Before school starts, Zhao ii lay sprawled on the sofa like a pancake, staring intently at the TV.
She’s recently beco obsessed with a drama about a maid falling in love with a young master.
The maid looked ordinary, naturally failing to catch the young master’s eye. They grew up together, and when the maid ca of age, the young master had already married a beautiful, well-matched young lady.
On TV, the maid squatted outside the bridal chamber crying in sorrow. Zhao ii lay on the sofa, tears welling in her eyes.
While she was sighing over this aching love like Xi Shi mourning her heart, she heard Da Bao outside on the balcony, shouting with his rough voice, "Zhao ii! ii!..."
Zhao ii hurriedly got up and could only find one slipper, hopping on one foot to the balcony: "What’s up?"
Seeing her, Da Bao’s round face broke into a smile and he waved: "Co down, I’ll treat you to so skewers!"
Zhao ii thought of the unfinished drama on TV and hesitated but ultimately chose to go gather with Da Bao. Since the holiday began, they’d only t up once at the start; later, she went to the library every day, and Da Bao never ca to find her.
Zhao ii casually grabbed a pair of denim shorts, revealing two long, straight legs, paired with a loose T-shirt on top. She ssily tied her hair into a ponytail with a band.
Before going out, Zhao ii took out the pocket money from Brother Yangyang that he’d given her last week from the dictionary. After thinking for a mont, she stuffed a hundred yuan bill into her pocket.
The factory’s recent performance wasn’t good, with the paycheck dragging from early month to month-end. When it was issued, all bonuses and benefits were zero. The finance office said they’d be distributed at year-end, leaving everyone no choice but to anxiously await the year-end.
Most people in the residential building were dual-inco households, relying on this ager wage to support both the elderly and the children, especially for a single-parent family like Da Bao’s—it surely made life more financially constrained.
As Zhao ii grew older, her thoughts beca more nuanced, and she learned to consider others.
Over the holiday, Da Bao noticeably got darker. He sat in the barbecue shop, holding a at skewer in one hand and an ice-cold beer in the other, eating voraciously, before sighing heavily: "Damn! I’m starving!"
Zhao ii leisurely used a tissue to wipe the skewer tips. Only after wiping did she bite into the skewers one by one, using chopsticks to slide off fatty pieces and toss them on Da Bao’s plate. Da Bao didn’t mind and picked them up with his hands, eating with a great sense of teamwork.
Hearing him speak, Zhao ii asked: "Didn’t have lunch?"
Da Bao took another gulp of beer: "Nope."
After finishing a skewer, Zhao ii began peeling garlic. The garlic skin was slippery; just as she was about to finish peeling, it slipped from her fingers and dropped onto the table. Zhao ii silently picked another clove and continued peeling while asking: "What kept you busy during the holidays? Why didn’t you co find ?"
Da Bao chuckled: "ii, you got into Number One, right?"
Zhao ii laughed, her face showing pride: "Of course!"
Da Bao looked envious: "You’re amazing; among us friends, I admire you the most."
Suddenly, Da Bao shifted the topic: "Wang Jiayue also got into Number One."
"Wang Jiayue?" Zhao ii raised her brow, throwing Da Bao a glance: "Your goddess, huh?"
Da Bao chuckled twice: "Yeah."
Da Bao licked his lips sared with chili powder and cumin: "Once school starts, help take care of her for ; she’s a bit of a loner."
Zhao ii didn’t think much; in her mind, being a loner ant being like Xu Xu, quiet and only playing with her, having no other friends.
Zhao ii readily agreed: "Don’t worry, I’ll look after her."
Da Bao didn’t thank Zhao ii; between the two of them, those words were never needed.
Under the table, Zhao ii kicked Da Bao: "So? Did you win her over?"
Zhao ii squinted her eyes, smiling.
Da Bao’s dark, chubby face showed a trace of loneliness. He confided to Zhao ii with no hesitation: "No, looks like she really doesn’t fancy ."
Zhao ii’s protective streak flared up instantly. Although she knew Da Bao’s appearance might be disheartening, seeing him disliked by outsiders made her feel indignant.
Zhao ii’s tone hardened: "Doesn’t fancy you? Is she that special?"
Da Bao lifted his head to glance at Zhao ii, then lowered it, his tone seeping with unchecked inferiority: "She’s too good; I don’t deserve her."
Zhao ii imdiately wanted to retract the promise she’d just made—not wanting to look after soone who disdained her friend; whoever wants to, can do it!
Zhao ii was about to speak when Da Bao said: "I didn’t get into high school; I don’t want to go. Next week I’ll learn to cook; you know Black Sister’s dad in Building Two is the chef at the restaurant? My mom talked to him; he’s letting be an apprentice."
Zhao ii was taken aback: "Really not going?"
Da Bao laughed self-mockingly: "You know ; I’m not cut out for studying, spending money on a lousy tech school would be a waste. Better off learning a craft."
For a mont, Zhao ii felt confounded. No one around her was dropping out; in her mind, you were supposed to go through school, take high school exams, and head to university.
Da Bao grinned at Zhao ii: "I can’t get into Number One, can’t take care of her; you watch over her for , just don’t let her get bullied."
Looking at Da Bao was like watching the maid that had tugged at her heart in the past two days, feeling sorry.
Ultimately, Zhao ii couldn’t bear to refuse, nor could she: "Don’t worry, Wang Jiayue, right? I’ll find her once school starts and befriend her."
Da Bao nodded with a smile: "Okay."
When it ca ti to pay, Zhao ii hurried to do it. Da Bao’s eyes glead with gratitude, stepping out of the restaurant, he draped his arm over her shoulder: "When I’m earning, I’ll get you a gift, okay? What do you want?"
Zhao ii thought sincerely: "Cook two dishes and let taste them, pick your best ones!"
Da Bao clapped her shoulder hard twice: "Sure thing."
Entering ho in the evening, Zhao ii heard her dad sitting on the sofa making an emotional phone call: "Buyout? Our factory? Is the news reliable?"
Zhao ii casually closed the door. Her mom poked her head out from the kitchen, saw her, and quickly said: "Where’ve you been? Go wash up for dinner."
Just as Zhao ii was about to speak, her dad exclaid: "What? You heard earlier?"
Zhao ii and her mom both fell silent, listening to her dad’s phone call: "Then, after the buyout? Just a lump sum and that’s it?"
Zhao ii changed her shoes, moved to the sofa’s edge, and sat down as her dad sighed: "Don’t worry, I’ve got a handle on this; won’t talk about it with others. You know what kind of person I am; I can keep quiet about things."
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