The tail end of November slipped quietly from her fingertips, much like youth itself.
Bai Sha always felt young, yet every time she saw Zhou Yuying, she was reminded that she was a mother.
Just five years prior, she had been a pure, innocent girl; now, being a mother to a child had become her stark reality.
With the arrival of December, Bai Sha’s birthday was now a matter of counting down the days.
Indeed, these past few days, she often caught the little one secretly tinkering with something behind her back.
Although she already knew it was a gift for her, she consciously avoided seeing it.
How could she possibly spoil the surprise her child was so diligently preparing?
****
That day, when Zhou Haochen came to their home, Bai Sha cornered him in the entryway, questioning him.
“Didn’t you say you’d make things clear about Xiao Yu with your parents? Have you told them?”
Zhou Haochen shook his head.
“Not yet.”
After a moment of thought, Bai Sha suggested,
“How about we don’t bother your parents? I can just have my uncle look after Xiao Yu that day.”
Zhou Haochen gently stroked Bai Sha’s hair, saying,
“It’s fine, I have a plan. Don’t worry.”
Bai Sha’s face flushed slightly as she slapped his hand away.
“Don’t just touch me anywhere! Xiao Yu is right inside, watching us!”
Zhou Haochen’s mind quickly pieced things together, and he instantly deciphered the deeper meaning behind her words: ‘I can touch her when Zhou Yuying isn’t around.’
Seeing that Zhou Haochen had his own arrangements, Bai Sha stopped questioning him and let him in.
“My dorm is having a gathering tonight. Everyone’s bringing their girlfriends, so do you want to come?”
Bai Sha’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly retorted,
“Who’s your girlfriend?! We have a pure, platonic relationship as parents, alright?!”
Zhou Haochen looked a bit disappointed, letting out a sigh.
“You’re not coming? I’ll be the only lonely one there.”
“Who… who said I’m not going? I’ve never even been to a university! I’ll go explore with you this afternoon!” Bai Sha’s small face was flushed, though this was indeed true; she genuinely wanted to see a university.
“Should we bring Xiao Yu?” The silly girl was still watching ‘Nai Long’ (TL Note: A popular cartoon character, often translated as ‘Milk Dragon’ or ‘Baby Dragon’), completely unaware that her mother intended to ‘abandon’ her to go out and play.
“Let’s bring her. We’ll be asked about her eventually, so it’s better to take the initiative.” It just so happened that his dorm mates, those ‘sons’, thought he was delusional. Today, he would show them who the real deal was, and who was all talk!
“Should I dress up? I’m not very good at makeup!” Her few cosmetics were still packed away from when her aunt had brought them back; she barely even had a makeshift vanity.
“No need,” Zhou Haochen replied, touching his conscience. “In your everyday clothes and with no makeup, you’re already goddess-level. You’re always the most beautiful.” In the past month, Bai Sha’s hair had grown considerably.
Her long, straight black hair, combined with her pure appearance, made her the quintessential ‘campus white moonlight’ (TL Note: A Chinese slang term referring to a first love or an idealized, unattainable crush, often associated with purity and beauty).
****
After lunch, the family of three went for a stroll in A University’s park.
As one of the nation’s top universities, A University was a renowned institution.
Bai Sha, a self-proclaimed ‘scum student’ (TL Note: A self-deprecating term for someone poor at academics), held a stereotypical, almost sacred image of universities.
In her mind, everyone inside was a top student with black-rimmed glasses, buzz cuts, and small mustaches, or pure, self-disciplined goddesses with long hair.
The air would be fresh, the grass vibrant green, the water crystal clear, and everyone who passed by would be clutching a book, memorizing vocabulary.
However, upon their actual visit, she found that aside from its larger size, it seemed quite ordinary.
Students were simply relaxing on the lawn, as they should.
Yet, the family of three, all very young and exceptionally attractive, garnered a significant number of ‘head-turns’ (TL Note: ‘回头率’ or ‘huítóulǜ’ refers to the rate at which people turn their heads to look at someone, implying attractiveness or unusual presence) along the way.
Bai Sha, recalling a novel she had read, asked Zhou Haochen, who was beside her,
“Hey, do you have a picture of your admission letter? Send me one, the cover page!”
Zhou Haochen found it strange but dutifully sent the photo over.
He then watched Bai Sha take a video, panning around, which she subsequently posted on WeChat Moments.
The post featured a picture of his admission letter and a video she had just taken.
The caption read: ‘After tireless effort, I finally got into my dream university.’
Zhou Haochen couldn’t see the comments, but Bai Sha’s WeChat Moments was bustling.
[Uncle: Are you dreaming?]
[Aunt: Why are you at A University? Is that – his – school?]
[Former Support: No way, bro. Did you just graduate junior high?]
[Child’s Dad: Congratulations, congratulations.]
…
They hadn’t walked for long when the little one’s eyes started to roll around.
She hugged her father’s leg, acting cute.
“Papa~ Baby’s tired~ Baby wants a hug from Papa!”
Zhou Haochen, without a second thought, picked the little one up.
Seeing this, Bai Sha, who was beside them, said,
“The little one is quite heavy. Don’t carry her for too long; let’s find a place to sit soon.”
“It’s fine,” Zhou Haochen said. “She’s not too heavy. Let’s keep exploring.”
Since Zhou Haochen had said so, Bai Sha had no reason to refuse.
The three of them continued their journey from the park to the academic buildings, then to the cafeteria, and finally to the sports field.
Bai Sha was impressed by two things: first, the sheer size of A University, and second, Zhou Haochen’s formidable arm strength.
Even if the little one got down now and then, Zhou Haochen’s endurance was truly remarkable.
As dusk began to settle, Zhou Haochen received a call from his dorm mate.
He then led the other two to a barbecue restaurant.
Looking at the others already seated—three men and one woman—Bai Sha’s hand stealthily found its way to Zhou Haochen’s waist, and she gave it a fierce pinch.
“Didn’t you say you’d be the only lonely one? How is it that only *one* person brought their girlfriend?”
Zhou Haochen winced, then fell silent, realizing his friends had probably been boasting to him.
Indeed, only the eldest, Sun Weijie, had brought someone.
“Hey! It’s the uncles! Long time no see!” The little one, however, recognized them immediately.
Zhou Haochen led them over.
“Sorry we’re late.”
He pointed to a man with the classic look of a science student, introducing him to Bai Sha.
“This is Sun Weijie, our dorm’s eldest brother.”
“Hello, hello!”
“Nice to meet you, Sister-in-law! This is my girlfriend, Lily.”
The two women greeted each other.
He then pointed to a muscular man, introducing him.
“This is Wu Di, our third brother.”
Then, pointing to another (but deciding against describing him),
“And this is Li Qingyu, our fourth brother.”
“And this is my… girlfriend, Bai Sha.”
Bai Sha waved a greeting.
“Wait, second brother, this kid?”
Zhou Haochen poured a bottle of pure milk for the little one, explaining casually,
“She’s mine.”
“Huh? Hello, Uncle Li! Hello, Uncle Sun! Hello, Uncle Wu!”
*Crack!* Though invisible, a thunderbolt had undeniably struck the group.
“No way, second brother, you—!”
“My god, why are we only finding out now!”
“You’re kidding, right?! You’re really a dad!”
Lily, meanwhile, was chatting with Bai Sha.
“How old are you? How did you have a child so early?”
“I was born in ’99, so I should be a bit older than you all, right? As for the child, she just came along when she was meant to.”
“So you’ve already graduated?”
“Uh… yes, I am working.” No problem there, working for several years still counts as working.
Li Qingyu, still reeling from the shock, mumbled beside them, ‘The more I look at this sister-in-law, the more familiar she seems, and her name is Bai Sha. What a coincidence.’
“Second brother, I have a surefire way to get rich. Your most urgent task now is to buy a BQE team jersey, then have Sister-in-law wear it and stream herself playing ADC, with the ID ‘Fos’! Guaranteed to make you a fortune.”
Faced with Li Qingyu’s ‘fiend’s guidance’ (TL Note: ‘妖人之路’ or ‘yāorén zhī lù,’ literally ‘path of the fiend/demon,’ here referring to a dubious or outlandish scheme), Zhou Haochen could only pat his shoulder and offer him two words:
“Go to hell.”
****
Absurd Skit.
Group Name: Champion ADC Group
S7 Champion AD: [WeChat Moments photo] Don’t show off in front of me if your education is below this level.
S9 Champion AD: Is that yours? You can fool your buddies, but don’t fool yourself.
S11 Champion AD: +1
S8 Champion AD: He’s already like this, why not just kick him out then! @Bai Sha, group owner, kick him!
S11 Champion AD: +1
Eleven-time Champion AD: I agree.
S7, S8, S9: ??? No way, guys, who let the god in?
S11: Me.