Yi Zhuo worked swiftly, bending over without a word. By the time Chang Xuyu turned around again, he had already finished mopping the entire classroom.
She looked around, blinked, and felt deeply grateful.
"Wow, that was so fast!"
Yi Zhuo casually grabbed her backpack. "Let's go. Home."
Outside the school gate, Chang Xuyu, who had been looking down, suddenly had an idea. She ran to the small shop and bought two popsicles.
Since Yi Zhuo had helped her with the cleaning, she couldn't just take his kindness for granted. She had to thank him.
She handed him a strawberry-flavored popsicle. Yi Zhuo instinctively stepped back.
"Brother Yi Zhuo, this is for you," Chang Xuyu said, holding her own popsicle in her mouth as she organized her change, her speech slurred. "Thank you for helping me with the cleaning..."
He paused, then took the popsicle made of ice water and coloring.
"It's nothing."
He said flatly, then reached out and ruffled the little girl's soft hair.
The streets were clogged with tricycles and bicycles, the ringing of bells echoing through the city again and again.
The cries of street vendors mixed with the smell of savory pancakes, clear yet blurred in the steaming noodle soup.
Against the sunset and fiery clouds, a tall and a short shadow stretched long, long on the cobblestone path.
The sweet yet slightly tangy taste of the popsicle filled his mouth. When he stuck out his tongue, he found half of it stained red.
He had never had this before. Frowning, he held it in his hand, not knowing whether to throw it away or keep it.
Looking down, he saw Chang Xuyu sweating at her temples, eating slowly, her lips stained red.
The sight was somewhat amusing. He suppressed a smile and pulled a tissue from his pocket, handing it to her.
Two days later, after dusk had fallen and the sky had darkened, Chang Xuyu suddenly ran out of her house and sat alone by the dirt mound, crying.
Her hair was gone.
Her once glossy black braid had been cut off by her mother with a pair of scissors, to be sold.
She had resisted fiercely, but was held down.
"What's the point of keeping such long hair? It wastes shampoo. It'll grow back."
Her crying wasn't loud, but it caught the attention of Yi Zhuo, who lived on the first floor.
He opened the window and immediately saw Chang Xuyu.
He went out to her, saw her tears streaming, and noticed her hair was now at chin length. He frowned.
"What happened?"
Seeing Yi Zhuo, Chang Xuyu's tears fell like a broken string of beads, unstoppable.
She wiped her eyes and sobbed, "Mom, Mom cut my hair... and sold it... for money."
"I kept it, kept it for so long... Now, I can't, can't braid pretty braids anymore."
With every few words, she paused to catch her breath, her eyes red and pitiful.
Yi Zhuo stepped forward, crouched down, and looked at her.
"It's okay. You look good with short hair, Xuyu."
He ruffled her hair as usual.
"It'll grow back."
"If anyone makes fun of you, come to me. I'll hit them for you."
He shook his fist.
Chang Xuyu had always been resilient. She was soon coaxed into a smile by his words.
Seeing her smile, Yi Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief.
Night fell, and lights came on in every house. The two children squatted together, unconsciously enjoying the faint light.
Life here was peaceful—peaceful enough that there were no worries about the outside world. It was also noisy—noisy enough that every couple of days you could hear the sound of chopping meat from the neighbors.
But Yi Zhuo admitted he liked it here.
He had also gotten used to having a certain little kid follow him to school every day.
But partings are inevitable in life.
The day Yi Zhuo moved away, everyone was caught off guard.
Chang Xuyu chased after him down the alley for a long way but didn't even get to say goodbye.
Author's note: None.