Chapter 9: Zoo
Early the next morning.
Chen
Xi laid on his side on the bed, his back facing the door.
The
little kiddo silently opened the door and sneakily glanced at Chen Xi’s back.
Next, she tiptoed to Chen Xi’s bedside.
She
took out a chicken feather that she has plucked out from the feather duster and
tickled Chen Xi’s nose with it.
At
the same time, Chen Xi’s closed eyes suddenly opened.
“Wah!”
The
little kiddo was obviously surprised by his reaction, and her small body could
not help but flinch.
Instantly,
her mouth twitched shut with a face filled with grievance, her red eyes on the
verge of tearing.
When
Chen Xi saw her reaction to his prank, he knew that he had went overboard with
his prank.
“Don’t
cry! There’s something behind you!”
Chen
Xi instantly sat up and softly carried her in his embrace. He then cryptically
said to her, “There’s something moving on the window. Look, it’s still moving.
Ah, It’s coming here!”
“It’s coming!”
The
little kiddo’s face was filled with fright as she dazedly clung onto Chen Xi’s
shoulder, her small figure trembling ever so slightly.
She
did not dare to look back and at that moment even forgot how to cry.
Chen
Xi secretly glanced at the little Kiddo and her squatting in her arms, so he
whispered in a soft voice, “Don’t be afraid, Dad is here to protect you, Look,
I scared it away.”
With
Chen Xi’s encouragement, the little kiddo slowly turned her back and carefully
inspected the window, realizing that there was nothing there at all.
The
sun shone brightly outside as the 20 year old tree shook gently along with the
breeze.
The
light of dawn shone on the window, casting a rectangular golden shine on the
cement floor.
Through
the light, one could see several dust particles continuously floating in it.
Dazed,
the little kiddo, like a delicate porcelain doll, sat on her father laps,
captivating people to shower her with love and care.
Just
like that, the brewing thunderstorm is dissolved by Chen Xi…
Chen
Xi pampered her as he lovingly rubbed his daughter’s tiny head, and smiled,
“Nian Nian, do you want to go to the amusement park or zoo?”
“I
want to go both.”
“You
can only choose one today.”
“Oh…I
want to see a big panda!”
“Alright,
let’s go!”
Chen
Xi lifted his daughter high up in the air, causing her to giggle non-stop.
After
breakfast, when they were about to leave, the little kiddo started to yell for
grandma to come along.
Aunty
Zhang was not young anymore and her stamina could not keep up with them, so she
decided against travelling to distant places..
So,
the little kiddo was upset by Aunty Zhang’s decision.
After
making quite a fuss, Chen Xi and Aunty Zhang finally appeased her.
Before
leaving, the little kiddo asked Aunty Zhang what she wanted and she will bring
it back when she comes back later. Instantly, Chen Xi and Aunty Zhang erupted
in laughter.
This
little kiddo was expectedly smart. She had flexibility and applied the words
that Chen Xi said to her yesterday.
After
leaving the house, the little kiddo refused to walk and Chen Xi carried her
with one arm as they walked out of the small district.
At
this time, an elder sister that was carrying a basket of vegetables saw them.
“Nian
Nian, where are you going?”
While
asking Nian Nian, she vigilantly eyed Chen Xi.
She
scrutinized Nian Nian’s expression and her actions and glanced at Chen Xi. Upon
seeing that Chen Xi was extremely gentle and warm towards Nian Nian, and the
fact that he did not look like a bad guy did she then lower her guard.
“Zoo!”
The
little kiddo seemed to know this elder sister as Nian Nian happily sat on Chen
Xi’s arm and proudly said, “Papa is bringing Nian Nian to the zoo. Nian Nian is
going to see a big panda.”
When
she heard Nian Nian calling papa, the elder sister completely erased the
suspicion and smiled at Chen Xi, “So you are Nian Nian’s dad? Bringing your
daughter to go out and play?”
“En,
yes.”
Chen
Xi smilingly nodded his head. Although he did not recognize this elder sister,
he could see that she was caring towards Nian Nian.
“I
don’t think I see you before. Were you on a business trip?”
“Yea,
just reached home a few days ago.”
“Oh,
then I won’t bother you two. If you have time, spend it with your daughter,
Nian Nian this little kiddo is quite adorable.”
The
elder sister waved her hands, bidding farewell to Chen Xi and Nian Nian.
Chen
Xi understood what she meant from her words as he smiled and thanked her.
Although
the people living in this small district were not wealthy, nor was the security
secure, however, there was something that those upper-class districts could not
compare to.
That
was the spirit of care and concern from your neighbors.
***
Maybe
it was due to the fact that the little kiddo did not travel far away from home
before, hence, when Chen Xi took her to take the bus, the little kiddo inquired
about every single thing, no matter big or small.
The
little kiddo was definitely cute, a tinge of pale redness on her white cheeks,
and a pair of big wet eyes. She looked like an exquisite porcelain doll, able
to melt her surroundings.
On
the way there, a few ladies got onto the bus and when they saw Nian Nian for
the first time, they could not help let out a few yelps of surprise and started
to crowd around, asking Nian Nian for a picture together.
Regarding this kind of requests with kind intentions, Chen Xi would not refuse. Maybe it was because that her father was here, Nian Nian did not shy away and politely greeted them as sisters. Immediately, a few ladies were overwhelmed by love as they shouted that they want a daughter in the future.
Zhong
Hai zoo was located near Zhong Hai airport. With a land area of 700,000 m², it
was one of the most best Urban zoos in China.
Since
it was Thursday, the number of visitors weren’t as absurd as public holidays.
Chen
Xi carried Nian Nian down the bus. When they step foot onto the spacious plaza,
the little kiddo became even more excited.
“Papa!
Sun Wu Kong!”
The
little kiddo pointed at the employee dressed as Sun Wu Kong and started to
shout excitedly.
The
guy dressed as Sun Wu Kong seemed to notice the little kiddo and immediately
walked towards Chen Xi.
He
did not talk and instead, he surrounded the little kiddo and made several
postures, teasing the little kiddo to laugh.
After
a few moments of teasing, ‘Sun Wu Kong’ decided that it was time and took out a
sign from his waist. On it was the following words: “20¥ for a picture.”
Seeing
this, Chen Xi could only helplessly shake his head.
It
was not because he disliked those people that pretend to be mute and earned
money via pressuring customers but because he had not bought a phone yet…
In
this day and age, those who did not have a phone could not even take pictures.
Hence, he could only carry Nian Nian away from the pestering of Sun Wu Kong and
directly walked towards the ticket counter.
The
little kiddo was only 4 years old and her height was less than 1.2m, hence, her
admission was free of charge.
As
for Chen Xi, the adult fare was 40¥, which was already considered very
generous.
After
entering the zoo, the first building was a very large science education center.
Inside it was several model specimen and a few simple introductions to the
evolution of animals.
The
little kiddo was absolutely not interested in this kind of stuff and after
looking around for a while, she wanted to go and see a living big panda.
Since
the pandas were the most popular star of the zoo, they would normally be placed
at the deepest part of the zoo. Hence, Chen Xi could only bring the little
kiddo and followed the crowd to take a look.
“This
is an Orangutan!”
“This
is a monkey!”
“Elephant!”
“Hippo!”
“Giraffe!”
Along
the way, the little kiddo was able to accurately call out the names of every
animal. This must be due to the fact that she often reads picture books.
The
little kiddo became more excited as she saw the real living animals.
In
order to let her see clearer, Chen Xi raised her up and set her on his
shoulder.
This
kind of experience was a first for this little kiddo as she immediately
cheered.
“Riding
a horse! Go! Go!”
The
little kiddo stretched out her arms and started kicking her tiny legs.
Upon
seeing this, Chen Xi took hold of her arms from below and started sprinting.
“Papa,
Nian Nian is flying!”