Chapter Four: The Uninvited Guest (Part Four)
Tao Ming made a simple meal of thin porridge and a plate of stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar, just to get by. She had no appetite, but Softie was happy to eat anything.
As they began to eat, the white tiger glanced at the unfamiliar food on the table and asked Tao Ming, “I usually feast on rare beasts—what are these things?”
Without so much as a glance, Tao Ming replied, “Isn’t absorbing the essence of heaven and earth enough for you? We’ll eat, you just watch.”
Softie slurped her porridge and mumbled, “Mom, that’s not right. You shouldn’t bully little friends.”
The white tiger wanted to act proud, but its stomach was truly empty. It looked at the plate of vegetables, then at its own paws, and asked, “How am I supposed to eat this?”
Tao Ming couldn’t help but laugh. It seemed that the “Wang Jingze Law” was universal across the cosmos.
After her laughter subsided, Tao Ming fetched a small plate from the kitchen, scooped some of the food onto it, and said, “I suppose you can’t use chopsticks either? Just make do.”
The white tiger looked aggrieved and muttered, “Actually, I can transform to look just like you, but I’m too young now—I can’t manage it yet.”
Then, after taking a bite of the potatoes, it immediately spat them out, sourness overwhelming. “What is this? So sour!”
Tao Ming sighed, “Maybe just have some porridge. Tomorrow I’ll buy some cat food.”
Indignant, the white tiger retorted, “I am not a cat. I don’t eat cat food.”
Tao Ming just chuckled and ignored it.
The white tiger squirmed. “This thing wrapped around me is uncomfortable.”
Tao Ming found a small mat Softie had used when she was little, removed the bath towel from the white tiger, and placed it on the mat. “Is this better?”
The white tiger nodded and began to drink porridge.
Tao Ming took the bath towel to the balcony and tossed it into the washing machine.
Watching Tao Ming leave, Softie leaned over and whispered to the white tiger, “You’d better eat well, or Mom really will make you go hungry.”
The white tiger looked at her. “Have you been made to go hungry before?”
Noticing Tao Ming returning, Softie gave a faint “mm” and quickly resumed eating.
Soon the meal was finished. As Tao Ming cleared the dishes, she told Softie, “Time to study. You’ve already watched more than enough cartoons today.”
Softie ventured, “I want to play with the kitten a little longer.”
Tao Ming said nothing, only looked at her quietly.
Softie added, “I haven’t eaten my snacks yet. I even saved room for them.”
Tao Ming gave in. “Alright, you can eat your snacks, but then it’s time to study.”
The white tiger piped up, “What does Softie study?”
Tao Ming thought for a moment. “The teacher assigned memorizing ancient poems and children’s songs.”
The white tiger considered this, slowly realizing what those were. As it digested more of Softie’s hair, it gradually deepened its understanding of this world—naturally, from Softie’s perspective.
“I need to learn more of your language, or it’ll be hard to explain anything,” the white tiger said, its little face surprisingly earnest.
Tao Ming asked, “How old are you now?”
“I’m as old as Softie. I only appeared after she was born.” The white tiger, feeling a bit stronger, shifted its body.
Tao Ming changed the show to an educational program for young children. “Then start learning from the beginning.”
Softie protested, “Mom, I’m a big girl now. I don’t want to watch such childish programs.”
Patiently, Tao Ming coaxed her, “But the kitten can’t speak much yet. Since you’re the big sister, you have to help the kitten learn.”
Softie brightened and began sharing her chips with the white tiger as they watched TV together. Whenever the white tiger was confused, Softie explained, though whether her answers were correct, who could say.
In the kitchen, as Tao Ming washed dishes, her thoughts drifted back to her own childhood.
Perhaps, just maybe, the white tiger was telling the truth.
What was her real mother like?
No matter how she tried, the memory was shrouded in mist, her mother’s face always veiled and impossible to see clearly.
Never mind—sooner or later, the truth would come to light.
When Tao Ming finished cleaning up and returned from the kitchen, she found Softie and the white tiger had finished their chips. Softie was gently brushing the white tiger’s fur with a toy comb.
Tao Ming turned off the TV and patted Softie’s head. “Time to study.”
Softie pouted, reluctant. “Alright, I’ll play again after I finish studying.”
Tao Ming took out her phone, checked the homework assigned by the teacher, and prepared to study with Softie.
Just then the white tiger declared, “I want to study too. The stuff those little kids were learning just matched what I found in Softie’s memory.”
Tao Ming seized the opportunity to instruct Softie. “See, even the kitten loves to learn. As the big sister, you should work even harder.”
Softie immediately lifted her head and announced, “I’m the big sister. I love learning even more than the kitten.”
Tao Ming tapped Softie’s nose with her thumb. “Excellent. You get a thumbs up.”
Softie was so pleased, she imitated her mother and gave the white tiger a thumbs up too.
Tao Ming, her mood greatly improved, asked the white tiger, “What would you like to learn?”
The white tiger thought for a moment. “That way of learning just now was pretty good.”
So Tao Ming picked up the white tiger, mat and all, and placed it on the other side of the coffee table. She took out a tablet and taught it how to use it. Once it could select programs by itself, she said, “Watch whatever you like—choose for yourself.”
Then she began practicing songs and poems with Softie. When Softie had nearly memorized them, Tao Ming recorded a video to upload to the class group.
When Softie was done, Tao Ming turned to check on the white tiger’s progress and found it watching a science documentary, something about exploring mysterious territories. She asked curiously, “How’s your studying coming along?”
The white tiger replied, full of pride, “I watched all the cartoons, TV shows, and commercials from Softie’s memory, and found others to watch too. I’m much better than her now. She’s only in kindergarten, but I’m about at a first-grade level.”
Tao Ming was incredulous. In less than an hour, while Softie was still stumbling through songs and poems, the white tiger had managed to learn so much?
She couldn’t help but ask, “How could you watch so much in such a short time?”
The white tiger snorted disdainfully. “I am the ancient divine beast, the White Tiger. My learning speed is not something you humans can compare to.”
Tao Ming chuckled. “An ancient divine beast that still needs to eat? Tomorrow you can skip meals then.”
The white tiger immediately backed down and quickly explained, “Our White Tiger clan is especially gifted at memory, and only we have the skill to gain memories by eating hair. Besides, cartoons are so simple, and TV dramas just repeat the same things. I’ve already gone through all the first-grade material in the primary school textbooks. Now I’m taking a break to watch something else.”
“Wonderful! Keep it up. From now on, you’ll be in charge of helping Softie with her homework. I swear, if I have to tutor her for a few more years, I’ll die of a brain hemorrhage.” Ever since this strange creature showed up, Tao Ming finally felt there was some good news at home.
The white tiger waved its paw. “No problem. Leave it to me!”
Tao Ming, in high spirits, took out three lollipops, and both children and the tiger enjoyed them happily.
While savoring her lollipop, Softie leaned close to the white tiger and whispered, “You’re amazing. Mom rarely lets me eat lollipops.”
The white tiger whispered back, “Stick with me—there’ll be plenty of snacks.”
Softie was a little worried. “But what if you’re not here in the future? What if Mom won’t let me keep you?”
The white tiger glanced at Tao Ming, who was busy tidying up and hadn’t noticed them. Lowering its voice, it said, “Softie, let’s be best friends, okay? If we become best friends, we’ll never be separated.”
Softie immediately replied, “Sure! But aren’t we already best friends?”
The white tiger, eyeing Tao Ming, whispered, “I know an even better way. If we form a pact, we can be best friends for life.”
Softie asked naively, “What’s a pact?”
Just as the white tiger was about to answer, Tao Ming called out, “Softie, have you finished your lollipop? If you have, it’s time to brush your teeth and wash your face for bed.”
The white tiger instantly fell silent, afraid that Tao Ming would discover its little scheme.