novelraw Chapter 412: Major General, the Young Master Has Gone Missing
Chapter 412: Major General, the Young Master Has Gone Missing
"Richard, why did we get up so early? Are we going to the amusement park?" Casimir Shaw had been woken up early and rubbed his eyes while asking.
"We’re going to pay respects to our elders." Richard Shaw, dressed formally for once in a black suit, set up Casimir’s breakfast dishes.
"Oh." Casimir nodded, slipped on his little tiger jacket, and sleepily went to brush his teeth. In this unfamiliar setting, he fumbled his way toward the yard but nearly bumped into the hotel suite’s wall. Feeling frustrated, Casimir bemoaned that Richard really wasn’t taking him to the amusement park—other kids always got to go with their mom and dad.
Early in the morning, Casimir was already feeling gloomy. But seeing that Richard seemed even unhappier, the young boy grabbed his sketchpad and pencil on the car ride and, with his immature strokes, drew a serious and wrinkled Richard alongside a cartoonishly smiling and radiant Casimir.
He wanted to draw Mommy, but there were no photos of her at home. He’d also noticed Richard sneakily hiding the photos, as if wanting to keep Mommy all to himself.
Casimir scrunched up his little nose, unhappy.
"Major General, the Mausoleum Site in the Southern City is here," announced Shuangzi.
Richard got out of the car, leading Casimir up toward the cemetery paths, which included stairs and specially designed wheelchair-accessible ramps. Richard took the ramp, steadily climbing until they reached the blank tombstone—a large monolith placed right in the center of the cemetery.
As they approached, they saw two fresh bouquets still damp with dew that must have been left earlier by members of the Squire Family.
Richard gestured for his son to bring the flowers forward and conduct the rites.
Casimir stared at the blank tombstone, puzzled. Still, he obediently paid his respects.
"Richard, why is there no epitaph?" Casimir asked curiously.
Richard patted the boy’s small head, his gaze calm as he replied, "Because their lives need not be judged or defined by future generations."
When the rite was complete, Richard instructed Shuangzi to take Casimir back down the hill first. Alone, Richard sat in his wheelchair, silently lingering in the cemetery surrounded by standing tombstones.
Casimir, his lips pouting, looked back at Richard with a worried expression. He then held Shuangzi’s hand, descending the hill. The little boy was full of melancholy, his beautiful dark almond-shaped eyes welling with tears of grievance, making Shuangzi’s heart ache.
"Young master, why do you look so upset?"
Casimir pouted deeply, his head lowered. He missed Mommy, but he couldn’t say that—Richard would be even sadder if he knew.
"I want to draw, Uncle Shuang. Please don’t bother me." Casimir darted off to the parking lot, found the black SUV, climbed in, and got his pencil and sketchpad to focus intently on drawing.
Shuangzi chuckled at the sight. This precocious little boy was an amusing sight as he earnestly drew inside the car. Shuangzi sighed lightly, glancing up toward the hillside again in worry—how long would Major General Richard remain there, alone?
Feeling uneasy, Shuangzi dialed a teammate to ask them to come.
After ending the call, Shuangzi waited a while longer, but Richard still hadn’t come down the hill, making Shuangzi even more anxious.
"Young master, let’s go pick up your dad, okay?" Shuangzi opened the car door only to find the back seat empty, and his face instantly turned pale in fright.
Shuangzi searched everywhere but couldn’t find Casimir. While tracking the boy’s location signal, he simultaneously called Richard, his voice tense and drained of color, "Major General, young master is missing."