Dawn was just breaking. Roosters crowed nonstop. The air still held a chill. Qin Yage snuggled closer into Qin An's arms.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Qin Yage pouted unhappily.

After a long silence, she spoke again. "Bro, tell me honestly. Will Mom and Dad ever come back?"

"Probably..." Qin An mumbled vaguely.

"I want the real truth. The absolute truth."

"No." Qin An replied firmly. He might never see them again in this lifetime.

"I knew it."

Qin Yage hugged Qin An tightly. Her body trembled slightly. She looked up at him. Her fingers drew meaningless circles on his chest. Her big eyes glistened with moisture.

"Promise you won't do anything so dangerous again. When I saw that big hole in your shoulder, blood oozing out... I fainted right there. I kept thinking—what if it hit your heart? If you left without saying goodbye too, I'd be all alone. I don't want to be alone."

"I won't."

"Do you even want a 'next time'?"

"Hey, brother... do you hate me?"

"No. Not at all. I love you to death." As he spoke, Qin An nuzzled his cheek against Qin Yage's smooth little face.

"Disgusting!" Qin Yage pretended to gag. Inside, she was bursting with joy.

Qin Yage had more words stuck in her throat. She'd waited for Qin An to say, "I hate you so much," so she could spill the truth and move him to tears. She was unhappy with how their mom treated him. But whenever she showed him affection, Mom's attitude worsened. For his sake, she'd kept her distance. Should she tell him now? She hesitated.

Lost in thought, Qin Yage snuggled deeper into Qin An's warm embrace. Before she knew it, she drifted off for another nap.

Qin An had lain in the hospital room for a full week. Three days ago, he'd insisted on discharge. But he couldn't argue against his sister and Aunt Xia. He gave in. His shoulder still ached. The wound wasn't fully healed. Yet Qin An was dead set on leaving. Even with Aunt Xia pulling strings, those medical bills hurt like hell.

April 12, 2000. Wednesday. Qin An finally returned to school. But waiting for him wasn't his gentle little beauty deskmate. It was a fierce big bad wolf.

A girl in a yellow T-shirt slammed her study guide onto Qin An's desk with a loud *bang*.

She was Qin An's class monitor. Also captain of the school's Young Pioneers. She'd taken a long leave recently. Just back days ago, she heard a classmate missed a whole week of school. Even her good temper couldn't tolerate that.

Her name was Huang Jiajun. From the Huang family of Nan'an City—one of its most prominent clans. Her management style? Nothing to praise. She had a nickname: "The Spoiled Brat Killer." She specialized in catching Nan'an City's spoiled brats. Yet how had she never offended any big shots? Qin An muttered inwardly.

"Why were you absent a week?" Huang Jiajun demanded sharply.

Qin An thought this monitor must be out of her mind. Hadn't he asked for leave? Why bother him? He spotted boys snickering in the corner. They were small-time spoiled brats. Their families couldn't match the Huangs' clout. They suffered in silence. Making fun of the monitor could also make Qin An—the happy guy next to a little beauty—suffer secretly. Killing two birds with one stone. Why not?

"I asked for leave."

Huang Jiajun looked utterly unconvinced. Every truant said that. She'd seen it all.

Qin An sighed. He rummaged through his desk drawer. Pulled out the leave slip.

Huang Jiajun scrutinized the date and name skeptically. The homeroom teacher's handwritten signature was there. Not forged.

Her pretty face flushed red, then pale. Mortified. Finally, she gritted her teeth. "Those bastards. I'm going to kill them."

Qin An grabbed her hand. "Let it go!"

"This can't be let go."

She looked ready to tear them apart.

"It was just a little joke. I don't even mind."

"Are you even a man? They're bullying you. I won't let them get away with it."

Good intentions get no reward. Fine. Qin An released her hand. This busybody and secret agent better not end up too badly.

"Qin~ An~"

"Morning, An Qi."

"Hmph. Morning isn't good at all." Little beauty An was furious. Consequences would be severe.

An Qi's cheeks puffed up with anger. They rivaled the Frog Prince's.

She sat beside Qin An. First, she turned her head away. Ignoring him. Then, seeing no apology, she decided to redraw the "38th parallel." Cold war policy resumed.

"You look so ugly like that! This is cute." Qin An pinched An Qi's fair cheeks. Pulled them left and right. The feel was amazing. Smoother than top-grade Suzhou silk.

"Don't touch me. I hate you." An Qi touched her cheeks. Her face burned crimson.

"Alright, alright. What's wrong?"

"What's your relationship with that busybody—no, the monitor?"

"Oh, so that's it! I smell jealousy."

"Narcissist. Who's jealous? The monitor never talked to you before. I thought you'd done something wrong."

"I don't think so! Did you see me holding her hand, so—"

"Hmph. Ignoring you. You big~ narcissist."

Realizing An Qi truly ignored him this time, Qin An spilled the whole truth. Hearing it, An Qi laughed heartily. Her body shook like blooming flowers.

"Didn't I say not to laugh?"

"I can't help it! It's too funny. Why didn't she slap you? Haha~"

"Probably pitied me when I was sick." Qin An said pitifully.

An Qi placed her hand on his forehead. Checked his temperature. Smiled in relief.

"One more thing. I'm angry. As your little teacher, I must punish you properly."

"What?"

"Look. What's this?" An Qi pulled a test paper from her pink backpack. A red score glowed—80 points. Two points higher than Qin An expected.

"My test paper!"

"If I'd known you'd not only pass but score over 80, I wouldn't have worried. You made me fuss for nothing."

Qin An took the paper. It carried a faint, sweet fragrance.

"I'm keeping this for life."

"Ah! Why?"

Qin An shamelessly grinned. "Because it has your scent."

"I won't give it to you!" An Qi's face burned hotter.

"No. It's mine. I have the right to keep it."

"Then guard it well! If it disappears later... hmph—" An Qi waved her tiny fist threateningly.

Class started. The little beauty sat upright. A model student. Qin An slouched like a delinquent. He chatted intermittently with An Qi. The "38th parallel"? Long erased.

Just as Qin An got animated, a chalk piece hit his forehead dead-on. An Qi covered her mouth, giggling. Qin An saw Huang Jiajun at the blackboard. Writing test questions. She glared at him fiercely. Like the big bad wolf eyeing Little Red Riding Hood.

Qin An made a face at her.

An angry Huang Jiajun threw another chalk piece. But Qin An wouldn't get hit again. He stretched out his hands. Caught the chalk between his fingers. As she returned to her seat, he gave her a big "return gift"—using her own method against her.

An Qi laughed harder. More radiant than blooming flowers.