It Definitely Won't Leave a Scar

After a glass of water, Tong Zhao had calmed down considerably. He lay back down on his stomach and discussed things with Shu Sizhuo. "I still have some money, but I looked for it just now and realized the bank card with my savings is in my wallet. My ID card is in there too, so I can't get them replaced for now."

"So, Little Sizhuo," he said apologetically, taking Shu Sizhuo's hand, "can we try to be a little more frugal for the next few days?"

Shu Sizhuo nodded. "Okay."

Seeing how agreeable he was, Tong Zhao felt reassured. He added, "People from Ode Mountain House are looking for us everywhere. They caught us at a station once, so they won't let any station slip by after that. For safety's sake, we'll have to put off looking for your uncle. Is that all right?"

Shu Sizhuo stepped forward and crouched by the head of the bed, his dark eyes fixed on Tong Zhao's, as though he wanted nothing more than to make a solemn vow. "Whatever Tang Xu says is fine."

Tong Zhao reached out and ruffled his hair. "Little Sizhuo is such a good boy."

The wound on Tong Zhao's back had taken seven or eight stitches and hurt whenever he moved too much. Shu Sizhuo told him to rest and took on all the housework himself.

To save money, the two of them had been cooking thin rice porridge at home. Mindful of the wound on Tong Zhao's back, Shu Sizhuo swallowed his pride and asked the man at the pork stall for some scraps of meat, which he cooked in the porridge for Tong Zhao.

Tong Zhao looked at the scraps of meat in his porridge, then at Shu Sizhuo's bowl, which didn't have a single piece. His heart ached.

What kind of adult was he, making a child suffer alongside him?

Tong Zhao promptly slapped fifty yuan on the table and said, pretending to be angry, "We're only short of money for now. I'm recovering from an injury, and you're still growing. Neither of us can do without protein, so take this money and buy some meat!"

Shu Sizhuo wouldn't go against Tong Zhao. He hesitated for only a second before reaching out and taking the money. "Okay."

Good thing he's not stubborn, Tong Zhao thought with relief.

That evening, when Tong Zhao bathed, he was afraid of getting water on the wound, so he asked Shu Sizhuo to come in and help wipe his back with a damp cloth.

Suddenly concerned, Tong Zhao asked, "Does the wound look scary? Will it leave a scar?"

Shu Sizhuo said, "It's not scary. The wound isn't deep, so it won't leave a scar."

Hearing that, Tong Zhao comforted himself too. "My skin doesn't scar easily. If the wound isn't deep, it should be fine."

Standing behind him, Shu Sizhuo fell into thought as he looked at the thin, spider-like scar.

Three days later, Tong Zhao went downstairs while Shu Sizhuo was out, wandered around and found a job washing dishes at a restaurant. After much persuasion, the owner finally advanced him half a month's wages.

Most people in the shantytown were poor, and few shops were hiring, so it hadn't been easy to find even a dishwashing job.

Tong Zhao planned to work for a month and see whether the system had recovered. If it was still broken after a month, he would have to find a way to make a long journey and seek help at the "orphanage" arranged by the General Institute.

He had also tried calling the "orphanage," but couldn't get through.

With no money and people after his life, how was he supposed to complete his mission?

When Shu Sizhuo learned that he had gone to wash dishes, his little face fell. He asked Tong Zhao if he couldn't rest and recover for a few more days.

"My wound has healed. I'm just waiting to get the stitches out," Tong Zhao said with a smile. "It doesn't hurt now, and I can barely feel it. Don't worry."

Shu Sizhuo said nothing, but after that day, he too was often out during the day. He always came back at lunchtime to cook, though. Tong Zhao would come home to eat at two or three, rest for a while, then return to the restaurant.

In the evenings, Tong Zhao was usually busy until after nine. When he came back, Little Sizhuo would run to the kitchen to heat up his food. After bathing, the two would lie together on the small bed and chat for a while.

"Little Sizhuo, where do you go to play during the day?" Tong Zhao yawned.

Shu Sizhuo faced him, gazing at his handsome, delicate face in the moonlight. "Just... playing here and there," he said vaguely.

Tong Zhao opened his eyes and said with feigned seriousness, "Don't go far. Stay in the shantytown, keep your wits about you, and watch the people around you." Then he frowned. "What if they come to the shantytown with your photo and ask people one by one? No, you'd better limit your contact with people."

Shu Sizhuo said, "Okay, I won't go far."

"Mm." Tong Zhao then thought that Shu Sizhuo wasn't even eleven yet, and it was a little cruel to stop him from going out to play when there was no television at home. So he said, "I'll bring you a picture book to read tomorrow."

"A picture book?"

Tong Zhao smiled. "The restaurant owner's kid read them when he was little. There are quite a few. I'll ask to borrow them tomorrow."

Shu Sizhuo, who had grown up surrounded by all kinds of picture books, comics and fancy toys, saw Tong Zhao smile and smiled too. "Okay, thank you, Tang Xu."

Tong Zhao closed his eyes and put an arm around Shu Sizhuo. "Go to sleep."

Shu Sizhuo looked at Tong Zhao's face and suddenly asked, "Tang Xu, does washing dishes tire you out?"

"No," Tong Zhao said with his eyes closed. "It's not as tiring as cooking at home like you do. Don't worry, sweetheart. Soon, Tang Xu won't let you have such a hard time anymore."

Soon after Tong Zhao said that, his breathing grew deep.

He says he's not tired, yet he fell asleep so quickly.

Shu Sizhuo caught the faint scent of body wash on Tong Zhao and couldn't help moving closer. Once he was nearer to Tong Zhao, he too closed his eyes and fell asleep, feeling at ease.

Tong Zhao was used to Shu Sizhuo touching his face while he slept. The child probably didn't even know he had this habit. Tong Zhao gently removed the hand resting on his face, got out of bed without a sound, tucked Shu Sizhuo in, then got ready and went downstairs to the restaurant.

The day after Tong Zhao had his stitches removed, Shu Sizhuo suddenly brought him a tube of scar cream.

Tong Zhao had just come home from washing dishes. He took the scar cream in surprise. "Where did you get this?"

Shu Sizhuo was a little embarrassed. "I helped Doctor Zhou sort the Chinese medicinal herbs in the shop, and Doctor Zhou gave it to me."

Tong Zhao froze, staring straight at Shu Sizhuo.

Seeing his reaction, Shu Sizhuo hurriedly said, "This is the best scar cream in the shop. Tang Xu, if you keep using it, it definitely won't leave a scar on your back!"

Clutching the scar cream, Tong Zhao was moved beyond words. He bent down slightly. "So lately, when you've been gone all day, you haven't been out playing. You've been helping Doctor Zhou in exchange for this tube of scar cream?"

Shu Sizhuo said nothing, which amounted to an admission.

Tong Zhao pulled Shu Sizhuo into a hug, so overcome with sentiment that he nearly cried. "How are you so thoughtful? You're so good to me... You're like an angel, Little Sizhuo. Thank you..."

Held tightly in Tong Zhao's arms, Shu Sizhuo was startled at first, then lowered his eyes in embarrassment. When Tong Zhao held him for a long time, Shu Sizhuo's cheeks even began to grow a little warm.

That night, after his bath, Tong Zhao asked Shu Sizhuo to help him apply the scar cream. Lying on the bed, he said in a cheerful voice, "This is wonderful! I hate scars most of all. Now that I have Little Sizhuo's miraculous scar cream, I won't have any scars on my body anymore!"

Shu Sizhuo lowered his head and applied it with great care. "Mm, you definitely won't!"

There was a new moon that night, and stars filled the sky.

In the dilapidated old shantytown, a third-floor window was lit. The weather was gradually growing warmer, and mosquitoes and other insects bumped against the dim yellow bulb.

The adult and child chatted happily, with laughter drifting out from time to time. Like every window in countless homes, theirs was filled with a gentle warmth.