Summer, the chirping of cicadas, newspapers, and a radio.
Just after dinner, post-meal fruit was set on the table. Clearly, this family's atmosphere was much better than hers.
Even her own family in the past couldn't compare.
The radio played financial news, held by Ji Xingzhi, who occasionally paused and resumed it.
Wen Ni sipped her tea, neither feeling neglected nor making Ji Xingzhi uncomfortable with her presence as a guest.
Actually, this feeling was quite nice.
Wen Ni moved closer to Tao Lehua, thinking about how Tao Wanchun was busy with work and hadn't even come to the competition, while this child's father worked from home, spending as much time as possible with his elementary school-aged child.
Wen Ni clenched her fist. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became.
About half an hour later, Bo Xin returned with some fruit—not in an elaborate fruit basket, but simply in a plastic bag.
The kids each took a banana, and Bo Xin also handed some fruit to Tao Lehua.
Tao Lehua whispered, 'Thank you.'
Bo Xin looked critically at Ji Xingzhi, who raised his hands in surrender. 'I already entertained them.'
Wen Ni nodded, so Bo Xin asked, 'Then what did you talk about?'
Wen Ni thought about the general content and then recounted it.
Bo Xin casually tossed her bag onto the sofa, looking somewhat speechless—that speechlessness directed at Ji Xingzhi.
He had only been fulfilling his fatherly duties for two or three months, and now he felt qualified to criticize other parents? Bo Xin looked over, and Ji Xingzhi shamelessly flashed two rows of white teeth.
Obviously, he was proud of himself.
If Bo Xin said something, he would ask, 'Are you praising me for doing well now?'
Anyway, his skin was thick enough.
Bo Xin withdrew her gaze and said to the three children who were feeling awkward, 'Go play.'
Bo Yuxu led the way, and they went into the room. Ji Yanyi also followed.
It wasn't that Ji Yanyi particularly wanted to be friends with Tao Lehua, but if the other two were together and he was alone, wouldn't it look like he was being left out?
The two sat on the bed, while Ji Yanyi pulled up a stool, straddled it, and rested his chin on the back.
Ji Yanyi looked directly at Tao Lehua, pointed at himself, and asked, 'You probably haven't seen me before. Want me to introduce myself?'
Tao Lehua said very quietly, '...I have seen you.'
Ji Yanyi was stunned, not reacting.
Tao Lehua added, 'You were standing behind him then.' Tao Lehua pointed with one finger at Bo Yuxu, then realized the gesture might be rude and carefully curled his finger back.
'...He couldn't hide you at all, so I saw you back then.'
Ji Yanyi shifted his gaze to Bo Yuxu, his expression hesitant. 'Does that mean I'm short or you're bulky?'
Either way, it touched a nerve for both of them.
Bo Yuxu gave Ji Yanyi a speechless look. 'Obviously neither.'
Tao Lehua had no intention of bad-mouthing anyone, and he was already nervous enough. But since he had taken the initiative to come, didn't that show his sincerity even more?
He still remembered envying Ji Yanyi for having someone come to his doorstep to express gratitude.
Now it was his turn?
'Besides apologizing, is there anything else you wanted to say?'
Tao Lehua glanced upward, recalling what his mother had taught him, and said seriously, 'I hate my dad.'
His mother said that this line would be more useful than an apology, quickly severing ties with his father and forming an alliance.
Bo Yuxu frowned. His expression wasn't the joy of alliance, but suspicion. 'Aren't you still very attached to that father doll? How can you hate your dad?'
Tao Lehua swallowed. Sure enough, lying was too hard for him.
With just one counter-question, he was exposed.
'When I had a fever before, my mother was far away in a foreign country, but my dad stayed by my bedside, making soup and feeding me medicine.'
Bo Yuxu and Ji Yanyi exchanged glances, then asked, 'Was that often?'
Tao Lehua's tone was sincere, full of nostalgia.
'Just that one time. It was around my ninth birthday.'
Bo Yuxu and Ji Yanyi's expressions instantly changed. Ji Yanyi struck first. 'Did that stranger used to live in your house?'
Tao Lehua, using comprehension skills beyond his level, understood that 'that stranger' probably meant his dad.
So he said, 'We never lived together.'
Ji Yanyi wanted to hold his hand, but Tao Lehua awkwardly avoided it, so he had to grab his sleeve and said sincerely, 'Promise me you'll never agree to live with that stranger in the future.'
Tao Lehua's hand froze in midair, then he said, 'Okay.'
Bo Yuxu nodded from behind. He thought more deeply, tilting his head and looking downstairs from the head of the bed.