Although the two little ones were only just over two years old, they had already started learning to recognize and write some characters.
Of course, for the ones they didn’t know, they could use pinyin as a substitute.
At this moment, Xingxing was holding a pen, carefully and deliberately writing out their plan to go out and buy a gift, assuring their parents not to worry.
They would come back as soon as they bought it.
And they would take care of themselves.
Since they were still young and not very skilled at writing, even just two lines took Xingxing quite a while to finish.
Once done, he placed the note on the living room table and weighed it down with a water jug to make sure their parents would see it as soon as they returned.
“Brother, is it done?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
With that, Xingxing and Yueyue took some money with them.
“Hongying, Leiting, we’re going out!”
As soon as Yueyue called out, Hongying and Leiting immediately ran over, wagging their tails excitedly.
Amber also came over.
Amber barked at the two little ones a few times.
“Are you going out to play?”
Though Xingxing and Yueyue couldn’t understand Hupo’s words, they could grasp her meaning.
“Hupo, Brother and I are going out to play. Don’t worry, we’ll take Hongying and Leiting with us.”
Hearing this, Amber felt reassured.
It was common for Xingxing and Yueyue to go out and play after returning from school.
They usually played with other children in the military compound.
And since they had Hongying and Leiting with them, Amber wasn’t too worried about them being bullied by other kids.
So this time, Amber assumed they were just going to play with the other children as usual.
She didn’t stop them.
“Make sure you come back before your parents get off work, and don’t forget to come home for dinner.” Even though she knew Xingxing and Yueyue couldn’t understand her, Amber still reminded them.
After all, when Gu Jianing and Sheng Zexi weren’t home, the responsibility of protecting Xingxing and Yueyue fell on her.
To Amber, the two little ones were like her own cubs—she cherished and watched over them just the same.
At the same time, Amber also reminded Hongying and Leiting to keep Xingxing and Yueyue safe.
And so, Xingxing and Yueyue successfully left the house.
However, after walking for a while, Leiting suddenly stopped and barked at Xingxing and Yueyue.
Clearly, Leiting had realized this wasn’t the usual path they took to play with the other children.
He was confused.
Not just Leiting—Hongying was also puzzled.
Xingxing and Yueyue exchanged glances, knowing they couldn’t hide it from them.
So the two little ones crouched down, hugged Hongying and Leiting, and explained their plan to leave the military compound to buy a birthday gift for their mothers.
“No, you can’t go. Mom said you’re not allowed to leave the compound.” Leiting immediately barked in protest.
Hongying also seemed hesitant.
Though she loved going outside, she always listened to the words of their human parents and her mother, Amber.
“Oh, come on, Hongying, Leiting, we’re not going far, and we’re not going to fool around. We just want to buy a gift for Mom.”
“When it was our birthday, Mom always gave us presents.”
“But we’ve never given her a gift before.”
“That doesn’t feel right.”
“We want to give Mom a present!”
Xingxing and Yueyue pleaded with Hongying and Leiting, using every tactic from reasoning to acting cute.
Despite their young age, the two little ones already knew how to appeal to emotions and logic—and they were quite skilled at it.
Hongying and Leiting had always been indulgent with the two little ones, and their bond was incredibly close.
They already felt bad about refusing their request in the first place.
Now, hearing their explanation, they understood that the children didn’t just want to sneak out to play—they wanted to buy a birthday gift for their mother.
It was pure, heartfelt sincerity.
This made Hongying and Leiting even more moved.
“Should… should we ask Mom first?” Leiting hesitated.
“No,” Hongying decisively rejected the idea.
The “Mom” Leiting referred to was, of course, Amber.
“If we ask Mom, she definitely won’t agree.”
Leiting: True!
“Then what should we do?”
“Just agree to it.”
“Ah?”
And so, after much pleading and coaxing from Xingxing and Yueyue, Hongying and Leiting finally gave in.
“Quick, quick! I know a way out!” Yueyue urged excitedly.
Soon, the two children and two dogs walked for about ten minutes until they reached a certain spot in the military compound. Yueyue pushed aside the thick grass, revealing a small hole—just big enough for a person to crawl through.
Hongying and Leiting were stunned.
There really was a dog hole.
“Brother, hurry, let’s go!”
Yueyue went first, easily slipping through the hole. For a two-year-old, crawling through a dog hole was no trouble at all—just a slight duck of the head, and she was out.
Xingxing quickly followed.
As for Hongying and Leiting, their bodies were much larger than the two little ones. But with some squeezing, they managed to force their way through.
Once outside the dog hole, a whole new world opened up before them.
“Brother, Hongying, Leiting, come on, let’s go!”
And so, the two children and two dogs set off.
Hongying and Leiting were somewhat familiar with the area outside the dog hole. During training, Sheng Zexi had taken them to practice both inside and outside the military compound. This place wasn’t far from their usual training grounds outside the compound.
Hongying and Leiting had an excellent sense of direction and recognized it immediately.
What’s more…
They knew the way to the county town.
So Hongying took the lead.
“Brother, Hongying knows the way to the county town! Quick, let’s follow her!”
“Mm.”
And so, the two little ones trailed behind Hongying and Leiting, heading toward the county town.
When they got tired from walking, Xingxing climbed onto Leiting’s back, and Yueyue rode on Hongying. The two dogs carried them as they ran ahead, speeding up their journey considerably.
By the time they reached the county town, the streets were bustling with people.
“Quick, let’s pick out a gift for Mom fast!”
Knowing time was tight, they quickly selected their gifts.
Yueyue would have loved to explore the town a bit more, but she knew they had to hurry back—otherwise, their parents would worry.
“Yueyue, let’s go home,” Xingxing suggested.
Having bought the perfect gifts, both Xingxing and Yueyue were overjoyed.
“Okay.”
But just then, two people hurried past them, brushing against the children in their rush.
They either weren’t watching where they were going or were in too much of a hurry.
One of them bumped into Xingxing, knocking him to the ground.
Xingxing couldn’t help but let out a small “Oof!”
“Brother, are you okay?” Yueyue immediately rushed to help him up.
Then, with a firm grip, Yueyue grabbed the sleeve of the person who had knocked her brother down but was trying to leave.
“You knocked my brother over! You need to apologize!” Yueyue’s little face was stern.
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