The richest man's parents were kidnapped, and his adorable son captivated the entire family.

Mengmeng made a "follow me" gesture, and the two little ones slipped out of the room like little mice and crossed the quiet corridor.

Moonlight streamed through the window and fell on the floor, illuminating their path ahead.

When they successfully slipped out the back door and arrived under the cherry blossom tree, Mengmeng breathed a sigh of relief, then couldn't help but giggle: "We did it! Just like the protagonists in an adventure story!"

Xingxing didn't laugh, but his eyes were brighter than Mengmeng had ever seen. He looked up at the silvery moon in the night sky, his lips trembling slightly.

"Is it pretty?" Mengmeng looked up at the moon and then asked the person next to her curiously.

The star didn't answer, but his reaction said it all.

He seemed lost in thought, but a rare smile slowly crept onto his lips.

Mengmeng held her breath, afraid of disturbing this miraculous moment. This was the first time she had seen the stars smile, and it was even more beautiful than she had imagined.

When the atmosphere is quiet.

“My mother…” Xingxing suddenly spoke, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible, “...likes the moon.”

Upon hearing this, Mengmeng instinctively turned her head towards him and quietly waited for him to continue.

Xingxing's gaze drifted distant, as if she were seeing something else through the moon: "She...always cried, that man...hit her..." The little boy's fingers unconsciously gripped his arm, rubbing against old scars, his voice already trembling involuntarily: "I...pretended to be good...but he still..."

Upon hearing these words, Mengmeng felt as if her heart had been clenched into a knot. She gently approached Xingxing, but did not touch her, simply wanting Xingxing to know that she was listening attentively.

“One day… blood… so much blood…” Xingxing’s voice began to tremble, as if she had thought of something extremely painful.

"Mom...is not moving...police...take me away..."

Tears streamed down Xingxing's cheeks, and his body trembled more and more violently.

Mengmeng could no longer hold back and gently grasped Xingxing's trembling hand. This time, Xingxing did not pull away.

“It’s not…your fault,” Mengmeng said earnestly, repeating what Xie Yumin often told her, “Adults…sometimes make mistakes, but that’s not the children’s fault.”

Xingxing's breathing became rapid, and more tears welled up. Like a lost person finally finding a way out, he poured out all the pain he had suppressed for years: "I think... why... didn't she... take me with her..."

Mengmeng's eyes welled up with tears as she recalled how she felt when she lost her biological parents, the fear and loneliness of being abandoned. Although Gu Yinshen and Xie Yumin gave her endless love, the initial pain remained forever in a corner of her heart.

“She must be trying to protect you,” Mengmeng took a deep breath, trying to pull herself together, and then spoke softly.

Mengmeng wasn't sure if what she said was right, but she felt that Xingxing needed to hear such words, "just like my dad protects me."

Upon hearing this, Xingxing fell silent. He lowered his head, and tears silently streamed down his cheeks.

Mengmeng took a tissue out of her pocket and clumsily but gently wiped away the tears on his face.

"Mengmeng..." Xingxing suddenly called her name, the first time she had ever called her that. "...Thank you."

The two simple words contained so many unspeakable emotions. Mengmeng paused in her work, then nodded deeply. She knew she didn't need to say anything more; this was enough.

In the shadows not far away, Xie Yumin and Dr. Lin watched this scene quietly.

They had all heard what Xingxing had just said and were all moved.

Xie Yumin's eyes gradually welled up with tears. She had never imagined that her six-year-old daughter could offer such profound comfort to another wounded soul.

"That boy..." Xie Yumin took a slight breath and asked in a low voice.

"His experience..."

Dr. Lin withdrew his gaze, sighed deeply with some helplessness, and then explained.

"The mother suffered long-term domestic violence from her stepfather and eventually committed suicide in front of the children. When Xingxing was found, she hadn't eaten for three days and was sitting next to her mother's body... Autism is exacerbated by post-traumatic stress disorder."

Xie Yumin covered her mouth, her heart aching, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Looking at the two small figures under the moonlight, she was suddenly incredibly grateful to Mengmeng for her reckless intrusion into the world of stars that day. Perhaps it was this innocent naivety that allowed her to penetrate the high walls built by the stars.

On the way back to the room, Xingxing took Mengmeng's hand. His palm was a little cool, but he held it tightly, as if he was afraid that if he let go, Mengmeng would disappear.

"Will we be able to see the moon tomorrow...?" As she approached the door, Xingxing stopped and couldn't help but ask softly.

Mengmeng thought about it seriously for a moment, then shook her head and explained, "I can't look at it every day, or they'll find out."

As soon as she finished speaking, Mengmeng noticed Xingxing's disappointed expression and quickly added, "But we can make a new agreement! For example... if you take your medicine for a week, I'll teach you how to draw a rainbow!"

Xingxing stopped and looked intently at Mengmeng. Moonlight streamed in through the corridor window, illuminating his clear eyes. Finally, he spoke earnestly, "Mengmeng...you're not lying?"

"I won't lie!" Mengmeng held up three fingers, making a solemn promise, "Pinky promise, a hundred years from now, no take-backs!"

This time, Xingxing took the initiative to extend her little finger, fulfilling their second promise.

When Mengmeng tiptoed back to her room, she found Xie Yumin sitting by her bed waiting for her.

"Thank you, Mom!" Mengmeng was startled at first, but then she remembered the "adventure" that night and lowered her head guiltily.

"I...we just..."

Xie Yumin hugged her daughter and kissed the top of her head, her heart filled with emotion.

"Mom knows everything. Xingxing... told you his story?"

Mengmeng nodded, and in front of her mother, she finally let down her guard and looked a little tired.

"The star's mother... became a star in the sky," Mengmeng murmured, then couldn't help but yawn lazily, her eyelids starting to droop.

Xie Yumin smiled wryly, then got up and gently placed her daughter on the bed, tucking her in: "Yes, baby, but now he has you, you two are best friends."

Mengmeng smiled half-asleep and responded with a soft "yes".

"Mmm...I will...always stay with him..." Before she could finish speaking, the little girl had already drifted off to sleep.

Xie Yumin sat by her daughter's bedside for a long time, watching her peaceful sleeping face. The moon outside the window gradually sank in the west, but its light had already shone into the hearts of the two children, dispelling some of the long-standing darkness.

The next morning, Dr. Lin excitedly ran over to tell Xie Yumin about a miracle.

Xingxing volunteered to eat breakfast and, for the first time, did not resist the morning health check.