The police stopped at the door of the largest mediation room in the police station. Hearing the question, they helplessly said:
"It was in the early hours of the morning. The front desk staff had fallen asleep and didn't notice the situation here. We've already criticized and educated them, telling them to pay more attention in the future."
As soon as the door opened, it was like releasing a bunch of Calabash Brothers, except instead of calling for Grandpa, these kids were calling for Mom and Dad.
In an instant, everyone was looking for their parents, creating a lively scene.
They still had to wait here until the injury assessment results came from the hospital.
The other party was crying and shouting at the hospital, saying they hurt all over. Since they only intended to take someone away but didn't succeed before getting beaten, if the injuries were serious, there would be more to argue about.
"Dad," Gu Zhijing called out softly, feeling a bit embarrassed. On the first day of the new year, he had already ended up at the police station.
Gu Junxing wasn't actually angry. Seeing his son like this, he just patted his head and said, "It's okay."
This wait lasted until daybreak.
The police, having brought back so many people, especially underage students, were under a lot of pressure. They told those who hadn't fought to go home first, but upon careful questioning, they discovered that... everyone had been involved in the fight.
Many of the children had fallen asleep, including Gu Zhijing, who was now sleeping soundly, covered with his father's coat and leaning on his father's shoulder.
At six o'clock, news came from the hospital. They had examined everything down to the fingernails, and the other party only had minor soft tissue contusions. Their previous behavior had all been an act.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The police also suggested they quickly sign the papers and take their children home.
As they were leaving, Hao Leyun was telling her mother, "I told the police uncle that I was careful when I hit, there's no way I could have injured anyone."
"Mom knows. Come on, let's go have some dim sum before we head home," Hao's Mother said, bidding farewell to everyone else while affectionately embracing her daughter.
Seeing this, the remaining parents, regardless of what they were thinking inside, didn't outwardly blame their children.
Cao Shan's father even praised his daughter profusely, saying she was brave and clever! The only thing she did wrong was forgetting to bring her phone.
Gu Zhijing, Qu Zizhou, and Chu Mingyan, the three of them, still said their goodbyes like the best of friends.
Before getting in the car, Gu Zhijing saw Li Yaxin helping her father come out. Her father had difficulty walking and was lagging behind everyone else.
Gu Zhijing glanced at Gu Junxing, and after receiving an affirmative nod, went forward to help Li Yaxin support her father. "Li Yaxin, where are you going? I can ask my dad to give you a ride. It's too early to easily get a taxi now."
Li Yaxin's father repeatedly refused, but Li Yaxin immediately accepted. At this point, she couldn't afford to be polite.
Logically, given her father's mobility issues, he shouldn't have come, but their family now had a stall in the market. Her mother had to go early to get supplies, a job her father couldn't do. If they left now, she would be just in time to help her mother.
"Thank you, classmate Gu Zhijing. Thank you, Uncle Gu."
Before Gu Junxing could reply, Gu Zhijing answered for him.
"No need to thank us. My dad is handsome and kind-hearted, right, Dad?"
Li Yaxin helped her father into the car, hearing this, she smiled discreetly.
Uncle Gu was indeed very handsome, and Gu Zhijing's mother was very beautiful too. Their whole family was very good-looking.
Gu Zhijing asked, "By the way, where are you going?"
"Uncle, we're going to Linan Market. I'm sorry for the trouble, it's a bit far from here," Li Yaxin said, feeling a bit embarrassed. If it weren't for needing to rush back to help her mother, she really wouldn't have bothered them.
Gu Junxing's attitude was neither warm nor cold, he just said, "It's alright."
Li Yaxin's father was silent and reserved, sitting stiffly and quietly listening to his daughter's response.
Gu Zhijing wanted to make conversation, but he was too tired. Within moments, he fell asleep again, his head tilted to the side.
Li Yaxin was the same. At first, she sat ramrod straight due to nervousness, but after about fifteen minutes, she too succumbed to fatigue and fell asleep.
She had been one of the few who hadn't slept at the police station. It had been a long time since she'd gone out to play, and when her classmates invited her yesterday, she had agreed. She never expected something like this to happen, causing her father to rush out in the middle of the night. The guilt had kept her from sleeping. Now that the matter was resolved, she felt relieved, and drowsiness washed over her like a tide.
It took nearly an hour to reach the place Li Yaxin had mentioned. Li Yaxin's father gently woke his daughter. After getting out of the car, he bowed deeply to Gu Junxing in the driver's seat.
Gu Junxing also got out of the car and slightly bowed in return. This was a wordless conversation between two fathers.
Gu Zhijing, being a deep sleeper, slept all the way home. Given his size, there was no way Gu Junxing could carry him home, so he had to physically wake him up.
It was definitely the first time in several months that Gu Junxing was still asleep when Nian Suian got up.
When she came downstairs, it was already past ten. She heard about the early morning incident from Nanny Zhang, who had gotten up early. The father and son had only returned home after eight in the morning.
Not knowing how long the two would sleep, Nian Suian called Liu Jian to explain the situation, saying they might be late.
Liu Jian, hearing that Gu Zhijing had been to the police station, found it rather amusing. As for them possibly missing the opening ceremony, he didn't mind at all.
"The opening ceremony is just a formality for outsiders. We're family, so don't worry about it too much. As long as you can make it for dinner, that's fine."
Nian Suian ate lunch alone today. Gu Junxing woke up at one in the afternoon, still feeling a bit unwell.
He usually had a very regular schedule, so this sudden change made him feel uncomfortable.
"I've already told Liu Jian that we might be late. Do you want to eat and then sleep a bit more?" Nian Suian asked.
Gu Junxing shook his head, "It's fine, I'll feel better after a while. If I sleep in the afternoon, my schedule will be completely off." After saying this, he leaned his head on Nian Suian's shoulder.
Nian Suian initially wanted to say his head was quite heavy, but seeing how tired he was, she felt bad about saying it. Instead, she simply stayed still, letting him rest on her.
When Gu Zhijing came downstairs, this was the scene he saw: his father, like a big bird seeking comfort, leaning on his stepmother's shoulder with his eyes closed.
He also ran over and sat on Nian Suian's other side, quietly taking a family photo of the three of them with his phone.
Nanny Zhang, feeling sorry for the boss and young master who had been out all night, made many delicious dishes for them. As father and son went to eat, Nian Suian went upstairs to pack.
"Send me the photo," Gu Junxing suddenly said to Gu Zhijing.
"Huh?"
"The photo you just took. Send it to me."
"How did you know I took..." Gu Zhijing was about to ask how he knew when his eyes were closed, but upon closer inspection of the photo, he realized his father had opened his eyes.
In the photo, all three of them were looking at the camera.
Gu Zhijing sat on Nian Suian's right, making a peace sign at the camera. Nian Suian, seeing Gu Zhijing raise his phone, looked up and gave a soft smile to the camera. Gu Junxing had just opened his eyes, leaning on Nian Suian's shoulder and looking at the camera expressionlessly.