"Run, warthog! Run, run!"

Tuanzi stared unwaveringly at the television screen where a cheetah was chasing its prey, so tense that her little paws clenched together.

Seated beside her, Huai Xu, who had been robbed of the remote control and thus unable to watch his war drama, glowered. "Are you a cat or a pig? Shouldn't you be empathizing with the cat in this situation?"

Tuanzi paid him no attention.

Zhou Li and Brother Nan had finished packing and were putting on their shoes by the door.

Soon, Zhou Li's voice rang out, very tenderly, "We're going out now. Remember to watch the house."

Tuanzi's ears swung around like radar.

"MEOW!"

She quickly stood up, leaped off the coffee table, and dashed to Zhou Li's feet. Then she turned her head toward Huai Xu and said proudly, "Lord Dumpling is venturing out! Huai Xu, remember to watch the house!"

"You..."

"Silly Huai Xu, so pitiful! TCH TCH TCH..."

"Alright, stop teasing him now." Zhou Li bent down, picked up Tuanzi, walked out of the door, and casually closed it behind them.

"Lord Dumpling didn't! He got upset all by himself!"

"Mm-hmm."

They went downstairs to have a bowl of rice noodles. After that, Brother Nan drove while Zhou Li sent a message to Ms. Ji via WeChat, telling her they had set off and would arrive in about an hour.

At ten o'clock, they arrived at Baozi's Home. Zhou Li pointed to a parking spot by the road. "Let's park here. My mom said that Baozi's Home ran out of soy sauce and asked me to buy a bottle on the way up."

Brother Nan nodded, dove into the parking space, then pulled out and shifted into reverse, completing a smooth parallel parking maneuver. She turned to Zhou Li and raised an eyebrow provocatively. "How about that?"

"Good."

"I detect a hint of perfunctoriness."

"Not at all."

"TCH!"

After buying soy sauce, they walked into the residential complex as the gate opened automatically.

A slim little girl stood quietly waiting for them. Though thin, she had a baozi-like face—delicate, cute features, and skin so pale and tender it beckoned for a good pinch.

"Baozi!!"

Brother Nan quickened her steps and ran over, beaming with excitement and arms wide open, she embraced the expressionless Baozi. "Have you missed Brother Nan after such a long time?"

"..."

"HMM??"

"I did..."

"Let me pinch your face!" Brother Nan let go of Baozi and proceeded to playfully squeeze her cheeks with both hands.

"Why are you standing here?" Zhou Li also approached.

"My mom was afraid you two would get lost, so she sent me down to fetch you." Baozi stood still, letting Brother Nan knead her face. Although Brother Nan was molding her face into various shapes, she strove to keep her tone steady.

"Haven't we been here before?" Zhou Li asked. "Besides, the building numbers are posted upstairs."

"That's what I think too."

"I see."

"Why did you guys come now?" Baozi suddenly asked, eyeing the soy sauce in Zhou Li's hand and Tuanzi in his arms. "Lord Dumpling came along too, huh?"

"What about it?"

"If you had come later, or earlier, it would've been me going down to buy the soy sauce." Baozi flicked Brother Nan's hand away from her face. "I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time."

"I see."

Zhou Li nodded and tugged at Brother Nan. "Stop playing, you'll wear her out. Let's go up now."

Baozi also nodded and added, "My mom is watching from the window upstairs."

Brother Nan was stunned.

Brother Nan was speechless.

Brother Nan felt a bead of sweat roll down her temple.

The front door of Baozi's Home was open.

Baozi led the way inside.

Zhou Li followed with Brother Nan. Ms. Ji had already rushed from the window to the doorway to welcome them.

"Mom..." Zhou Li called out and gestured towards Brother Nan behind him. "This is Li Nan."

"Hello, Auntie."

"Hello, hello..."

A moment later, they all sat down on the sofa.

Ms. Ji really wanted to chat with Zhou Li and Brother Nan, but there was a certain awkwardness and a generational gap between them. She tried asking Zhou Li a few simple questions, but Zhou Li was never one for many words. After a few minutes, she found herself unsure of what else to say, and the atmosphere grew somewhat awkward.

Thankfully, the TV was on.

Baozi sat in the farthest corner of the sofa. She sat upright, not playing with her phone, her eyes fixed on the TV, but she wasn't really watching. As one of the hosts, she also showed no intention of saying anything. She just sat quietly, listening intently. Occasionally, her eyes would dart to the side to glance at the others, but it was just a glance before she quickly looked away, not betraying her thoughts.

At most, she would reach out to Tuanzi, signaling for her to come into her arms. But after Lord Dumpling ignored her, she gave up and continued to observe quietly.

Thankfully, Brother Nan was there.

Brother Nan and Zhou Li soon started chatting. Ms. Ji sat quietly to the side, listening. Through their conversation, she got to know Brother Nan's personality, the nature of her relationship with Zhou Li, and gained a sense of their everyday life. She occasionally contributed a comment or two.

As they talked, Brother Nan glanced over at Baozi.

Brother Nan said, "Baozi, do you know how many girls from our class will be returning to school?"

Baozi: ...

She's too engrossed in eavesdropping to respond.

Brother Nan pressed, "I'm asking you!"

Baozi replied, "Not really sure. I'm still half asleep. You guys carry on."

Brother Nan: ...

Setting aside the thought of giving her a beating for the moment, Brother Nan turned her head and continued to chat with Zhou Li.

Baozi's parents, Zhou Li's uncle and aunt, were busy in the kitchen.

「After lunch.」

Zhou Li and Brother Nan took the initiative to wash the dishes.

After washing up, they came out to find Zhou Li's uncle and aunt had already cut the watermelon. Ms. Ji and Baozi stood shoulder to shoulder at the window, staring down at something seemingly interesting downstairs.

Zhou Li walked over.

He noticed Ms. Ji holding something that looked like an electric scooter's remote key, pressing it towards the area downstairs. With each press, the complex's gate would open automatically.

Whenever someone approached the gate, just as they were about to pull out their keys, she would press the button. The person entering would then look surprised, wondering when the complex had installed sensor-activated gates.

She was thoroughly enjoying this game.

Baozi also stood beside her, silently watching.

Zhou Li: ...

It was then that Baozi realized they had approached. She turned her head, glanced at them, and her face gradually took on a sincere expression. "Cousin, shall I take you guys for ice cream?"

"We just had lunch," Zhou Li replied.

"That ice cream shop is super delicious."

"Maybe later then."

"It's okay." Baozi paused. "We can go sit in the shop first. I'll buy one for myself now, and you guys can wait. Once you've digested your food, you can order."

"..."

Her agenda was perfectly clear.

Hearing this, Zhou Li's uncle (Baozi's father) spoke up, "Let's finish the watermelon before you go out. Have Xiao Ran show you around."

His aunt (Baozi's mother) nodded. "Yes, let her show you around."

So Baozi silently turned back and began devouring a slice of watermelon as if completing a mission.

「Half an hour later, they finally left.」

Baozi led them to an ice cream shop outside the residential complex. She ordered an inexpensive vanilla ice cream for herself, recommended vanilla for Zhou Li and Brother Nan as well, then stood silently, blinking at them.

After Zhou Li paid, she nodded earnestly and bowed slightly.

"Thank you, Cousin."

Having received her ice cream, she retreated to a corner to sit down, licking it in small bites, and said no more.