But when she saw me standing next to Bai Jie, her steps slowed down obviously.
Bai Jie knelt down and hugged her daughter: "Tingting, look, dad took time to come back to pick you up from school today! Call daddy quickly."
Tingting blinked her big eyes and looked at me timidly, then looked up at her mother, seemingly at a loss.
I tried to keep my smile as normal as possible: "Tingting, school is over? Let's go, dad and mom will take you home."
I appeared, especially the title of dad, obviously attracted the attention of the boy in the blue jersey next to him and his mother.
The woman looked at me a few times, her expression a little subtle, then she pulled her son and whispered something.
Tingting looked at my outstretched hand, then looked at her mother’s encouraging eyes, and finally called out: "...Dad."
Bai Jie also stood up, took my other arm, and had a really relaxed smile on her face.
Demonstrate in the direction of the mother and son: "Let's go, dad, I'll make delicious food for Tingting when we go home."
"Okay, go home." I nodded, holding my "daughter" in one hand, and Bai Jie held the other.
In the curious eyes of some parents around, I walked towards the direction of the parking lot.
Coming out of school, the "daughter" Tingting in her hand seemed to be more relaxed.
But he still rarely spoke, and only occasionally glanced at me secretly.
Bai Jie saw the child's restraint and suggested softly: "Tingting, daddy is back today, can we go to eat KFC together?"
Although the little girl did not speak, she nodded her head in agreement.
"Okay, let's go eat KFC." I responded with a smile.
We found a nearby KFC. Walking in, it was filled with families with their children.
I asked Bai Jie to take Tingting to find a seat, while I walked to the ordering counter.
"What do you want to eat? French fries? Chicken nuggets? Or that children's set meal?" I lowered my head and asked Tingting, who was holding my clothes.
She pointed to the children's meal with toys on the poster.
"Okay, I'll take this children's meal, plus one more..." I looked up at Bai Jie.
Ask her what she wants to eat with your eyes. She quickly waved her hand: "I don't care, you just order."
In the end, I ordered two set meals and returned to my seat with a tray full of food.
Tingting got the set box that came with a small toy, and finally showed a happy smile that belonged to her age group.
Bai Jie looked at her daughter, quietly touched my hand under the table, and whispered, "Thank you."
I told her you were welcome. Looking at Tingting taking a small bite of her burger, I felt a little complicated.
This fast food represents the happiness of children and the tacit helplessness and gratitude among adults.
"Eat slowly, don't choke." I took out a tissue and handed it to Tingting naturally.
She took the tissue, looked up at me, and whispered: "Thank you...Dad."
This time, Dad was called more naturally than at the school gate.
Bai Jie's eye circles were slightly red, and she quickly lowered her head to drink Coke.
This improvised KFC meal seems to have worked better than expected.
Coming out of KFC, it was already getting dark. I sent Bai Jie and her daughter downstairs to their house.
"Thank you very much today, Chen Hao." Bai Jie held her daughter's hand and thanked her sincerely.
The little girl Tingting also raised her head and whispered: "Thank you...Uncle."
This call of "Uncle" made me feel at ease, and the role play was over.
I knelt down and looked at Tingting: "You're welcome, I will be happy at school from now on."
I looked at the backs of mother and daughter turning around and going upstairs. I breathed a sigh of relief. This matter was finally resolved satisfactorily.
Hand raised his hand to look at the time, it was not far from the dinner party he had arranged with the riders in the evening.
I started the car and rushed to the dinner venue, while sending a voice message to the riders' WeChat group: "Brothers, I'm done here, and I'm rushing to the barbecue restaurant. You have to light it up when you get there, don't wait for me!"
The group immediately burst into cheers and "Webmaster is mighty".
When I arrived at the barbecue food stall full of fireworks.
From a distance, I saw several tables pushed together, filled with riders wearing takeout platform uniforms. The tables were already filled with skewers and beer.
"The webmaster is here!"
"Three drinks as a penalty!"
"I'm waiting for you!"
Everyone was booing.
Zhang Wei and He Shiyu were sitting at the same table, laughing and chatting.
When Li Zhe saw me, he immediately and diligently handed the kebabs to Zhang Wei next to him, but she turned them back without being salty or bland.
I walked over with a smile, took a glass of cold beer from someone, and said loudly: "Brothers, you have worked hard this month! Eat well and drink well tonight, and you will not come back until you are drunk!"
I will not go home until you are drunk!" Everyone responded in unison.
I just took a glass of cold beer and before I touched my lips, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
When I took it out, I saw the name "Wang Qiuya" dancing on the screen.
I walked to a quieter corner and answered the phone: "Mr. Wang?"
"Chen Hao, where are you?" Wang Qiuya's voice sounded different from usual.
"If it's convenient, pick me up now and take me to a half-awake bar."
I looked back at the lively dinner party, where the brothers were getting drunk.
"Now?" I confirmed subconsciously.
"Well, right now." Wang Qiuya's tone did not allow for negotiation.
She added, "If it's not convenient for you there..."
“It’s convenient, I’ll be there soon.” I agreed immediately.
Hang up the phone, I walked back to the table, put down the untouched glass of beer, and clapped my hands: "Brothers, I'm sorry, yes, I have to withdraw first."
Zhang Wei then nodded: " Okay, you go, I'm here."
Hence the shouts of "The webmaster is not interesting enough" and "I'll punish you to make up for it next time", I hurriedly left the barbecue stall and started the car.
The city lights are on at night.
As I drove to the address given by Wang Qiuya, I was thinking in my mind: What happened that made Wang Qiuya not even call a driver, but insisted on me, a subordinate, to pick him up personally?
I first went to pick up Wang Qiuya at her home, and not long after, I parked the car at the door of the bar where I was half awake.
Wang Qiuya did not wear formal clothes during the day, but changed into a soft shirt, with one button unbuttoned at the collar casually.
Under the blurry lights of the bar street, the whole person seemed a lot more relaxed.
It was then that I realized that we were not here for a drink, but for a serious business negotiation.
"Understood, Mr. Wang. Do you need me to prepare anything?"
"No," she checked the documents and said calmly, "Just keep the phone open."
She looked in the rearview mirror and straightened her hair and collar. The usually vigorous and resolute Mr. Wang was back again.
When she opened the car door, she looked back at me and said, "No matter what noise is coming from inside, don't come in without my notice."