Chapter Two

“Come on! Children, return to your seats! Quickly now!” The kindergarten teacher walked up to the podium and called out to the children.

The children obediently scurried back to their seats and sat down, their faces alight with curiosity as they gazed at the little girl standing behind the teacher.

This girl seemed smaller than the other children her age. She was not simply cute; “delicate” was a far more fitting description, especially for one so young. She wore a pink princess dress, a tiny crown atop her head, and her small hands were clenched tightly around her skirt as she looked timidly at the children below.

“Today, we have a new classmate joining us. Let’s give her a warm welcome, shall we?” the teacher said cheerfully.

A round of applause sounded from the seats below. “Come on, little one, would you like to introduce yourself to everyone?” The teacher squatted down to be at the girl’s eye level and spoke gently.

“Yes!” The girl nodded, her voice soft and childlike as she began her introduction. “Hel…hello, everyone! My name is Shangguan Xiao. I’m very happy to be here with you all! I’m Chinese! And…my brother is very handsome!” She tried hard to recall everything her brother had taught her to say, but could only remember bits and pieces, resulting in this jumbled introduction.

Her words sent a ripple of laughter through the class. She looked nervously at the teacher, who was trying hard not to laugh. Noticing the girl’s gaze, the teacher quickly composed herself and, with a righteous expression, said, “Very good! Another round of applause for our new friend, Shangguan!” More clapping followed. “Now, who wants to sit next to Shangguan? Raise your hand.”

Nearly every child in the class shot their hand up—except for a boy sitting by the window. The teacher surveyed the room and, as if making an important decision, finally said, “Then you’ll sit next to Ouyang.”

Xiao looked over to where the teacher pointed and saw an empty seat, but the boy there didn’t look particularly friendly.

Xiao didn’t dare object, so she braced herself and walked over. The boy saw her approach and, without a word, picked up his schoolbag from the empty seat, placing it on his own.

“Hello, my name is Shangguan Xiao,” she said, sneaking a glance at the boy. Seeing that he didn’t seem ill-intentioned, she slowly sat down and introduced herself again. He merely glanced at her and said nothing.

Surprisingly, Xiao grew more determined. “Um… What’s your name?” Silence was his only reply. But Xiao, embodying the persistent spirit of her people, pressed on, “Are you alright? Is your throat sore? I have some medicine that’ll help! Wait, I’ll get it for you!” She began rummaging through her bag.

“It’s not that!” The boy finally snapped, annoyed by her relentless chatter. His voice was cold and hard, oddly mature for his age, flat as a straight line.

“Huh? What was that?” Xiao looked up at him in confusion.

“I said I’m not sick! Stop looking for the medicine! You’re making a mess of the desk!”

“Oh! You finally spoke to me! What’s your name?” Xiao, delighted to finally get a response, forgot all about her earlier apprehension. She gripped his sleeve tightly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Remember this: my name is Ouyang Xianyu! Don’t ask again! And don’t bother me!” He shook off her hand, smoothed the wrinkles from his sleeve, and reopened his book, intent on reading.

True to his demand, Xiao did not disturb him after that. Xianyu read for a while, but the unusual quiet beside him caught his attention. Looking over, he saw that the seat was empty—the girl had vanished. He put down his book and left the classroom, spotting the persistent chatterbox near the slide, happily playing with the other children.

Watching coldly, Xianyu muttered, “Childish!” and turned to leave, but before he could walk away, the girl, who had been playing just moments before, appeared at his side, tugging at his sleeve.

“Xianyu, are you done reading? Let’s go play together!” Her words seemed like a question, but her actions were decisive—without waiting for a reply, she dragged him toward the seesaw. Xianyu wanted to refuse, but the words caught in his throat.

Xiao sat on one end, urging him to sit on the other. As he did, the seesaw began to move up and down. This was the first time Xiao and Xianyu played together—and also Xianyu’s first time on a seesaw.

“Hey!” Her recollection was interrupted by a voice from above. Xiao looked up, exasperated. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s been ages, and you haven’t changed a bit! Still as short as ever!” The cold, flat tone was infuriating.

“Yes, it’s true I haven’t changed, but at least that’s better than some people who change everything but their perpetually sour face—always glum wherever they go! You better stay away from me in case I catch your mood. I bet you’re plagued by flies with that look! I should keep my distance, or I’ll never shake them off!” Xiao rattled off a string of jibes, but they seemed to have no effect. Xianyu remained calm, quietly watching her, making her uncomfortable.

After a long pause, he finally said, “Not bad. Your tongue’s gotten sharper these past few years, but that’s about it. I heard you’re in Class F now. How did your grades fall so far in just a few years?”

He accused her of having a sharp tongue, yet his own words were far more cutting, always picking at her sore spots. It was incredibly aggravating.

“Yeah, and you’ve become a nagging old man. Is it because you rarely talk to anyone that you can’t help but spew venom at whoever you catch? With that repressed demeanor, I bet only those flies like you!” Even after being insulted, Xianyu remained as unshakable as an iceberg.

Xiao puffed her cheeks and glared at him with her bright, watery eyes. For once, Xianyu’s lips curved into a faint smile—but Xiao, still fuming, didn’t notice.

He reached out and patted her head, sighing, “Why are you still so short? Have you not been eating these past few years?”

Xiao shoved his hand away, embarrassed and angry. “What’s so great about being tall? Do you think it makes you the pillar of society? At best, you’re a clothes-drying rack! Hmph! I should call the janitor to haul away this giant piece of trash—you’re an eyesore! Go away! I’m going back to Class F!”

She got up, shot him a fierce glare—he always managed to make her angry the moment they met, how infuriating!—pushed past him without another look, and walked off.

Xianyu quietly watched her go, a certain loneliness flickering in his eyes.