Zhao Meimei stood next to Shi Yang, tiptoeing to get a whiff of the rich aroma wafting from the pot, smacking her lips, eagerly watching as her Brother Yangyang cooked instant noodles.
While eating, Shi Yang picked out a piece of sausage as thick as a pinky and placed it in Zhao Meimei's bowl: "Eat."
Zhao Meimei took a delighted bite, the heat made her gasp, the hotter it was, the tastier it became.
She never knew sausages could be cooked with noodles. At home, whenever she wanted some, she would peel them directly, nibbling small bites carefully, afraid that a thin stick might vanish in just two bites.
Seeing Zhao Meimei enjoying herself, Shi Yang split his sausage in half and gave another piece to Zhao Meimei.
Zhao Meimei drank the hot noodle soup, her little face flushed with warmth, without breaking a sweat, but her chest was damp. She wiped herself a couple of times with her sweater and kept eating, unable to stop.
Zhao Meimei had just finished a small box of cookies and a big cup of juice, and was about to empty a big bowl of noodles. Shi Yang worried she might overeat, and tapped her bowl with his chopsticks: "Stop if you're full. Otherwise, your stomach will ache from overeating."
Zhao Meimei couldn't really eat more and rubbed her stomach, reluctant to put down her bowl. She licked her chopsticks: "So delicious, so tasty."
Shi Yang smiled: "If you like it, come over next time and I'll cook for you again."
Only then did Zhao Meimei put down her chopsticks, belching, and feeling a bit stuffed indeed.
With her stomach full, Shi Yang went to the kitchen to wash the dishes while Zhao Meimei sat on the sofa with Qu Chaozong watching TV.
Qu Chaozong liked her quite a bit, found Zhao Meimei tough and fun. To this group of teenagers, a little girl's looks weren't something to worry about.
Qu Chaozong took some candies from his pocket, from the Chinese New Year's Eve, and teased Zhao Meimei: "Meimei, why don't you be my little sister too? Call me brother, and you can have these candies."
With a stomach full of cookies, juice, and hot three-flavor noodles given by Shi Yang, Zhao Meimei stood firm against Qu Chaozong's persuasion.
Zhao Meimei's eyelids drooped slightly, squinting at Qu Chaozong: "I only like Brother Yangyang, I recognize only him as brother."
Shi Yang came in after doing the dishes just in time to hear this, and laughed out loud, the pitch of his voice cheerful and triumphant, savoring the moment in front of his companions.
Shi Yang raised his chin slightly at Qu Chaozong: "What's up? Trying to dig my corner while I'm not around?"
Qu Chaozong crinkled the candy wrappers in his hand and asked Zhao Meimei: "Why can't I be your brother?"
Zhao Meimei, with an earnest look, a funny yet adorable expression on her wrinkly little face.
Zhao Meimei: "Because you're not as good-looking as Brother Yangyang."
"Pfft! Haha!" Qu Chaozong laughed, leaning back on the sofa, almost crushing Zhao Meimei. He pointed at Shi Yang playfully: "Pretty face Yang, all you've got is a face to bluff with!"
Qu Chaozong revealed Shi Yang's secret to Zhao Meimei: "You think your Brother Yangyang is a good kid, all obedient? Let me tell you, your Brother Yangyang at school is like this!"
Qu Chaozong waved his thumb at Zhao Meimei: "The boss! Get it?"
Zhao Meimei looked at him blankly and shook her head.
Qu Chaozong smirked and explained to Zhao Meimei: "It means your Brother Yangyang is the top dog at school, no one can beat him, he's the toughest."
Shi Yang kicked Qu Chaozong: "Get lost!"
Zhao Meimei looked at her Brother Yangyang in surprise, staring without blinking, her eyes almost hurting. Among the astonishment in her eyes, there was a hint of excitement—a child's innate admiration for someone stronger than them.
At that time, in Zhao Meimei's naive heart, Shi Yang's image became extraordinarily brilliant and towering. Kids don't have strong discernment, prone to believe others easily, and she believed what Qu Chaozong said.
Shi Yang pulled Qu Chaozong off the sofa with a casual gesture and sat down with Zhao Meimei: "Don't listen to his nonsense, Meimei, watch cartoons instead."
Qu Chaozong stayed until past four in the afternoon before riding his bike home.
Zhao Meimei lay on the second-floor window, stretching her head out to watch eagerly. Her family didn't own a bicycle; her father walked to and from the factory.
After seeing off Qu Chaozong, Shi Yang looked up from the courtyard and saw Zhao Meimei in a thin sweater by the window. He quickly called out: "Meimei, close the window and come inside, be careful not to catch a cold."
Zhao Meimei pulled her head back.
As soon as Shi Yang came in, Zhao Meimei sidled over to ask him: "Brother Yangyang, do you have a bicycle at home?"
Shi Yang sat with her on the sofa: "Yes, why?"
Zhao Meimei's eyes lit up: "Can you ride it?"
Shi Yang had a hunch, asked: "Want to ride it?"
Zhao Meimei's little eyes sparkled, expressing her deep longing for bicycles: "Yes, my family doesn't have a bicycle, and my dad can't ride one."
"That's no problem. Once spring comes, I'll take you for a ride someday," Shi Yang chuckled, ruffling Zhao Meimei's hair, genuinely fond of this sturdy little girl.
Zhao Meimei held up her pinky: "Pinky swear."
Shi Yang reached out his pinky and hooked it with Zhao Meimei's, the two of them swung their hands back and forth twice, Zhao Meimei muttering her rhyme: "Pinky swear, hang a hundred years, no change allowed, change and eat dog poop, drink dog pee."
Shi Yang immediately turned his lips in disdain: "Zhao Meimei, where did you learn all that?"
Seeing Shi Yang's face change, Zhao Meimei hurried to blame it on others: "Everyone says it that way."
Shi Yang furrowed his brow displeased: "You're a girl, you shouldn't mix with those mischievous boys every day."
Zhao Meimei, believing Shi Yang, was eager to listen to him and remembered riding Shi Yang's bicycle. She quickly nodded in agreement, then paused to ask: "Is it okay if I play with Da Bao and the others? They don't say those things, they listen to me."
Shi Yang burst into laughter: "I didn't notice, so you're also tough among your friends?"
Zhoa Meimei learned on the spot, raised her thumb, and wagged it at Shi Yang: "I'm also the boss." Not forgetting to flatter her Brother Yangyang: "You're the big boss, and I'm the little boss."
Pfft... Hahaha...
Shi Yang laughed out loud, replying: "I didn't realize you're so tough?"
Zhao Meimei fawned: "Not as tough as you, Brother Yangyang is the toughest."
Shi Yang joked along with her: "Really, okay then, I'll look out for you in the future. If anyone bullies you, just mention my name."
Zhao Meimei's little eyes whirled around: "Will it work?"
Shi Yang's smile broadened with a sense of man's pride: "Of course, you think your brother's title as the boss is just for show?"
Zhao Meimei nodded earnestly, fully convinced.