Jian Yue's expression was kinder than usual. Perhaps it was because this little boy was smaller than her, sickly pale, and as if, if he were to be blown by the wind, he would fly away. Or maybe it was his cold yet exceptionally pretty face—she found herself yearning for the role of his elder sister, to protect him.
"If you call me sister. I swore I would be one, shielding you from the wind and rain."
She thought she was being exceptionally friendly and even flashed a smile, only for the other party to ignore her curtly, with no change in his expression.
"No."
"What? Why?" Jian Yue asked, a hint of curiosity in her brown eyes. All the kids couldn't wait to be friends with her, and she had directly offered him a relationship—but he was rejecting her. Why?
"I'm strong and pretty, don't you believe me when I said I would be your umbrella? I'm not kidding, I will be one for you." She actively advertised the role.
However, she received no reply as the young boy moved to another section, leaving Jian Yue and her friend standing alone.
Xiao Xue spoke up. "He's so unfriendly." She couldn't help but pout. Even if he's a germaphobe, he could still talk, right?
Why was he so cold?
"But he is beautiful," she added after a moment of resentment. Yes, he's a beauty, so she might as well forgive him. In the future, he would certainly decide to play and be friends with her. Xiao Xue felt assured after thinking that. After all, she had to be friends with all good-looking people.
"Yue'er, do you want to play on the slides? Or the swings? I'm strong—I can push you really well!" one boy volunteered.
It was finally time to show off. Now that Su Li and Pei Lu had left. They could prove themselves.
Following his lead, the other boys also volunteered. In the end, Xiao Xue picked her favorite choice.
Jian Yue added after seeing the crestfallen expressions of those who weren't chosen, "You guys can push the others first, and then push us when Doudou and Luoluo are tired. Okay?"
The boys' expressions instantly eased, and they happily nodded, agreeing to the arrangement.
They kept playing for hours, treated themselves to the buffet, and then went back to playing.
Once in a while, Jian Yue's gaze would stray to the boy sitting alone.
She could only see his back—his face was hidden—but his small figure constantly drew her eyes.
They were about to go play on the slides when they heard several footsteps, followed by murmurs among the kids.
"Isn't that Pei Cheng?" Xiao Xue muttered.
Jian Yue glanced over, her eyes landing on the approaching seniors.
There were five of them: Pei Cheng—Pei Lu's brother, Su Yan—Su Li's brother, Lu Qiang, Jian Yinchen who was Jian Yue's eldest cousin and also the eldest son of Jian Yizhen, and one other boy surnamed Lin.
Most of the upper-class kids attended the same private school, so they knew who they were. They also knew the boys were in middle school.
Kids in those classes didn't like playing with little ones, so why were they here?
Just as Jian Yue began to ponder further, she heard Xiao Xue cover her mouth, her eyes widening in shock. "Could it be... they came to avenge Pei Lu and Su Li?"
Jian Yue's little eyebrows knitted into a frown. That might be true.
They were all dressed in sharp suits, and arrogant expressions sat on their faces.
"Hey!" Pei Cheng approached the two girls, his expression so fierce that Xiao Xue involuntarily took a step back.
Pei Lu would definitely grow up to look like his brother. The resemblance between them was uncanny. And among his generation, Pei Cheng was already the one with obvious muscles.
"How may I help you?" Jian Yue's expression didn't change. Her little face remained calm. It was clear she wasn't intimidated by the "big boys."
"Hahaha, you're indeed a daughter of the Jian family—so bold and tough." He dragged his little brother from behind him. "Tell me, why did you chase my brother away from playing?"
Jian Yue didn't even spare Pei Lu a glance. Her little voice rang out, "He chose to leave."
"Well, did he?" Pei Cheng crossed his arms. "He said you asked him to apologize to some stranger. Is that true?"
"True."
Pei Cheng scoffed. "On what grounds does he have to apologize?" His tone was taunting, and his eyes narrowed with contempt as he demanded an answer.
"You can't be unreasonable! He insulted and shoved the new boy, and Yue'er asked him to apologize—but he refused, saying he wouldn't. Yue'er gave him two choices: either apologize and stay, or don't apologize and leave. And Pei Lu chose to leave." Xiao Xue mustered all the courage she could and quickly explained.