A Special Name

Night fell.

Freshly bathed and smelling wonderful, Shen Xinde lay on the bed with his little legs raised, deftly tapping his phone watch with his chubby little hands to call Gu Zhuoling.

"Hello, Haohao." The call connected after just a few seconds, and Gu Zhuoling's voice came through.

Shen Xinde's eyes instantly crinkled into a smile at the sound, and his raised feet swung even more cheerfully. "Dolly! I'm not coming to your house tomorrow."

Gu Zhuoling paused, his voice dropping a little. "Okay, I know."

"I'm going to school with Mom tomorrow," Shen Xinde said unhurriedly.

"Then you won't be back until tomorrow evening?" Gu Zhuoling sat alone at his desk, holding up his phone watch in one hand while repeatedly brushing his other hand over the page he'd just been reading, clearly a little distracted.

"Yep." Shen Xinde nodded, then realized Gu Zhuoling couldn't see him over the phone and hurriedly answered.

"So, Dolly, can you come play with me tomorrow?" Shen Xinde asked, drawing out his words.

"You mean you want us to go to Auntie Xia's school together?" Gu Zhuoling smoothed out the corner of the page he'd crumpled, as though calming himself down.

"Can you? I want to go with you." Shen Xinde put on a pitiful act.

"Okay."

"Then I'll come get you first tomorrow!" Grinning, Shen Xinde happily told Gu Zhuoling what he'd had for dinner, how he'd played with the water during his bath, and other things before hanging up.

The next day, Shen Xinde led Xia Wanqing next door to pick up Gu Zhuoling, who was waiting at the door with a plain black little backpack on.

Zhou Jingyi came out carrying a small water bottle and hung it on Gu Zhuoling. It was just the right fit.

Today, Gu Zhuoling wore a little white shirt with a few flower doodles on it, plain black shorts, and light apricot-colored sneakers.

He'd been expressionless, but with the little water bottle Zhou Jingyi had hung on him fitting just right, he looked like an adorable child deliberately putting on a serious face.

Shen Xinde raised his hand in greeting first.

"Hello, Auntie! Good morning, Dolly!"

Gu Zhuoling waved to Xia Wanqing, then headed straight for Shen Xinde without a word. Once he was close enough, Shen Xinde took his hand as naturally as ever.

The two little tots stood to one side, waiting for the adults to finish their greetings so they could leave.

"Sorry to trouble you with A-Ling, Haohao." Zhou Jingyi smiled brightly and glanced at her son, a hint of teasing in her eyes.

"Usually, it's Haohao who gives Zhuoling more trouble," Xia Wanqing said with a smile of her own.

"Wanqing, thanks for looking after him too. If A-Ling misbehaves, tell me when you get back tonight and I'll give him a beating."

"It's fine. Just have a feast ready—I'm coming over to try the Gu family's cooking tonight." Xia Wanqing walked toward the children, not forgetting to tease her.

"No problem!"

Xia Wanqing drove to school herself. Since Gu Zhuoling was coming along, she'd installed two child seats in the back, one for each of them.

As soon as Gu Zhuoling got in the car, he took off his little backpack, rummaged through it, and found an egg jelly to give Shen Xinde.

Shen Xinde giggled as he accepted it. He'd muttered over the phone yesterday that he wanted some, so Gu Zhuoling had gotten up early this morning, found his backpack, and stuffed some snacks and little drinks into it, ready to make Shen Xinde happy.

"Zhuoling, you really spoil Haohao. He's almost eaten himself into a big chubby boy." Xia Wanqing saw them in the rearview mirror and laughed softly.

At that, Shen Xinde immediately protested loudly, saying he was cute, just a little chubby, and that chubby was the cutest.

Gu Zhuoling smiled with his lips pressed together and reached over to help Shen Xinde open the jelly before speaking. "Not fat. Haohao, eat."

Shen Xinde was easily appeased and wasn't one to dwell on things. As soon as he popped the jelly into his mouth, he was happy again.

On the way, Shen Xinde talked to Xia Wanqing from time to time, but for most of the ride, the two little tots huddled close together, their heads bent as they giggled.

When they arrived at the school, Xia Wanqing took the two of them to the office first.

The office was fairly large, but only one or two teachers were still sitting there. They greeted Xia Wanqing cheerfully as soon as she came in, then noticed the two children behind her and exclaimed over how cute they were.

"Which of you is Teacher Xia's son?"

Xia Wanqing had briefly introduced the two children when she came in, but adults always liked to tease children.

"Me!" Shen Xinde confidently raised his hand.

"Then who's the little boy next to you?"

"He's my favorite Dolly!" Shen Xinde answered confidently.

"Hahahahaha."

"A doll? He really does look like one!" a teacher chimed in.

Gu Zhuoling didn't speak. He just held Shen Xinde's hand tighter and moved a little behind him, seemingly embarrassed.

Shen Xinde noticed Gu Zhuoling's shyness. Once everyone had dispersed, he quietly leaned close to his ear. "Dolly, are you mad?"

Gu Zhuoling spoke in a subdued voice.

"Mad about what?"

"I called you Dolly in front of other people just now."

Shen Xinde thought Gu Zhuoling was uncomfortable because he'd been called a doll in front of others.

"No." Gu Zhuoling shook his head. He was just a little embarrassed about being called his favorite and all that.

Shen Xinde lowered his head and thought for a moment, then tugged on Gu Zhuoling's hand. "I won't call you that next time, in front of other people."

Gu Zhuoling frowned, seemingly unsure why, and was about to ask.

"Dolly is Haohao's special name for you." Shen Xinde leaned close to Gu Zhuoling's ear and whispered it mysteriously, then pulled away and tossed his head at him smugly.

Gu Zhuoling felt it was a little hot at noon. Wasn't it already the end of August? Why did it still feel so hot?

He looked at the little boy in front of him, who was so pleased with himself for having a name for him that only the two of them could use. He wore a burgundy short-sleeved shirt that made his skin look even fairer. His hair lay neatly today, soft strands moving with each sway of his head, and his big eyes were lively.

Gu Zhuoling etched this scene deep into his eyes, his mind, and his heart.

Perhaps one day in the future, if he were asked about his most vivid childhood memory, Gu Zhuoling would describe this scene in full detail, vivid and bright.

He wanted to stay with the little boy in front of him forever.

His mom and dad loved him, but they had ideals of their own. When Gu Zhuoling was one or two years old, their love hadn't seemed particularly obvious, showing itself only in brief moments of company lasting a few minutes.

But Gu Zhuoling knew they loved him. Little Gu Zhuoling understood; he just felt a little lonely.

Gu Zhuoling's little mind couldn't quite make sense of so many things all at once. He tried hard to find the right words to respond to this one-of-a-kind love, but it seemed a little difficult.

So he simply held the other boy's hand and answered softly.

"Okay."