Chapter 9: Just Friends!!
During a break from her stream, Bai Sha went to the living room for a drink.
From the window, she saw Zhou Haochen playing with his daughter on the slide in the community park.
Stealing a moment from her busy schedule, she propped her chin in her hand and watched for a while.
Though she couldn’t make out the details clearly, the little one was bouncing and hopping, appearing utterly delighted.
Zhou Haochen even spun her around a few times in his arms.
That little one wasn’t light, and she was dressed so thickly.
Returning to her bedroom, she re-engaged with her “adorable” stream viewers.
[Where’s your head? I want to see your head!]
“Damn it, what’s so great about my head? Are you all roommates with Optimus Prime too?”
[No, we just want to see your head!]
“I’m a League of Legends streamer, not a颜值主播 (TL Note: A streamer whose primary appeal is their good looks). Aren’t my in-game moves cool enough? Why must you see my head!”
[Who comes to watch you play games? We’re here to see a handsome face.]
“I just got out of the base, I don’t even have a webcam, and my mic is borrowed.
Bear with me, brothers.”
When dinner time arrived, Bai Sha sent a WeChat message to Zhou Haochen, asking him to come up and warm the dishes, thus concluding another day.
During the final days of November, Bai Sha’s life settled into a stable routine: she looked after the child in the mornings, cooked lunch, and streamed in the afternoons.
Mid-way through, her uncle summoned her to the bureau to submit some documents, after which she received her brand-new ID card and household registration book.
‘So, I’m a single mother now?’
‘Not really, I suppose? After all, the child’s father still comes home every day; it’s just how it appears on the household register.’
Upon returning that day, Bai Sha even waved the household register at little Zhou, exclaiming, “Baby can go to kindergarten next year! Aren’t you happy!”
The little one, nestled in her father’s arms watching TV, was utterly oblivious to the gravity of the situation, innocently asking, “What is kindergarten?”
Bai Sha and Zhou Haochen exchanged a smile.
Zhou Haochen explained, “Kindergarten is a place where many children get to play with Xiao Yu.”
The little one, seemingly a natural leader among children, danced with excitement, “Yay! I want to go to kindergarten!”
Bai Sha covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.
People always harbored expectations for the unknown; she vividly recalled how, as a child, she would watch her older siblings go to school and constantly clamor to join them.
Yet, when that day actually arrived, she would burst into tears the moment she stepped out of the car, refusing to enter the school for anything.
It was only after her mother picked up a stick from the roadside that Bai Sha finally behaved.
“Zhou Haochen, did you cry when you went to kindergarten as a child?”
Zhou Haochen shook his head, stating with uncertainty, “I don’t have many memories of kindergarten.
My parents said I was quite well-behaved, never crying or making a fuss.”
“Wow!” Bai Sha exclaimed in surprise. ‘Is that what a good student is like?’
“I remember my mother used to literally roll me into school with a stick every day.”
Zhou Yuying, nestled between them, asked her mother with confusion, “Isn’t kindergarten a place to play with other children? Why did Mama cry?”
Bai Sha patted her head, displaying an expression that was better understood than explained.
“Perhaps Mama was timid as a child.
Baby, you must be brave like Papa!”
Emulating a scene from television, the little one flexed her biceps, declaring fiercely yet sweetly, “Don’t worry, Mama! Baby is super brave! From now on, Papa will protect you!”
“If Baby is so brave, shouldn’t Baby protect Mama? Why would Papa protect Mama?” Bai Sha asked, puzzled.
“Mama is so silly! Mama is Papa’s wife, so Papa definitely protects her.
Baby only protects Mama when Papa isn’t around!”
This innocent explanation caused both adults to blush slightly.
Zhou Haochen ruffled the little one’s hair, affirming, “Xiao Yu is absolutely right.
Papa supports you protecting Mama.”
A blush spread across Bai Sha’s face, and she shot Zhou Haochen a fierce glare.
‘Right, you big dummy!’
Once Zhou Yuying was down for her nap, only two people remained in the living room: one who habitually reversed their days and nights, and a contemporary university student.
Neither had the habit of taking an afternoon nap.
Zhou Haochen, as usual, pulled out his laptop and began tinkering, while Bai Sha leaned against the sofa, craning her neck to observe him.
“Zhou Haochen, is that homework or work?”
“I’m working at a senior’s company.”
“You’re already working in your second year of university?
My older cousin has been lounging at home studying for the civil service exam for several years since graduating.”
Zhou Haochen, exasperated, reminded her, “You’re the truly impressive one; I’m nowhere near your level.”
Bai Sha waved her hand dismissively, comforting him, “You’re already stronger than most people.
I’m just a special case; there aren’t many world champions out there.
Hehehe.”
Zhou Haochen turned to face Bai Sha, saying, “Your birthday is in a few days.
Shall we go out somewhere that day?”
Bai Sha replied indifferently, “Whatever works.”
Zhou Haochen continued, “I meant just the two of us.
We’ve known each other for almost a month, and we haven’t spent any time alone together yet.”
Bai Sha paused, unconsciously fiddling with a strand of her hair.
“Ah… wouldn’t that be too fast? And what about Xiao Yu?”
“Could your uncle look after her?
Or perhaps I could find a time for my parents to meet her.
We can’t keep Xiao Yu a secret forever; we’ll have to find an opportunity eventually.”
“What do your parents do?
Will they accept Xiao Yu?” Bai Sha worried that the elderly couple might not be able to accept their university student son suddenly bringing home a granddaughter.
“And how do you plan to tell them?”
“My dad mentioned it to you before; he’s a doctor.
My mom runs a candy store, so she’s a small business owner.” Zhou Haochen felt a slight headache coming on.
He knew Bai Sha had fallen out with her family, which was why he planned not to return home for the New Year, choosing instead to spend it with her and the child.
He constantly had to come up with excuses to placate his parents, which made him wonder if it wasn’t better just to tell them the truth.
“Xiao Yu is already four years old by traditional reckoning!
Even if my uncle adjusted her age down by a year on the household register, she’d still be three after the New Year.
How old were you three or four years ago!?”
“We have a paternity test, and I am the father.
Whether I tell them the truth or come up with an excuse, my parents will accept her.”
Bai Sha nodded.
“Then you should just tell them the truth.
Don’t make things difficult for yourself in front of your parents.”
Bai Sha suddenly scrambled up from the sofa.
“Don’t tell your parents about me! I really don’t want to meet them!”
Zhou Haochen raised three fingers, assuring her, “Don’t worry!
Until you’re ready, my parents won’t even know your name!”
Bai Sha finally relaxed.
‘Meeting the parents? That’s far too soon! She and Zhou Haochen were still just friends, weren’t they!’
****
Dream
The dilapidated old housing district was thick with cobwebs, its corridors strewn with piles of garbage and broken cardboard boxes.
Outside, the rain poured, and the scent of decay wafted through the damp air, permeating every household.
Two or three old men played chess, each gaunt and with sparse white hair.
A disheveled girl sat alone in a wheelchair before the stairs, glancing at the old men downstairs.
She tried to stand up several times, but to no avail, leaving her to silently gaze at the narrow steps.
Suddenly, the girl felt the rain cease above her head.
Looking up, she saw a dark umbrella, and beside her stood a man in a suit.
“Don’t get caught in the rain.
Do you need help?”
The man first carried the girl upstairs on his back, then brought up her wheelchair.
Observing the perpetually silent girl, the man curiously asked, “How did you get down by yourself?
Where are your family members?”
The girl’s hoarse voice replied, “Usually, the landlady helps me, but today when I went down, she had to go back to her hometown for something.”
The man pulled a lollipop from his briefcase.
“Don’t look so sad.
I’m going to look for someone.
Here, have some candy.”
The girl took the candy, watched the man walk towards a deeper room, and then returned to her own dim rented room.
Unwrapping the candy, she found a bright, vivid pink lollipop.
Inside the wrapper, four characters were printed: “天天开心 (TL Note: Meaning ‘Happy Every Day’).”
The girl sucked on the candy; it was very sweet.
Truly, it was sweet.