A 15-YEAR-OLD boy who left his home in Shenzhen 27 days ago was found in Changsha, Hunan Province, by his father Saturday after a local offered a clue. Both the boy and his father returned home to Shenzhen on Sunday, the Bao’an Daily reported yesterday.

    The news about a middle school student in Bao’an District leaving home 27 days ago with 1,000 yuan (US$153) raised concern online. Many people helped the boy’s parents search for their son.

    On Saturday morning, the boy’s father, surnamed Li, received a call from a Changsha resident, who said he spotted a boy who looked like Li’s son at a local bookstore.

    “He sent me a photo of the boy whose figure and profile looked like my son, and I took a high-speed train to Changsha the same day,” Li said.

    Li said the man, who declined to reveal his personal information, contacted Li after he saw the news about Li’s son on WeChat. Li said the boy already left the bookstore when they got there Saturday afternoon.

    Li started searching for his son in Changsha with the help of his former classmates in the city.

    “At around 11 p.m., when I passed by a small shop, I heard a voice that was so familiar and I was sure it was from my son,” Li said.

    Li said his son hadn’t been injured but had lost some weight. They returned home to Shenzhen on Sunday by high-speed train. “I would like to thank many people, especially that kind man in Changsha who contacted me, but he refused to take our money as a reward,” Li said.

    Li said he hasn’t asked why his son left home as he wants to let the child calm down for a few days and get prepared for the upcoming high school entrance exam. Li said he would reflect on his parenting methods and talk to his son more often.

    Li’s son is a third-year student at Fuyong Middle School in Bao’an District. The school’s spokesperson said a teacher would be assigned to follow up the case.

    (Zhang Yang)