Chapter 10

The door slammed loudly, but it didn’t quite close. Instead, the force of the impact caused it to swing open even wider.

Chen Nian stood in the doorway and popped two more strawberries into her mouth before deciding to go inside and see what was what.

Ever since entering this young child’s body, she often had to rein in her thoughts, simplifying her logic to keep her body and soul in sync—so she wouldn’t come across as too odd to others.

A seven-year-old wouldn’t worry about privacy or pressure. To make a friend, she had no choice but to pester relentlessly.

Chen Nian pushed the door open and stepped into the room, eyeing the bundle huddled under the covers.

She set the strawberries on the table, pulled up a stool, and sat down to talk to her carefully.

She mostly shared bits from the past few days—things that might amuse a kid.

School life was dreadfully dull, save for the occasional chuckle courtesy of her dimwitted desk mate.

“Lin Tianyi’s such an idiot—it’s hilarious. He can’t tell ln from log base ten, and he’s always saying my brain’s no good, my dad’s no good, hahaha…”

“I finish my homework super fast, so Lin Tianyi thinks I’m Superman. He even sneaks wishes over my workbook for perfect scores on his exams. I’m not Superman—I’m the Goddess of Mercy now, hahaha…”

“Lin Tianyi…”

Clack. Fang Zhizhu kicked the bed frame.

Chen Nian: “…”

Chen Nian: “Our teacher says…”

Clack. Fang Zhizhu kicked it again.

Chen Nian fell silent. Fang Zhizhu stayed quiet for a few seconds, then flung the covers aside. Her thick hair, already tousled from rubbing against the sheets, now crackled with static and exploded outward in a wild frizz.

Paired with her sullen scowl, she looked just like a furious golden-maned lion king.

Chen Nian: “…”

Chen Nian stood up. “Um, I just remembered—I need to call my dad…”

She hurried out of the room and thoughtfully closed the door behind her for Fang Zhizhu.

Fang Zhizhu’s angry face was downright terrifying.

Chen Nian patted her chest to calm herself and headed for Dean Su’s office.

It had taken a little time, but she was still within the window she’d agreed on with her dad.

She had just reached the second floor when she looked up and nearly ran straight into Dean Su. The dean pointed at her. “Little Nian, tell your dad to come in for dinner. It’s almost ready.”

Chen Nian: “????”

Dean Su: “Hey, and tell your dad not to worry about the trouble. The institute is just like his own home.”

Chen Nian: “…”

Dean Su: “Hurry up now.”

Chen Nian dashed down the stairs, thump-thump-thump, out of the building. The moment she stepped outside, she spotted her dad leaning against his bicycle by the roadside, smoking.

Chen Nian: “…Dad.”

Chen Junjie stubbed out his cigarette in a flash. “Ah…”

Chen Nian: “Why are you here?”

Chen Junjie: “To pick you up, of course. Got off work early today.”

Way too early. That might fool a kid, but not her.

Chen Nian strolled over to her dad and tilted her head back to gaze up at him. “Dad, you really love me, right?”

When a child said something like that, it didn’t feel awkward—it just made everything twice as sweet.

Chen Junjie crouched down and pinched her cheek. “Who else would I love if not you?”

Chen Nian blinked innocently. “Dad, I have a wish. A really, really big wish—one I want more than anything.”

Chen Junjie: “What is it?”

Chen Nian: “I want Fang Zhi to have parents as wonderful as mine, and love as good as mine. I want us to be a family.”

She had said those exact words to her parents in her previous life, but back then, her lack of preparation had turned it into a fiasco.

Here at the gates of the Welfare Institute, though, with little Chen Nian speaking so purely and passionately—innocent and kindhearted—the words carried a special weight.

Chen Junjie’s nose stung. He placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair. “But Fang Zhi won’t even talk to you right now.”

Chen Nian shot back at once: “She talked to me!”

Even if it wasn’t anything nice…

Chen Junjie: “Ah… Talking’s not enough, though. She has to want to be your friend, like you—and like Mom and Dad, too.”

Chen Nian cocked her head. “Then we could be a family?”

Chen Junjie had met Fang Zhi before and figured it was a pipe dream, much like how he assumed Chen Nian’s sudden craving for a pretty big sister wouldn’t last a month. Buoyed by that unshakable male confidence, he made the promise without a second thought. “Sure.”

Chen Nian: “Yay!!!!!”

She lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Dad’s the best!!! Dad’s the greatest!!!!”

Chen Junjie scooped her up, grinning from ear to ear.

Fang Zhi sat on her bed, stewing in her anger for a while longer. Then Dean Su pushed open the door. “Little Zhi, dinner’s ready.”

Fang Zhi climbed out of bed and went to fetch her bowl and chopsticks. Dean Su spotted the strawberries on the table and smiled. “What delicious strawberries. Chen Nian brought them over, didn’t she? Ah, I forgot to mention earlier,”

“Chen Nian called yesterday. Her grandma’s sick, so she hasn’t come to see you these past couple of days…”

Fang Zhi paused what she was doing and said nothing.

Dean Su rubbed her hands together. “When I came in just now, I saw Chen Nian’s dad. What a lucky girl Chen Nian is—either her mom or her dad brings her every time. Her parents really love her. If it were me, I’d never let my kid run around like that every day…”

Suddenly, Fang Zhi reached out and picked up the box of strawberries.

Dean Su waved her hands frantically. “If you don’t want to hear it, I won’t say any more! Don’t waste good food!”

Fang Zhi didn’t waste anything. The strawberries were so pretty, so sweet and fragrant—they didn’t deserve to be thrown out.

She cradled the box against her chest, left the room, and headed for the cafeteria.

She had just gone downstairs when she spotted Chen Nian and her dad. Chen Nian, who’d been riding in her father’s arm, lit up at the sight of her and wriggled free, jumping down.

She dashed right up to Fang Zhi. “You going to eat?”

“Mm.” Fang Zhi gave a grunt.

Chen Nian beamed. “Together then!”

“Mm.” This time Fang Zhi’s grunt was especially soft.

But Chen Nian heard it. She didn’t just hear it—she read way too much into it. Whirling around, she yelled at her dad, “Dad! Fang Zhi invited me to eat with her! You come too!!!”

Chen Junjie gazed at the two adorable little girls, a warm smile spreading across his face. “Sure, sure.”

Fang Zhi and Chen Nian walked ahead, with Dad trailing behind.

Chen Nian chattered on and on, prattling the whole way until her attention finally snagged on the strawberries cradled in Fang Zhi’s arms.

“You…” She pointed at the box. “Heavy? Want me to carry it?”

Fang Zhi stopped short. She plucked a strawberry, popped it into her mouth, and chomped down on it just like Chen Nian did—big, enthusiastic bites.

Chen Nian: “!!!!!”

Sweet, fragrant juice flooded Fang Zhi’s mouth, lifting her spirits just a touch.

“Not heavy…” Fang Zhi mumbled clearly between chews. “I eat them, no heavy.”

Chen Nian: “!!!!!”

Her eyes went wide; she froze right there on the spot.

Fang Zhi, though, kept on walking—and eating—one strawberry after another, not holding back a bit.

Before long, a pack of kids had gathered behind her, staring longingly at the box.

Fang Zhi didn’t share a single one. She clutched the box tight.

Strawberries tasted so good. Jealousy tasted awful. Fang Zhi wanted others to envy her for once—not the other way around.

Chen Nian stood there stunned for a good half minute. Only when her dad crouched down in front of her did she snap out of it.

Tears welled up in her eyes, unbidden, and her voice trembled with joy as she pounded her dad’s shoulder. “Dad, did you see? Did you see! She ate my strawberries! She ate my strawberries!!!”

Chen Junjie blinked, a little thrown. “Uh, yeah. She ate them.”

Chen Nian: “She likes me! She likes me!!!!”

Chen Junjie: “?????”

He let out a long sigh, ruffled his daughter’s hair, and said gravely, “Niannian, your dad needs to explain what ‘like’ really means…”

Chen Nian cracked up laughing and bolted off.

As if she didn’t know what like meant. That heart-stopping blank when she first saw Fang Zhizhu—that was like. Curling up in Fang Zhizhu’s arms, rewatching her shows over and over—that was like. Flying halfway around the world on a red-eye for a dozen hours just to see her—that was like. Crossing into this tiny body, throwing logic and materialism out the window, all to stay by Fang Zhizhu’s side—that was like.

And Fang Zhizhu—that innocent Fang Zhizhu who didn’t even know her own name yet—eating her strawberries? That was like.

Chen Nian leaped for joy and scurried back to Fang Zhizhu’s side. The other kids scattered at her approach.

Together they entered the cafeteria. Chen Nian kept stealing glances at Fang Zhizhu. When they reached the serving window and Fang Zhizhu fumbled awkwardly with her full hands, Chen Nian reached out quick. “Let me hold the straw—”

Fang Zhizhu twisted away, dodging the grab.

Chen Nian: “?????”

Kids this protective of their food? Chen Nian tried to explain. “I swear, I’m just holding it for you. It’s all yours—I’m not stealing any…”

Fang Zhizhu spun around and thrust her lunchbox into Chen Nian’s hands.

Chen Nian: “?????”

“Mushroom veggie stir-fry.” Fang Zhizhu dropped the words and strode off to her usual lonely corner table that no one else wanted.

Chen Nian clutched the lunchbox, dazed for just a few seconds—then broke into a radiant grin.

She waved at Fang Zhizhu’s retreating back. “Got it! No problem! Wait for me!”

Chen Junjie, who had watched the entire scene from the side: “……”

He began to seriously consider whether he should give his daughter a lesson in ideological education titled: Don’t be so humble in relationships.

Chen Nian served the meal for Fang Zhizhu, paying more attention to nutritional balance than Fang Zhizhu usually did.

But as soon as she sat across from Fang Zhizhu, she noticed that Fang Zhizhu might not be able to eat that much today, because that box of strawberries had already been half eaten.

Chen Nian reminded her, “Eat your meal first. Don’t eat too much fruit at once, or you’ll get a stomachache.”

Fang Zhizhu glanced at her, and if Chen Nian hadn’t misunderstood, Fang Zhizhu had rolled her eyes at her slightly.

Ah, so cute!

Chen Nian smiled.

Her smile was so brilliant and brazen that Fang Zhi could no longer ignore her.

She pushed the strawberry box to one side and started eating. While eating, she observed Chen Nian’s hands and Chen Nian’s strawberries, discovering that Chen Nian’s hands never reached for the strawberries.

Fang Zhi actually wasn’t someone who wasted food. Her parents had taught her from childhood to only take as much as she could eat, and that only children who finished their meals were good children.

So even though her stomach felt a bit full today, she still finished the meal that Chen Nian had served her.

After she finished eating and washed the bowl, Fang Zhi headed to the library, with Chen Nian still following behind her.

Fang Zhi picked up the nearest book and flipped through it. At that moment, Chen Nian stopped chattering and stayed quietly by her side.

While Fang Zhi read the book, Chen Nian watched her.

Whenever Fang Zhi looked over, Chen Nian would quickly avert her gaze, pretending to look out the window.

Outside the window, the sun slowly sank and soon dropped below the horizon.

The sky darkened, the lights came on, and Dad waved from outside the window. Chen Nian stood up and said goodbye to Fang Zhi.

“I’m going home,” she said. “See you tomorrow~”

Fang Zhi’s mouth twitched, and her fingers creased the page in her hand until it curled. Finally, she uttered three words: “See you tomorrow.”

Chen Nian smiled again. She pushed the remaining half box of strawberries toward Fang Zhi. “Actually, I have a question, but you don’t have to answer me.”

Fang Zhi looked up at her, thinking that she was truly the strangest kid imaginable.

The strange kid’s eyes sparkled, her mouth pursed again and again, and for once she showed a hint of shyness. But in the end, she clenched her fist and asked her, “Do you like strawberries that much, or have you started to like me?”