chapter 8

Chapter 8

Cheng Yubai was so angry he nearly fell over backwards.

He took a deep breath, pulled me in front of him, and tried to reason with me: “Manman, ice cream and things like that are just small matters…”

Small matters?

I got worked up. Everything else was still far away, but ice cream was something that could be taken away from me right now!

How could this be called a small matter!

I wiped my tears, sobbing so hard that I even blew a little snot bubble.

“Pop-”

The snot bubble burst softly.

I sniffled, my mouth puckered as I kept crying.

Seeing me like this, Cheng Yubai fell silent. In the end, it was as if he gave up on something; he rubbed his forehead and muttered to himself, “Forget it.”

The washing machine started beeping.

Cheng Yubai sighed, got up, and resignedly went to find the clothes rack.

By the time he finished hanging up the laundry, more than ten minutes had passed. I sat listlessly on a little stool, two streaks of dried tears on my cheeks, blown dry by the wind.

Maybe I looked too pitiful at that moment, because Cheng Yubai softened.

He quickly tied my hair into a ponytail, then took me to the bathroom to wash my face. When the redness around my eyes faded, he locked the door and took my hand as we headed out to the street.

September’s weather was no longer as hot as midsummer, but the sun still felt a bit scorching on our skin.

Cheng Yubai still took me to get ice cream.

In a small shop on the corner of East Street, I leaned on the counter, watching the shop assistant operate the machine with rapt attention. The white ice cream spiraled into the cone, gradually taking on the shape I’d seen in TV commercials.

“Here you go, little one-your ice cream~”

I grabbed it eagerly, about to take a bite, when I remembered Cheng Yubai was still sitting behind me.

He wasn’t angry, but he definitely wasn’t in a good mood. And cheering people up was one of my specialties-especially when it came to Dad and Cheng Yubai.

I walked over to Cheng Yubai and held the cone up to his mouth: “Ah~”

I expected he wouldn’t take a bite, just like every other time I pretended to share with him-he always said he didn’t like sweets.

I was so sure-

Until Cheng Yubai coolly lowered his head and mercilessly bit off a big chunk from the tip.

I pursed my lips.

Well, guess I was wrong this time.

I licked the ice cream, squinting happily. So this is what cream ice cream tastes like-fragrant, sweet, not greasy at all.

Seeing me gobbling it up, Cheng Yubai gave a faint smile: “So ambitious.”

I didn’t mind his comment at all. I’d already gotten such a huge treat-what did a couple of words matter? It’s not like I’d lose anything.

After finishing the ice cream, I hummed a tune, bouncing along behind Cheng Yubai as we headed home.

That night, it was still just the two of us at home.

With so few people, Cheng Yubai simply made two dishes and a soup.

Glancing at the wall clock, I hurriedly sped up my eating, finishing before seven o’clock.

Slipping on my slippers, I ran to the living room, expertly turned on the TV, and flopped onto the sofa, completely absorbed in my show. Meanwhile, Cheng Yubai had started cleaning up the dishes, but I sat there like a mountain, not even thinking about helping-lazily and shamelessly.

Cheng Yubai placed a cup of warm water in front of me. Noticing my hand starting to scratch at the sofa again, he frowned: “Manman, don’t mess with the sofa.”

I reluctantly pulled my hand back.
Back when we renovated the house, Dad believed in spending money where it mattered most. He bought the best cabinets and appliances, but chose a sofa made of faux leather and sponge, thinking it would last seven or eight years. Unexpectedly, by the time I was only in third grade, it had already sagged, and the surface started to peel.

I’ve always been the type who can’t keep my hands still since I was little.

Whenever I watched TV, I’d subconsciously pick at the torn sofa cover and the sponge inside… After years of torment, the old sofa was already in tatters, a pitiful sight.

We could have replaced it long ago, but Dad is sentimental and couldn’t bear to let it go.

My hands moved from the sofa’s holes to the hem of my own clothes. Forget it, let’s just let it live a few more years.

Night deepened.

I was completely absorbed in the TV. Cheng Yubai had already finished cleaning up the kitchen, but instead of taking a break, he started bustling around again. With a lazybones like me and someone as diligent as him, he never really gets to rest.

Before long, he started calling me: “Manman, come wash your face.”

Journey to the West was at an exciting part, and I was glued to the screen. “I’ll come after this, I’ll come after this,” I kept saying.

Cheng Yubai knew I wouldn’t listen, so he simply brought the washcloth over himself.

He folded the cloth. “Turn your face this way.”

I cooperated and lifted my face, but my eyes were still fixed on the TV. Pigsy and Tang Monk had just drunk the water from the Mother-and-Child River and were now writhing in pain, but I was watching with relish.

The next second, the lights flickered and everything was plunged into darkness.

Why did the power go out!

I wailed and collapsed onto the sofa in despair.

Cheng Yubai fumbled in the cabinet for a candle, lit it, and the room filled with a warm yellow glow.

He smiled slightly. “…Now are you willing to come brush your teeth and wash your feet with me?”

I nodded dejectedly, letting him put slippers on my feet, then lead me into the bathroom with the candle.

By the time we finished, half an hour had passed.

I lay on the bed with my legs crossed, staring absentmindedly at the ceiling. The dim candlelight flickered, and I suddenly remembered I hadn’t written my diary today.

Rolling over, I jumped out of bed, rushed to my desk, and quickly scrawled a line in my diary.

Just as I finished, Cheng Yubai came in.

I closed my diary and unceremoniously climbed onto his back. Cheng Yubai bent down and caught me steadily. Lying on his shoulders, I played with his ear, finally feeling comfortable inside.

I’ve had this bad habit since I was little-needing to be rocked to sleep. I guess it’s never going to change.

The room was quiet.

After a long while, I yawned and tilted my head, worrying aloud, “Cheng Yubai, don’t date anyone else, and don’t marry anyone else, okay?”

If he got married, he’d take away what belongs to me.

That’s just too scary.

Cheng Yubai seemed a bit surprised, as if he hadn’t expected me to say that. He looked a little happy, but also a little helpless. “Manman, I’ve never thought about dating or marrying anyone else.”

Oh.

It dawned on me.

Cheng Yubai really had never said he wanted to date or marry anyone else. I was the one who took back the love letters others gave him, and even told him not to feel pressured.

Honestly!

I almost deprived myself by my own hand!

Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but let out a huge sigh of relief.

Luckily, Cheng Yubai did feel pressured and didn’t accept anyone else’s confession. Otherwise, my ice cream really wouldn’t be safe.