[September 2, 2035]
It’s the second day of school. The weather has started to cool down and isn’t so hot anymore. This morning we had Chinese, science, math, and practical classes. During lunchtime, we ate jianbing. I thought of the Dingdingxiang jianbing Dad and Mom took me to eat at the mall last time. It was much better than the one from the lunchtime care, so I used my phone watch to send Dad a WeChat message and asked him to buy me jianbing and yikousu after work.
Mom registered WeChat for me. My name is “Cherry Maruko.” I’ve added a lot of classmates recently, and at night I secretly chat with them under the blanket.
In the evening, I helped Mom tend to the white roses planted in the yard. Mom rewarded me with one. I put it into an empty milk bottle and placed it beside my diary.
Mom said I am her pink rose.
[September 15, 2035]
I have a big question. How did Dad grow so tall? He’s taller than all my classmates’ dads.
The school handed out lots of new textbooks. I couldn’t carry my backpack at all, but Dad picked it up in one go. Dad is very strong. It feels like there’s nothing he can’t do. That day, Mom bought an air purifier. Dad carried it home from the underground garage with one hand. That thing was really heavy. He even carried it upstairs and put it in my bedroom so I could turn it on when I sleep at night.
Mom has been watching a very old TV drama recently. Dad and I watch along too, but if you ask me, it’s not as interesting as Little Nezha at all.
The male lead is called Han Chunming. Oh my goodness, he really looks like my dad! When he smiles and talks, he looks very similar, and his figure is about the same too. I guess Mom might be watching it because of this.
Grandma and Grandpa said the same thing. No wonder some classmates say my dad is handsome.
But I still haven’t found anyone on TV who looks like Mom, because none of them are as pretty as her. My mom is the prettiest.
[September 28, 2035]
I’ve been sick these past three days. My tonsils were inflamed, so I didn’t go to school.
Dad didn’t go to work either. He took me to get IV drips for three days in a row. Mom made steamed egg custard for me. Now I’m better, with just a little cough left.
I didn’t do homework for these two days, and it feels kind of strange. Today, the teacher sent Mom a message asking if I’d recovered and sent over the lesson plans. Mom said I could go back to school the day after tomorrow.
Mom tutors my schoolwork. Her pronunciation has been getting clearer and clearer lately, just like a normal person’s. Mom teaches me very patiently and helps me catch up on the homework from the previous two days.
Last night my stomach hurt. Dad waited outside the bathroom while I went, then took me to their bedroom to sleep. I dreamed again, but it was a good dream. I dreamed that Mom and Dad were kissing in an underground parking garage I’ve never seen before.
[October 3, 2035]
It’s National Day. I still remembered to ask Grandpa to change my phone watch. Dad and Mom were both in the kitchen, so I quietly told Grandpa. He couldn’t find his reading glasses for a long time, so he asked me to use his phone to buy it. I quickly picked the one I liked. The payment password was my birthday. When Grandpa picks me up from school next time, the package should have arrived already.
At dinner, Grandpa told Mom that he bought it, planning to give it to me. That way, Mom and Dad won’t criticize me.
Grandma and Grandpa also came over. In the evening, they asked me to perform something and film a Douyin video. So I sang them a Nezha song. The lyrics were too fast and I couldn’t really remember them. I only knew “one lotus flower, one lotus flower descends to the human world,” so I just sang randomly. Everyone was quite happy. To make Mom happy too, I even danced.
Mom promised to take me to eat soup dumplings tomorrow.
[October 19, 2035]
Today, Aunt Jiabao brought Wang Yixin (a hard name to write) over. He’s very young and came to our house as a guest.
I took out my car toys for him to play with. He was still watching Little Nezha. I’ve already watched Big Nezha. I’m a second-grade big sister now. Mom made hotpot for dinner. I like it, but it’s too hot and needs Dad and Mom to take care of me. Otherwise, I don’t know what’s cooked and what’s still raw.
When Aunt Jiabao drank beer, I said I wanted to try some. Dad wouldn’t allow it, no matter what. In the end, he dipped a little with chopsticks and let me taste it. It was bitter and not very good. Anyway, I was like Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit and couldn’t really taste anything.
In the evening, Uncle Wang Quan came too. The four of them played mahjong at home. Wang Yixin wanted to play with my hamster. Xixi’s leg has already healed, but I didn’t want him to touch it. Hamsters are timid, and if they get scared, they’ll have diarrhea again. I refuse all male human contact with Xixi.
[October 20, 2035]
Yesterday I fell asleep on the sofa. I don’t know when Aunt Jiabao and Wang Yixin left. Dad carried me upstairs to sleep.
Today, Xixi really did have diarrhea again. I’m in a bad mood.
[November 6, 2035]
Why does Dad always have to go in when Mom is showering? That’s impolite. Mom washing me is normal. Can’t Dad wash himself?
I asked him. He said it saves water, but they stay inside for a very long time. He’s totally lying to me. By that logic, wouldn’t it save even more electricity if the three of us slept in the same bedroom at night? Then why doesn’t he let me sleep with Mom? He’s really a contradictory person. I don’t take his words seriously.
Mom smells really nice. I like hugging Mom. Dad smells like the auto repair shop, and I don’t like that smell. But I know Dad works very hard. He and Mom earn money to buy me shoes and toys. They also bought a big house and fed me good food. So I don’t dislike Dad as much as I said before. I also love him a lot.
I forgive him for monopolizing Mom.
[December 25, 2035]
Today is Christmas. At my request, Mom bought Christmas tree decorations. We hung them on the small tree by the yard gate together. When Dad came back, I suddenly turned on the string lights and startled him.
Mom made roast chicken, stir-fried carrots, preserved egg, and lean pork porridge. The two of us went grocery shopping during the day. Because I behaved well, I got an ice cream as a reward. I wanted to eat it before dinner, but Mom wouldn’t let me, so I had to endure it.
The vanilla lemon roast chicken was delicious. Mom and I each had a drumstick and a wing. Dad wrapped chicken and carrots in flatbread to eat. I said he could turn everything into a stuffed flatbread.
Before writing this diary, Mom said Aunt Jiang Yang would come back to the country during the New Year to see me. I was so happy that I even forgot to eat the ice cream. Every time Auntie comes, she brings me things I’ve never seen before, especially chocolate gummies and biscuits. They’re really cool.
Before winter break ends, there’s another round of final exams, so I need to study hard. Today’s diary entry is really long. To reward myself, before brushing my teeth, I’m going to eat one scoop of ice cream first. Mom is working in her room, and Dad is downstairs watching a football match. I’ll ask him to quietly get it for me.
[January 27, 2036]
It’s New Year’s Eve. Dad bought me new shoes. They’re silver high heels with sequins. I can’t even describe how happy I am. I want to wear them out right away to show them off. I don’t even want to take them off at home.
The three of us put up Spring Festival couplets together. Mom pasted the upper line, Dad pasted the lower line, and I sat on Dad’s shoulders to paste the “Fu” character and the horizontal banner. I pasted it crooked, but Mom said it didn’t matter. This is “crooked fu,” which is even more auspicious than fu.
The New Year’s Eve dinner was very lavish. I gave Xixi a tiny bit of crab meat, but it didn’t seem to like it. Dad almost stepped on it again. Even though I know he didn’t do it on purpose, I was still very angry.
Mom said I have too many shoes and the house is almost running out of space. Next year, she won’t let Dad buy me shoes anymore and will buy something else instead. I still have a year to think about what I like. Maybe I’ll want a little dog, but I don’t know whether it would bully Xixi.
[February 2, 2026]
Today I secretly wore Mom’s ring. The diamond is so big. It looks like Dad has always been very generous.
Dad and Mom, Grandpa, and Grandma and Grandpa on Mom’s side all came. What I like most is celebrating the New Year. I get to follow the adults around, visiting relatives and friends. Dad and Mom treated Grandpa Yang and the uncles from the auto repair shop to a meal, and I received several red envelopes. Even though I have to hand them all over to Mom for safekeeping in the end, I still like receiving money.
Aunt Jiang Yang came back with her new boyfriend. So cool. She even played games with me. Mom was very happy to see her too. The two of them hid in the bedroom, whispering and wouldn’t let me go in, so I sat at the door reading comics.
The New Year is really great. I like it when everyone gathers together. I hope time can pass a little more slowly, because I love everyone, and I love my dad and mom even more.
I’m going to go play with Xixi now. The news says there will be a meteor shower tonight. Dad has prepared chairs and a telescope in the yard for me. I don’t know if we’ll be able to see any stars.
I’ll make a very beautiful, very beautiful wish. It will definitely come true.