Human beings are very strange animals.
They can continue moving forward while ignoring the pain and hardships without changing their expression. They can also shed tears because of a caring greeting.
To prevent herself from looking embarrassed, Wen Baozhu pinched her palm with her fingertips.
The surging tears were forced back into her eyes.
She pressed her palm on her eyes to prevent her emotions from leaking out.
Wen Baozhu apologized with a smile, "Sorry, I lost my composure."
Seeing that she was a child who was strong, Grandpa Zhou did not continue the topic. Instead, he asked her to sit down and have a cup of hot tea.
When she had managed to calm her emotions, Grandpa Zhou walked to the desk and sat down.
"Last time you saved me in the hospital. The incident happened too quickly. I have yet to thank you. I am ashamed to have you come personally to my house."
He sighed helplessly and shook his head. "I am really old and muddle-headed. I am no longer sophisticated."
Wen Baozhu said, "Grandpa Zhou, you do not need to care about such things. As long as you take care of your body, I will be relieved."
"You are too kind." Grandpa Zhou said with a smile, "I wonder if you have the time today to stay for a meal?"
Wen Baozhu agreed with a smile, "I promised Zhou You before that I would come and play with her when I was free. I am here today to fulfill my promise."
Grandpa Zhou smiled. "I was always wondering how a child younger than ten could have common topics with an adult woman. I know now."
Wen Baozhu said with a smile, "Zhou You is intelligent and mature. She is more mature than normal children. You cannot underestimate her."
When Grandpa Zhou mentioned his only granddaughter, he shook his head helplessly. "She is very naughty. She is really giving me a headache."
Although he said that she was giving him a headache, there was a clear smile in his eyes. It was a kind of love that came from the heart.
As the saying goes, grandparents would spoil their grandchildren. Moreover, Grandpa Zhou had suffered a great blow when his son and daughter-in-law had passed away in an accident. Grandpa Zhou definitely doted on Zhou You the most.
"Zhou You is intelligent. Her mischievousness also shows that she is an outgoing girl. It is a good thing."
Grandpa Zhou sighed. "No matter how carefree she is, she has to grow up."
It was not like raising a cat or dog. It was enough to raise them well for ten years. The older generation would always die before the younger generation. It was a cruel law of nature.
No matter how much wealth Grandpa Zhou had, he had to accept his old age.
Wen Baozhu asked indirectly, "Zhou You is already at the age to go to school. How come I have never heard her mention anything interesting about school?"
When Grandpa Zhou mentioned this, he was even more worried. "I have the same intention."
"Many years ago, her parents passed away. She was always in grief. She was resistant to the outside world. She did not like school and missed her school days. Only in the past two years did I arrange for her to study. However, she has been studying at home."
"She is nine years old this year. Children of her age would be in Primary Four. In two years' time, she would have to go to Secondary School. I cannot always let her study at home."
Wen Baozhu agreed.
"Her parents passed away early. Zoey has never attended school. I am afraid that she would not be able to make friends. She would be bullied. After all, she is going to school. I cannot arrange for someone to protect her twenty-four hours a day."
If she was too unique, she would be more likely to be ostracized.
Wen Baozhu could sense Grandpa Zhou's concerns and worries.
She remembered how Zhou You had touched her belly in anticipation and hoped that she would give birth to a baby soon.
This was probably because Zhou You was looking forward to having a playmate.
She seemed like a cheerful girl, but her heart was a little twisted. She did not want to show her true feelings.
"Grandpa Zhou, did you ask Zhou You if she wanted to go to school in the past two years?"
"I asked her many years ago. She would cry or scream and go on a hunger strike." Grandpa Zhou was giving a headache just thinking about it. "I was afraid that she would overreact when I mentioned it. I never asked her again."
"Although she would go to the orphanage or church to play with the orphans, it did not mean that she was able to accept going to school."
Seeing that Grandpa Zhou was worried, Wen Baozhu hesitated before saying, "Why don't I try asking her? My relationship with her is not bad. Even if she does not want to go to school, she would tell me the truth."
Grandpa Zhou was excited. "… Is it really possible?"
Wen Baozhu nodded with a smile. "I will try."
Grandpa Zhou, who had been frowning, finally relaxed. The sorrow in his eyes dissipated. "Actually, I have always wanted to ask her what she was thinking. It is not because I want to send her to school. It is just that if she had a change of heart and I did not notice it, I would have delayed her future."
At this point, the old man sighed. "After all, I cannot protect her for her whole life. No matter how powerful or wealthy a person is, they would still turn into dust after they die. Who would remember what you told them?"
"I have no regrets in my life. However, I am afraid that when I meet her parents in heaven, I would not be able to face them."
Grandpa Zhou was very sad. He stared blankly out of the study window.
Zhou You was the apple of his eye, but she was also the bane of his heart.
Under the sunlight, Wen Baozhu could see a few strands of white hair on the old man. She felt a little sad.
…
After leaving the study, she met Stella and politely asked where Zhou You was.
Stella answered with a smile. "Miss Zoey is in her room preparing for an art exhibition. She is waiting for you to go and admire it."
Wen Baozhu remembered how Zhou You had proudly invited her to her art exhibition. She could not help but smile.
"You are here!" Zhou You happily opened the door and invited her in.
As Zhou You had said, her room was filled with her paintings.
The colorful world drawn with crayons was childlike and bright. All the colors clashed with one another and formed a colorful ocean of paintings.
Wen Baozhu admitted that Zhou You had a talent for painting.
Although she had used crayons for all her paintings, she was good at using colors. The simple paintings formed by a few lines were clean and tidy. They were not messy at all.
Wen Baozhu could not help but laugh.
"… What are you laughing at?" Zhou You was a little embarrassed. "Are they not nice?"
"They are very nice." Wen Baozhu realized that she had caused a misunderstanding. She quickly explained, "I was just surprised. You can draw so many nice simple paintings. The colors are also perfect."
"Then what were you laughing at?" Zhou You did not let go.
"I remembered how ugly I drew with crayons when I was young." Wen Baozhu said candidly, "I would also make my clothes dirty."
"In comparison, your paintings are very good. You can hold an art exhibition."
After being praised, Zhou You was even more embarrassed. "Alright, alright. I will ask Stella to get you some juice."
She quickly ran out of the room, leaving Wen Baozhu alone to admire the paintings.
Wen Baozhu looked at each painting carefully.
Children's paintings often reflected their true feelings. However, adults often ignored this.
Wen Baozhu did not look for long before she discovered something.
Although these paintings were cute and childlike, they had one thing in common: There were no people.
It was either plants or landscapes.
After looking through dozens of paintings, she did not find a single painting of a person.
There were still some paintings on the desk that had not been pasted on the wall. Wen Baozhu walked over and casually flipped through a few.
One painting showed a corner. Wen Baozhu curiously took it out.
In this painting, there were two people. One was a little girl in a blue dress with a cartoon hairpin. The other was an old man with white hair. He was smiling very kindly while holding a walking stick.
Wen Baozhu almost recognized them instantly.
It was Zhou You herself and her grandfather, Grandpa Zhou.