A CERTAIN SOMEONE ( THE ON1Y ONE )

Chapter 037 - To Stay

He Heard The Other Person Say, “Jiang Tian, Let’s Stay In School Together.”

10 years ago, this courtyard was even more cramped than the present.
The residential block outside of Beyond Parasol Trees had just received a fresh coat of paint, on first glance they appeared to be neat and pretty. The juxtaposition caused the few old houses around the corner to look especially dilapidated. Old Man Ding was the one who stayed in the most dilapidated house.

Back then however his head hadn't shrunk, he had plenty of energy as well as a decent amount of strength. He would pile up all sorts of porcelain and chinaware at the corner of the house, take care of all sorts of plants, and even kept a Dragon Li cat named “Leader” in order to get rid of rats in his house.

“Leader” was the easiest cat Old Man Ding had ever kept, it understood humans even better than dogs could, it would hit whatever he told it to. Jiang Tian was originally lured into the house thanks to it.
When Jiang Tian was five-six years old, he disliked talking like the way he was now, he was always quiet and sullen. Nevertheless, he was still young. It was easy to get his attention, and easy to get him to let down his guards too. As long as “Leader” laid down on his feet, there was nothing else he could do.

The residents of Beyond Parasol Trees were all neighbours who had been staying here for decades, they knew each other inside out. Old people didn’t have much variety in entertainment, they just loved to meet up, chitchat, and play chess. Whatever that went on in homes were all conversation topics in these casual chats.

Old Man Ding didn’t like to gossip, but he was obsessed with playing chess for a period of time, and so as he played he got to know about the full situation with the development of Jiang Tian’s grandmother’s illness. He already personally knew the Jiang family, and liked Jiang Tian very much too. With this and that, he treated him basically like a grandson.

The old man often gave “Leader” commands, “Leader” would lie waiting on the wall, the moment Jiang Tian walked past, it would leapt off the wall like a tiger leaving the mountains, and went to ‘accidentally’ bump into people.
Jiang Tian would suddenly find a cat descending upon him as he walked. He clearly already braked in his steps, but that cat would still fall onto his shoes, a soft ball of fur spreading on his feet.

Old Man Ding took special joy in watching that—the kid was bewildered and at an utter loss of what to do. He couldn’t stay, but he couldn’t just leave either. He could only stay frozen on the spot in a silent stand off against the cat. At this time, he would go rescue Jiang Tian with some hollers, and conveniently drag Jiang Tian into the courtyard.
Sometimes, it would be wonton and dumplings that were already wrapped, sometimes, it would be plain and simple porridge with some dishes, sometimes, he would steam two fishes or cook some soup. The old man tried all sorts of methods to give Jiang Tian something to eat.

The kid was thin-skinned and stubborn too, if you asked him if he ate, he would nod and quietly say, “I ate.”
Ask him why isn’t he going home, he always had the face of someone who hated fun as he said, “Playing outside.”

The old man’s deepest impression was of an evening. Soon after he heard that the Jiangs’ grandmother couldn’t recognise people anymore, Jiang Tian appeared outside his courtyard walls next.

He was so thin back then, his arms and legs were long, revealing traces of what he would grow to be as a teen. He carried his bag, the lanyard with the keys hanging on his neck twirled around his fingers, his mind conflicted. He could tell he had taken it out before, but didn’t manage to use it.

Old Man Ding clapped his shoulder, crouched over and asked him, “Have you eaten?”
It was the first time there was hesitation on his face, but in the end, he still nodded as he said, “I ate.”