I Don't Want to Sleep Alone

After Shen Xinde and Gu Zhuoling finished their quiet chat, they went into the play area to find Jiang Nan and Zhuang Xingye.

The two were in the ball pit, locked in a fierce battle.

"Take this, brat!" Jiang Nan stood up with a pile of plastic balls in his arms, his delicate little face scrunched up as he hurled them all at Zhuang Xingye.

"Huh? That won't work on me. Take this, loser!"

Zhuang Xingye was chubby, and he had more balls in his arms than Jiang Nan. He planted his feet in a horse stance and casually tossed the balls into the air.

Shen Xinde was taking off his shoes nearby. He had just managed to crawl into the ball pit, butt in the air, when a ball came straight at him and hit him squarely on the nose.

"Ow!"

Shen Xinde landed on his bottom. His nose stung, and the sting spread to his eyes, which immediately welled up.

"Zhuang Xingye." Gu Zhuoling had followed Shen Xinde in. Seeing what happened, he immediately stepped forward and called Zhuang Xingye's name.

Zhuang Xingye realized he had hit the wrong person, and that it was Shen Xinde, the most pitiful and frail of them all.

He immediately pressed his palms together and hurried over to Shen Xinde, apologizing all the way.

"Does it hurt?" Gu Zhuoling pinched the tip of Shen Xinde's nose, which had turned a little red from the hit. When he met Shen Xinde's watery eyes, his heart ached.

"It doesn't hurt." Shen Xinde smiled goofily, then pushed himself up from the floor.

"Jiang Nan! Let's get him together!" Shen Xinde took his revenge on the spot, grabbing the balls around him and throwing them at Zhuang Xingye as he ran over.

"Xinde, I'll avenge you!"

As soon as Jiang Nan saw Shen Xinde start the fight, he joined in. He rushed over and grabbed Zhuang Xingye, who lost his balance and fell into the pit, disappearing beneath the balls that piled over him.

"Gu Zhuoling... save me!" Zhuang Xingye thrust his big chubby hand out of the balls and shouted.

"In your dreams!"

Shen Xinde blocked Gu Zhuoling, afraid he would turn around and help Zhuang Xingye.

Gu Zhuoling looked at the child in front of him, cheeks puffed out and eyes a little red, and couldn't help laughing. "I'll listen to Haohao."

Jiang Nan kept pelting Zhuang Xingye. When Zhuang Xingye heard Gu Zhuoling's heartless words, he wailed in distress, "Not fair! Not fair! It's three against one!"

Shen Xinde went over and hugged Gu Zhuoling, giving him a grateful pat. Then he stepped forward and stuck his tongue out at Zhuang Xingye, who was lying in the ball pit. "Bleh!"

In the end, the great battle, which Zhuang Xingye had no hope of winning, came to a close when he begged for mercy.

After they played for a while longer, the teachers from each class had to call the children back for their naps.

Shen Xinde had never been to kindergarten before and didn't know he would have to take a nap there.

Hearing the teachers calling the children now startled him a little. He stood pressed tightly against Gu Zhuoling without saying a word.

"What's wrong?" Gu Zhuoling sensed that something was off and took Shen Xinde's hand.

"Do I have to sleep alone?"

Shen Xinde looked up at Gu Zhuoling, a flash of grievance crossing his face.

He didn't like sleeping in an unfamiliar place without someone he knew well beside him.

"Together with your classmates," Gu Zhuoling said softly.

"I don't want to." Shen Xinde was unwilling. It was his usual nap time, and he was getting sleepy and a little fussy.

The teachers had already led the children inside one after another, leaving only Shen Xinde and his little group.

Gu Zhuoling turned and signaled for Zhuang Xingye and Jiang Nan to go ahead, leaving Shen Xinde to him. The other two didn't stay.

"Why?" Gu Zhuoling didn't rush Shen Xinde. He had him sit on a chair nearby and continued to coax him softly.

"I don't want to sleep alone."

Shen Xinde whined. He was sleepy, but he didn't want to face an unfamiliar bed alone, so he looked up and pleaded, "Can I skip my nap?"

"No." Gu Zhuoling refused firmly. "You'll feel unwell this afternoon if you don't sleep."

Then he would throw a tantrum and make a fuss.

Gu Zhuoling knew that all too well. A few days ago, Shen Xinde hadn't fully recovered from being sick, but he had been too caught up playing to take his nap. That afternoon, he had gone straight to whimpering that his head hurt and fussed for ages.

Shen Xinde fell silent. Pouting, he began to fiddle with the corner of Gu Zhuoling's shirt, crumpling it in his fingers.

Gu Zhuoling reached out and gently tugged Shen Xinde's cheek. "Every child in there has their own bed. How about I bring the doll from the head of the bed tomorrow to keep you company?"

At Gu Zhuoling's house, Shen Xinde loved to cuddle the doll at the head of the bed during his naps because he thought it looked a lot like Gu Zhuoling.

Shen Xinde nodded and didn't make any more fuss.

"Then, Dolly, give me a kiss." Shen Xinde was getting sleepy. He gave a little yawn, and his eyes grew misty.

Gu Zhuoling didn't delay. He kissed Shen Xinde with practiced ease, then turned his face so Shen Xinde could kiss him too.

Moon Teacher and Sun Teacher from the middle class upstairs came to the children's play area and saw the little ones from their classes whispering in a corner.

It was mostly Gu Zhuoling, who was standing, saying a few words while Shen Xinde, seated, nodded.

"Xinde, why haven't you come for your nap yet?" Moon Teacher walked over.

Hearing her voice, Shen Xinde and Gu Zhuoling turned around, and Shen Xinde stood up.

"What were you talking about with your big brother?" Moon Teacher stepped forward, took Shen Xinde's hand, and asked softly.

"Big brother told me to be good and take my nap." Shen Xinde was still a little down about having to sleep alone, and his voice was muffled.

"Xinde is very brave. You can sleep on your own, right?" Moon Teacher immediately understood. She guessed that the little brother was afraid to sleep alone and his big brother was comforting him.

Boo-hoo, he even made my job easier.

Where am I supposed to find such a good big brother?

Shen Xinde lowered his head and muttered, "Haohao isn't brave."

Moon Teacher didn't hear him, but Gu Zhuoling, who had walked over to Shen Xinde's side, did. He reached out and pinched Shen Xinde's cheek again. "Be good and take your nap."

"Haohao knows!" Shen Xinde bared his teeth, pretending it hurt.

After watching Shen Xinde obediently enter the classroom, Gu Zhuoling followed Sun Teacher upstairs.

As they walked, Sun Teacher looked curiously at the boy beside her.

Sun Teacher had taught Gu Zhuoling from the younger class through to the middle class. After spending more than a year with him, she knew he was a child with ideas of his own, who usually didn't like to talk or socialize.

When he first entered kindergarten, several teachers had discussed how unbelievably handsome he was, though he seemed very mature for his age.

They had never seen him look as lively as he had just now.

"Zhuoling, was that your little brother?"

She had expected nothing more than a nod, but to her surprise, Gu Zhuoling spoke. "Yes."

"Ah, your little brother is so cute!" Sun Teacher laughed, recalling how adorably mischievous Shen Xinde had looked.

To her surprise, Gu Zhuoling actually stopped and looked up at her. Sunlight streamed through the stairwell window, casting dappled flecks of light across his upturned face and the barely perceptible smile on it.

"Thank you, teacher. He really is very cute."

I hope cute little Haohao sleeps well this afternoon.