Chapter 84

After several busy days, Zhang Tan left the film set earlier than usual. A black minivan drove out of the film city, passing by him. Sun Huaiwei, who was nearby, pointed it out and said, "That's Su Lan's car. She's finished work for the day."

Zhang Tan watched the minivan leave, looked up at the sky, and saw the sun still hanging intact on the horizon. Su Lan finished work so early today?

Adults filming is different from children. Children's film sets cannot have overtime, but for adults, it's different. Many film sets often work late into the night, and it's common to wrap up in the early hours of the morning.

Today, Aunt Huang invited him to have dinner at her place. Zhang Tan bought some things at the mall and went over. Huang Meimei was playing chess alone, while Aunt Huang and Uncle Huang were cooking in the kitchen.

When Huang Meimei saw him, she waved and said, "I heard you joined the crew? Tell me what filming is like?"

"It's just like that. Filming with kids is like playing house..."

"Is it cute?"

"It is cute, but the director is pulling his hair out."

...

After having dinner at Aunt Huang's place and staying for a while, Zhang Tan returned to the school.

At the school,

Xiao Bai was hiding in a corner of the reading area, reading a picture book. The teachers were used to it and just asked as usual, "Xiao Bai, aren't you going to sleep?"

Xiao Bai shook her head and said, "Look at my big eyes."

She widened her eyes, meaning she didn't want to sleep at all. Kids might lie, but their eyes don't.

"Teacher, teacher, I don't want to sleep either. I want to play with Xiao Bai," Shen Liuliu shouted, begging for mercy.

"No way! You must go to sleep."

The teacher refused Shen Liuliu without hesitation. Not even a fly would be let off!

Shen Liuliu tried to sneak away but was caught and carried off by the teacher.

Shen Liuliu immediately resisted, wriggling in the teacher's arms and shouting, "I'm so cute, why do I have to sleep? Who can tell me? Why, why?"

The children at the school were all infected by Xiao Bai's influence, occasionally spouting a few Sichuanese phrases, regardless of their authenticity or depth of influence.

Xiao Bai, who was reading the picture book, remained calm, briefly looking up at the noisy Shen Liuliu, frowning and muttering, "Stupid kid~"

"Xiao Bai~ Xiao Bai~~ Come save me, I don't want to sleep. I want to read, I want to study, I want to go to college, I'm a good baby!" Shen Liuliu shouted.

Xiao Bai was unmoved. Stupid kids need to sleep to grow up.

The teacher still carried Shen Liuliu away, saying she would explain why she needed to sleep even though she was so cute.

Naive and adorable Shen Liuliu obediently got into the small bed, lay down as required, and with wide, sleepless eyes, asked, "Why?"

The teacher said, "Because you look even cuter when you sleep."

What? Do you think I'm a three-year-old who can be easily fooled?

Shen Liuliu was annoyed, tried to get up, but was threatened that if she didn't sleep, her teddy bear would be taken away, leaving it without clothes.

(｀Д′)

While Shen Liuliu was struggling with the teacher, Xiao Bai, who had watched her leave, sighed in relief.

Shen Liuliu was too noisy, like a little duck, disturbing her reading. It was better that she was taken away.

Today, Xiao Bai wasn't reading "The Windmill Car Afu," but another book called "The Very Hungry Little Snake."

She stared at the spotted little snake in the book, looking puzzled, scratching her head, and muttering. Suddenly, she angrily threw the book on the ground, stomped on it, and said, "Damn! I can't understand it! It's making me so frustrated."

After venting, Xiao Bai picked up the book, blew on it, patted it, and started reading again.

It was time to look at the pictures and use her imagination.

She often read "The Windmill Car Afu," not because it was so beautiful that she couldn't put it down, but because she had figured it out through guessing. Other books required a lot more effort and were very troublesome.

Finally, Xiao Bai couldn't stand it anymore. She got up from her chair, looked around, and saw no other children or teachers.

If she had kept Shen Liuliu, perhaps Shen Liuliu could have read the story to her.

Shen Liuliu, that little brat, knew more words than she did.

Cheng Cheng would also do, as only she knew that Cheng Cheng was very smart and knew more words than Luo Zikang.

Xiao Bai went out and came to the courtyard. Since no one was watching her, she wandered around under the moonlight, singing.

She was singing the song that made her aunt furious, "The Marigold Flower."

Marigold flower, marigold flower, not afraid of wind or rain, please bloom quickly...

She ran to a tree, squatted down, and examined the wildflowers growing there.

"Xiao Bai, you have a lot of nerve, don't you?"

A voice suddenly sounded behind her, startling Xiao Bai.

Seeing it was Zhang Tan, she sighed and said, "Uncle, what are you doing?"

Zhang Tan had just returned to the school and didn't notice Xiao Bai at first. He only realized someone was wandering around when he heard the singing.

At this place and time, no one else would do this except Xiao Bai.

"It's so late, are you not afraid to wander around the courtyard alone?" Zhang Tan asked, noticing that Xiao Bai was wearing new clothes, a watermelon red T-shirt with many teddy bear patterns, which was much cuter and more suitable than the No. 33 jersey.

"Wow, you're wearing new clothes today? You look so cute."

Xiao Bai tried to maintain her composure, put her hands behind her back, nodded, and turned around in front of him.

"Is this the one Li Jia bought for you?"

He remembered that one of the three clothes Li Jia bought for Xiao Bai was this color.

Li Jia had come to the school the day before yesterday, and Xiao Bai thanked her in person before wearing the new clothes.

Xiao Bai nodded proudly and laughed.

"Even though you look cute, you still need to sleep. Come, let's go back."

Xiao Bai refused; she didn't want to sleep at all. She hugged the tree trunk and shouted, "I'm so cute, why do I have to sleep? Who can tell me? Why, why?"

Zhang Tan was speechless. Did she have to be so excited? He changed his strategy and said, "How about coming to my place for a bottle of teddy bear drink? It's a new flavor, mango."

Xiao Bai was tempted and subconsciously let go of the tree: "That's not good~"

"What's not good? Come on! Don't be so hesitant, don't act like a little girl."

Xiao Bai was stunned. Wasn't she a little girl? She was a little girl.

She followed Zhang Tan, looking at him like a puppy.

She was wearing a T-shirt with teddy bears today, which was very suitable for drinking teddy bear drinks. She wouldn't come tomorrow, as she was poor and couldn't afford it.

"Uncle, where have you been? Why are you coming home so late? Xiao Bai hasn't seen you for several days." Xiao Bai asked curiously.

Zhang Tan said, "I've been busy with work."

Xiao Bai nodded in understanding. Her aunt and uncle often couldn't take care of her due to work.

"Do you want a mango-flavored teddy bear drink or a grape-flavored one?" Zhang Tan asked.

Xiao Bai wiped her little mouth. Why choose? Adults choose, but kids want both!

"Grape-flavored." Xiao Bai said. Although kids want both, she didn't have money, and this was Uncle's teddy bear drink.

Zhang Tan opened a grape-flavored teddy bear drink for Xiao Bai and a mango-flavored one for himself as a reward.

They sat on the sofa, drinking teddy bear drinks and watching TV.

Zhang Tan suddenly thought of something and took out his phone.

"Xiao Bai, look at this."

He opened a video on his phone, showing it to Xiao Bai. The video showed a group of children acting out the story of Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden.

"Huh?" Xiao Bai was initially distracted but became more interested as she watched. There were so many children, where were they?

"They are filming, just like playing house. Do you find it familiar?"

Xiao Bai thought for a long time but couldn't figure out why it was familiar.

Zhang Tan gave up.

It was clear that Cheng Cheng had recently told her the story of Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden, but she had forgotten it!

Xiao Bai became more interested, laughing and being amused by the children in the video.

Zhang Tan paid close attention to her reaction, feeling relieved to see her laugh. Making children laugh was half the battle.

He had three videos on his phone and showed them to Xiao Bai one by one.

There was a knock at the door, and Aunt Huang came in, immediately spotting Xiao Bai laughing in the living room.

"I'm looking for Xiao Bai." She said and then shouted, "Xiao Bai, it's time to sleep~ Come back."

"（⊙o⊙）…" Xiao Bai stared at Aunt Huang, having forgotten to hide. The children playing house looked so fun, and she was envious and wanted to join.

Ding ding ding~~ The sound of crickets echoed in the house.

"Ah, I'm helping Uncle catch crickets, hehehe, that's my specialty."

Aunt Huang also heard the crickets, and there were more than one.

"How did crickets get into the house?" she asked Zhang Tan.

Zhang Tan glanced at Xiao Bai, who was looking for crickets, and couldn't say that it was this child who brought them in.

After playing with the crickets for a while, they stopped making noise, and Xiao Bai was caught by Aunt Huang.

No other teacher at the school could control Xiao Bai except Aunt Huang.

While going down the stairs, Xiao Bai still asked Aunt Huang why she had to sleep even though she was so cute.

"Goodbye, Xiao Bai, go to bed early. Don't stay up late, or you'll get dark circles."

Xiao Bai stood by Aunt Huang's feet, waving goodbye to Zhang Tan, looking obedient but saying something else.

She said she was a panda, which naturally has dark circles, and paws??

She looked defiant.

This left Zhang Tan speechless, and he left it to Aunt Huang to explain.

Aunt Huang: "Xiao Bai, what are you? Say it again!"

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

The child didn't dare to resist Aunt Huang and pretended to be silly and left.