"Look, look, isn't this ground covered with shadows? Where are the shadows not visible? Yingying, don't say discouraging things! What's meant to happen will happen, you can't stop it. You're still so young, you have a lot of good days ahead of you!"
Deng Cuixiang chimed in, "That's right! Qiqi is right! There's hope for the future!"
Looking at her own and her friends' swaying shadows on the ground, and listening to their heartwarming words, Zhu Yingying's unease was dispelled by the warmth. She smiled shyly, nodded vigorously, and her eyes lit up again.
Zhouzhou quietly followed Zhou Qiqi, watching the adults talk, and then looking down at the long shadows of her mother and aunts on the ground.
The evening breeze ruffled her soft hair, and the little girl didn't make a sound, but a faint smile quietly curved her lips.
When I got home, the yard was quiet.
On the kitchen stove, steam was puffing out from the edge of the large pot lid as it boiled water.
Shen Huaichuan had already prepared the bathwater.
Zhou Qiqi went to the bathroom to test the water temperature and prepared the things she needed for bathing before turning around to knock on Zhouzhou's door:
"Zhouzhou, the water's ready, come take a bath!"
A slight rustling sound came from inside the house.
Zhou Qiqi pushed the door open and saw Zhouzhou hunched over her desk, frantically stuffing the spread-out drawing paper on the table under a book next to her, her little face tense.
This little one, I wonder who she's drawing for again, I've never drawn for her.
A slight sour feeling welled up inside her, but it was fleeting and quickly dissipated.
Pretending not to see her little gesture, he walked over with a normal expression and ruffled her soft hair:
"Xiangyang and I ran around like crazy today, look how sweaty you are. We're going to Guangming's house for his birthday tomorrow, so we need to shower and smell nice today. Auntie will help you shower?"
Zhouzhou looked up and saw her aunt's gentle and calm eyes. Her tense little shoulders relaxed, she nodded, and took Zhou Qiqi's hand.
After spending several months together, the two had developed a tacit understanding and quickly finished washing up.
Zhouzhou, who was clean and steaming hot after being washed, was wrapped in a large towel and carried back to the room by Zhou Qiqi.
The little girl was really tired from playing today. As soon as her head hit the pillow, her eyelids started to droop, and soon her breathing became long and even.
Zhou Qiqi stood at the door, looking at Zhouzhou's sleeping face in the dim light coming in from the window.
More than three months ago, when I first met Zhouzhou, she was timid and listless, as if she had no enthusiasm for anything.
Look at her now, her cheeks are rosy from sleeping, her eyebrows are relaxed, and even in her sleep, there seems to be a slight smile on her lips.
A warm feeling welled up in Zhou Qiqi's heart. She gently tucked the blanket around her, gazed at her for a moment, and then quietly left the room, closing the door behind her as she went to take a shower.
Feeling refreshed after her shower, Zhou Qiqi dried her hair and went back to her room.
She carefully took out the clothes that she and Zhouzhou would wear to the Zhuo family's house the next day and carefully smoothed them out as they hung in the closet.
After tidying up, a dryness rose in my throat. I picked up the thermos on the table, shook it, and found it was empty.
She was slightly taken aback.
When Chen Huaichuan is at home, this thermos is always full, so there's always hot water to drink right away.
Having grown accustomed to his thoughtfulness, the sight of the empty bottle made her raise an eyebrow, feeling a little uneasy.
However, doing it myself? That's impossible.
She has a husband who is strong and takes care of all the housework, and she enjoys this care without any guilt.
She shuffled to the bathroom door in her slippers and called out through the steam:
"Huaichuan, the thermos is empty. Could you get me some water after you're done washing up?"
The sound of flowing water inside stopped for a moment, and then came his deep reply: "Understood."
Zhou Qiqi felt relieved, turned around and sat down at her desk, unfolding the half-finished spring design sketch, the pencil tip scratching on the paper.
Not long after, the bedroom door opened, and Shen Huaichuan walked in, his body steaming with moisture and a faint scent of soap.
He was carrying a thermos, but he was also holding a transparent glass filled with a deep amber liquid, which was still steaming slightly.
"Thirsty? Drink this first, the temperature is just right."
He handed the cup to Zhou Qiqi.
Zhou Qiqi put down her pen and took the cup.
Zhou Qiqi put down her pencil and took the water. It was warm to the touch. Looking down, she saw that the water was clear with a brownish-red tinge, not plain water.
"What's this?"
She asked curiously, then leaned closer to smell it, and a sweet and sour scent entered her nose.
I took a small sip, and the sweet and sour taste instantly melted on my tongue—it was very refreshing.
"Powdered plum powder."
Shen Huaichuan sat down on the stool next to her and picked up a towel to dry his still-wet short hair.
Zhou Qiqi blinked: "We've never bought this at home, where did you get it?"
"On my way back in the afternoon, I stopped by the factory canteen and asked Chef Zhang for some food."
Shen Huaichuan's voice came through the towel, muffled.
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