How could just singing satisfy the little guy’s desire to share? For the next ten minutes, Pei Yi watched Qiqi, who had been in a bad state when he entered, sit up straight and learn to sing word by word with the milky voice on the phone. Su Youli, a first-time teacher, was also very patient. When Brother Qiqi sang wrong, he waved his little hands hard.
“Wrong, wrong. Teacher Apple said you have to smile when singing. That way the song sounds better.”
“Brother Qiqi, copy me.”
“Yesterday I passed by your door…”
Pei Qiqi pinched his fingers, apologetic. “Sorry, Youyou, I can’t learn it.”
The teaching stopped because Su Youli seemed to sense something. Brother Qiqi seemed very unhappy.
“Dad.” The little guy looked up and tugged Shen Minyan’s sleeve.
Shen Minyan touched his little curls and picked up the phone to hang up. The phone beeped off. The little guy’s voice disappeared without warning. Pei Qiqi anxiously held the phone, eyes hot, mouth pouting, unable to hide his disappointment. Youyou hung up. Did Youyou not like him anymore? Soon, a video call ringtone rang cheerfully. Pei Qiqi couldn’t read. He looked at his uncle with red eyes for help.
“Uncle.”
Pei Yi carried the child to the sofa, took a small blanket from the drawer, and wrapped Pei Qiqi up.
“It’s a video call from Uncle Shen.”
The hurt in his heart was immediately replaced by surprise. Pei Qiqi, held by his uncle, watched his uncle’s finger. Pei Yi clicked connect and immediately saw the big-eyed cute baby on the phone. The background was Shen Minyan’s office. The little guy held a phone almost bigger than his face, his chubby cheek pressed against the screen.
“Brother Qiqi!”
Pei Qiqi moved forward, struggling his arm out of the blanket, grabbing the phone with both hands.
“Youyou.”
The little guy had never video-called a friend his age. It was a new experience. The two little ones, held by their uncle and dad, talked happily at the phone. Most of the time, Su Youli talked. The little guy was actually a bit shy at kindergarten. Not introverted, but definitely not a talkative child. With Pei Xu, it was different. He chirped like a happy little bird, telling everything that had happened at kindergarten these past days. Pei Qiqi didn’t proactively share his P City affairs, but responded to every word Youyou said.
“Brother Qiqi, look, this is the candy Teacher Apple gave me. It’s a little watermelon candy. Teacher Apple said I went to the bathroom very well…”
The little short hand held a watermelon candy. Pei Qiqi felt like he saw drool at the corner of Youyou’s mouth. A little one under four who could go to the bathroom alone, wipe himself, flush, and pull up his pants was already amazing. The little guy had always had a little quirk. He didn’t want to go to the bathroom with other children.
“Youyou, have you been going to the bathroom by yourself these days?”
The teachers in Class 5 would have the children line up like a train to go to the bathroom during breaks or before meals. The children were too young. Teachers had to watch them. Generally, the stall doors weren’t closed. In winter, with thick clothes, teachers would help them take off their pants. Little Su Youli was an exception. He didn’t let the teacher help him take off his pants, nor did he let anyone watch him go. Every time, the door was closed.
And the little guy didn’t want to line up like a train, didn’t want to squeeze with the other kids. Teacher Apple was worried at first. She’d taught for over a decade. She’d seen young children with strong self-care abilities. But such a privacy-conscious child was a first. The night the little guy enrolled, she called his mom to explain.
How could Chu Ying not know her child’s habits? She smiled and explained: “Youyou can go to the bathroom himself. He can put on his own pants and clothes, and flush. Don’t worry. Yes, he goes by himself at home too. We wait outside.”
Teacher Apple was still a bit worried. Compared to home, the school environment was more complex. What if the little guy closed the door and something happened inside?
Chu Ying thought so too. After a few seconds, she said: “Have Qiqi go with him.”
The next day at school, Teacher Apple patiently reasoned with the little guy.
“Youyou, you’re still too young. Teacher isn’t comfortable with you going to the bathroom alone. Let Qiqi go with you, okay?”
The little guy had little contact with others since he was small. His two dads hadn’t taken him to relatives. The most contact he had was with Grandma Yang’s family next door. His living environment was simple and pure. His dads had taught him since he was little that his bare bottom couldn’t be seen by others. But, if it was Brother Qiqi…
“Okay then.” The little guy immediately took Brother Qiqi’s hand and went to the bathroom together.
When the two children went to the bathroom, the caregiver stood at the door, not going in to disturb them. The stall door was open. Qiqi stood there watching Youyou go, then went himself, flushed, and took Youyou to wash his hands.
“Mm, Youyou goes to the bathroom by himself.” The little guy was quite proud.
Pei Qiqi was a bit worried he’d fall in the bathroom. “Then walk slowly when you go, okay?”
The little guy nodded obediently. “I know. Teacher Xiaoxiao waits for me at the door.”
Children’s topics were either food or play, or what happy things they did. The little guy on the other end held a Stitch water cup and gulped a couple of sips. Suddenly he remembered he’d made a new friend these two days.
“It’s Lu Ting from Class 6. His dad and my dad are college classmates. He even gave me a toy car. He said next week…”
Pei Qiqi frowned. “I’ll buy it for you.”
“Mm.”
“I’ll buy you lots of cars. I have money.” Pei Qiqi was a bit anxious.
The little guy knew Brother Qiqi was rich, but Little Dad had told him he could only accept one gift, not be greedy.
“Brother Qiqi, I already have a car.”
Pei Qiqi was unhappy. He pressed his lips and huffed. “Mine is different.”
“It’s a modified little off-road vehicle. I bought a little basket for vegetables to hang on the back. It can transform. Green, your favorite color!”
Pei Qiqi tried hard to show off, his voice much louder.
The little guy’s eyes lit up. “Wow.”
Pei Qiqi curved his lips and continued to tempt him. “Do you want it?”
“Yes.”
“Then if you accept my car, you can’t accept anyone else’s.”
The little guy nodded. “Mm.”
“Then, Brother Qiqi, when are you coming back?”
Pei Qiqi turned to look at his uncle. Pei Yi curved his eyes and tilted his head to the little person on the phone. “We’ll be back in a couple of days.”
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gingerbread On TTC Chapter 99