double struggle

The book shopping center in City G is always overcrowded, so Chu Wendao took Chen Xintong to pick out extracurricular tutoring books early in the morning.

Chen Shanshan insisted that Chen Xintong enroll in a public school, but Chen Xintong received American education since childhood, so the pressure of studying after school starts can be imagined.For this reason, Chu Wendao once consulted with his classmates who worked in the Education Bureau, carefully selected several versions of primary school guidance books, and planned to help his niece grasp the missing knowledge during the rest of the vacation.

"Lori—" Chen Xintong drew out her voice, her small face wrinkled in grievance, "I don't want to buy it."

Chu Wendao took Chen Xintong to a place with few people, and squatted down to look at the girl.

"Why not?" he asked softly.

Chen Xintong frowned in confusion, she was never stingy in expressing her thoughts. "Too many books, don't want to read." She said.

Chu Wendao was silent for a while, and then asked softly, "Do you think uncle is pretty?"

"It's beautiful! It's the best!" Chen Xintong replied truthfully.

"Does baby want to be as good-looking as uncle when he grows up?"

Chen Xintong tilted her head to think, not quite understanding the reason: "I think—but I'm a girl."

"Honey, good-looking is a description. Just like your brother Bert, we can also say good-looking." Chu Wendao was amused, but his face still kept an unfathomable look. Only then can it become beautiful."

Although Chen Xintong still half-understood, she was completely fooled by Chu Wendao's serious appearance.Her blue eyes lit up, she wrapped her arms around Chu Wendao's neck, and said reluctantly, "Okay, then let's go buy books!"

"Goodgirl." Chu Wendao picked up Chen Xintong and kissed the girl on the cheek.

Chu Wendao did his homework in advance, and quickly found all the tutorial books he needed, holding Chen Xintong with one hand, and dragging the small cart containing the books with the other.There were quite a lot of people in the checkout line, and he estimated that it would take at least ten minutes before it was his turn.

Suddenly the phone in his trouser pocket started to vibrate, Chu Wendao was afraid that Chen Xintong would get lost, so he changed hands and let the girl pull the cart, freeing one hand to answer the phone.He saw that it was Xu Qingzhou's call, and he answered it without thinking.

"Teacher?" Xu Qingzhou should have heard the noise on his side, and asked uneasily, "Did I disturb you?"

The team moved forward a little, and Chu Wendao led Chen Xintong forward.

"No, I just brought the girl to the book center to buy books."

"Oh……"

Chu Wendao heard the hesitation in Xu Qingzhou's tone, and after thinking for two seconds, he decided to ask: "What's wrong?"

The microphone fell silent, and Chu Wendao waited patiently for an answer.During this time, Chen Xintong guessed who the caller was and shook his arm.Unrelentingly clamoring to chat with Xu Qingzhou.

"I'll listen to you later. Uncle has something to say to my brother." Chu Wendao put his phone away and lowered his head to Chen Xintong.

Chu Wendao's expression was too serious, and Chen Xintong shrank his neck, not daring to make trouble anymore.When he put the phone close to his ear again, Xu Qingzhou's low voice finally came.

"Teacher... I left early." Afraid that Chu Wendao would get angry, he immediately explained in a panic, "Grandma's nurse told me this morning that she has to go back to her hometown tomorrow, and no one at home can take good care of grandma. So I……"

Xu Qingzhou didn't say the next thing, and Chu Wendao understood what was going on.After hearing Xu Qingzhou talk about his family last time, he can roughly guess how weak the relationship between Xu Qingzhou's relatives is.Human affection is as thin as autumn clouds, I'm afraid it can't be compared with the coldness of winter.

Xu Qingzhou bears responsibilities that he shouldn't have, but after all, he is still too kind.Therefore, Chu Wendao didn't blame Xu Qingzhou for his sudden farewell.

"When's the high-speed train?" He asked calmly, "I'll take you there."

"No, I'm already on my way..." Xu Qingzhou paused, "I'm sorry."

Chu Wendao felt that Xu Qingzhou was about to cry, and he couldn't help tightening his fingertips holding the phone.He glanced at the team, there were at least ten people ahead.

This time he couldn't catch up and missed it.

"Qingzhou, remember to call me if you have anything to do when you go back." Chu Wendao closed his eyes and told him as usual.

"okay."

"Be careful on the road, wear enough clothes, don't catch a cold."

"Well... teacher."

Xu Qingzhou yelled suddenly, and Chu Wendao's prepared words stayed on the tip of his tongue.

"Teacher, can I have a small request?" Xu Qingzhou asked cautiously.

"You say, I agree." Chu Wendao replied without hesitation.

Xu Qingzhou was amused by Chu Wendao's response, and smiled slightly.His voice finally sounded less sad, but more overlaid with humble hope.

"When I go back, can you... think of me more?"

The last four words were very low, but Chu Wendao could hear them clearly.He was stunned for a while, until the person behind him urged him, he came back to his senses, and led Chen Xintong to move forward a few steps.

"Okay." He said with a smile.

After paying the bill, Chu Wendao finished packing the books and handed over the lighter portion to the child.Seeing Chen Xintong staring at him intently, he couldn't help being confused.

"Hungry?" He couldn't think of any other reason to make the girl look at him like this.

Chen Xintong stretched out her finger and poked at the corner of Chu Wendao's mouth.She pouted more confusedly than Chu Wendao: "Lori, you don't look very happy."

"Really?" Chu Wendao didn't feel that he was unhappy, or in other words, he didn't say that he was unhappy.

Chen Xintong, who is a little ghost, commented: "Mom said, if you are not happy, you have to say it, otherwise you will grow old very quickly."

Chu Wendao raised his eyebrows, what kind of teaching method does Chen Shanshan use?He obviously forgot that compared with his method of coaxing children, he was only fifty steps away.

"I'm not unhappy - I'm just hungry." He took Chen Xintong's hand and suggested, "Shall we go eat pizza?"

Chen Xintong was successfully perfunctory again, and shouted: "I want a double pizza with seafood and grilled chicken!"

At some point, dark clouds enveloped the city.One drop of rain broke on the pavement, followed by a second, and then a third—falling down with a patter, just like that morning.

At this time, Xu Qingzhou should also sit in the high-speed rail. If the seat is near the window, then he can take in the city.I don't know if I can see him?

It should not be possible.He hilariously dismissed his impractical idea as the heavy gray clouded their eyes.