Chapter 50

Xiaobai, wearing a large blue Chinese sports uniform, hopped down the stairs, the sound of her steps waking the hallway lights.

At the corner, she looked up, smiled at Zhang Tan, hopped twice, and disappeared from sight.

Today was the first time he saw her smile.

Zhang Tan waited a moment, making sure Xiaobai wouldn't come back, then closed the door and sat at his desk. He picked up a hot French fry, which was still warm and tasted really good.

Zhang Tan wasn't in the mood to make videos; the small bag of French fries had captured all his attention and interest.

In front of him was the window, and outside, he heard voices. Zhang Tan saw a chubby man leading a little girl away. The man turned back and waved, saying, "Bye, Xiaobai, see you tomorrow. I'll take Chengcheng home first, and you should go home early too."

It was Meng Chengcheng and her father.

Hadn't they already left? Why were they still here?

Xiaobai had said earlier that Chengcheng's father had brought French fries and chicken wings, picked up Chengcheng, and then she had brought the French fries.

But now it seemed that Meng Chengcheng and her father had just left and had been downstairs the whole time.

Meng Chengcheng was wearing a white princess dress today, looking like a little princess, with a radiant smile, tightly hugging her father. The little melon had bloomed tonight.

Zhang Tan watched Meng Chengcheng and her father disappear under the streetlights at the entrance of Little Red Horse Academy, wrapped up the unfinished French fries, and took them with him. He took a watermelon and a Hami melon from the fridge, cut them into small pieces in the kitchen, put them in disposable containers, and prepared three fruit forks before leaving.

The first floor was brightly lit but very quiet; the children had already gone upstairs to sleep.

But Zhang Tan knew there was still one child here.

He found Xiaobai in the corner of the reading area, buried in a picture book.

Hearing the footsteps, Xiaobai looked up and, seeing Zhang Tan, said in surprise, "Uncle, why aren't you sleeping yet?"

Zhang Tan sat down next to her. The chairs and stools were small, so he sat on the floor and opened the fruit box.

"Have some watermelon and Hami melon."

He added, "Don't say you don't have money. I'm treating you. I finished your French fries, and they were really good."

Xiaobai stared at him with big, pure eyes.

Zhang Tan also stared at her for three or four seconds, and neither of them spoke.

"Kids shouldn't think too much. Didn't you get thirsty after eating French fries? I did."

Zhang Tan took a fruit fork, picked up a piece of watermelon, and handed it to Xiaobai.

"Here, take it."

Xiaobai put the picture book on her knees, held the fruit fork in her right hand, and used her left hand to catch any drips.

Zhang Tan smiled and said, "Little melon eating watermelon."

Xiaobai's eyebrows twitched: "Uncle? Did you say uncle?"

"No, no, no, I didn't say anything. I said we both love watermelon."

"…Hmph!… Uncle, tell the story of the windmill."

Zhang Tan saw that the book on her knees was "The Mouse and the Windmill."

Again, this picture book.

"Do you like this picture book a lot?"

He had seen Xiaobai read "The Mouse and the Windmill" many times.

Xiaobai nodded and said she liked it very much.

Zhang Tan took the book from her knees, opened the page she was reading, and began to tell the story:

"One day, the mice saw Afu sitting there, staring at the vast prairie. They asked him, 'Afu, why aren't you working? What are you doing?' Afu said, 'I'm collecting colors.' The other mice asked, 'What colors are you collecting?'"

Xiaobai, munching on the watermelon like a little mouse, interjected, "The green of the prairie."

Zhang Tan praised her, "Xiaobai, you're so smart. Yes, Afu was collecting the green of the prairie. The other mice asked, 'Why are you collecting green? Green is right in front of you, you don't need to collect it.'"

Xiaobai interjected again, "Because it's gray in winter."

Why collect the green of the prairie? Because it's gray in winter.

"Hey? Have you seen this part before?"

"I guessed it." Xiaobai smiled, her little feet swinging, clearly very pleased and proud. Then she suspected that Uncle was teasing her, leaned in, and looked at the book: "What does the book say?"

Zhang Tan pointed it out to her: "These words, 'it's gray in winter.' Is that what you said?"

Xiaobai examined it for a long time and nodded seriously, "Yes, that's right. This is my strong point."

Zhang Tan saw her act so seriously and wanted to laugh but couldn't. He held back, looked down at the book, and saw that it said, "Afu said, 'Because there's nothing to eat in winter.'"

Xiaobai, you can't read, right? How did it become your strong point now? Babies should be humble.

He had known for a long time that Xiaobai usually just guessed and read the pictures or had other children read to her.

"What are you laughing at?" Xiaobai stared at him with a serious face, as if she had noticed Zhang Tan laughing.

Zhang Tan quickly became serious and denied it, "No, absolutely not, I'm not laughing."

"Really not laughing?"

"Really not laughing. Why would I laugh?"

"How would I know why you're laughing? Are you laughing because I can't read?"

Zhang Tan swore to the heavens, "Absolutely not! Why would I laugh at that? You're just a child, only 4 years old. It's normal not to be able to read. Many children can't read. You'll learn as you grow up."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Are you just teasing me?"

I'm teasing you? You almost made me laugh.

"I'm not teasing you. I can teach you to read."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why teach me to read? You're not my good friend."

o(╥﹏╥)o, so we're not good friends yet? I want to cry.

Perhaps seeing Zhang Tan's expression fall, Xiaobai added, "You're too big. My good friends are all little kids. What are you?"

Do your good friends have to be very small? I'm too big to be your friend?

And what are you? I'm a person! Can't you tell?

Let's continue reading the picture book.

The two of them ate watermelon and listened to the story in the book. During this time, Teacher Xiaoliu came in, saw Zhang Tan and Xiaobai chatting, and went back.

"Ahhh~~"

At midnight, Xiaobai yawned.

Zhang Tan put down the book and said, "Are you sleepy? Go to the dormitory and rest for a while."

Xiaobai shook her head and looked outside. Her aunt was coming.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Xiaobai's aunt appeared in the night and disappeared again, leaving with one more child.

Walking down the quiet alley, the dim streetlights faintly illuminated the cobblestone road. Xiaobai quickly shuffled her little legs, occasionally running to keep up with her aunt's pace.

"Aunt, are you tired today?"

Ma Lanhua held her little hand, not looking at her, just wanting to get home quickly.

"Uncle? Why are you asking this?"

"I'm just concerned. Are you still unhappy?"

"I know you, little kid. What are you up to? What's the matter?"

"…"

"Uncle not talking? Did I hit the nail on the head, little kid?"

"I'm so angry, I'm fuming!"

"Hammer! Say that again."

"Tang僧 rides a horse, dong that dong, followed by Sun Wukong~~~"

"…You're singing now?"

"Aunt~ Chengcheng wore a princess dress today, she looked so cute—"

"Don't talk about useless things, go to bed early."

…

Xiaobai didn't speak anymore, only the sound of footsteps filled her ears.

After a while…

"Aunt~ Are you tired today?"

"Stop it! If you have something to say, just say it."

"Lu Zikang said my clothes are for spring, but it's summer now. I said it's so hot, and I used to smell nice like Chengcheng, but now I smell bad after sweating."

"…Oh, I see. You're still wearing long sleeves. I'll find you some summer clothes when we get home."

"Ha, I want a princess dress."

"Hammer!"

Xiaobai didn't speak anymore, only the sound of footsteps filled her ears.