Colleague

It was a sunny weekend.

Since they had made plans with Taozi to hang out, Keke and Bai Yuyou contacted her after finishing breakfast.

"Brother, are you coming with us?" Keke asked.

"You girls are around the same age, so there's no need for me to tag along," Ye Shuang replied while drying clothes. From the way he looked, it was clear he intended to spend the weekend thoroughly cleaning the house.

"Oh, okay."

After Keke and Bai Yuyou left, Ye Shuang's phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at it—it was a message from Chen Qin.

……

……

"Yuyou, I heard this school trip is supposed to be overseas."

"Overseas."

"Yeah, but the details aren't clear yet. Though it costs 10,000 yuan." Keke thought about Taozi's situation. "Taozi lives so frugally—wouldn’t it be hard for her to come up with that much money all at once?"

"We can help pay," Bai Yuyou said.

"That’s doable, but I doubt Taozi would accept." Keke tapped her chin with a finger as the two girls pondered how to help Taozi.

Since Ye Shuang didn’t drive them and neither girl had a license, they took the bus instead.

"Let’s go, off to Huafa Mall!" Keke and Bai Yuyou boarded the bus and, thanks to the weekend crowd, managed to snag seats for once.

Bai Yuyou wore a white dress paired with simple accessories—all chosen by Ye Shuang—yet they perfectly accentuated her delicate aura. Keke, on the other hand, kept it casual with a tank top and denim shorts, her plush, baby-fat legs drawing plenty of attention.

Meanwhile, Taozi had already arrived at the bus stop near their destination. She always liked arriving early for everything.

"Haah—"

She let out a small yawn.

"I worked too late last night… I should’ve taken the day off." Taozi murmured to herself. After all, she was looking forward to hanging out with Keke and the others—deep down, she was just a young girl who enjoyed the same things any girl her age would.

"But this outfit…"

She stared at her pink windbreaker covered in heart patterns, unsure how to even comment on it. This was Aunt Li’s doing.

"Girls should always dress in soft, pretty colors~" That’s what she had said.

Of course, Taozi would never go against Aunt Li’s decisions.

She had been with her for nearly two months now, learning many things she’d never known before…

But above all, Taozi was grateful to Aunt Li.

And if she was grateful, she had to do everything perfectly.

That was Taozi’s life motto. There were too many people she wanted to repay.

So she longed to grow stronger—only then could she do what she truly wanted.

"Mom mentioned bringing my little sisters over soon… I wonder if she meant it." Just as Taozi was lost in thought, she noticed two familiar figures stepping off a bus that had just pulled up.

"Oh? Taozi!" Keke waved.

"Taozi." Bai Yuyou followed closely behind.

"Good morning." Taozi smiled.

"Wow, your outfit is so cute! What’s this style—rockstar chic?" Keke blinked in surprise at Taozi’s vibrant pink ensemble.

"Reminds me of Aunt Li," Bai Yuyou remarked.

"Oh, yeah, kinda does."

Taozi flushed slightly, too embarrassed to catch the "Aunt Li" comment and assuming it was someone they knew.

"By the way, Taozi, didn’t you say last night you wanted to buy clothes for your sisters?" Keke asked.

"Yeah."

"How many sisters do you have?"

"Three."

Keke looked astonished. "Whoa, so you’re four sisters in total?"

Taozi had grown used to talking about her family. "Mhm. What about you, Keke?"

"I’m an only child." Keke pointed at herself.

"Your parents never wanted a son?" Taozi couldn’t help but wonder how Keke’s family viewed having just one daughter.

"Nope. My parents said if they had another kid, the love would get divided." Keke grinned.

Taozi fell silent for a moment before smiling softly. "That’s nice."

That kind of parental love was something she could only dream of.

"Right? Right?" Keke chirped.

The three girls then headed into the mall, browsing clothing stores to help Taozi pick out seasonal outfits for her sisters.

"Taozi, we’ll check over there!"

"Okay."

Taozi held up a fluffy long-sleeved shirt, mentally measuring her sisters’ sizes.

Better to buy a little bigger.

They were still growing, after all. The thought brought a tender smile to her face.

If her mother wasn’t lying, she’d see them soon.

"Hey there, little boss!"

A voice from behind made Taozi stiffen. She turned to see a few burly men greeting her.

Taozi seemed surprised. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We’re catching a movie. Wanna join, little boss?" One man slung an arm over her shoulder.

"Not interested. This is my free time." Taozi brushed him off.

"C’mon, just for a bit~"

"……"

"Wh-what are you doing?!" A sudden shout made Taozi flinch.

Keke and Bai Yuyou came running over, nervous but defiant. "L-let go of Taozi!"

"Huh?!" The men scowled at Keke, about to retort—when Taozi suddenly drove an elbow into one’s gut.

"Oof!"

"Relax, they’re just coworkers from my part-time job," Taozi said cheerfully.

"Huh?!" The men exchanged baffled looks.

"Right—?" Taozi’s smile grew strained. "Hmm?"

"Little boss, what coworkers—urk!" Another elbow strike.

"Right—?" Taozi practically hissed through clenched teeth, making the men hastily nod. "Y-yeah! We’re all Taozi’s coworkers!"

"Taozi’s… coworkers?" Keke blinked in confusion. "B-but you guys…"

Seeing the men’s heavily tattooed arms, Keke hesitated.

"Oh, they’re just artists," Taozi explained. "They even have Pikachu tattoos on their butts."

The burly men: "……"

Since when?!

"Ohhh, I see!" The gullible Keke bought it instantly. "That makes sense! But what do the Pikachu tattoos look like? Can we see?"