With the arrival of April, the weather in Hong Kong gradually warmed up, and the virus seemed unable to adapt to the environment, starting to fade away.
Since the end of March, Hong Kong’s SARS new cases remained at zero, and the citizens gradually bid farewell to their panic over the epidemic.
Xu Qingfan finally bid farewell to those bitter days of taking oral Banlangen and being smothered by the smell of white vinegar every day.
"I’m going to Lin Wanning’s house to play," he gulped down the rice in his bowl, grabbed his backpack, put on his shoes, and headed out the door.
"Ride carefully, and stay on the right!" Yao Jiping shouted at her son’s retreating figure.
Ever since Xu Qingfan had handed the first volume of his comic draft to Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi, the two girls had burst into unparalleled enthusiasm.
Apart from eating, sleeping, and attending classes, the two barely let go of their pens, maintaining a brisk pace of at least two pages per day.
Zhang Yiyi seemed naturally cut out for the comics industry; upon seeing the script, the young girl easily conceived appropriate scenes in her mind.
The two efficiently collaborated, one sketching layouts while the other filled in details, and within a month, they had finished drawing Xu Qingfan’s entire manuscript, leaving spaces for him to add dialogue. Now everything was ready, only the coloring remained!
Upon reaching the ground floor, Xu Qingfan saw the two dogs, Big White and Xiao Hei, lazily napping under a tree, and he stamped his foot hard!
"Woof woof woof woof woof!" The dogs were startled and sprang up, barking at the direction from where the sound had come.
Mission of hand mischief, accomplished!
Having finished his mischief, Xu Qingfan happily mounted his beloved bicycle and rode out.
"Brother Qing Fan!" It was the familiar scent, Lin Wanning and Zhang Yiyi had been waiting at the villa gate early, and ran excitedly toward him when they saw Xu Qingfan.
"Why are you always waiting at the gate every time? Isn’t it boring?" Xu Qingfan reached out and ruffled Lin Wanning’s head as she approached.
"It’s not boring at all! Knowing that Brother Fan is coming at one, Ningning has been happily awake since twelve. That’s a sense of ceremony, right, Yiyi?" Lin Wanning joyfully swung the hand she was holding with Zhang Yiyi.
"Yes!" Zhang Yiyi nodded with a smile.
The words from Lin Wanning came from a book they were assigned to read this semester—"The Little Prince".
In the book, the little fox and the prince discussed what happiness is. The fox said, "If you come at four in the afternoon, then from three o’clock, I begin to feel happy. The closer the time approaches, the happier I get. At four o’clock, I will become restless; then, I will discover the cost of happiness. But if you come at any random time, I won’t know when I should prepare my heart... There should be a certain ceremony."
Understanding her hint, Xu Qingfan reached out and ruffled the two young girls’ heads: "Then I’ll never be late again!"
"Pinky promise!" Lin Wanning stretched out her little pinky.
"How can three people make a pinky promise?" Xu Qingfan tapped the young girl’s head lightly.
"Why can’t three people make a pinky promise! Only a big silly pig like Brother Fan wouldn’t think of it!" Lin Wanning pouted and glared at Xu Qingfan, waving her fingers in front of them, indicating they should also extend their pinkies.
"Pinky promise." Zhang Yiyi extended her left hand, putting her pinky next to Lin Wanning’s.
"Brother Fan, do it , , put it here!" Lin Wanning used her free left hand to demonstrate, guiding Xu Qingfan to lay his pinky over their fingers.
"Brother Qing Fan must never be late again, Lin Wanning, Zhang Yiyi, and Xu Qingfan will be lifelong friends, never ever to be separated!"
"Pinky promise... for a hundred years... no changes allowed! If one lies, they’re a little dog!"
The three little ones lifted their hands above their heads, sealing the promise under the sun’s watchful eye.
"Once the pinky promise is made, no backing out, Brother Qingfan, you’re not allowed to be late anymore!" Lin Wanning pointed at her wristwatch as she spoke.
"Got it, got it, no more lateness from now on, and you’re not allowed to be late either, understand?"
"Humph, Ningning won’t be late! Neither will Yiyi! Only Brother Qingfan is always late!"
Xu Qingfan’s face turned red, he coughed a few times to change the subject: "Ahem, ahem, ahem, I plan to have Yiyi’s mom help find someone from outside to color and finish our comics, what do you think?"
"If Brother Qingfan thinks it’s good, then it’s good! Do you want to drink juice or cola?" Lin Wanning said while skipping towards the kitchen.
"Let’s have juice!" Since Lin Qiaoshan always drinks Pepsi blue can, Lin Wanning’s fridge was filled with Pepsi, how could anyone actually like Pepsi, Xu Qingfan wondered.
Zhang Yiyi handed a small notebook used for communication to Xu Qingfan: "Should I go and talk to my mom?"
"Let’s go together, and remember, we can’t use the notebook to talk this time!" He put the notepad in his trouser pocket and gently patted Zhang Yiyi on the head.
"Let’s... go... together!" Zhang Yiyi spoke unclearly.
"Awesome!" Xu Qingfan gave a thumbs up, and they smiled at each other.
When Lin Wanning came out of the kitchen, Xu Qingfan unzipped his backpack and took out a stack of hundred-yuan bills: "This is my New Year’s gift money, five thousand yuan. Each of us can chip in a little to have Yiyi’s mom help find someone to finish our comics, including applying for patents and printing and such."
"Brother Qingfan, wait for me, Ningning’s money is in the bedroom!"
Lin Wanning rushed hurriedly up to the third floor of the villa, and soon hurried back, now holding a little sheep piggy bank in her hands.
The little girl sat back down on the sofa, pulled the plug from the bottom of the piggy bank, and shook it vigorously; within seconds, the sofa was covered in a sea of red.
"No... no need for so much..." Xu Qingfan stammered.
"It’s okay, duck, Ningning doesn’t need this money either!" Lin Wanning stuck her fingers into the hole and fished out the last small stack of money.
"My money’s at home, I’ll get it later!" Zhang Yiyi said.
"What a hassle, putting it out and then back in again~" At Xu Qingfan’s strong insistence, Lin Wanning stuffed the excess money back into the piggy bank.
"Every comic book artist has their own pen name, like Doraemon and Fujiko Fujio. What good name should we choose?" After Lin Wanning put the money away, Xu Qingfan asked.
"Does the pen name have to be five characters?" Lin Wanning tilted her head and asked.
"Of course not, it can be any length, as long as you like it."
"Then let’s call it Wan Ning Yiyi Fan!" Lin Wanning suddenly suggested.
"That’s... not a bad idea, what does Yiyi think?"
"It works, duck." Zhang Yiyi looked at Lin Wanning and then at Xu Qingfan, smiling sweetly.