ling'er hugged the wooden box to her chest. "He doesn't know how yet."

"Then you teach him?"

"I won't teach."

Shen Fei looked down at his daughter. "Why?"

"You should sit down first."

Zhao Lei paused for a moment. "That sounds familiar."

Yang Mi wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and took Shen Ling'er's other hand. "Let's get in the car first, we can teach you slowly when we get home."

Shen Ling'er looked at her father. "Are you coming back with us?"

"Um."

"Not getting off halfway?"

"It won't go down."

"Not going to take care of the business?"

"I'm not going."

She continued to stare at him, as if waiting for a more complete answer.

Shen Fei reached out and tidied his daughter's hair, which had been ruffled by the wind.

"I'll go home with you and your mother."

Shen Ling'er then turned around. She held her mother's hand, while her father still held her other hand, and walked back to the car.

Zhao Lei opened the car door for them. Before getting into the car, Shen Ling'er glanced back at the grassy slope.

Ranch workers are collecting the wooden box and coat that Shen Fei left behind. In the distance, sheep graze with their heads down, and the wind sweeps across the tips of the grass like gently rippling water.

The car door closed.

Yang Mi sat next to her daughter, and Shen Fei sat on the other side. Shen Ling'er placed the large dolphin in the middle, making sure its nameplate was visible.

"When we get home," she said, "we'll eat first."

Yang Mi smiled and nodded. "Okay."

"Re-spinning the yarn".

Shen Fei said, "Okay."

"You can't just sit and watch."

"it is good."

"It's not impossible."

"it is good."

Zhao Lei turned around from the front row. "What about me?"

Shen Ling'er turned her face to the window.

"You sit over there."

Zhao Lei nodded. "This arrangement is very fair."

The car slowly drove out of the pasture. The grassy slopes gradually receded into the distance, and a long shadow swept across the car window.

In the scene, Yang Mi holds her daughter's hand, while Shen Fei sits quietly beside them. Shen Ling'er leans against her mother, her toes lightly touching her father's shoes.

This time, she neither counted the distance nor the time.

She simply held the box of gray-white thread in her arms and finally closed her eyes in peace.