Chapter 308: Chapter 248: Spirit Plant Seedlings Breaking Through the Soil
When Zhou Tongtong heard Lin Li offer to treat her to ice cream, and a brand-new flavor at that, her big, round, sparkling dark eyes instantly lit up with joy.
"Mhm."
Zhou Tongtong nodded vigorously, told Lin Li she was going to take out the trash first, and then quickly stepped into the elevator.
Lin Li watched the elevator doors close with a smile, then took the keys from his pocket and opened his front door.
Once he was back inside, he immediately turned on the air conditioner.
"WHOOSH..."
A blast of refreshingly cool air sprayed from the vent, and the stuffy living room began to rapidly cool down.
He turned on the TV and sat on the living room sofa to watch for a bit when, suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Hearing the doorbell, Lin Li knew that Zhou Tongtong had returned from taking out the trash.
He immediately stood up and went to the kitchen. He opened the freezer, took out a vanilla ice cream, grabbed a spoon, and then headed for the front door.
"CLICK."
He opened the door to find Zhou Tongtong standing there, her face full of anticipation. When she saw the ice cream in Lin Li’s hand, her big, round eyes seemed to almost glow.
"Here, go ahead and eat it. Let me know what you think later. I think this new flavor is pretty good." Lin Li handed the ice cream and spoon to Zhou Tongtong.
"Thank you, Lin Li." Zhou Tongtong took the ice cream and spoon from him and politely thanked him.
After giving the ice cream to the little one, Lin Li was about to close the door and go back to his bedroom for a nap when he noticed Zhou Tongtong was still standing at his door, holding the ice cream with no intention of turning back to her own apartment.
"Huh?!!!"
Lin Li looked at the little one, confused. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
’Even though Zhou Tongtong had her own theory worked out, she knew she had a deal with her mom: only one ice cream per day at home.’
’Now the young man next door was giving her ice cream. As long as she didn’t eat it *at home*, it wouldn’t count as breaking the promise.’
’Her mom had already made an exception for the ice cream her neighbor gave her earlier. If she went home with another one now, her mom definitely wouldn’t make another exception and would just take it away. So, she couldn’t go home.’
Zhou Tongtong asked in a small voice, "Lin Li, can I eat the ice cream in your apartment?"
"..." After hearing Zhou Tongtong’s quiet question, Lin Li was stunned for a moment before it dawned on him. He chuckled at the little one before him. "Of course. Come on in!"
Seeing Lin Li agree, a brilliant smile spread across Zhou Tongtong’s face.
Lin Li stepped aside, and Zhou Tongtong walked inside.
Opening the shoe cabinet, Lin Li realized he didn’t have any indoor slippers for a child. He took out a pair of adult slippers, placed them in front of Zhou Tongtong, and said,
"Zhou Tongtong, I’m sorry, I don’t have any slippers that fit you. You can just make do with these for now. I’ll order a pair for you online later..."
"It’s okay, Lin Li." Zhou Tongtong slipped off her own little shoes, put on the big slippers, and went FLAP, FLAP, FLAP toward the living room.
This was her first time visiting the young man next door. She sat down on the living room sofa and curiously looked around at her surroundings.
Lin Li came into the living room, sat down in the armchair next to her, and said with a smile, "Go on, open your ice cream and eat it! Don’t let it melt, it won’t taste as good."
"Mhm." Zhou Tongtong nodded, opened the lid of the ice cream, and took a spoonful. After one taste, her eyes immediately lit up.
"So? How is it?"
"It’s delicious."
"Glad you like it."
"Lin Li, do you want to try some?"
"No thanks, you can have it. I still have more in the freezer... er, I’ll go grab one and eat with you."
With that, Lin Li got up and went to the kitchen. He opened the freezer, grabbed another ice cream of the same flavor, and returned to the living room.
And so, the big one and the little one sat on the sofa, watching TV and quietly eating their ice cream.
"Zhou Tongtong, school’s about to start, right? Your mom told me you’re starting first grade this year. Are you a little nervous, since it’s your first time in elementary school?" Lin Li asked the little one as he ate his ice cream.
"I’m not nervous at all! I’ve been wanting to graduate from kindergarten and go to elementary school for a while," Zhou Tongtong said, looking up at Lin Li.
"Is that so? You’re pretty different then. A few years ago, a lady in the complex had a grandson who had also just graduated from kindergarten, and when it was time for him to go to elementary school, he refused to go no matter what."
Lin Li recalled something he’d heard a few years back and told Zhou Tongtong about it.
"Not only can you learn things at school, but you can also make friends. I actually like going to school... Once I finish elementary school, middle school, and high school, I’ll be a grown-up..."
Zhou Tongtong explained to Lin Li the prerequisites for becoming a grown-up, as told to her by her mother.
When children are little, they all want to grow up quickly, and Zhou Tongtong was no exception.
Because these little tykes are always told by their parents, "You’re still little, you can do that when you’re a grown-up," they desperately long to become adults.
Lin Li smiled as he watched the little one earnestly tell him all the things she was going to do once she became a grown-up.
