Chapter 26

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After submitting the script for "The Lamp Lighter," the results came out the next day.

Out of five scripts, they selected three, and the project team decided to interview these three screenwriters simultaneously.

Zhang Tan's script was among the three, and he felt a sense of relief as he smoothly moved on to the next stage.

To be honest, adapting a manga didn't give him much room to fully showcase his talents. The plot and story were already set, and he couldn't make major changes; otherwise, it wouldn't be called an adaptation but a rewrite.

Since it was just minor adjustments, it was impossible for Zhang Tan's script to be significantly better than the others. The differences were more in the script structure and details—macro and micro perspectives. The rest could be kept according to the original work.

These days, he had been busy with the script, working from morning till night. After things were almost done, Zhang Tan suddenly remembered that Xiao Bai hadn't appeared for a while. Usually, she would visit him every day, even if she didn't see him, she would always check on her little friend.

He made dinner and was about to eat when he suddenly thought of Xiao Bai. He put down his chopsticks, changed his shoes, and went out to the activity area on the first floor.

It was now 6:30 PM, and the red sunset was casting a brilliant glow over the courtyard. The dense and sparse tree shadows were dotted with little bugs wandering around.

There were some teachers and children in the schoolyard, but not many. Zhang Tan saw Luo Zikang sliding down the slide and asked if he had seen Xiao Bai.

Since their last fight, they had apologized to each other and seemed to have made up. Things had been peaceful since then.

Luo Zikang pointed to the courtyard and said Xiao La Jiao was playing soccer.

Seeing his dejected look, Zhang Tan guessed that he had tried to join but was refused. It was quite pitiful, as soccer was usually a boy's game, but Xiao Bai had taken over and wouldn't let this boy join. It really didn't make sense.

Zhang Tan found Xiao Bai in the courtyard. She was digging in the sandbox with Xiao Mi, filling a red plastic bucket, and they were having a great time. The sunset stretched their shadows long, and under the light, they looked like they were framed in gold.

As for the soccer ball, it was thrown aside.

"What are you busy with?" Zhang Tan asked as he approached.

Xiao Bai was digging in the sandbox, and Xiao Mi was responsible for filling the bucket. They had clear roles and worked well together, clearly not the first time they had done this.

Hearing the voice, Xiao Bai looked up from her busy work, saw Zhang Tan, and said happily, "Oh, Uncle! It's our Uncle!"

Xiao Mi looked over and shyly smiled but didn't say anything.

This little girl wasn't as outgoing as Xiao Bai and was more timid. She always smiled shyly when she saw Zhang Tan and rarely spoke, even when asked, she would only give a soft, simple answer.

At first, because he had quickly become familiar with Xiao Bai, Zhang Tan thought he was very approachable. But with Xiao Mi, he realized it wasn't his approachability but Xiao Bai's influence that made him seem so.

Xiao Mi was carrying the small bucket, struggling to walk to the other end of the sandbox. She might have put too much sand in it, and after a few steps, she couldn't move anymore. She turned back and weakly called out to Xiao Bai.

"The rabbit police are here."

Xiao Bai immediately stood up, patted her hands, and ran over. She lifted the bucket with both hands and dragged it with effort, while also calling Zhang Tan to come over.

"Do you need help?" Zhang Tan asked, reaching out to help.

The two children were sweating on their foreheads, and if it weren't for their smiles, Zhang Tan would have thought someone was making them do hard labor.

"What do you think?" Xiao Bai was a bit unhappy.

Why? He was just offering to help, but why this attitude?

Zhang Tan said, "I see you can't carry it. Do you want me to help you?"

Xiao Bai put down the bucket of sand, stopped, and took a couple of breaths. She said, "Uncle, you look down on kids."

What was this about? He was just being nice. Zhang Tan waved his hand and said he didn't mean it that way. If she didn't want his help, that was fine.

Xiao Bai seemed satisfied with his attitude, nodded, and said he should be a guest today. She then looked down at the bucket, whispered a few words to Xiao Mi, and Zhang Tan heard something about the bucket being full of sand and how tiring it was. Then, the two of them worked together to drag the bucket.

Zhang Tan followed behind them, thinking about leaving, but Xiao Bai wouldn't let him. She said she had something good for him.

Maybe they had dug up some diamonds or something.

What good thing? Zhang Tan followed with interest.

It wasn't diamonds but a "sumptuous" dinner!

Xiao Bai pointed to the delicious food on the ground and smiled like a flower, very proud.

"Emmmm~~~" Zhang Tan pondered, already feeling full just looking at it.

"Uncle, have you eaten?" Xiao Bai asked.

"Not yet."

Xiao Bai immediately invited him happily, "Then eat this? Eat a lot, and there's more to eat."

Xiao Mi was smiling very happily, more so than Zhang Tan had ever seen. She looked like a weasel who had just stolen a chicken, full of anticipation.

Zhang Tan started to feel a headache. The "sumptuous" dinner was made of sand. Some were just sand mixed together, some had a couple of stones, and some had some weeds mixed in. Xiao Bai's glass bottle was even turned into a dish!

Xiao Bai proudly introduced the dish with the glass bottle, saying it was the favorite food of "Yu Baibai," very delicious, and enthusiastically invited Zhang Tan to squat down and try it.

Zhang Tan squatted down and saw, "Oh my, what's the favorite food of Yu Baibai? Emmm, it is indeed the favorite food of Yu Baibai, because the glass bottle contains two earthworms! Fish do love to eat earthworms!"

The earthworms were dug up while they were digging in the sandbox. Xiao Mi was too scared to touch them, but Xiao Bai was brave and caught them with her bare hands.

"Uncle, try it." Xiao Bai enthusiastically recommended.

Is this what kids do when they play house? Indeed, it's quite bizarre. Zhang Tan laughed dryly and politely declined, saying he had already eaten.

"You're lying, you just said you hadn't eaten!"

Xiao Bai clearly remembered him saying he hadn't eaten. How could he say he had eaten after seeing her "Yu Baibai feast"? Was he looking down on her?

Zhang Tan: -_---

Xiao Bai was really enthusiastic, and Xiao Mi was also enthusiastic in her reserved way. She even pulled out two twigs, saying they were chopsticks, and handed them to Xiao Bai, who then passed them to Zhang Tan, asking him to finish it all.

Zhang Tan held the twigs, looked at the children's expectant faces, and then at the "Yu Baibai feast" in the sandbox, finding it hard to eat. He pretended to be sick: "Oh, I have a headache. I've been working too hard these days, and my head hurts."

"Ha, Xiao Bai will knock Uncle's head."

Was this a good thing? Xiao Bai had long wanted to knock Zhang Tan's head, though it was a thought from when they were in conflict. Now that they had made up, the idea had taken root and grown. With this opportunity, Xiao Bai didn't hesitate, ran behind Zhang Tan, and started knocking his head.

"Uncle, your head is so big."

Xiao Bai suddenly said this, leaving Zhang Tan unsure if it was a compliment or an insult.

Unable to refuse, Zhang Tan pretended to eat a full meal and even burped.

"Alright, I'm full. I need to go back to work. Bye-bye."

Zhang Tan threw away the twigs and tried to run, but he was too naive. Did he think eating one meal would be enough? No way. Xiao Bai pulled on his pants, not letting him go, because...

"This is what Xiao Bai made, and Xiao Mi made this one over here."

She pulled him to the other side, and there was another "sumptuous" meal.

Xiao Mi looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to honor her with a taste.