Chapter 2

Chapter 2

July 21, 2020

It was my last day setting up my stall at the kindergarten gates.

The kindergarten was closed, and Yutong’s parents didn’t show up today.

I heard they had already secured a massive settlement from the kindergarten.

The school would be closing its doors for good after this.

At dusk, as I packed up my things, I couldn’t help but feel a lingering sense of loss.

That was until a young boy called out to me.

“Mister, you’re still here.”

“I’m packing up, kid. No snacks today.”

“No,” the boy waved his hand. “I’m not here to eat. I’m here to give you money.”

“What money?” I asked, confused.

“Last Tuesday, Yutong told me she bought something from you but didn’t pay. She asked me to bring the money to you after school.

“But the rain was too heavy when school let out that day, so I just went home. I’m glad you’re still here today.”

Yutong… rain… My heart skipped a beat.

“Kid, the Yutong you’re talking about-is it Ding Yutong?” I asked, crouching down to his level.

“Yeah.” The boy blinked.

Last Tuesday… that was the day Yutong went missing!

That day, she never showed up at my red bean cake stall, and there was no such thing as her not paying.

Besides, students were forbidden from leaving the kindergarten before school was dismissed.

How could she have come out early to buy red bean cakes?

Seeing my expression change, the little boy asked in a small voice, “Mister, did something happen to Yutong?”

I nodded.

He sighed and said, “Mister, Yutong really loved your red bean cakes, but…”

“But what?” I asked.

“But she actually… never got to eat them.”

Chapter 4

August 6, 2024, 9:30 AM

While flipping through the case files, I noticed a specific detail.

The “Evidence List Description” stated:

The school’s surveillance footage and facial recognition records may have omissions due to overlapping frames or blind spots.

Therefore, the key evidence used to conclude that Ding Yutong did not leave the school grounds during dismissal originated from her mother’s testimony:

“From the moment the first group of children came out until the very last child left, I never saw Yutong. Besides, if she saw me, she would have run to me immediately.”

It was this testimony that shifted the responsibility entirely onto the school.

At the time, the police must have conducted numerous inspections and interviews before choosing to believe the mother’s words.

But testimony isn’t physical evidence.

What if her mother was lying?