Lin Zhexia: …
How could a bedtime story be so dark?
She forcefully tapped her phone screen, typing back: Indeed, what kind of person tells what kind of story?
Chi Dog: What kind of person
Chi Dog: Listens to what kind of story
Lin Zhexia searched through her sticker collection and sent over the most destructive set of characters beating up a little figure.
After their argument,
Chi Yao finally sent a message: Help me wish Auntie He a happy birthday.
Lin Zhexia: [ok]
The busy day continued until after 8 PM before ending.
People gradually left, and at the end of the gathering, someone took a birthday group photo of their family.
Usually, Lin Zhexia would slightly move away during group photos, but this time, she hesitated, then just before the camera clicked, she actively linked arms with Wei Ping, and with her other hand, somewhat stiffly made a “peace” sign.
“Mom,” Lin Zhexia asked while cleaning the table, “can I take a piece of cake to Chi Yao?”
Lin He smiled: “Of course, you can take all the leftovers to him.”
Lin Zhexia responded: “Then I’ll take it over after I clean up.”
Lin He thought more thoroughly: “And He Yang and the others, too, send some to them as well. We bought too much cake today, it would be a waste not to finish it.”
“He Yang?”
Lin Zhexia showed obvious differential treatment toward He Yang: “Let him come get it himself.”
Lin He gently scolded: “…How can you make them come get it?”
Lin Zhexia: “He has hands and feet, what’s wrong with him coming to get cake himself? Don’t worry, if I send him a message now, he’ll arrive within five minutes, coming faster than a dog.”
Lin He: “…”
Sure enough.
After she said that, He Yang excitedly sent back a voice message: “Xia-ge, wait for me. I’ll immediately, right away, use my school 500-meter running speed to get there.”
When she played the second voice message, He Yang was already panting, probably on his way.
“What flavors of cake are left? I like the chocolate flavor. Oh, should I go up to Yao-ge’s place and bring him along too?”
Lin Zhexia replied: “…No need.”
He Yang responded: “Why no need?”
“Because I,” Lin Zhexia walked out the door carrying the packed cake, pressing the voice message button, “am on my way to deliver cake to him right now.”
Chi Yao didn’t like sweets, so she specifically chose a flavor that wasn’t too sweet.
Mainly, she wanted him to share in today’s happiness.
However, after Lin Zhexia pressed the doorbell at Chi Yao’s door for quite some time while holding the cake, there was no response from inside.
She put the cake at the door, squatted down, and messaged Chi Yao—
You’re not home?—
You’re not home??—
Where did you go sneaking off to?
You went out to play without taking me.
Just as she sent the last message, the door lock made a “click” sound.
Lin Zhexia, still squatting, looked up through the opening door crack and saw Chi Yao standing at the door.
To be precise.
A somewhat sickly Chi Yao.
His overall state was different from usual. His already pale complexion looked even paler, giving off a kind of inexplicable lethargy. Even though he was wearing a sweater, it still gave the impression that his body temperature seemed very cold.
His eyes were drooping, particularly careless.
However, the young man’s nearly “arrogant” temperament didn’t diminish at all: “Is your key just for show? Next time, open the door and come in yourself.”
“…”
This person’s way of speaking was still as dislikable as ever.
But before knocking on Chi Yao’s door, she had felt a bit awkward.
This awkwardness might be because she had cried in front of him yesterday.
Or it might be because yesterday’s Chi Yao had been too gentle.
But the Chi Yao appearing before her today was the one she was most familiar with, and because of this familiar “dislikable” attitude, that bit of awkwardness suddenly disappeared.
Lin Zhexia righteously stated: “This is called being polite.”