By the time the three little ones finished their second cookie, Niu Niu finally emerged. The little girl had changed into loose shorts and a T-shirt, wearing slippers. Her long hair hung over her shoulders, a bit messy at the crown.
Mi Le waved as soon as he saw her. “Niu Niu, come try the cookies Qiqi made!”
Niu Niu looked a little uncomfortable at everyone in the living room and carefully shuffled forward. She nervously gripped the hem of her shirt. Then Mi Huan effortlessly lifted her into a high chair.
“Eat up. They saved some especially for you.” Hua Zhao smiled.
Niu Niu took a cookie and whispered, “Thank you, Auntie.”
Once all the children were present, Shen Minyan got up and went to the kitchen to bring out the food that had been kept warm. Halfway through the meal, Du Ze arrived late. Seeing that everyone had started eating without him made him a little uncomfortable. Since marrying Wang Shilan, he had naturally gained some resources. Now, everyone in the industry called him Teacher Du with respect.
His status on this variety show was clearly lower. Even the children didn’t seem to want to get close to him. There was no seat left at the table, so he sat at the farthest edge, smiling awkwardly, his gaze fixed on Niu Niu as she ate seriously. Sensing his gaze, Niu Niu turned her head and glanced at him, her little mouth pressed tight. Niu Niu was a bit afraid of her dad now. Being stared at like that, she raised her hand to touch her hair.
Hua Zhao could see at a glance that her hair wasn’t completely dry. She said gently, “Niu Niu, have a few bites first. Then let your dad dry your hair, or you’ll catch a cold.”
Niu Niu just shook her head. “No need, Auntie.”
Hua Zhao wanted to say more, but Pei Qiqi tugged on her sleeve. Seeing how reluctant Niu Niu was to have her hair dried, she let it go. After dinner, Hua Zhao watched the other three children playing in the living room. She pulled Pei Qiqi into a corner of the kitchen for a private word.
“Qiqi, why did you stop me?”
Qiqi looked out at the living room. He had watched the previous episodes over and over. Niu Niu’s dad seemed to dislike her long hair. Plus, Youyou had told him that Niu Niu’s dad didn’t even know how to wash her hair.
Hua Zhao was taken aback. “You mean Niu Niu washes her own hair? How old is she? What if the shampoo gets in her eyes? What if she falls off the stool?”
Pei Qiqi had a serious expression. He thought Niu Niu had looked so nice when she arrived, but after her bath, she seemed a bit plain. He wanted to help his little friend. And his aunt was the only girl there. She was the best person for the job. Just then, Du Ze happened to pass by the kitchen and greeted them. He was holding something that flashed by quickly, but Hua Zhao was sure she hadn’t mistaken it. It was a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
Du Ze was going out to smoke, which meant he definitely wouldn’t appear on camera for the next few minutes. In the living room, Niu Niu sat on a pink cushion next to Youyou, watching cartoons. It wasn’t really a cartoon; it was something called Ultraman. Mi Le and Youyou were completely engrossed. When a monster appeared, Youyou would jump up and bury his face in his dad’s chest.
When he was sure he could no longer hear the monster’s roar, he would peek out to keep watching. Niu Niu lifted her sleeve to sniff herself, then touched her hair. She made many small movements, but the two boys, absorbed in Ultraman’s heroic feats, didn’t notice.
“Niu Niu.”
It was Aunt Hua Zhao. Niu Niu obediently greeted her. Hua Zhao looked at the little girl’s slightly chubby face. Niu Niu was wearing a small gold pendant around her neck. It was clear her mother treated her well. There was none of the “once you have a stepfather, your biological mother becomes a stepmother” scenario Hua Zhao had imagined.
“Niu Niu, Auntie’s feeling a bit unwell. Can you help me?”
Niu Niu was a helpful child. Seeing Auntie’s uncomfortable expression, she nodded seriously. “Yes, Auntie.”
Hua Zhao found a private spot in her and Qiqi’s room.
As soon as they entered, Hua Zhao crouched down. “Niu Niu, your hair isn’t dry. How about Auntie dries it for you?”
Niu Niu was a smart child. She immediately understood that Aunt Hua Zhao had said she was unwell just to help her. She had only met Auntie today, yet Auntie was already so kind to her. Why wasn’t her dad kind to her anymore? The little girl’s nose tingled, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Aunt Hua, I can’t hold the hairdryer. It’s a bit heavy.”
The little girl’s voice hitched, her small chest heaving.
Hua Zhao touched her face and ruffled her hair. “Is that all? Don’t cry. Auntie will dry it for you right away and even braid it for you.”
Feeling that the little girl wasn’t rejecting her touch, Hua Zhao smoothly lifted Niu Niu onto her lap. Niu Niu’s hair was quickly dried. Hua Zhao even braided it into two pigtails.
She tapped the little girl’s nose. “Tomorrow morning, Auntie will help you do your hair again, okay?”
Niu Niu touched the braids in front of her chest, absolutely delighted. “Okay. Can I wear a hair clip, Auntie?”
All little girls loved to be pretty. Hua Zhao pinched her cheek. “Of course you can.”
Niu Niu eagerly took Hua Zhao’s hand and led her to her room to find a hair clip and have her put it on. The family suite had a small door inside. Niu Niu’s room was through there. The small room was a bit messy. The blue dress Niu Niu had changed out of was draped over a chair. Her suitcase lay on its side, and it was a bit disorganized inside too. Niu Niu crouched down, searching for her hair clip, her eyes shining.
Soon she held up a pink flower-shaped clip and smiled. “My mom bought this for me.”
But Hua Zhao’s gaze fell on the little girl’s slightly swollen knee. She remembered clearly that Niu Niu’s knee hadn’t been swollen when she arrived in the afternoon.
Du Ze’s face came to mind uncontrollably. Hua Zhao’s tone grew more serious as she asked Niu Niu: “Niu Niu, how did your knee get swollen?”
Niu Niu rubbed her knee with her palm, a little embarrassed, and whispered: “I accidentally tripped and hit my suitcase when I fell.”
Honestly, with a stepfather like that around, Hua Zhao didn’t believe Niu Niu had just tripped on her own. So she went straight to the production team and demanded they review the surveillance footage. An hour later, she had watched all the footage from the first and second floors. She found nothing. Niu Niu had indeed fallen on her own. The stairs and hallways were carpeted. The little girl had simply tripped and bumped into her own suitcase. Du Ze, who had been walking behind her, had done nothing at all.
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