CH 35

Chapter 35 – A Warm Bowl of Noodles

Luo Bei returned to her apartment helplessly. Cute little Fang Jingzhou was sitting on the sofa obediently. Seeing her come in, he said very calmly, “Landlord Sister, I believe you have a spare key. Help me open the door, I can go back and sleep by myself.”

His tone and expression as he was saying this didn’t look at all like a four year old child’s.

It’s fine if Luo Bei didn’t know, but now that she was aware of the situation. As a neighbor, as the landlord, she couldn’t let such a young child stay at home alone at night. If something really did happen, she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself.

Luo Bei patiently sat beside him, saying, “Your mom told me you should stay over for the night, do you mind?”

Fang Jingzhou lowered his head and played with his fingers. “Landlord Sister, it’s you that want me to stay over, right?”

How can a little kid be so articulate and perceptive?

“I guess you can put it that way too. It’s very dangerous for a child to be home alone. Even though nothing has happened in my building, it’s naturally less safe in the ghetto than it is in the city’s residential areas. Your mom is busy today and won’t be coming home, so just stay over for a night, okay?”

Fang Jingzhou looked up at her and finally nodded.

He wanted to say that he was used to being alone at home, he had done so for many nights. But for some reason, hearing Landlord Sister’s words, he didn’t want to continue refusing.

Luo Bei didn’t own children’s clothes at home so she simply took out her own pajamas. Children at that age weren’t tall, her clothes went over his knees.

Luo Bei took off Fang Jingzhou’s clothes. He stood in the bathroom, all bones and no flesh, bubt his skin was very fair. His ears were red, probably because he was shy. He embarrassedly covered his private parts and told Luo Bei, “I- I’ll shower by myself.”

Luo Bei was older than Fang Jingzhou by almost 20 years old, she said indifferently, “I’m almost old enough to be your mom. What are you shy about? Even I, a girl, am not shy.”

Fang Jingzhou didn’t reply. He was under someone else’s roof, he had no choice but to submit since it was no use resisting. He could only let Luo Bei shampoo his hair and dry it with a towel.

After Fang Jingzhou was washed clean and smelled freshly of soap, Luo Bei wrapped a large towel carelessly around him and lifted him up effortlessly to the sofa.

The sofa at the Luo’s wasn’t small. It had more than enough room for a small child like Fang Jingzhou to sleep in.

Luo bei reached out her hand and tweaked his nose, telling him very seriously, “I know I said I’m twenty years older than you, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re a boy and I’m a girl. You’re not my child and not my brother, so I can’t let you sleep with me on the bed. Sorry, but you’ll have to sleep on the sofa.”

Fang Jingzhou was still a child at the end of the day. He knew that Luo Bei had no ill intent. No matter how mature he was, he was a child who was rarely on the opposite end of others’ attention and care. Since Luo Bei treated him well, he also grew slightly closer to her.

“Okay.”

Luo Bei handed him the pajamas. Fang Jingzhou was still a toddler so she had worried about letting him go to the bathroom alone, but he should be able to wear his own clothes.

Fang Jingzhou quickly changed into them and went inside the blanket Luo Bei brought out for him.

Luo Bei couldn’t hide her curiosity, “What time did your mother leave?”

Fang Jingzhou had no concept of time yet. He tried to recall, finally answering her question in his own way of thinking, “When the sun was still out and we didn’t need to turn on the lights.”

It was winter so the sky darkened earlier. It was basically dark out at around six o’clock.

“Then did your mother prepare dinner for you?”

“… No.”

Luo Bei was surprised, “What did you eat for dinner then?”

“There was bread in the fridge, but there was only one slice left.”

“Some people say eating things late at night is unhealthy but starving is even more unhealthy.” Luo Bei stood up and rubbed Fang Jingzhou’s little head. “How about I cook some noodles for you?”

Fang Jingzhou didn’t nod nor shake his head so Luo Bei took that as a tacit agreement.

If he really wasn’t hungry, this kid would definitely say there was no need.

Luo Bei cooked noodles in the kitchen. She wasn’t as skilled as Grandma but she could still cook somewhat well. The problem was, it was too late and there weren’t many ingredients left in the fridge. She could only cook noodles for him.

The noodles were very ordinary, the only thing was that she put vegetables and eggs into it. She didn’t even dare give him ham since she heard too many bad things about ham sausages.

Despite that, Fang Jingzhou ate very well and even finished the soup in the end. Luo Bei praised him, “You’re so much better than I was as a child. My grandma always says I didn’t like to eat much as a child. She had to chase me around and beg just to feed me. It’s great that you don’t have this habit. Very commendable.”

Fang Jingzhou was full. He laid on the sofa and whispered, “No one’s ever chased me around and begged me to eat.”

If Fang Jingzhou was an adult, Luo Bei would likely comfort him. But since he was a child, there was really nothing she could say. Frankly, Fang Jingzhou had been neglected physically and emotionally and all was attributed to his mother. Even if Chen Lan wasn’t a great mother, she was an outsider. What right did she have to criticize her?

Luo Bei ruffled his head and smiled, “We don’t have children’s toothbrushes here so I’ll let you off for today, but remember to brush your teeth twice a day.”

Fang Jingzhou nodded, snuggled into the guilt, wished Luo Bei a good night and closed his eyes.

He felt like today was a dream.

He got to sleep in a fragrant, warm blanket; he washed his hair and took a shower. His entire body was filled with warmth. He even got to eat such a delicious bowl of noodles…

The night would be perfect if someone told him a bedtime story and kissed him good night.