I don’t even know how to properly thank you.

“Why do you keep staring at me? I may have thick skin, but I can still get shy,” Zhang Tan said to Huang Meimei, who kept scrutinizing him.

“Actually, I’d rather believe you’ve become a father,” Huang Meimei chuckled, locking eyes with Zhang Tan, trying to catch any sign of deception.

Zhang Tan was speechless and too lazy to explain.

When he started to leave, Huang Meimei asked, “Where are you going?”

“Going back.”

“No more shopping?”

“No shopping.”

...

“Why are you still following me?”

“I have something to take care of.”

“Alright.”

“Can you drive me there?”

“I don’t have a car.”

“Where’s your car then?”

Zhang Tan froze. That’s right, where was his car? He did have one!

If he remembered correctly, it should be parked in the lot of the urban village.

He immediately turned and headed to the parking lot to find his car.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you supposed to go to the academy?” Huang Meimei asked as she followed.

“You said you had something to do, so I’m going to bring the car to drive you there.”

“...I’ll go with you then.”

In the parking lot, Zhang Tan spent over ten minutes locating his nearly new SUV. It hadn’t been driven for months and was covered in a layer of dust, looking grimy.

“This car really needs a wash,” Huang Meimei said as she climbed into the car. Suddenly, she bent down and pulled out a piece of lace underwear from the footrest of the passenger seat, disdainfully remarking, “Zhang, you’re such a rogue. Look at this.”

“Emmm…” Zhang Tan was awkward and speechless. “Just throw it away.”

On the way to take Huang Meimei to her errand, she kept nagging and despising him. Zhang Tan knew he was at fault and didn’t bother to argue.

After dropping her off, Zhang Tan drove to the dealership and gave the car a thorough wash inside and out. It looked much better afterward.

This car originally cost over 300,000 yuan new, but Zhang Tan’s was half-new and six years old. No wonder he had neglected it and left it parked for over half a year.

He parked the car back in the urban village lot as evening was falling. The sunset hung low in the west, half hidden behind towering buildings, as if the city had been sliced open, blood flowing and staining the skyline red.

Streetlights flickered on in the urban village, casting a soft yellow glow under which various little bugs fluttered—annoying yet full of life.

A cool evening breeze swept through the alleys, bringing relief and coaxing the elderly residents out of their homes.

They carried small stools and sat at the alley entrances, fanning themselves leisurely while chatting. Children laughed and ran around their feet. The sound of a television mixed cartoons and news broadcasts from a nearby courtyard.

Several large orange cats lounged lazily on walls, while varied Chinese rural dogs rested on the now-cooled stone slabs, wagging their tails gently, resting their chins near their paws. Upon spotting strangers, they barely lifted their heads before settling back down.

Zhang Tan strolled through the narrow streets, hungry, searching for a place to eat.

Many eateries were available: braised chicken, cross-bridge rice noodles, spicy hot pots, snail noodles, tea restaurants... He chose a small spot called “Heart’s Blessing, Mouth’s Delight.” It was modest, with only eight tables seating four each, and very clean. At that moment, only two girls were dining inside.

“What would you like to eat?” The waitress, who was also the owner, asked.

Zhang Tan scanned the menu on the wall. “Do you have boiled soft-boiled eggs? I’ll have one.”

Half an hour later, Zhang Tan left the shop, pleasantly surprised by how authentic the boiled soft-boiled egg was. The whites were jelly-like and set, the yolk soft and moist. A gentle bite released a warm, creamy flow that left a lingering taste.

Back at Little Red Horse Academy, he just happened to see a middle-aged woman leaving and heard the gatekeeper, Old Li, greet her.

Zhang Tan glanced at his watch—just past 6:10 PM. Those who came early were usually the little ones.

The woman’s back was all he could see. She was plainly dressed, her back damp from sweat, clearly having worked hard all day. She carried a small stool and headed toward the village entrance.

“Back already,” Zhang Tan greeted Old Li, who was listening to a broadcast.

“Yes, she’s back,” Old Li replied.

Lights illuminated the academy courtyard and classrooms. Zhang Tan spotted Teacher Xiao Liu walking down the corridor.

The staff had arrived and were waiting for the children to arrive one by one.

Zhang Tan passed through the courtyard alive with chirping insects when suddenly a soccer ball bounced to his feet. Looking back, he saw a little boy wearing a red traditional Chinese outfit, grinning under the mulberry tree.

“Uncle, come play with me! Let’s see your skills.”

“Are you the first one here again today?” Zhang Tan asked, juggling the ball with his feet.

“The other kids aren’t here yet~~”

The boy ran up eagerly, watching Zhang Tan juggle the ball.

“You’re pretty good at this,” the boy complimented.

“Can you juggle?”

“Sure!”

“Go on.”

Zhang Tan passed the ball to him; the boy kicked it with such force he sent both the ball and his shoe flying.

“Oh no, what the heck!”

“Uncle, help me get my kid back!” he pleaded.

Zhang Tan sighed. Last time the boy had kicked his shoe off. Now again!

He retrieved the shoe from the sand and threw it back, asking, “Your shoes seem a bit big, don’t they?”

The boy slipped them on, replying, “I’m still growing.”

No wonder he kept kicking them off.

“I’m heading home now.”

The boy immediately followed behind. “Uncle, where are you going? Will you still come play with me?”

He hadn’t run today, so a bit of soccer would do instead of running.

“I’ll change and come down.”

“Uncle, uncle.”

The boy followed up the stairs, pulling a peanut from his pocket.

“Here, have some.”

Cooked peanuts—quite fragrant. Just as Zhang Tan opened his palm to accept, the boy pulled out two more, then kept digging in the other pocket, finally pulling out a boiled egg and placing it in Zhang Tan’s palm.

“Here, have an egg.”

Warm and comforting.

Zhang Tan asked, “Why do you carry a boiled egg with you?”

The boy proudly said, “I saved it from eating snacks.”

Zhang Tan asked, “And now you’re giving it to me?”

The boy explained that since he ate Zhang Tan’s snacks and fruit yesterday, he wanted to treat him today with boiled peanuts and steamed eggs.

Just boiled peanuts weren’t enough to show his gratitude—he had to include a boiled egg, secretly saved from dinner and brought to the academy.

The boy put his hands in his pockets and left, telling Zhang Tan to hurry up and change clothes and come out to play soccer.

“Wait, come back.”

Zhang Tan called the boy back.

“What’s up?”

“Come here, I bought you something.”

“What? You bought me something?…”

Zhang Tan brought the chattering boy home and pulled out some small socks from his bag. “Here, I bought you some socks. The ones you’re wearing have holes; you shouldn’t wear those anymore.”

The boy looked down at his feet. The yellow socks didn’t fully cover his toes; all ten toes peeked out. He tightened his toes and happily examined the new socks Zhang Tan gave him.

“Open them up and try them on. See if they fit.”

But instead of opening the package, the boy warily asked, “Uncle, are you trying to do something to me? Don’t think I’m stupid—I’m fierce! My aunt says I’m mischievous and bad.”

Zhang Tan laughed helplessly. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to do anything. I just saw your socks were full of holes, so I bought you five pairs. Try them on.”

“That’s no good~~~”

“What’s wrong with that? Put them on.”

“Are you really not trying to do anything to me?”

“I’m a good person.”

“Then why did you buy me socks?”

“...Sigh.”

“What’s wrong? Why the sigh?”

“Actually, I like you.”

“What?!! Mischievous brat!”

“Ah, don’t hit! You misunderstood—I mean, I think you’re very cute. I like all cute kids... Don’t you think you’re cute?”

The boy nodded.

Zhang Tan asked, “You don’t think you’re cute?”

The boy quickly shook his head.

Zhang Tan pressed, “Really? Why would you think that? You should have confidence. Look in the mirror at your eyes—they’re so big, like moons.”

The boy couldn’t help but laugh loudly, “What? I’m so adorable!”

It worked, of course—there’s no child in the world who thinks they’re not cute.

Zhang Tan smiled, “You’re so cute, of course I’d give you socks. Besides, I’m not giving them for free; I have a task for you.”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t Xiaomi your good friend? She can’t find her mom right now and must be very sad. Could you play with her often and chat with her, make her happy, so she won’t feel down?”

The boy blinked his big eyes, showing sympathy and nodded repeatedly. He would have done it anyway.

“Then the task is yours. As your reward, here are the socks.”

The boy finally relaxed and instinctively took the five pairs of socks Zhang Tan handed him. “Uncle, I don’t even know how to thank you. Thank you, you’re a good person.”

A perfect ‘good person’ card—accepted with gratitude.

Zhang Tan smiled, “Not mischievous anymore?”

The boy gave an awkward smile. “I’m the mischievous one, Uncle, not you.”

“Then don’t call me mischievous anymore.”

“I swear I won’t. If I do, I won’t be human anymore.”