Chapter 3

Chen Zilu led her niece around the corner, stopping once they were out of Qiu Li’s sight.
She crouched down, her expression stern. “Xiao-xiao, Auntie needs to talk to you.”
Yan Xiao was still mentally giving herself a standing ovation, inwardly applauding her flawless performance. She couldn’t wait to see how many hatred points she’d earned. When she’d snuck a glance over her shoulder earlier, Qiu Li had been staring at the cotton candy she gave him with the sourest face, he must be cursing her by now! So when her aunt called her, she looked up, her smile still radiant. “What is it?”
Seeing that carefree grin made Chen Zilu’s heart ache.
Her Xiao-xiao was usually such a good girl, clever, polite, sweet, well-behaved. When had she become so reckless?
Absolutely unacceptable!
Her expression hardened. “Xiao-xiao, what you did just now was wrong. Do you understand?”
Yan Xiao tilted her head. Of course I know, it was on purpose! But all she said was, “Oh.”
That innocent look melted away some of her aunt’s anger. Maybe she was being too harsh. After all, Xiao-xiao was still a child. Her tone softened. “You can’t throw away other people’s things, sweetheart. It’s not polite, okay?”
She deliberately didn’t mention Qiu Li’s name, she didn’t want her niece to see him the way everyone else did, as someone to look down on. Dislike someone if you must, ignore them even, but don’t hurt them just because you can.
Yan Xiao considered this carefully. She still needed to keep up her role as a child; that was the best way to stay close to the villain. So she pursed her lips and nodded earnestly. “Mm-hmm. Okay.”
Relieved, Chen Zilu smiled again. Her niece might be small, but she always meant what she said.
“Then promise Auntie,” she said, gently pinching her cheek, “that you won’t throw anyone’s milk again.”
Yan Xiao bit her lip. Her aunt was making a big deal out of nothing, but what could she do? For now, she was still just a three-year-old. Under her aunt’s expectant gaze, she nodded solemnly. “Okay.”
(I’ll just throw it secretly next time!)
She added, “I was wrong just now, Auntie. Please don’t be mad at me.”
In front of adults, she needed to be a model child. No suspicion, no scolding. This had just been her first “mission.” She’d been nervous. She’d have to be more careful next time.
Hearing her admit fault, Chen Zilu’s heart melted completely. She pulled the little girl into her arms and murmured, “As long as you’re polite and sweet, Auntie won’t be mad.”
Mission accomplished!
Yan Xiao grinned triumphantly and followed her unsuspecting aunt back into the house, to meet the book’s male lead, Qiu Yan.
Meanwhile, on the lawn, Qiu Li stood holding the cotton candy for a long moment before quietly tucking it into the pocket of his vest.
He looked down at the spilled milk, crouched, picked it up, then pulled out a tissue and carefully wiped the grass clean.
Inside, Yan Xiao followed her aunt through the hall, called a quick greeting to the adults, and then trotted off toward the art studio to find Qiu Yan.
She’d always liked Qiu Yan. Unlike most children, he never acted childish. Playing with him didn’t mean silly games or nonsense talk. And of course, she admired his talent, what three-year-old wouldn’t?
At such a young age, his art had already been praised and collected by adults. He was a prodigy, the kind of genius she could only look up to. Everyone admired strength and brilliance; she was no exception.
In the book, her relationship with Qiu Yan was already good. But now, she had an extra reason to keep it that way. If she built a solid friendship with him, maybe when she eventually maxed out Qiu Li’s hatred value and returned to her own world, her parents would still benefit from that connection in this one. That thought gave her peace of mind.
Satisfied with her perfect, well-planned strategy, Yan Xiao hummed happily to herself.
The art room was full of children who had come just to see the prodigy at work. Among all the kids from ages three to ten, Qiu Yan was the center of attention, but he ignored them completely. He was lost in his art, radiating that cool, aloof “young genius” aura that made adults whisper in awe.
When she entered, he was painting, oblivious to everyone else. His refined profile glowed under the sunlight, beautiful enough to be a painting itself.
If she had to describe him in one word, it would be noble.
He was the perfect leading man.
Beautiful. Brilliant. Tragic.
Well, not tragic yet, but two out of three wasn’t bad.
The other children’s chatter didn’t bother him, and Yan Xiao didn’t want to interrupt. She just grabbed a tiny stool and sat nearby to watch.
She’d never been artistic. After staring at his canvas for quite a while, she still couldn’t tell what he was painting, but the colors were soothing, the brushwork elegant.
Resting her chin on her hands, she watched until her neck started to ache. She turned her head to stretch, and through the window, she spotted someone on the lawn.
It was Qiu Li, crouched over, dabbing the grass dry with tissues.
He was alone in the wide, empty yard, just a small figure against all that space.
Her brows twitched. Wait, the big bad villain is this neat?
The system had told her a thousand times how vicious and cruel Qiu Li would become, so she’d imagined a tiny tyrant even now. But watching him carefully clean the spilled milk, gathering up the trash, and tossing it into the bin before methodically wiping his hands, he didn’t look evil at all. Just quiet. Serious.
In fact, he looked kind of good.
Sure, he didn’t talk much, and his personality seemed cold, but at six years old, how scary could he possibly be?
Thinking back to how his cold gaze had frightened her earlier, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. I really overreacted.
Qiu Li was still wiping his hands when he suddenly froze.
He could feel eyes on him.
He always noticed that kind of thing.
Because it was never good.
Whether it was Qiu Zhan, his so-called friends, or the kids at kindergarten, they all liked to whisper behind his back, pointing at him, laughing when they thought he couldn’t hear. Even when he caught them, they never looked ashamed, only smug.
He hated that feeling. Hated being watched. Because those eyes were always cruel.
His brows drew together. After a brief hesitation, he lifted his head and turned toward the source of the stare.
Yan Xiao, still gazing dreamily through the window, was startled when his cold, sharp eyes locked onto hers.
Oh no. He’d gone full villain mode again!
Just seconds ago she’d thought he wasn’t scary, now that frost in his gaze nearly froze her.
But then she brightened.
Wait, maybe he was angry!
And if he was angry, that meant her hatred points would go up even faster!
With renewed confidence, Yan Xiao lifted her chin and flashed what she believed was a defiant smirk.
Qiu Li blinked, momentarily dazed.
The girl who’d thrown away his milk was smiling at him.
Was she teasing him?
To her, it was a mischievous challenge.
But to him, well, she was three. Even if she tried to glare, she looked adorable. With her round cheeks and dimpled grin, her “provocation” looked more like sunshine.
The little girl smiled at him, and Qiu Li suddenly felt foolish.
He’d assumed the worst of her, but maybe she really hadn’t meant it badly. She’d even given him candy, after all.
His brow furrowed. He almost thought about smiling back, until his gaze drifted past her and landed on the boy sitting beside her.
Qiu Yan.
Of course.
Everyone loved Qiu Yan.
No one ever liked him.
Not even this little girl.
His face went blank again. He dropped his gaze, turned, and walked away.
Watching him leave with that sullen look, Yan Xiao’s small brows arched with delight. He’s definitely mad this time!
Outside, the adults were chatting over afternoon tea in the veranda. With no one paying him attention, Qiu Li finally felt he could breathe again. He hurried toward the stairs, eager to hide in his room but paused when he heard voices from the hall.
“Zilu, where’s your Xiao-xiao?”
“Xiao-xiao? She’s probably in the art room.”
His steps faltered. He glanced at the pocket of his vest where the cotton candy was tucked.
His lashes lowered, fluttering softly.
So her name is Yan Xiao.

Author’s Note:
Xiao-xiao: Look at my smug, defiant smile! ╭(╯^╰)╮
Baby Qiu Li: She smiled at me. I’m… happy (^▽^)