The dazzling sports car raced down the road. Xuan focused on the steering wheel, more silent than ever.
Cangtong Kai tossed his phone to the other side of the seat and gave a cold smile out the window.
"Is it a message from Sir?" Xuan asked.
This "Sir" referred to Cangtong Kai's father.
"Yeah," Cangtong Kai replied casually, as flatly as if he was describing an unrelated passerby, "The man said he's not coming back; there's some trouble with the business in New York. Oh, stop at that ice cream parlor up ahead."
Whether he came back or not, what did it matter? He didn't remember his mother's face because she passed away on the day he was born. He also didn't remember his father's face because he never came home.
A week ago, on his seventeenth birthday, his father didn't come back. On his sixteenth birthday, his father didn't come back. On his fifteenth birthday, tenth birthday, seventh birthday—every birthday he could remember, his father never came back. The only thing that arrived punctually was money, lots of money, in the form of checks, supplementary cards, or even bags full of diamonds, all delivered into Cangtong Kai's hands.
With money, everything is possible. He could buy whatever birthday gift he wanted. What a generous father.
The sweet and lovely double-scoop ice cream lay in a custom-made icebox, carefully placed in the car by Cangtong Kai.
Tutu loved to eat the fresh ice cream made in this shop every day. Every time she ate it, she would become so happy that she would somersault in the water. This always amused Cangtong Kai, who would laugh heartily, wondering if she was eating ice cream or a stimulant.
Today's Tutu was no exception. The air in the secret room was filled with the delightful smell of vanilla and chocolate.
She savored it with relish, swimming happily in the water, and asked Cangtong Kai for three scoops tomorrow, but she wanted them to be flavored with taro, peanut, and pineapple.
Cangtong Kai sat on the floor in front of the fish tank, with his back against the thick glass. He recounted to Tutu everything that had happened at school today, such as the love letter he received from the girl in the next class, how he memorized the entire text after reading it only once and had shocked his Chinese teacher, who had thought it was impossible for him to recite any part of it. He also shared cafeteria gossip he'd overheard during lunch, like the chefs daydreaming about raising two pigs behind the cafeteria.
Tutu listened and laughed heartily, then engaged enthusiastically in discussions with him about the girl who wrote the love letter, the shocked Chinese teacher, and the cafeteria gossip. One person and one fish rocked with laughter. The atmosphere in the secret room was not only filled with sweetness but also with genuine relaxation and plain happiness.
As time moved towards midnight, Tutu emerged from the water and flicked a string of water droplets with her tail, which landed on Cangtong Kai's head.
"Hey, you should go to sleep. You have school tomorrow!"
Cangtong Kai yawned and shook his head. "It's been restless outside lately. I'll stay a bit longer before I leave."
"It's those intruders who know I'm here, right?" Tutu nonchalantly blew a bubble.
"I will protect you," Cangtong Kai stood up and pressed the tip of his nose against the glass. "Trust me, I'll always protect you."
Tutu happily swam up to him and kissed his nose. "Yes, I know. I'll always stay by your side."
The overhead light cast shimmering specks of light on the water's surface, creating a gentle reflection on them. Even the oil painting on the opposite wall seemed to come to life, with waves gently rolling beneath the azure sea, conveying an indescribable emotion.
Another hour passed, and Cangtong Kai rubbed his tired eyes, saying, "I've been getting sleepy at night recently. I'll go make a cup of coffee."
Walking up the winding staircase in the villa, the cool night breeze rustled the thick curtains. Outside the window, the sound of stray cats could be heard, from one meow to two, then forming a chorus of meows, echoing back and forth. Cangtong Kai furrowed his brow, placed the coffee cup down, and headed towards the front door.
In the living room, the massive grandfather clock's hour hand was inching closer to midnight.
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