The clues proving that Little Bowl was "the childhood Zhu Shi" were growing.
Perhaps after this affair is over, I should turn back and ask Zhu Shi if she has many abandoned toys, and whether her mother, Zhu Jiu, has stored them in a white box. Though I haven't formally asked, I've prepared myself for the answer to be "yes."
But this Zhu Shi in the dream seems slightly different from the Little Bowl I remember.
The Little Bowl in my memory, though only ten years old, seemed mature beyond her years. Beneath a first impression of timidity, she hid a calm yet gentle disposition, with a character full of tolerance.
Yet the Zhu Shi before me now seemed more her age. After getting over my shock that Zhu Shi and Little Bowl's appearances were exactly alike, I couldn't help but focus on the mismatched details. However, my understanding of Zhu Shi is limited to the few scenes I've just witnessed, perhaps in other settings, Zhu Shi could behave more like the Little Bowl in my memory.
