Chapter 7

Just as Yan Xiao reached the doorway, she suddenly remembered something important. She spun around and ran back.
A startled Qiu Li blinked. “?”
From her tiny backpack, she pulled out a cotton candy and pressed it into his hand. “Here! For you!”
Before he could react, she turned and dashed off.
A mosquito might be small, but it’s still meat, she thought proudly.
One cotton candy a day, one hatred point a day, no matter how slow the grind, if she kept going, she’d wear the villain down eventually!
Watching the little girl disappear through the classroom door, her tiny backpack bouncing behind her, Qiu Li’s long lashes trembled faintly.
That was the second time she’d given him cotton candy.
Now he had two pieces.
Before he could even process that thought, a group of boys from his class swaggered over.
His face instantly went cold. He tucked the candy deep into his pocket, picked up his tray, and turned to leave.
“Hey!” chubby Chen Yao blocked his way. “That girl from the lower class, what’d she just give you?”
Qiu Li shot him a glance, silent as ever, and tried to sidestep him.
“I’m talking to you!” Chen Yao snapped. He couldn’t stand that expressionless, untouchable attitude. What was he acting all high and mighty for? He was just a bastard child!
When Qiu Li still didn’t respond, Chen Yao shoved him.
But Qiu Li had been hit too many times to be caught off guard. The moment Chen Yao reached out, he instinctively twisted aside. The push met empty air, sending Chen Yao stumbling forward until he slammed into the windowsill in a ridiculous pose.
The room erupted in laughter.
Chen Yao’s face burned with humiliation. His anger flared, and he turned it on Qiu Li, ready to lash out again,
“Why aren’t you boys in your dorms yet? It’s nap time!” the dorm supervisor’s voice cut in sharply from the doorway.
Caught red-handed, Chen Yao froze, his fist hovering midair. He scowled and reluctantly lowered it, muttering as he passed, “It’s just a piece of candy. You act like it’s gold. So pathetic.”
Qiu Li said nothing. He pressed the candy deeper into his pocket, picked up his tray, and calmly walked to hand it in.
“Still carrying your own tray every day? Good job!” the dorm teacher said warmly, sticking a small red flower sticker onto his shirt. “Here’s a reward for being so responsible.”
Qiu Li paused, looking down at the bright sticker, then murmured softly, “Thank you, Teacher.”
Clutching his flower, he left for the nap room like he always did, quietly, alone.
The teacher stood frozen for a moment.
She’d been with this class for over two years, long enough to know every child’s quirks and tempers. But Qiu Li had always stood out.
Everyone knew his story, his background, his silence. It was impossible not to notice him.
He was an easy student in one sense: obedient, polite, never troublesome.
But in another sense, he was difficult, because he was too quiet. Unnaturally quiet for a child his age.
The school psychologist had observed him for months and concluded that he simply preferred solitude, that he wasn’t ill, just different. The teachers had been relieved.
Even so, his silence was something none of them quite knew how to handle. It was the kind of silence that bordered on loneliness.
And now, for the first time in over two years, he had spoken words she’d never heard from him before.
“Thank you, Teacher.”
The simple phrase lingered in her mind, gentle and heavy all at once.

Meanwhile, in the lower class nap room, Yan Xiao lay under her tiny blanket, eyes darting around the room while pretending to rest.
Rows of miniature beds filled the space, each one occupied by a small body. Some children were already asleep, others whispered and giggled, wiggling restlessly. It was chaotic and strangely adorable.
The door creaked open softly. Yan Xiao immediately squeezed her eyes shut, feigning the picture of innocence.
The teacher walked through, quietly tucking in blankets and whispering to restless kids. Of course, Yan Xiao’s sharp eyes had already noticed everything, especially the few self-appointed ringleaders who refused to nap and were dragging others into their mischief.
“Let’s see who’s already asleep,” the teacher said playfully. “Whoever’s asleep, raise your hand so I can check!”
Yan Xiao: “…” Seriously? That’s the level we’re playing at?
Then came the sound of dozens of rustling little arms shooting up.
Yan Xiao: “…”
She held perfectly still, breathing evenly, a professional faker. Even her aunt could never tell when she was pretending to sleep, no way her teacher could.
The gentle rhythm of the teacher’s voice lulled her despite herself, and before long, her eyelids grew heavy. The last thought she had before drifting off was wondering if she could find an excuse to sneak over to Building One in the afternoon.
But the opportunity never came. By dismissal time, she still hadn’t managed to see Qiu Li again.
The lower classes were released first, so she had no choice but to leave, her tiny backpack bouncing, her feet dragging with every reluctant step as she kept glancing back toward Building One.
It was her first day of kindergarten, and since her mother had been at work that morning, she hadn’t been there to drop her off.
Now, in the afternoon, both her mom and her aunt came together to pick her up.
Watching her niece glance over her shoulder again and again like she was leaving behind a great love, Chen Zilu couldn’t help laughing. She nudged her sister and whispered, “Sis, what do you think she’s missing more, the desserts or the toys?”
Chen Ziyi smiled, recalling what the teacher had said at lunchtime, that Xiao-xiao had adjusted perfectly and even made a new friend. Her voice softened. “I think she’s missing her new friend.”
“Oh?” Chen Zilu arched a brow. “She made a best friend already? That’s my niece, all right!”
Chen Ziyi gave her sister a playful glare.
As they chatted, Yan Xiao finally came out. Chen Zilu hurried forward, swooping her into a hug and rubbing her cheeks. “My little darling, did you miss Auntie?”
Yan Xiao had been trying to stall, hoping for one last glimpse of Qiu Li near the older class building. When she suddenly found herself face-to-face with her aunt’s teasing smile, she froze for half a second before answering, “I did!”
Her hesitation was painfully obvious.
Chen Zilu pouted dramatically. “So slow to answer! Doesn’t sound like you missed me much!”
Yan Xiao stared up at her aunt’s stunning face for a few seconds then gave in. She grabbed her cheeks with both hands, planted a huge, noisy kiss on her, and declared loudly, “I really missed you! I missed Auntie so much!”
Honestly, she wasn’t sure which of them was supposed to be the three-year-old.
Then she turned to her mom, arms stretched out. “I missed Mommy too! Super much!”
Chen Ziyi chuckled, gently pinching her daughter’s chubby cheek. “Such a sweet girl. You’ve earned a reward, one candy tonight.”
That did it.
Yan Xiao’s eyes lit up like fireworks.
One more piece of candy meant one more opportunity to farm hate points!
Her mom was truly the ultimate ally.
The unexpected bonus completely washed away her regret about not seeing Qiu Li again before leaving, and even the gloom of the coming weekend, when she wouldn’t see him at all, vanished beneath her mother’s and aunt’s bright, loving smiles.

When Qiu Li left the classroom with his backpack, the entire third building was already locked up. Not a single child remained. Even though he knew the lower classes were dismissed earlier, he still couldn’t help staring at the building across the courtyard for a while.
Last night, he’d overheard a servant mention that the Qiu family was throwing a small celebration for Qiu Yan over the weekend. Normally, he couldn’t care less about anything related to his younger brother, especially not parties, but then the servant added that the Yan family would be attending.
His lips pressed together ever so slightly.
For the first time, he found himself looking forward to the weekend.
So he waited.
He watched as one by one, every other child was picked up by their parents, until only he was left. And still, he didn’t feel sad.
He waited until the sun sank below the horizon. The teacher had called and called again, but no one answered.
He glanced at the clock on the wall. 7:20.
After a moment, he walked to the teacher’s desk, eyes lowered. “Teacher, I can go home by myself.” He’d done it before, back when Qiu Zhan had abandoned him outside a hotel once, he’d hailed a cab and gone home alone.
But the phone still rang unanswered, and Teacher Meng Jing sighed helplessly. This wasn’t the first time. Looking at the quiet little boy in front of her, she said softly, “Let’s wait a bit longer, okay? Maybe they’re already on the way.”
She’d once waited with him until past eight o’clock. It was only seven-twenty now, what was another half-hour? If no one came by eight, she’d just take him home herself.
“Okay.” Qiu Li nodded and sat back down, waiting quietly.
By seven-forty, still no answer.
Meng Jing finally lost her patience, not angry, just weary of the endless, pointless waiting. She put her phone away. “All right, I’ll drive you home.”
Qiu Li lifted his head. “It’s okay, Teacher. You can go. I’ll wait by myself.”
Meng Jing blinked. “It’s fine,” she said with a forced smile. “My place is on the way anyway.”
She regretted not taking him home earlier, she could’ve been back before sunset.
Qiu Li’s lashes fluttered. No one knew how sensitive he was to people’s moods, but he could tell, the teacher wasn’t really happy, even if she smiled.
If he kept her waiting longer, she’d only feel worse.
So he stood, quietly following her out.

From the back seat of the car, Yan Xiao was happily spooning chocolate mousse out of a cup her aunt had just bought her after dinner at a new alien-themed restaurant. As the car drove past the kindergarten, she happened to glance outside, and froze.
Walking beside the teacher, at the gate, was Qiu Li.
For a second, she thought she was hallucinating.
“Auntie!” she blurted, twisting around in her seat. “Auntie, stop, stop the car!”
Chen Zilu jumped at the shout, thinking her niece was hurt, and immediately pulled over, hazard lights flashing.
“What’s wrong?” Chen Ziyi, in the passenger seat, turned back, concerned.
The moment her seatbelt came off, Yan Xiao climbed onto her knees, pressing her face to the rear window. It was Qiu Li.
Why was he still at school so late?
Had no one come to pick him up?
“I’m fine,” she said quickly, eyes fixed on the boy standing with his teacher by the curb. “I just saw a friend.”
“Friend?”
Both women followed her gaze, and then exchanged a look.
They understood immediately.
Yan Xiao bit her lip. So this is what the future villain’s childhood was like? So pitiful. It was already dark, and no one had come for him. A family like the Qius definitely had drivers for school pickup, if no one came, it wasn’t an accident. It was deliberate.
And she had a pretty good guess who was behind it.
Knowing the story as she did, she guessed right: it was Qiu Zhan. He’d deliberately sent the driver away, claiming he’d arranged another to fetch Qiu Li, and told the man not to worry about it.
The driver knew full well what the eldest young master thought of the younger one. He wouldn’t dare ask questions, just another employee paid to mind his own business. Who in their right mind would cross Qiu Zhan, the heir of the family? So he’d simply turned a blind eye.
So pitiful, Yan Xiao thought, watching the boy’s small figure under the dim streetlight, head bowed.
She hesitated, then turned to her mother. “Mom, let’s give him a ride home! It’s on the way, we can drop him off at the Qiu house and then go home after. I kinda want to take a little drive anyway.”
Chen Ziyi never denied her daughter anything, except candy and ice cream.
“All right,” she said with a smile, gently pinching her daughter’s cheek. “Such a thoughtful girl. I’ll go get your friend.”
“Not a friend! Not a friend!” Yan Xiao quickly corrected herself. She’d slipped up in her excitement and needed to fix it immediately.
Her mother raised a brow. “If he’s not your friend, then why give him a ride?”
That stumped her. She paused, then said solemnly, “He’s my classmate. The teacher said we have to be kind to our classmates.”
Chen Ziyi couldn’t help laughing. This little trickster
“Okay, okay. A classmate, then. I’ll go invite your classmate.”
“I, I’m coming too!” Yan Xiao insisted.
Thinking nothing of it, Chen Ziyi unbuckled her daughter and lifted her out of the car, holding her hand as they walked toward the gate.
Inside, Yan Xiao’s heart was pounding with excitement.
The villain was prideful, paranoid, and deeply sensitive, he hated being pitied. So she would stand tall, chin up, and speak in the most condescending, superior tone possible.
That way, she’d both send him home and make him resent her, two birds with one stone!
Genius!

Friday evening rush hour was the worst time to hail a cab, especially in this busy district. The ride app said twenty people were still ahead in the queue.
Meng Jing sighed, wondering if she should call a friend nearby for help, when she heard someone calling her name.
It was Mrs. Yan, holding her daughter by the hand.
The teacher blinked, momentarily confused, until Mrs. Yan explained why they were there. Then she understood.
While the adults spoke, Yan Xiao ignored them entirely. She tilted her chin, summoning all the arrogance her little body could muster, and said, “We just finished dinner and are heading home. Since you don’t have a ride, I’ll let you sit in our car.”
The implication was clear: You have no one to pick you up, so out of the kindness of my noble heart, I’ll take pity on you.
Qiu Li blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected to see her tonight.
When she offered him a ride, he first looked at Mrs. Yan, her expression held no irritation, no disdain. That alone eased the tightness in his chest.
Teacher Meng Jing, of course, recognized both mother and daughter. Everyone knew the Yans and Qius were on familiar terms. After a moment, she turned to the boy gently. “Would you like to go home with Mrs. Yan?”
He nodded. The teacher had already waited with him for hours, he didn’t want to trouble her further.
Besides…he sneaked another glance at Yan Xiao.
“I’d like that,” he said softly.
Meng Jing sighed in relief. Perfect. If she’d had to drive all the way across the city, she wouldn’t have gotten home before ten.
Once Qiu Li climbed into the Yan family’s car, she waved them off and immediately called her best friend to invite herself over for dinner, she was starving.
There was only one child safety seat in the back, reserved for Yan Xiao, so Chen Ziyi told Qiu Li to sit beside her.
As she lifted her daughter into her seat and fastened the belt, she turned to help the boy, but he had already climbed in and buckled up neatly by himself, sitting perfectly straight.
Chen Ziyi smiled in approval. “So well-behaved.”
Once the car was moving, Yan Xiao glanced from her chocolate mousse to the quiet boy beside her. It was nearly eight, he probably hadn’t eaten yet.
Her heart tugged.
The mousse was really good. She didn’t want to part with it. But the poor kid must be starving.
Fine. She’d just buy another one later.
No risk, no reward. If she wanted results, she had to invest.
She took a deep breath, thrust the dessert toward him, and lifted her chin. “You want it?”
Qiu Li had been sitting stiffly the whole ride. Though both “Aunt Chen”s were kind, and Yan Xiao sat right next to him, he didn’t dare relax.
So when a piece of cake appeared suddenly in front of him, rich with the scent of chocolate, he froze.
“I’m not hungry,” he said quietly.
Right on cue, his stomach growled. Loudly.
His ears flushed crimson.
Yan Xiao smirked in satisfaction. Seeing his embarrassment balanced out the pain of giving up her dessert. Hook, line, and sinker.
She dropped the mousse into his tidy little hands with an imperious wave. “I already ate dinner. You can have it.”
That small, round chin, that proud little face, adorable beyond words.
Qiu Li looked at her, then at the cake, lips twitching upward just slightly.
“Thank you.”
He sounded reluctant, which only made her more pleased. “You’re welcome,” she replied generously.
But when she sneaked a glance, expecting him to eat happily, she saw him staring at the dessert instead, jaw tight, expression unreadable.
What’s with that face? she thought irritably. That’s my favorite cake! Shouldn’t you at least look grateful?
Still, what was done was done. She turned toward the window, pretending not to care.
After a long while, Qiu Li carefully unwrapped it.
It was shaped like a little lamb, soft, white, and ridiculously cute.
He’d gone hungry before. Sometimes Qiu Zhan would make sure he skipped dinner, but he’d never complained.
Tonight, though, staring at the tiny, perfect cake in his lap, he suddenly realized just how hungry he really was.
He hesitated a bit longer, then finally scooped off one of the lamb’s legs with the spoon. Sweet, soft, creamy, it melted on his tongue.
For the first time, he thought…so this is what good things taste like.

By the time they reached the gated villas of the Qiu estate, the cake was gone.
He glanced out the window and pointed toward a side street. “Auntie, could you stop here?”
Chen Zilu looked out. “But this isn’t your house yet.”
“I just want to look at the trees,” he said quietly.
A blatant lie.
But she didn’t pry. She already knew enough about the Qiu family to guess the truth. Sensitive, withdrawn, a complicated home, no wonder he didn’t want them pulling up to his gate.
The entrance wasn’t far anyway, so she simply smiled. “Of course.”
She parked by the curb and got out to open his door.
“Thank you, Auntie,” he said politely.
“You’re welcome,” she replied with a warm smile. “It was Xiao-xiao who spotted you.”
He froze for a second, something shifting in his chest. So it had been her idea.
But then he thought of Qiu Zhan, how the boy had bullied her last week just for giving him a single candy.
If Qiu Zhan found out she’d brought him home in her car tonight, he’d make things worse for her.
Better he walked from here.
Yan Xiao, oblivious to his thoughts, hurriedly rolled down the window and leaned halfway out. “We were just passing by!” she shouted, chin tilted high. “Totally on the way!”
Not specially giving him a ride. Definitely not.
The two families didn’t actually live in the same villa district. Calling it “on the way” was a stretch, they were merely both in the eastern part of the city.
Of course, Chen Zilu didn’t catch the hidden meaning behind her niece’s words. She just thought, amusedly, that this was how little kids talked to each other.
“All right, you’d better head home now,” she told Qiu Li kindly. “Watch your step.”
Qiu Li nodded, then turned to leave, but something made him pause. He looked back toward the car, eyes faintly shimmering beneath the streetlight. “Tomorrow’s Qiu Yan’s celebration. Are you coming?”
Under the warm halo of the streetlamp, the boy’s dark eyes gleamed like fragments of starlight.
He was hoping she would come.
But in Yan Xiao’s ears, the question sounded like the opposite, that he didn’t want her there, and was subtly warning her not to show up and bother him.
Her brows arched, and she declared proudly, “Of course I’m going!”
You don’t want to see me? Then I’ll make sure I’m right in front of you the whole time!
Qiu Li pressed his lips together, hiding the small burst of happiness that bloomed inside him.
“Oh,” he murmured.
His voice was as calm as ever, but there was a quiet joy within it, too faint for others to catch.
Yan Xiao blinked. Huh?
He already sounded displeased?
That was way too easy!
Had the system upgraded her with some secret buff?
The system, silent for nearly a week, suddenly popped up in her mind:
[Nope.]
Qiu Li, meanwhile, walked home with that flicker of joy tucked deep in his chest. The corners of his lips lifted slightly as he disappeared into the darkness.

Author’s Note:
Little Qiu Li: She’s coming tomorrow! I’m happy (#^.^#)
Xiao-xiao: He’s so easy to trigger, this is the best mission ever (^▽^)