Chapter 19: The Dejected Forward Bend
Chapter 19: The Dejected Forward Bend
They get so emotionally stirred up reading novels!
After replying to Kuku on Qiuqiu, Lu Anzhi noticed that Kuku hadn’t responded for quite a while. He shook his head, thinking to himself.
Why didn’t I have such intense emotions when I read novels back then, only a faint sadness?
Everyone is different—that’s perfectly normal...
Lu Anzhi exhaled softly, switched his laptop screen back to the document of The Little Prince, and continued typing.
Two days ago, he had picked up Qianqian at Jiu’an Music Store while also meeting with people from the renovation company.
After inspecting the house in person, the renovation team had a detailed and thorough discussion with Lu Anzhi, reaching mutual agreements. They finalized the budget range, style, layout, and other details.
This process didn’t take long—only an hour or two—then the renovation team left.
Lu Anzhi spent the remaining time with little Qianqian.
He took her to a nearby park where they enjoyed several simple activities.
At first, Lu Anzhi tried to take Qianqian on the bumper cars. But the tiny little girl was frightened by the constant collisions and insisted on getting off halfway through.
Lu Anzhi quickly held her steady, parked the bumper car in a corner, and signaled others not to bump into them to calm her down.
When the ride ended, Qianqian eagerly wanted to get out.
After this experience, Lu Anzhi had a better idea—he’d only take her on simple rides like the small train or the slow-moving little cars.
After a day of play, Qianqian was quite happy. It was only in the evening that Zhang Suxin came to pick her up.
Zhang Suxin said everything had been sorted out. She happened to have taken a photo of Lu Anzhi’s ID card and printed it at a shop for use.
The initial preparations were done; now they only needed to wait for the agent to complete the process.
The entire previous day, Lu Anzhi didn’t see little Qianqian. He went furniture shopping and then ordered a signboard for "Sanwei Bookstore" from a well-rated advertising shop.
He had been busy all day and only just returned now. After sitting down to write, he soon saw a message from Kuku.
It seemed Kuku had finished reviewing the novel; next was the chief editor’s approval and the review and publicity. This should happen soon.
Since the process was underway, Lu Anzhi wasn’t anxious.
He was in a good mood. Zhang Suxin had called, inviting him over the next day to record a sample for "Sea."
So he would see little Qianqian again tomorrow—how could that not lift his spirits?
The not-so-lengthy Little Prince had already reached the latter half. Since no one was rushing him for the manuscript, he took his time and slowed his pace.
---
After writing for a short while, he called it a day.
Having finished typing, Lu Anzhi quickly rested and fell asleep. The next morning, he woke early, washed up, ate, and headed to Bamboo Garden Community.
As usual, at the entrance he had to call the security guard to verify he was an owner.
Zhang Suxin answered, somewhat surprised: “So early?”
“Uh… Did I come too early? Is Qianqian still asleep?”
Only then did Lu Anzhi realize he had gotten up earlier than usual. After washing, eating, and taking a taxi, it was just past eight o’clock.
Indeed, it was a bit early.
If Zhang Suxin and Qianqian were still in bed, that wouldn’t be appropriate.
He thought that if they were still in bed, he’d just walk around for a while before heading up.
Zhang Suxin’s voice came through the phone: “No, no, it’s not too early. Qianqian and I are eating breakfast. Come on in.”
Lu Anzhi finally relaxed and said, “Okay.”
After the security confirmed the call, he was let into the community.
It was summer, and the weather was hot. Many people were already exercising early in the community. By this time, most had finished and were heading back to their homes.
Lu Anzhi happened to catch up with someone and didn’t call at the entrance but went directly into Zhang Suxin’s building.
The person walking with him was a short, sturdy elderly lady.
In the elevator, the old lady kept sneaking glances at Lu Anzhi out of the corner of her eye. He couldn’t figure out why, but it made him uncomfortable.
The elevator stopped on the seventh floor, and the old lady got out first. Just as the doors were closing, she glanced at Lu Anzhi again.
That look was as if she had spotted a secret agent.
After reaching Zhang Suxin’s floor, Lu Anzhi stepped out and knocked on the door.
“Daddy!”
Qianqian’s small voice came from inside, followed by the rapid patter of little feet.
Click—the door swung open. The little girl, on tiptoe, eagerly peered out, still clutching the doorknob.
Her little mouth was smeared with leftover food she hadn’t wiped off yet.
Lu Anzhi gently rubbed Qianqian’s cheek and stepped inside.
---
His slippers had been left by Zhang Suxin at the door and were ready for him to slip on.
Zhang Suxin followed, carrying a small bowl. “Daddy, you can’t run away again. Why are you in such a hurry? Come eat.”
The bowl must have held Qianqian’s breakfast.
Qianqian grabbed Lu Anzhi’s big hand and said, “Daddy feed me.”
Zhang Suxin scolded, “Qianqian! You promised Mommy you’d learn to eat by yourself!”
Unexpectedly, the little girl suddenly seemed deeply wounded. Her tiny legs bent forward, and with a thud, she knelt down, then bent her waist and fell forward, supporting herself with her hands on the floor.
A perfect impression of a dejected forward bend!
Lu Anzhi chuckled, “Where did she learn that from?”
Zhang Suxin smiled helplessly. “I don’t know either. Lately, whenever I ask her to do something and she gets upset, she does exactly that.
“I thought maybe it came from some cartoon, but after watching many of the ones she likes, I couldn’t find any similar scene.”
Lu Anzhi laughed, “Looks like she’s self-taught.”
He suddenly wanted to capture this pose on camera and turn it into a meme.
“Sigh…”
Zhang Suxin shook her head and sighed again. “Get up and eat by yourself!”
Qianqian stayed lying on the floor, saying, “Daddy feed me.”
Zhang Suxin firmly said, “You eat by yourself!”
Qianqian was equally firm: “No! Daddy feed me!”
Lu Anzhi originally wanted to say that he’d feed her himself, no need to fuss. But seeing Zhang Suxin was trying to teach the child, he decided not to interfere.
So he stood silently to the side.
Zhang Suxin sighed and changed her approach, speaking softly, “Be good, Qianqian. Let Daddy see that you can eat by yourself, okay?”
But the little girl, who had seemed obedient before, was very stubborn this morning.
Qianqian repeated her dejected forward bend: “No! I don’t! Qianqian little! Qianqian can’t!”
(End of chapter)