CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52 GROWTH GOALS

Zhao Meimei snuggled in Brother Yangyang’s arms, sleeping soundly, drooling all over his chest.

In the middle of the night, Shi Yang got up, carefully pushed Zhao Meimei aside, wrapped her in the quilt, and slipped on his slippers to go to the bathroom.

This house was usually only occupied by Shi Yang. He turned on the bathroom light, didn’t close the door, turned his body, and started to relieve himself.

Just as he started, someone suddenly squeezed in from behind, scaring him and causing Little Yang to lose his aim, splashing outside the bowl, drawing a half-arc in the air.

Shi Yang muttered, "Zhao Meimei! Didn’t you see I’m using the bathroom!"

Zhao Meimei, half-awake and unsteady, stood inside the bathroom, pressing her face against Shi Yang’s lower back, muttering, "I also want to use the bathroom."

After she spoke, Zhao Meimei bypassed Shi Yang, squinting her eyes, managing not to step into the bowl, and skillfully squatted down to pee.

Shi Yang roared, "Zhao Meimei, you stepped in the pee!"

Zhao Meimei, without lifting her head or opening her eyes, finished her business, stood up, pulled up her pants, swaying drowsily, looked down briefly, rasping and mumbling, "Didn’t step in the bowl."

Zhao Meimei tried to walk out unsteadily, but Shi Yang grabbed her.

Shi Yang lifted her off the ground like pulling up a turnip and ordered, "Take off your slippers."

Zhao Meimei obeyed him.

Shi Yang carried her back to bed, covered her with the quilt, then turned to clean up the bathroom, wiping the floor and scrubbing the slippers, all the late night, getting too restless to sleep.

After finally tidying up, Shi Yang crawled back into bed, and as soon as he got in, Zhao Meimei promptly snuggled into his arms like a magnet.

Shi Yang looked at Zhao Meimei’s rosy, warm little face, feeling a bit exasperated, but the warmth from Zhao Meimei, like a little heater, was actually quite comfortable.

Shi Yang relaxed his arms and legs, hugged the little heater, and soon fell asleep again.

The next morning, Zhao Meimei ate the meat buns Shi Yang bought, drank a bowl of millet porridge, and ate a tea egg. After filling her stomach, she followed Shi Yang to school.

Shi Yang first took a taxi to drop off Zhao Meimei at the sixth elementary school, then turned around to rush back for his own classes.

Before leaving, Zhao Meimei hugged Shi Yang’s waist, reluctant to let go, looking up pitifully, "Brother Yangyang, once you leave, I can’t see you again."

Shi Yang felt a pang in his heart, and a promise slipped out, "How about this, I’ll come over to pick you up on Sunday, and you can sleep at my place again."

Hearing this, Zhao Meimei’s eyes lit up with excitement, "Really?"

Shi Yang nodded, "When have I ever lied to you?"

Zhao Meimei happily squealed, and as she ran into the school gate, her backpack nearly flew off.

Shi Yang stood at the school gate, watching Zhao Meimei’s exuberant demeanor, unable to bear turning away immediately. His long, thick eyelashes trembled gently, a warm feeling rushed over him. It’s only with Zhao Meimei that he felt particularly needed and relied upon...

Zhao Meimei cheerfully ran into the classroom, casually shoved her backpack into her desk. Just as she sat down, Xu Xu scooted over.

Zhao Meimei was momentarily surprised by Xu Xu’s early arrival, asking, "Why are you here so early today?"

Xu Xu showed her the broom he was holding.

Zhao Meimei suddenly understood, "You’re on cleaning duty today."

Xu Xu braced both hands on the broom resting on the floor, asking, "Meimei, where did you go after school yesterday?"

Zhao Meimei proudly, with thin eyelids curved into a beautiful arc, boasted, "I went with Peng Hui to Yizhong to find my Brother Yangyang."

Xu Xu’s big eyes blinked twice, "You went to Yizhong after school yesterday? Does your family know?"

Zhao Meimei shook her head, "They don’t, but it’s okay. My Brother Yangyang’s mom later informed my parents."

Xu Xu pressed his lips, "So, did you go home with your Brother Yangyang last night?"

Zhao Meimei grinned with a couple of chuckles, showing off in a childlike way, "No, I stayed at my Brother Yangyang’s place. His place is really nice."

Xu Xu’s eyes widened in shock, "Your Brother Yangyang has his own place?"

Zhao Meimei nodded seriously, "Yeah, my Brother Yangyang has his own place, and he lives alone."

Zhao Meimei’s deskmate listened, wearing an expression of envy, sincerely sighing, "Your Brother Yangyang is really amazing."

Zhao Meimei glanced sideways, "Of course, my Brother Yangyang is the best at everything."

Xu Xu didn’t say anything, biting his lower lip with his upper teeth, leaving a white mark, his big dark eyes fixed on Zhao Meimei, "When I grow up, I will have my own place too."

Zhao Meimei was noncommittal. In her mind, everyone would have their own place once they grew up. She thought it just happened naturally, not realizing that houses cost money to buy, and even renting requires spending money. She simply believed that when she grew up, a big house would be there waiting for her to move into.

At that time, Xu Xu seriously asked Zhao Meimei, "Meimei, when I grow up and have a house, will you come live with me?"

Zhao Meimei paused, "Why would I live with you?"

Xu Xu straightened his little chest, "Because I’ll have a house!"

Zhao Meimei thought there was no harm in staying for a bit, nodded, "Okay, if you have a house, I’ll come over."

Xu Xu’s eyes lit up, eagerly asking, "Will you stay with me all the time?"

Zhao Meimei immediately refused without thinking, "No way, I still have to live at home."

Xu Xu was a little disappointed, thought for a moment, and asked again, "Then, except for when you go home, will you stay at my place?"

Zhao Meimei thought about it, shook her head, "That also won’t work, I still have to stay with my Brother Yangyang. I could only stay with you for a day."

Xu Xu didn’t say anything, pursed his lips, his large grape-like eyes looking at Zhao Meimei, feeling that his fragile little male ego was severely bruised, feeling compared unfavorably to Zhao Meimei’s Brother Yangyang.

Back then, Xu Xu’s simple thinking led him to believe that it was because he was too young, not grown up, without a place of his own. Otherwise, there was no way Zhao Meimei would choose to stay with her Brother Yangyang over him. If he grew up and had his own place, he would surely not be worse than Zhao Meimei’s Brother Yangyang.

From that point on, Xu Xu had two persistent thoughts for the first time in his life: one was the desire to grow up quickly, and the other was the hope to surpass Zhao Meimei’s Brother Yangyang in every aspect, in every way, to be better than him.