Day 01 21:00
At six o'clock in the morning, the line of dawn and dusk slowly moved across the vast Pacific waters. It will be half an hour before the sun that belongs to today will shine on the land of the west coast of North America.
The small town of Palo Alto is quiet and gray, with red and green lights alternating lonely at the intersection, with few vehicles passing by.
The window of a single-family home on the East Side was lit, and through the gauze, a man in a dark gray flannel nightgown could be seen leaning against the window sill.
His hair was a little messy, his chin was not shaved, his head was lowered, and the corners of his lips were slightly raised.
After crossing the 10,000-kilometer sea area, the stuttering voice of a neighbor he had never met came from the phone receiver: "... I, I walked over and saw a note on your door, a note that said , Huang Guihua is back home..."
"Um."
The espresso machine on the countertop rattled slightly, condensing dark brown extract, drop by drop into the ceramic cup.
There is a cool logo printed on the wall of the cup.
SwordArc.
Italic, blue, beginning S and ending C present two sharp sword arcs.
"... It happened that I cooked shrimp and shrimp porridge for dinner. I ate a bowl of meat and vegetables for Boob. He thought it was... quite delicious... "
He Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Thank you."
"No thanks, no thanks! Neighbors, yes, yes." The young man on the other end of the phone became even more nervous, and his voice jumped up a step, "Bobbu is so good, I don't need anyone to feed me, I just added a bowl. It's just chopsticks, no trouble at all!"
He Zhiyuan said, "Thank you anyway."
The coffee in the cup is almost full, and the extract at the bottom of the filter plate condenses more and more slowly, and it takes a long time for a new drop to fall.
Another drop.
Probably smelling the aroma of coffee, the smile on He Zhiyuan's lips deepened. He squeezed the handle of the cup, shook it from side to side, picked up a sugar cube, and threw it in.
You can drink a little sweeter today.
The opposite side was still stammering hard: "... Then, I told a story, and... I also ate some strawberries, but not a lot. After all, it's almost nine o'clock... "
"Um?"
He Zhiyuan asked a question, picked up the spoon, and slowly stirred it counterclockwise: "What's wrong at nine o'clock?"
"Ah? Nine o'clock, isn't nine o'clock..." The voice on the other side suddenly became quieter, and paused for a while, as if he was seriously considering something. After a while, the young man tentatively said in a guilty conscience, "... Isn't it time to go to bed?"
Rarely, He Zhiyuan didn't hold back and laughed directly, but he stopped quickly, cleared his throat, and said solemnly: "Yes, it's time to sleep, you are very thoughtful."
"Oh."
The opposite side was dumbfounded, and suddenly quieted down.
He thought, this is really a lovely neighbor, who obviously helped him a lot, but he was so nervous that he was incoherent, as if he was kidnapping a child and was caught, as if he was afraid that he would travel back to City S along the electromagnetic wave signal and open his mouth and stutter. took him.
Ding.
A beep for new mail came from the living room.
He Zhiyuan went out for coffee, put the cup on the coffee table, and opened the laptop. The title of the email was succinct, a confirmation of registration for a data security conference in Los Angeles next Tuesday.
He glanced at every line to the end, and then clicked the red cross.
The young man over there waited for a long time and called softly, "Mr. He?"
He Zhiyuan closed the notebook, leaned back, closed his eyes and leaned into the sofa: "I'm sorry, I'm responsible for today's affairs. It's because I was too negligent in finding a nanny and not strict enough to check this situation. You saved the field, maybe my children are really going to be hungry tonight. Well, when the housekeeping company goes to work tomorrow, I will contact them as soon as possible and ask them to send a new aunt over as soon as possible. "
"Uh… "
There was an eerie silence on the other end of the phone.
He Zhiyuan asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I was just wondering, do you have any trusted acquaintances around you who can bring Boobu?" The youth's tone was full of worry, "I mean, Boobu is only four years old, and children of this age are usually very sensitive. , Auntie is the person who is close to him, if it is changed too frequently, it is easy to feel insecure..."
He Zhiyuan thought he was going to say something big. Hearing this, he smiled lightly: "It's okay, Boob has already adapted."
"yes."
The young man was still hesitating, and the ending sound gradually became lighter and faded, with a look of hesitating to speak.
He wanted to persuade, but he had no position to persuade him - of course He Zhiyuan could hear it.
It's really hard for him.
To be honest, a stranger with no entanglement of interests, willing to take care of his child selflessly, is not unkind. He Zhiyuan was moved and moved, but he also thought it was a bit funny: Don't be like this, kind-hearted neighbor, I have raised Bubu for four years, wouldn't it be better for you to understand his personality
Boob is different from other kids.
totally different.
He is independent and sensible, he can eat by himself, read by himself, build his own building blocks, neither noisy nor noisy, as if he has created a unique peaceful place in his heart. He is a perfect child with almost no faults, he likes every aunt and attracts every aunt.
Because of this, when other single parents are too busy trying to balance their family and career, only He Zhiyuan can safely keep their children in S City without slowing down his pursuit of career.
Song Ran held the phone, and there was only a silent white noise in the receiver - Mr. He didn't speak again, and the conversation came to an embarrassing end.
Maybe it was an illusion, Song Ran felt a vague impatience from the other party's last sentence. He couldn't help but feel annoyed, and complained a few words of meddling in his heart, returned the bright yellow cartoon mobile phone to Boob, picked up the steel ball, and continued to wash the dishes.
"Puba, it's back to Boob again!"
Boob rubbed his phone with his pink cheeks, and took small happy steps again.
Song Ran twisted the sprinkler faucet and let the fine jet of water wash the plate. The dishes jingled, the snow-white foam dissipated, and he stared at the vortex pouring into the sewer in a daze.
Did he just... offend Mr. He
I'm so sorry.
He is an outsider who has only known Boob for less than two hours. He knows neither the child nor the parents, so how could he say something that is close to accusation in such a lighthearted manner? Heart-to-heart, no parent is willing to be separated from their children. Mr. He is so busy with work. If there is a better choice, he will not only hire a live-in nanny to look after the children, and Boob will not appear outside the door of 8012A.
As a single otaku who has no children and no career, why doesn't he know how to put himself in others' shoes
Song Ran turned off the tap and patted his face depressedly.
By the time he wiped his hands and walked out of the kitchen, Boo Bo had stopped his happy small steps, stood by the dining table, his delicate eyebrows drooped down, and returned to his prudent and obedient appearance.
"Sleeping is a person's business, Boob understands." The child said to the other end of the phone, "Baba, don't worry, Boob is very courageous, not afraid of the dark, and can sleep by himself!"
sleep alone
Song Ran was shocked.
What's the meaning? There is no adult at home, how can I sleep by myself
Boob hung up the phone, stood sadly for a while, pursed his lips, and sniffed quietly. Song Ran was so distressed that she squatted in front of him, took his little hand that was tightly pinching the corner of his clothes, and put it in his palm.
He just wanted to comfort him, but Bubu raised his head and tried his best to have a bright smile on his face: "Brother, the porridge you cook is delicious, and the stories you tell are also very good, thank you. Baby, I can't trouble you any more, I'm going home to sleep now."
"Boob?"
Song Ran couldn't believe his ears.
Is this kid serious
Just now, when he took the initiative to invite him to stay for the night, Bubu's expression changed from surprise to doubt to ecstasy still vividly appeared in front of his eyes. Song Ran was 100% sure that that was the child's real appeal, so... What about the lie
Song Ran thought for a while, then accurately grasped the point: "Dad asked you to go home to sleep?"
"Um."
Boob nodded.
Song Ran scolded silently on the spot, his eyes were about to go up to the sky, and the thought of guilt and offense just disappeared in an instant - the night is so dark, the house is so empty, dare to leave a four-year-old child alone Sleeping at home, the idea of being a father is very clear, and the brain ditch is flattened!
Boob sleeps alone, who will comfort him if he has a nightmare in the middle of the night, who will cover him if he catches a cold from kicking the quilt, and who will protect the house from a burglar
Song Ran thought about it casually, and it was like a barrage exploded in front of him, and more than a hundred dangerous items flew over.
He really wanted to print them all out, and slapped Dad He in the face.
Are you sick? !
Your child has been displaced, and I, a passerby, do not seek fame or profit, and I will help you to coax and feed you on the basis of the shining humanitarian principle, and I even volunteered to be a night nursery. Remote control, jumping out across the Pacific Ocean and slamming a foot - can you die if you concentrate on your job
The children sent by the lottery can't be raised indiscriminately!
It's really... It's really a good voice that's sultry and heart-warming.
Song Ran remembered that He Zhiyuan laughed a little lazily, and his cheeks were red again - half ashamed, half angry.
Ugh.
For this father, a zero score is considered a face.
He squatted there and looked at Boob, unable to express his feelings. Boobu, Boobu, I know you are a good boy, obedient like a little sheep, but you are only four years old, even if your father wants you to go home to sleep, you should make some trouble.
Children who can make trouble have candy to eat. If you don't make trouble, how can my brother help you
Bubu tucked the phone into his small schoolbag, slung it on his shoulders awkwardly, went to the door to change into his canvas shoes, took a minute to tie the shoelaces that were about to be untied again, then stood up and said Ran waved his hand: "Brother, good night."
He stood on tiptoe and unscrewed the heavy doorknob.
click.
A row of overhead lights in the corridor lit up, reflecting the scene outside the door: bluebells, sunflowers, closed elevators, beige marble floor tiles... Opposite is a cold security door embedded in a white wall, and the sole of the foot is a soft piece chipmunk rug.
Boob had already heard the story of the chipmunk, and he couldn't help feeling a little more intimate with his old friend.
He waved at it and said, "Goodbye."
After saying hello, Boobu jumped out nimbly, without stepping on a single hair on the chipmunk, then trotted across the corridor, stood on the dark, square, hard-haired carpet, and took out from his schoolbag. The key, unlocked the door of 8012B.
Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, the daring Boob is going home.
But as soon as the door was opened, a large cloud of thick black mist, which could not be seen, enveloped the young child.
So dark and so cold.
There is no light in the house, my father is not at home, and my mother-in-law is not at home. There are countless man-eating monsters hiding behind the door, under the bed, and in the cabinet, each with green eyes. and sharp tines.
Bubu shivered for a while, his mind was dazed, and he didn't dare to go in.
He just wanted to run away.
The room behind him has bright lights, big fluffy buns, colorful storybooks, and an older brother who has a gentle smile and is good at telling stories. As long as he runs back, he doesn't have to face all this.
Boob regrets it very much.
But he had already promised his father that he would sleep at home alone. If he didn't keep his word, he would no longer be that good and lovable boy.
He has to be a good boy to like.
Bubu gathered up his courage and took a small step forward. The thick dark fog immediately wrapped him even tighter. His bluffing courage was like a thin-skinned fish bubble, and when the needle was poked, it collapsed with a "poof". most of them.
His movements were rigid, and so was his figure. He couldn't understand why he was so sad when he was a good boy who was likable? Where are the rewards that belonged to good children, those sweets and garlands under the sun
Bubu didn't dare to go forward, and he didn't dare to step back.
He was at the door of the house, staring blankly at the terrible darkness in front of him, feeling more and more aggrieved - why is the night so long? If it was dawn in the blink of an eye, he could just skip this section and go to kindergarten happily.
He blinked innocently, turned his head, and looked expectantly at the stained glass window.
But the sky was still black, darker than ink, and two withered lilies were reflected in the glass, and the reflected light hurt his tender eyes.
He blinked again seriously, very slowly and forcefully.
There was still no change outside the window, and the night seemed to stagnate at this moment.
"elder brother."
Bubu was at a loss, and his throat choked softly: "What should I do?"
Perhaps the aisle on the twelfth floor was too quiet, and Song Ran even caught the faint sound of the tip of a needle falling to the ground. His heart ached, he didn't think about anything, rushed over and hugged Boob.
"Bob, stay here, stay with your brother." He said, "My brother promised to tell you a bedtime story. When you go home, who will you tell your brother's story?"
"But... but I promised my father that I would sleep alone... "
When Boo sniffed, his voice was a little wet.
Song Ran used his trump card: "Brother and father, who did Bo Bu promised first?"
Boob sniffed again: "...Brother."
"Yes, it's my brother." Song Ran said, "Since I promised my brother first, it doesn't matter what I said to my father later."
"Really?" Bubu turned back suddenly, tears welling up in his eyes, "Isn't it counted?"
Song Ran nodded affirmatively: "No more."
Bubu bit his lip, tilted his head, and looked at him suspiciously.
Song Ran laughed, stretched out his hand and pinched the tip of his nose: "Don't worry, if Dad asks, I'll tell him, we Buboke are obedient, and we keep arguing that we should go home and sleep obediently, it's my brother's fault. Brother insisted on telling stories to Boob and tied him back halfway. If Dad wants to punish, he should punish brother. "
Bubu burst into laughter, jumped up and hugged Songran's neck, and kissed him for a while: "Brother, how are you... how are you so good!"