54. Crying

Zhang Tan was making cold noodles, which would be his dinner for tonight.

The golden sunset poured into the Little Red Horse Kindergarten, spilling right onto his windowsill, within arm's reach.

He turned off the air conditioner and opened the window. The evening temperature had dropped considerably. The mulberry tree in front of the window swayed in the breeze, its palm-sized leaves rustling in unison. The evening wind, brushed by the green leaves, felt exceptionally cool.

Standing by the kitchen window, he could just see Xiao Bai and the others standing under the plane tree. Although he couldn't hear their chattering and discussing, he could guess a thing or two from their animated gestures.

The little kids were only three or four years old, full of curiosity about the outside world. Especially on the bustling West Chang'an Street, there were simply too many people and things that opened the little ones' eyes.

The passing of a Husky could cause them to shout in amazement. If it weren't for the fact that the dog was being leashed, they might have been able to chat with it through the iron fence on this lovely evening.

A glittering yellow Lamborghini driving by slowly would have them critiquing it together, jointly denouncing what on earth this thing was and why it was so ugly.

If Zhang Tan could hear what they were chatting about, the television in the living room could be completely turned off. Evening news could never be as interesting as those bubbling, innocent words.

Zhang Tan had bought two packs of cold noodles. Last time, he and Xiao Bai ate a whole pack, and the portion was just right.

He took a pack of cold noodles out of the refrigerator, unpacked it, and poured it into cold water to soak.

The last time Xiao Bai was invited as a guest, she ate the cold noodles, had a great time, even pooped, and sang a song.

So Zhang Tan soaked the entire pack of cold noodles in water, reserving that portion for Xiao Bai; once it was ready, he would call her over.

Thinking of Shen Liuliu and the others, should he call Shen Liuliu, Meng Chengcheng, and Xiao Mi as well? He shouldn't play favorites.

So Zhang Tan opened the refrigerator again, unwrapped the other pre-stored pack of cold noodles, and soaked it in the water together with the first.

Even if the little kids couldn't finish eating, the noodles could be stored in the refrigerator, and cold noodles frozen for a while tasted even better.

The cold noodles needed to soak in cold water for a dozen minutes. Taking advantage of this time, Zhang Tan prepared the cold noodle broth.

The broth was made the same way as last time: white sugar, rice vinegar, crystal pear, etc., mixed well, along with clear beef broth.

Having done that, it was time to prepare the side dishes.

The last time he and Xiao Bai ate seafood, he had prepared seafood this time too, but the varieties were different from last time.

While he was busy here, he raised his head and glanced under the plane tree. He saw a few primary school students wearing schoolbags coming from outside the wall after school, talking to Xiao Bai and the others.

Suddenly, Xiao Bai turned around and ran away. The few little boys outside the wall giggled and pointed at her.

Seeing this, Shen Liuliu ran after Xiao Bai. Xiao Mi and Chengcheng were a beat slower, but they followed along as well.

Seeing them run, the primary school students gradually walked away along the wall. At that moment, Xiao Bai ran out of the building, rushed to the front gate, and shouted something at them through the iron gate. Old Li, the security guard in the booth, came out, spoke a few words to the primary school students, and chased them away. Then he returned to the kindergarten and led the excited Xiao Bai away.

Zhang Tan felt something was amiss. Why was Xiao Bai so excited, and moreover, it looked like she was wiping away tears?

He washed his hands, hurried out, went downstairs, and rushed to the kindergarten gate. Xiao Bai was crying, Old Li was comforting her, and Chengcheng, Liuliu, and Xiao Mi surrounded her.

"What's wrong?" Zhang Tan asked in puzzlement. "Did those primary school students just bully Xiao Bai? I'm going to go settle accounts with them."
Those primary school students hadn't gone far yet. Seeing that Zhang Tan was about to chase after them, Old Li quickly said, "No, no, Young Master Zhang, that's not the reason. It's something else."

Zhang Tan stopped and asked, "What reason?"

Xiao Bai raised her hand and wiped her tears, shedding them silently without making a sound.

Old Li said, "Come, come sit in the security booth."

He led Xiao Bai into the booth, and the other three little kids naturally followed along.

Seeing Xiao Bai's little face streaked with tears, Zhang Tan pulled out a tissue to wipe her face.

The little kid snatched the tissue away herself, wiped her face haphazardly a few times, and stopped crying, though her expression remained rather serious.

"What's the matter, little one?" Zhang Tan deliberately asked in a Sichuan accent, which successfully caught Xiao Bai's attention, but she pursed her lips and stayed silent.

What a stubborn little girl.

Old Li called Zhang Tan aside to explain what had just happened.

Those primary school students had just passed by the wall and saw the jersey Xiao Bai was wearing. One of them recognized it, saying it belonged to his younger brother.

"Could he have recognized it wrong? This was bought for Xiao Bai by her aunt."

Zhang Tan glanced at the few little kids watching TV. Just as Xiao Bai looked over, he chuckled at her, successfully earning an adorable side-eye.

Old Li whispered, "I also thought he might have recognized it wrong, but that kid said..."

The jersey Xiao Bai was wearing was obviously old and belonged to a little boy. He had just asked that primary school student, and they had bought it back then aiming for a Messi jersey. The word "Messi" was on this garment, but after buying it home, they learned that this wasn't the Messi from La Liga, but the Messi from the Premier League—the one from the factory team.

Zhang Tan laughed, "Since when does a factory team have a Messi?"

Then he froze for a moment. It seemed... there actually was one.

He took out his phone to check, and sure enough, there really was a Messi who was the third-choice goalkeeper, and his jersey number was indeed 33.

Speechless. Unscrupulous merchants really knew how to do business.

Such a duped jersey had no duplicates around; it was one of a kind. Wearing it out always got people laughing at it, which was why the other party recognized Xiao Bai's at a glance.

Since the jersey belonged to someone else, how did she get it?

Zhang Tan asked, "What did that kid want? Want to take it back from Xiao Bai?"

Old Li shook his head and said, "That's not it. This jersey is one they tossed into a donation bin."

Zhang Tan immediately understood. Their unwanted old clothes were thrown into a donation bin; perhaps Xiao Bai's aunt had taken it from the donation bin.

Seeing that Zhang Tan understood, Old Li didn't say any more. He tilted his head to glance at Xiao Bai. The oversized jersey made her look even tinier, and his mood was somewhat complicated.

Zhang Tan eased his emotions and asked, "Then what was Xiao Bai trying to do just now?"

Old Li replied, "Probably wanted to start a fight, I didn't ask."

Zhang Tan said, "Don't ask. Let this matter rest here."

"Understood."

Zhang Tan rubbed his face, put on a smile, walked over to Xiao Bai and the others, and asked, "Is the TV show good?"

Xiao Bai turned a deaf ear, keeping her eyes glued to the television.

Liuliu glanced at him, then glanced at Xiao Bai, chose to follow the trend, kept quiet, and even gave a proud huff, looking rather not very smart.

The other little kids did the same.

Zhang Tan: (；¬＿¬)

He had so little leadership presence. He was, after all, the group leader of a five-person scriptwriting team; could they please show some face?

Undiscouraged, Zhang Tan spoke again, "I'm inviting you all to my home as guests. How about it?"

"Okay~~" Little Shen Liuliu responded first, her little feet dangling and swaying.

She had been a guest at Zhang Tan's house before, so she was quite bold. Xiao Mi and Chengcheng had been there too, but they were very reserved and timid.

After Shen Liuliu agreed, seeing that Xiao Bai and the others remained silent, she hurriedly added, "Hehehe, the baby won't go alone, it's scary."

Zhang Tan knew that unless Xiao Bai spoke, none of the other three little kids would agree. This was, after all, the bossy cute leader.

"Xiao Bai." Zhang Tan called her by name.

Only then did Xiao Bai look at him, her little face taut, "What are we going for?"

"Come over to my house as a guest."

"For what?"

"I made some money today and made my favorite cold noodles. I'd like to invite you to taste them. Any interest?"