Life Story (Part 2)

After finishing the phone call and smelling a delicious aroma, Zhao He went into the kitchen to check. To her surprise, Gu Fadian had poured half a pot of oil and was frying several round eggs in the pan, their edges burnt to a golden crisp.

This boy was actually frying eggs? It was just that because a child was doing it, he had used too much oil, which Zhao He—having lived through times of hunger—couldn't help but feel pained to see. After the eggs were fried golden, he took them out and drizzled a bit of soy sauce over them. The little guy was working quite skillfully.

"Eating instant noodles again?"

"Don't adults always say instant noodles have no nutrition? I'm making egg noodles," Gu Fadian said solemnly. "There's also radish to balance the nutrition. The baby can eat it!"

If anyone else had done this, they would certainly have been mocked, but in Officer Zhao's heart, she felt a pang of sorrow. This child had lived alone since his parents left. If she didn't occasionally bring some food, he would eat instant noodles for every meal. Yet, for a little girl he didn't even know, he was starting to learn how to balance nutrition? If this little girl lived with him forever, would he turn over a new leaf because of her?

The doorbell rang. Hu Jie and several other female comrades had arrived.

"Officer Zhao!"
"Sister Hu!"

Although it was just a social greeting, they spoke quite harmoniously because they had a common topic. Zhao He intended to take the child elsewhere first. "Fadian, take your little sister into the kitchen to eat."

She closed the kitchen door, but Gu Fadian gently pushed it open a crack. Turning his head, he saw Ban Xia staring at the bowl of noodles and licking her lips.

"Eat." Gu Fadian pointed to the two fried eggs in the bowl. He had specifically fried two for her.

Having not eaten for two days, Ban Xia's stomach was growling loudly, but she still said politely, "Thank you, Brother, for cooking for me. To repay you, I will wash the dishes for you."

This was already the third time the little girl had said she would help him wash the dishes. Gu Fadian found it very funny. Ban Xia tasted a piece of fried egg and exclaimed, "Wow, it's so fragrant."

Gu Fadian was extremely proud. "Taste the noodles. My mother taught me how to make the broth; the flavor is very fragrant."

Ban Xia's eyes immediately lit up. "Is it your mother? Will she also come to visit me?"

According to what she had seen after her death, that was also her biological mother, an extremely beautiful woman. Caught off guard, Gu Fadian's eyes turned red. It was he who had indirectly caused his sister's death. Because of her death, his mother's heart had been shattered. Even if his mother wanted to see him, he no longer had the face to look at her.

"No," the young boy said calmly.

In Ban Xia's heart, she understood that there must be a very deep conflict between the mother and the brother.