Chapter 4

Chapter 4

To be honest, hearing Dad say that still hurt.

But I told myself it was fine. They would be leaving soon anyway.

Even though they only came once every three to five months.

Even though they only stayed half an hour each time.

But every time they left, I would still feel a little lonely.

Then I would wonder why I couldn’t live at home like Pei Qian.

Still, the amount of time I spent feeling unhappy had been getting shorter and shorter.

Because I had Zhou Cheng’an now.

He was Grandma 202’s grandson.

Not long ago, when he came to visit his grandma, we got into a fight.

And after that, we became friends.

Zhou Cheng’an brought me pretty comic books and played the violin for me.

I caught butterflies and dragonflies in the grass for him.

On summer nights, we went up to the rooftop together to look at the stars.

Whenever I raced him, I always won.

Panting, he would say, “Guo Guo, you run like the wind. I can’t catch up to you.”

Actually, I knew he was letting me win.

But not exposing him made me even happier.

Zhou Cheng’an was very good to me. No matter what I said, he always answered.

I said Mom and Dad never remembered that I liked fish and didn’t like chicken.

He said that was really mean of them.

I said all my clothes were hand-me-downs my little sister didn’t want, but I was fatter than her, so they never fit.

He said I looked good in anything.

I said I had decided not to miss Mom and Dad anymore, because they definitely didn’t miss me.

Zhou Cheng’an asked me very carefully,

“Guo Guo, why don’t you go home?”

“Everyone is supposed to live with their own mom and dad.”

“Only old people without moms and dads live in nursing homes.”

I stammered, “Because my little sister thinks I’m dirty.”

Almost every time I went near Pei Qian, she would say her chest felt tight and she couldn’t breathe.

What I feared most was hearing her say in that sharp voice, “Big Sis must have been playing with something dirty again. I’m allergic.”

Maybe it made sense.

After I stopped living at home, my little sister really did stop getting sick.

But Zhou Cheng’an stood up at once and said firmly, “Bullshit.”

“Guo Guo, they’re all bullying you.”

“It’s okay. From now on, I’ll be your big brother. I’ll protect you.”

His smile really did have a way of healing people.

During summer break, when there were no classes, Zhou Cheng’an moved into Room 202 too.

We stayed together from morning to night.

After that, the grandpas and grandmas at the nursing home often couldn’t find me anymore.

They suddenly realized what was going on.

Then they started mobilizing their friends and relatives. “Bring over any kids around ten years old.”

“How did we forget? Guo Guo is a child too. She needs friends her own age.”

But no matter how many children came, Zhou Cheng’an was still different.

He was my friend.

He would definitely help me celebrate my birthday.

Holding the cake in my hands, I bounced all the way to the garden to find Zhou Cheng’an.

Then my feet froze in place.

Because in the garden, on the bench Zhou Cheng’an and I liked best,

Pei Qian was sitting there now.

And Zhou Cheng’an was standing beside her, handing her a violin.

It was the one he treasured like a precious jewel, the one he usually wouldn’t even let me touch.

But Pei Qian touched it.

She even asked with a smiling face, “The wood has such a unique texture. Was it custom-made?”

“How long have you been learning violin?”

“I’ve been practicing Bach’s Sarabande recently.”

Under the sunlight, Pei Qian’s small face was as delicate as a painting.

There was a gentle, graceful spark in her eyes.

Then I saw Zhou Cheng’an’s eyes light up.

And then he began talking on and on.

I hid behind the big tree and listened for a long, long time.

I kept hoping he would mention my name.

But he didn’t say a single word about me.

I didn’t know how long they talked.

All I knew was that the cream on the cake in my hands had already gone soft.

It stuck to my hands, and no matter how I wiped, I couldn’t get it off.

I only went to find Zhou Cheng’an after I saw Pei Qian leave.

That dazed smile was still hanging on his face.

When he saw me, he raised his eyebrows.

“Pei Qian is your little sister, right?”

“She really is prettier than you.”

“…Like a fairy.”

Actually, I had known for a long time that Pei Qian was prettier than me.

Children nourished by love were always pretty.

I handed him the cake and pretended I didn’t care at all.

“Here. It’s my birthday. I’ll give you cake, but not Pei Qian.”

“Serves her right for always calling me dirty-”

But Zhou Cheng’an’s gaze fell on my hands.

He slowly put away his violin.

“She wasn’t wrong.”

I froze.

He looked completely serious.

“You really are too dirty. Of course your little sister can’t stand you.”

“But it’s okay, Pei Guo. Your little sister dislikes you, but I don’t.”

In that moment, I felt as if my whole world had become one long rainstorm.

I wiped the tears from my face and told Zhou Cheng’an firmly,

“I hereby announce that starting today, I don’t like you anymore.”