The little child lay on her grandpa's lap, not blaming him but murmuring in a childlike tone: "Grandpa left the baby at home."
"Grandpa won't go anymore, won't go anymore..."
His granddaughter nestled in Grandpa Jiang's arms, gently patting his back with her little hands, her sweet childish voice offering comfort: "Grandpa, eat. Grandma left food for you, afraid you'd be hungry."
Grandpa Jiang hugged the soft bundle of treasure in his arms, glanced at the food on the table, then remembered his captivation in the chess room all morning, filled with remorse.
Next door, Jiang's Dad peeked at the surveillance footage, muttering to Jiang's Grandma: "I bet Dad has issues now. Lu Yuliang's tactic was too harsh."
Jiang's Grandma smiled faintly: "Sugar-coated artillery, a heart-conquering strategy."
...
On Saturday, when Lu Yuliang was off work, she took Jiang Yan to meet Song Li'an.
The two families chose an amusement park as their meeting point.
Jiang Yan wore a soft, creamy white lamb's wool coat, her fluffy black hair tied in an adorable bun, clutching two freshly bought candy-coated fruit sticks.
She casually handed the uneaten one to Song Li'an, taking a crispy sausage from his hand in exchange.
"Not very polite..." Lu Yuliang tapped her daughter's forehead, sensing that Song Li'an might have glanced at her.
Lu Yuliang didn't understand, as Zhou Sisi shoved a sausage into her hand. Song Li'an eating sausages was Zhou Sisi's habit - she loved street sausages.
"Why so formal between family?" Zhou Sisi pushed Lu Yuliang. "Come on, let's queue for the rides."
Since they were too young, they only went on the merry-go-round, sightseeing train, and pirate ship. Tired from playing, the two kids sat on a seesaw, rocking back and forth.
Zhou Sisi and Lu Yuliang collapsed onto the public benches to rest.
Song Li'an remained as before - delicate and cute, disinterested in socializing. Sitting on the seesaw, he rocked gently and properly.
Jiang Yan still held the uneaten sausage, unable to bear eating it due to her teething issues. Lu Yuliang had already forbidden her from snacks for several days.
Just as she was about to take a bite, she heard Song Li'an's clear voice: "Baby~"
Jiang Yan looked over, bewildered, to find Song Li'an with a faint smile on his fair face, a dimple on his right cheek. He said seriously: "Don't eat it, the stick might poke your mouth."
He even demonstrated by pointing to his own mouth.
Jiang Yan paused, lowering the sausage from her mouth. To be reminded by a little friend, how embarrassing!
They agreed to play again next week, and Jiang Yan promised to call Song Li'an.
As soon as they parted, Song Li'an asked his mom for her phone.
Zhou Sisi: ...
Pressured by her son's phone snatching, Zhou Sisi constantly urged the house purchasing and renovation.
Finally, before summer vacation, they settled the housing matter.
On a sunny morning, their belongings had all been packed by the moving company, including Song Li'an's little desk, chair, and a box of toys.
He sat in his dad's car, heading to their new home.
As they entered the neighborhood, Zhou Sisi suddenly asked with a mysterious look: "Son, do you know where this is?"
Thinking his mom was teasing him again, Song Li'an answered listlessly: "Our new home."
"Correct!" Zhou Sisi was ready to tell him, pointing to the buildings. "This is also Jiang Yan's home!"
Song Li'an's reaction surprised Zhou Sisi. He froze for a moment, mouth gaping open, eyes widening in astonishment. Then he leaned against Zhou Sisi's arm, repeatedly confirming: "Really, Mom? Really?!"
Zhou Sisi was delighted. "Really! Our house is even on the same floor as Jiang Yan's, so you two can play together every day! Mom's phone will finally be free!"
Song's Dad joked from the driver's seat: "That last sentence is the real truth, isn't it?"
In any case, Song Li'an could finally see Jiang Yan every day.
The two little ones visited each other so frequently - in the morning I'd go play with your toys, in the afternoon I'd share my snacks with you... Before long, having meals at each other's homes became normal.
No need for invitations, just add a bowl and chopsticks. Whoever cooked something delicious would make sure to send some over.
Song Li'an also transferred to Jiang Yan's kindergarten. Jiang Yan bravely took on the task of caring for her little brother, introducing him and helping him make new friends.
But after all that, Song Li'an still tagged along behind her like a little tail.
During a game where the teacher separated the boys and girls into lines, and the girls chose a boy as their partner to complete a two-person game together, Jiang Yan originally wanted to pair with Song Li'an since he was new and unfamiliar with the other kids.
However, their positions in line made it unlikely they'd end up together.
The girls one by one chose their partners, all very smoothly. But when a little girl tried to hold Song Li'an's hand, he struggled and put his hands behind his back.
The girl looked to the teacher. The teacher thought for a moment and said: "It should be voluntary. You can choose a boy further back."
So the little girl walked off holding another boy's hand.
