Song Shuling didn't need to worry about Zhong Ruanxing. There were recruitment notices posted in the service station in the park. She wiped Zhong You's little hands clean and held her hand as she stood up, "Let's go apply now."
Song Shuling's eyes widened in surprise, "Now?"
Zhong Ruanxing nodded, "Recruitment for the amusement park is very fast because many people like working here. When we passed by the service station earlier, I saw three people filling out application forms. They're probably applying too. If we don't go now, all the positions might be filled by tomorrow."
Song Shuling immediately stood up, "Let's go!"
She walked hurriedly in front, but hesitated and stopped when she reached the service station entrance.
She had never applied for a job before in her life. She didn't know what to say during an interview or how to present herself. Feeling nervous and expectant, she looked to Zhong Ruanxing for help.
Zhong Ruanxing gave her an encouraging look, "Just say what you think, don't be afraid, go on."
Song Shuling bit her lip. With her brother's encouraging gaze, she finally mustered up the courage to step into the service station.
Zhong Ruanxing didn't follow her in.
She could encourage Shuling, but could not become a crutch for her.
Shuling's first half of life had been too miserable. Now that she wanted to change, the first thing she had to do was build an independent personality and self-confidence.
She also believed that Shuling could do it.
Zhong You watched Song Shuling talking to the staff inside thoughtfully, and suddenly asked Zhong Ruanxing, "Sister, when I come to play here again, I can cut the line and take photos with Sister Shuling directly, right?"
Zhong Ruanxing flicked her forehead, "Thinking of special privileges at such a young age, who taught you that?"
Zhong You glared at her reproachfully while covering her forehead.
Zhong Ruanxing suddenly realized, "What did you call me?"
Zhong You huffed and turned her head away, ignoring her.
Zhong Ruanxing felt incredulous. She crouched down and hugged the chubby little girl, pinching her plump cheeks, "Ask you again, what did you call me?"
Zhong You angrily slapped her hand away, "Bad sister, pinching my face again!"
Zhong Ruanxing was stunned, at a loss for how to react for a moment as she looked at the little sister in her arms.
After staring at her for a while, Zhong You reached out her chubby little hand and touched her face, "Sister, what's wrong? Did You You hurt you?" She immediately grabbed Zhong Ruanxing's hand and blew on it twice, "Huff huff, don't hurt, sister."
Zhong Ruanxing suddenly felt her eyes sting a little. She rubbed Zhong You's head absently for a bit, "How did you recognize your sister?"
Zhong You looked at her strangely, as if wondering why she was asking such a silly question, "Because you are my sister!"
Her big black grape-like eyes rolled around, and she muttered softly, "Pig mommy noticed that little pink pig was not eating corn anymore recently, and started liking roasted chicken instead. She observed little pink pig for a long time, and realized that little pink pig was not little pink pig at all, but a little fox! The little fox had turned into her piggy baby, while little pink pig had become the fox mommy's baby. They cried for corn every day."
Zhong Ruanxing recalled that this was a story from a children's fairy tale book she had bought for Zhong You last year.
Back then, when she was leaning against the headboard telling Zhong You this bedtime story, Zhong You had asked, "Why didn't pig mommy recognize her own piggy baby?"
At that time, Zhong Ruanxing felt it was too tedious to explain body swapping to a kid, so she casually brushed her off, "Because pig mommy was too stupid, she was a silly pig."
Now, Zhong You blinked her watery eyes expectantly, waiting to be praised, "Sister, am I smarter than pig mommy? I'm not a silly little pig."
Zhong Ruanxing's heart melted entirely. She hugged her over and kissed her little face, "Yes, You You is the smartest little kid in the world. But this is a secret that only you, me and the sister at home know. You can't tell anyone else, okay?"
The child didn't understand what body swapping was, or how outlandish it was. In her mind, it was just like the magical fairy tale journey of the little pig and fox in the storybook. There was nothing too shocking about it.
She solemnly held out her pinky, "You You promises sister."
Zhong Ruanxing smiled and hooked pinkies with her.
After a pause, she asked again, "Does You You like the sister at home now?"
"I like her!" Zhong You nodded heavily, "The sister at home bought me a lot of ice cream, and she really likes my new friends too."
She gave Zhong Ruanxing a disdainful look, "Not like you, so afraid of my new friends."
Zhong Ruanxing: "......"
New friends? Were they the various insects she had caught and allowed to crawl all over the house?
It looked like she really needed to have a good talk with Song Jinhang! Why indulge a child like this? Spankings were still necessary when called for!
More than ten minutes later, Song Shuling walked out with a joyful expression. Seeing Zhong Ruanxing, she excitedly said, "Brother, I got the job! I can start training tomorrow, and formally start work after passing the training!"
Zhong Ruanxing smiled and nodded, "Good, this is your first job, work hard."
Song Shuling nodded firmly.
Leaving the amusement park, Zhong Ruanxing drove them to a restaurant she had booked in advance. It was originally just to celebrate Zhong You's birthday, but now they could also celebrate Song Shuling finding her first job.
After cutting the cake and opening presents, they played until the sky was completely dark. Zhong You was already yawning in her arms. Only then did Zhong Ruanxing call Zhong Dad, then sent Zhong You home.
When they reached the estate entrance, Zhong Dad was already waiting there.
The middle-aged man stood tall and silent at the roadside. Zhong Ruanxing remembered the many times in the past when she worked late into the night and her dad would stand by the road waiting for her like this too.
She parked the car and carried Zhong You out. In a voice only the two of them could hear, she said, "When sister is not around, You You is the superhero at home. Take good care of daddy and mommy, okay?"
Zhong You clung reluctantly to her neck, "Mm! You You is very strong! Protect daddy and mommy!"
Zhong Dad took the birthday presents in one hand, and carried Zhong You in the other. He said in a low voice, "Thanks for taking care of them today."
Zhong Ruanxing swallowed her heartache, "No trouble at all, Uncle Zhong. Goodbye You You."
Getting back into the car, Zhong Ruanxing saw Song Shuling still gazing longingly at Zhong Dad carrying Zhong You walking away. Such a heartbreaking look in her eyes.
She had lost her parents when she was even younger than Zhong You, right?
Could she still remember what it felt like to be held by her parents?
Zhong Ruanxing called her name, "Shuling."
Song Shuling snapped back to reality and lowered her gaze as she got into the car. The car drove quietly on the night road. Zhong Ruanxing suddenly heard her ask in a low voice, "Brother, what were my parents like?"
Zhong Ruanxing's fingers on the steering wheel tightened.
There was a tinge of weeping in Shuling's voice, "I don't remember anything at all. Even their looks, I can only remember if I keep looking at their photos."
Zhong Ruanxing switched on the turning signal and pulled over at the roadside.
She got out of the car, opened the rear door and sat down beside Shuling, gently hugging the silently sobbing girl into her arms.
In this quiet night, even though she only had this physical body, Zhong Ruanxing could still deeply empathize with her grief.
She could only softly yet firmly tell her, "Just remember that they loved you very much, loved us very much."
