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Liang Yan watched Zhi Zhi with an amused expression.
He had known all along that the “Baby” nickname was a lie—everyone called her Zhi Zhi.
Zhi Zhi showed no embarrassment at being caught in the fib and instead called out loudly to the teacher, “Zhi Zhi is here!” raising her little hand high.
As the teacher approached, Zhi Zhi sighed to Liang Yan, “The teacher isn’t familiar with me yet; otherwise, she’d call me Baby.”
Liang Yan’s face remained impassive. “Is that so?”
Zhi Zhi nodded earnestly. “Yes!”
Liang Yan felt both exasperated and entertained. His beautiful blue eyes, like serene lakes, reflected Zhi Zhi’s adorable and innocent face.
“Zhi Zhi, your teacher has been looking for you,” the teacher said as she arrived.
“Zhi Zhi is studying here today,” Zhi Zhi replied.
“But only for one class,” the teacher considered. “Otherwise, your dad might not find you when he comes to pick you up tonight.”
Zhi Zhi nodded. “Zhi Zhi understands.”
The teacher patted her head and smiled before leaving.
Zhi Zhi was generally well-behaved and didn’t cause trouble during class. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been allowed to stay in the older class for so long.
Her hair was thick, black, and soft.
Liang Yan watched her little ponytail sway back and forth, remembering the smile on the teacher’s face when she had patted Zhi Zhi’s head. He momentarily wanted to touch it too but ultimately resisted.
Unaware of his thoughts, Zhi Zhi leaned over her small desk. “Brother Liang Yan, will you teach me this... Zhi Zhi forgot what it’s called.”
Liang Yan said, “English.”
Zhi Zhi clapped her hands. “Yes, English! Will you teach Zhi Zhi English?”
She remembered the promise from earlier—if she learned English, she could watch movies with Brother Liang Yan.
Liang Yan pursed his lips. “You’re still young.”
Zhi Zhi puffed up her cheeks. “I’m not! Zhi Zhi will be three soon, and at three, you can do lots of things. My mom says so.”
Liang Yan asked, “Your mom says a lot of things.”
Zhi Zhi grinned and whispered conspiratorially, “My mom is so pretty, and her voice is so nice. I love listening to her talk.”
Her praise was pure and heartfelt.
After a pause, she blinked and added, “Brother Liang Yan is handsome too. Zhi Zhi also likes listening to Brother Liang Yan talk and wants to hear him tell stories.”
Liang Yan glanced at her. “I don’t know how to tell stories.”
Zhi Zhi made a small noise of disappointment. “Okay.”
Distracted by their conversation, she completely forgot about learning English—a testament to a child’s fleeting memory.
Zhi Zhi stayed in the older class for one lesson, though she didn’t pay much attention. She occupied herself by doodling in Liang Yan’s books with his pen.
At first glance, the scribbles looked messy, but upon closer inspection, they were quite charming.
Zhi Zhi had previously learned to write her name from He Xingwang—though she couldn’t write her full name, her nickname consisted of two circles with a few dots.
Liang Yan’s English book now bore a crooked signature.
Zhi Zhi was very pleased with her masterpiece. As the teacher came to take her away after class, she didn’t forget to say, “See you tomorrow, Brother Liang Yan.”
Liang Yan watched her leave. “See you tomorrow, Zhi Zhi.”
And true to her word, “tomorrow” meant just that.
Zhi Zhi spent an entire year in kindergarten, shuttling between the toddler and older classes. Over time, Liang Yan grew more familiar with her personality and could discern her playful fibs.
But Zhi Zhi herself remained oblivious.
At first, the teachers thought Zhi Zhi’s infatuation with the handsome older boy would fade after a few days.
To their surprise, it endured.
They watched Zhi Zhi grow day by day, her bond with Liang Yan strengthening. Listening to their daily exchanges brought endless smiles.
Children’s friendships were truly adorable.
Time flew by, and on the last day of the semester, as the sun had yet to set, Zhi Zhi stood at the back door of the older class.
“Brother Liang Yan,” she called.
“What is it?” Liang Yan walked over.
“Zhi Zhi won’t see you for a long time,” she said, her eyes shining. “You can’t forget Zhi Zhi, okay?”
Liang Yan ruffled her hair. Little Zhi Zhi barely reached his chest, and her energetic steps as she ran over were endearing.
“I won’t,” he assured her.
Zhi Zhi beamed and extended her hand. “Let’s pinky swear.”
With a resigned smile, Liang Yan hooked his little finger with hers.
He had assumed he’d attend preschool at the school, but just before the new term began, his family decided to send him straight to elementary school.
________________________________________
Zhi Zhi spent the summer vacation eagerly awaiting the start of the new school year, hoping to see her blue-eyed handsome brother. But when she arrived at school, he was nowhere to be found.
The teacher explained, “Liang Yan has gone to elementary school.”
Zhi Zhi’s mood plummeted. “Zhi Zhi wants to go to elementary school too.”
The teacher shook her head. “No, Zhi Zhi isn’t old enough. You’ll have to wait until you’re six or seven.”
Zhi Zhi counted on her fingers. She still had three birthdays to go.
That evening, when He Xingwang came to pick her up, he found Zhi Zhi tearful, resting her head on his shoulder. “Zhi Zhi wants to go to elementary school.”
He Xingwang had already been informed by the teacher and calmly consoled her. “Liang Yan needs to focus on his studies. Do you want to disturb him?”
Zhi Zhi asked, “But Zhi Zhi is very well-behaved.”
He Xingwang wiped away her tears. “Elementary school is for serious study. If you go now, your grades will suffer. Do you want to become a little dunce?”
Zhi Zhi, unable to fully comprehend his explanation, asked, “Would Brother Liang Yan like a little dunce?”
Hearing her innocent tone, He Xingwang felt a twinge of discomfort but outwardly reassured his daughter, “He wouldn’t.”
Zhi Zhi sniffled. “Then Zhi Zhi doesn’t want to be a little dunce.”
She regretted not asking Brother Liang Yan for his phone number last semester. Now she had no way to contact him, which made her deeply sad.
He Xingwang felt conflicted.
When Chi Suisui heard about this at home, she laughed for several minutes. Sharing the story with her friends, Song Miaoli remarked, [Our Zhi Zhi’s romance was nipped in the bud. Heartbreaking.]
Children’s emotions changed quickly.
A few days after parting ways with Liang Yan, Zhi Zhi seemed to have forgotten most of it—or perhaps she was quietly biding her time.
Zhi Zhi’s kindergarten life fell into a routine.
“Do you think she still remembers Liang Yan?” Chi Suisui whispered to He Xingwang. “I haven’t heard her mention him lately.”
“She doesn’t remember,” He Xingwang said indifferently.
“She definitely remembers,” Chi Suisui teased, observing him. “Are you jealous?”
“No,” He Xingwang maintained a stoic expression.
“You’re just upset,” Chi Suisui prodded. “If she makes more male friends in the future, you’ll have plenty to worry about.”
“...”
Zhi Zhi was oblivious to her parents’ discussion.
In truth, she was clever. After attending the middle class for over a week, she far surpassed her peers in every aspect. Soon after, He Xingwang transferred her to the older class.
Occasionally, Zhi Zhi would listen to Chi Suisui play musical instruments.
However, she didn’t seem particularly interested in music. Instead, she enjoyed drawing, prompting Chi Suisui to consider enrolling her in art lessons.
The older class curriculum was more advanced, but Zhi Zhi, having attended many of their classes due to Liang Yan, found it easier than her classmates.
In the evenings, Zhi Zhi returned home with homework.
Chi Suisui had already learned from the parents’ group chat that the assignment was sentence construction. Peering over Zhi Zhi’s shoulder as she worked, she asked, “Is Zhi Zhi finished with her sentences?”
Zhi Zhi nodded. “Yes.”
She pushed her answers over for Chi Suisui to see.
The example sentence was simple: “There were too many people outside today.” The task was to construct a sentence using “_ too _.”
What did Zhi Zhi write?
“I am too pretty.”
Chi Suisui was amused but tried to suppress her laughter. “Zhi Zhi, do you think this sentence works?”
Zhi Zhi tilted her head, holding her pen. “Why not? Zhi Zhi is so pretty. It’s not a lie—it’s all true.”
Looking at her adorable daughter, Chi Suisui couldn’t resist nuzzling her face. Her skin was soft and fragrant, irresistibly pinchable.
“If you want me to kiss you, Mommy, just say so,” Zhi Zhi said in a surprisingly mature tone.
“...”
Chi Suisui admitted outright, “Alright.”
Zhi Zhi pecked her cheek. “Mommy is pretty too.”
Chi Suisui replied, “Zhi Zhi is the prettiest.”
From a distance, He Xingwang observed the two exchanging compliments with apparent sincerity.
The next day, Zhi Zhi received a little red flower sticker from her teacher.
Of course, all the other students in the class received one too.
________________________________________
After completing the older class, Zhi Zhi smoothly transitioned to elementary school. The school was carefully chosen by Chi Suisui and He Xingwang.
Sometimes, they jokingly suggested Zhi Zhi should have a younger brother, but in reality, they took no action, content to enjoy their lives.
Over time, Zhi Zhi stopped mentioning it altogether.
However, her wish for a younger sibling was fulfilled through Auntie Miaoli. In the second semester of first grade, Song Miaoli and Gu Nanxuan had a boy, which delighted Zhi Zhi.
Song Miaoli sighed. “I told you it would be a mischievous one.”
Indeed it was.
Gu Nanxuan pondered aloud, “No rush.”
Song Miaoli glared at him. “If you want more, you can handle it yourself.”
After entering elementary school, Zhi Zhi’s intelligence became even more evident.
English was introduced in elementary school, and she seemed to have a natural talent for languages, far surpassing her classmates.
Even the teacher called Chi Suisui to praise Zhi Zhi.
After hanging up, Chi Suisui asked, “Does Zhi Zhi especially like English?”
During kindergarten, they had briefly touched on English as part of bilingual education, but Chi Suisui hadn’t wanted her to learn too much too early.
Zhi Zhi paused what she was doing. “A little.”
Chi Suisui found this answer amusing. “Why just a little?”
Zhi Zhi thought for a moment and replied earnestly, “Once I learn English, I can watch movies with Brother Liang Yan.”
“...”
This little girl still remembered that.
However, Zhi Zhi and Liang Yan attended different schools, so they hadn’t seen each other since kindergarten.
On the day of her elementary graduation, Zhi Zhi received a letter from Liang Yan. It contained a few postcards and a box of gifts—some old records.
By the time the package arrived, Liang Yan was no longer in the country.
From then on, Zhi Zhi’s memories of Liang Yan were frozen in the kindergarten years. Without that gift, she might occasionally doubt whether those memories were real.
Until she turned eighteen.
Now, Zhi Zhi had grown into a stunning beauty, inheriting the best features of both He Xingwang and Chi Suisui. Her fair complexion, delicate features, and long black hair combined to create an intense allure, like piercing through mist.
Before graduating high school, she received an offer from a prestigious university abroad. Chi Suisui and He Xingwang didn’t object, though they had suspected something of the sort.
Zhi Zhi went ahead to the school early.
Her parents bought her an apartment near the university. Even before the semester began, the local Chinese student community noticed the new arrival.
Without photos, the boys relied on descriptions from those who had seen her, discussing her enthusiastically. One turned to his roommate. “Liang Yan, have you seen the new girl?”
“No.”
“You’ll see her in a couple of days. She’s very pretty.”
“Mm.” Liang Yan responded indifferently, showing no interest.
His roommate found nothing unusual about this. In the two years they had been classmates, he had never seen Liang Yan date anyone, despite being pursued by girls from various backgrounds.
Their attention soon shifted elsewhere.
A few days later, Liang Yan encountered the girl his roommate had mentioned.
On his way back to the apartment, under the warm glow of the streetlights, he saw a girl standing with waist-length hair. The breeze lifted the hem of her red dress, revealing half of her calf.
She turned her head, and Liang Yan saw her face.
At eighteen, Zhi Zhi had shed her childhood innocence, blossoming into striking beauty. Yet, there was something faintly familiar in her features.
They stood a few meters apart.
“Liang Yan,” she called.
Liang Yan immediately recalled the girl his roommate had described. “Zhi Zhi?”
Zhi Zhi smiled. “You still remember me.”
She laughed softly, her eyes curving into crescents, shimmering with warmth. “Brother Liang Yan, I’ve come to fulfill our promise to watch a movie together.”
Under the dim light, Liang Yan stood still. “Alright.”
A vivid splash of red reflected in his blue eyes.
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