Zhu Yaya smiled brightly and made a little heart shape back at the big bear mascot.
She was just about to push the door to go inside when a whole horde of rambunctious kids came charging from behind. It was the big bear mascot who pulled her aside, saving her from being knocked over by the crowd of children.
Zhu Yaya frowned slightly in annoyance at the rushing kids, then offered a grateful smile to the bear mascot who had protected her just in time. "Thank you!"
The big bear mascot cutely waved its hand.
As soon as Zhu Yaya entered McDonald's, she saw that same group of kids running wild inside the restaurant, and she silently lit a candle of sympathy for the staff.
She studied the menu carefully, picked out what she wanted to eat, and also ordered two burgers for Zhu Jianjun and Zhao Jing. While waiting, she looked through the glass doors and windows and saw the bear mascot who had helped her, clumsily soliciting customers and handing out flyers in front of the store.
She thought for a moment, then asked a server by the counter, "Excuse me, do you have bottled drinks here?"
"Yes, but we only have Coke left."
"Then I'll have a bottle of Coke, please!"
After all her ordered items were ready, Zhu Yaya, holding two takeaway bags in one hand and the bottle of Coke in the other, walked to the glass door to leave.
But she was carrying too many things. Struggling a bit, she tried to push the door open with one hand. The big bear mascot standing outside saw this and immediately came over, helpfully pulling the door open from the outside.
Zhu Yaya thanked him profusely again.
The bear mascot waved its hand, indicating it was no trouble.
"Here, this is for you!" Zhu Yaya stuffed the bottled Coke into the bear mascot's hands. "It must be hard work wearing that heavy costume all the time. I'm giving you this Coke! Consider it a thank-you gift for helping me."
The bear mascot seemed to want to refuse, but Zhu Yaya shoved the Coke into its hands and then ran off with the two plastic bags.
Carrying the food, Zhu Yaya worried the mascot might chase after her, so she kept jogging until she reached Zhu Jianjun and Zhao Jing before stopping.
Zhu Jianjun hurriedly took the food from her hands, while Zhao Jing, looking concerned, handed Zhu Yaya a tissue and chided, "Why are you running so fast? It's not like someone's after you!"
Zhu Yaya just grinned without saying a word. She also sat down on the long bench and ate McDonald's with Zhu Jianjun and Zhao Jing.
Before eating, of course, there was the inevitable nagging from Madam Zhao.
Things like gutter oil, junk food, and so on.
Zhu Yaya's response to this was: since you're saying all that, then why are you chomping down on that fried chicken leg with such gusto! Borrowing the words Murong Beichen often said to Xu Chun: Woman, you don't always have to be so contrary, saying no with your mouth while your heart is very honest.
However, as she ate, Zhu Yaya felt something was off. She kept glancing over at the large bear mascot standing in front of the McDonald's across the way, lost in thought.
After finishing her meal, she wiped her hands clean with a tissue, told Zhu Jianjun and Zhao Jing she needed to use the restroom, and headed back towards McDonald's.
Just as she was about to cross over, another large crowd surged through. As she navigated the packed crowd, her burgundy beret became crooked and almost fell off.
Squeezed and feeling a bit irritable, Zhu Yaya puffed out her cheeks, raised a hand to hold her beret in place, and finally emerged from the crowd.
But when she reached the front of the McDonald's, she discovered the big bear mascot was gone.
Zhu Yaya's eyes widened. She turned her head left and right, but couldn't see the bear mascot anywhere.
She muttered in puzzlement, "He was just here a moment ago. Where'd he go?"
Zhu Yaya wandered around near McDonald's. Just as she was about to leave, her peripheral vision caught the figure of the big bear mascot.
A slight smile touched Zhu Yaya's lips. Found you.
The tall, large bear mascot was clumsily trying to shoo away a group of children surrounding him.
While waiting at McDonald's earlier, she had been observing that bear mascot. The mascot was tall and big, so the person inside the suit must also be tall. Left-handed, always protecting her... Combining these details she observed, she thought of a certain part-time job enthusiast. Moreover, a certain someone had also told her he would be working a part-time job in the East District on Saturday. So, it wasn't hard for Zhu Yaya to guess who was inside the suit.
Without overthinking it, she wanted to sneak up behind him and play a joke.
The bear mascot finally managed to shake off the overly energetic children and sat down to rest on a nearby animal-shaped stool.
Zhu Yaya tiptoed up behind him, suddenly yanked off the bear mascot head: "Haha, got you! What are you doing here?"
However, once the head was removed, what met her eyes wasn't thick, jet-black hair, but a prickly, somewhat graying buzz cut.
Zhu Yaya: ???
Wait, something seems very wrong!
Since when did Yan Heng get a buzz cut!
Then, she saw a large, rough hand reach up and rub the buzz cut. A rough, loud, heavily Northeastern-accented middle-aged male voice rang out—
"Ouch, mama! Where's my headpiece?"
Zhu Yaya stood frozen in place, holding the large bear mascot head, petrified.
Major embarrassment! It wasn't Yan Heng!
If there were a crack in the ground right now, Zhu Yaya would dive into it without hesitation and hide inside like a turtle retracting into its shell.
The person whose head she had removed was a tall, burly, honest-looking middle-aged man.
His sallow face was etched with wrinkles and confusion. "Little sister, what're you doin'?"
Zhu Yaya's face went blank. Mechanically, she handed the headpiece over. "I'm sorry, uncle. I mistook you for someone else."
"Whaddya say? Speak up."
"Ahem, uncle, I said I'M SORRY, I MISTOOK YOU FOR SOMEONE ELSE!" Zhu Yaya cleared her throat and raised her volume.
"Say what?"
"I SAID I'M SORRY, I GOT THE WRONG PERSON!"
"Huh? You say what?"
Zhu Yaya: …
My heart is weary. I feel like I'll never love again.
...
After Zhu Yaya nearly shouted herself hoarse, the uncle finally understood. Waving his hand with a look of sudden realization, he said in his Northeastern accent that it was no problem.
Zhu Yaya finally breathed a sigh of relief and even helped the uncle put the headpiece back on. But when she regained her composure, she realized she and the uncle had attracted a crowd of onlookers. Zhu Yaya even saw a few people holding up their phones to record.
A massive, socially mortifying scene!
Zhu Yaya: Just let me die! (Despairingly clutching her face and screaming silently)
Zhao Jing and Zhu Jianjun were also in the crowd of onlookers; they had come looking for her because she had been gone for so long.
When Zhu Yaya walked over to them, Zhao Jing even pinched Zhu Yaya's cheek and said with a hint of pride, "Our Yabao is so considerate and adorable."
The cheek-pinched Zhu Yaya remained expressionless: Heh.
Not wanting to embarrass herself further, she covered her face with one hand, tugged at Zhao Jing's sleeve with the other, and hurriedly left with her head bowed.
As she walked away with her head down, she passed by another big bear mascot. She didn't notice that this mascot stood still for a long time, watching her retreating figure. In its right hand was a stack of flyers, and in its left, a small bottle of McDonald's Coke.
