"Why can you always go to his house? Why can you play and chat with him without a care? Why are you two so close? Why am I the only one left out?"

By the time Huang Jiajun ran back to the classroom, it was completely empty. Desks and chairs lay overturned on the floor—those troublemakers must have raised hell after she left.

She walked straight to the seat she longed for most, the one that wasn’t hers. Leaning her head on the icy desk, the cold seeped straight to her heart.

*Sniffle…* "Why can’t I sit beside you? Why don’t I have a desk partner? Why isn’t it you?"

Tears dripped uncontrollably onto the desk, making it feel even colder.

"If… if I were your desk partner, would things change?"

Huang Jiajun wiped her tears and hurried to the teacher’s office. She had to do something.

"Teacher, Qin An and An Qi are having an improper relationship."

She might forget how she felt saying those words later, but this moment would haunt her forever. Absolutely.

"Qin An and An Qi? They’re good kids. Good kids don’t date. I’ve seen them helping each other study."

"But they’re *too* close! They should be separated before it sets a bad example!"

"Hmm… Who should I move? It’s messy rearranging seats this close to graduation."

"Let… let Qin An sit with me!" Huang Jiajun stammered, her cheeks flushing despite her usual boldness. "I can keep him focused on studies and stop him from getting too close to An Qi. Plus, my math is terrible—he can tutor me."

"Alright. Moving Qin An beside you might benefit everyone."

"Thank you, Teacher." Huang Jiajun suppressed her racing heart. *Once I’m his desk partner, everything he has will be mine too.*

She turned to leave, missing the teacher’s knowing smile.

---

**School Gate**

"Brother, you’re so slow! So slow!"

"Brother, you’re all dirty!"

Qin Yage chanted "brother" endlessly, clinging to Qin An’s arm.

He saw right through her. "Spit it out. What do you want?"

"It’s almost Children’s Day! I want a present."

"Presents? The school gives out candy on June 1st."

"Not candy! A *gift*! A *gift*!" She stressed the last two words.

"The school gives those too—"

Before he finished, a small weight crashed onto his back. Qin Yage had latched onto his neck like a koala.

"I want *your* gift."

"Didn’t I just buy you that bicycle?"

"No! That was *my* gift *to you*. I want *your* gift *for me*."

"Fine. What does little Qin Yage want for Children’s Day?"

"I want something long that makes noise when you blow!"

"A flute?"

"No, no! What did my classmate call it…?" Her memory blanked.

"A *xiao* flute?"

"Yes! She said she plays the *xiao*, and her brother praised her!" Qin Yage scowled fiercely on his back, as if someone owed her a fortune.

"Brother, can *you* play the *xiao*?"

Qin An’s mind wandered at the words "play the *xiao*." *Should I say yes or no?*

"Probably not."

"Hmph! Brother’s trash. I’ll teach you after I learn."

Her new "steed"—a white bicycle dotted with pink cherry blossoms—waited nearby. Qin An took the handlebars while Qin Yage perched on the rear rack, hands gripping his shoulders.

"Forward, my steed!" she shouted, fist punching the sky.

"Yes, yes."

"Left turn! Left turn!"

"Straight ahead, then right!"

She barked orders like a battlefield general. This route was familiar; she’d lingered outside that shop countless times.

They stopped before an old wooden storefront. Potted spider lilies drooped from the second-floor railing. The rustic sign exuded history. *A good shop.*

"Lin Xue jiejie! I’m back!"

"Yage? Visiting again?" A woman in a white floral apron stepped out—Qin An’s new Chinese teacher, and one of the last people he wanted to see.

"Why are *you* here?"

"Qin An?" She slapped his shoulder, grinning. He forced a smile back.

"Brother! Lin Xue jiejie plays the *xiao* amazingly!"

Qin An watched Qin Yage chatter animatedly with Ma Linxue. *Weren’t they fighting at Happy Garden recently? Girls are impossible. Truly, a woman’s heart is deeper than the ocean.*

As Ma Linxue explained instruments to Qin Yage, Qin An scanned the shop. Simple, affordable instruments filled the space—each meticulously arranged, dust-free. *Respect for the craft.*

"Surprisingly nice place."

"My dad insisted on opening it. He and Mom fight about it often."

"Because it doesn’t make money? Nobody has time for this anymore."

*The world’s too restless. Few can still find peace. Your mom probably knows that too.*

Qin An picked up a harmonica. "This might work."

"I want this!" Qin Yage finally chose a black-lacquered nine-joint *xiao*. Its deep tone and tassel-adorned end gleamed elegantly—unexpected, since he’d thought she’d pick the pretty jade one.

As Qin An paid, a motorcycle roared to a screeching halt outside, skidding across the pavement. It crushed Qin Yage’s beloved bicycle—the very thing that let her ride with her brother "properly." *Unforgivable.*

Before Qin Yage could step forward, more bikes swarmed in, kicking up dust. She ducked behind Qin An. He frowned. *Trouble.*

A skinny boy with a backpack trembled as he dismounted.

"Xiao Yu! How could you hang out with these thugs?"

"Sis, I’m sorry, I—"

"Tianyu, we’re *friends*, right? Visiting a friend’s place is totally normal!" A blond delinquent slung an arm around Ma Tianyu’s shoulders.

"Hey—aren’t you the brats who got cocky the other day? Small world, huh?"

"*Sought far and wide, found without effort*, Yu-ge," a lackey offered helpfully.

Ji Yu’s face darkened. He smacked the boy’s head. "I *knew*! I was just testing you idiots!"

"Y-yes, my bad!"

Ji Yu cracked his knuckles. "Perfect. Two birds with one stone. Time to show you what happens when you mess with Big Ji."

He stepped forward—then froze. A blood-red sports car tore through the dust like crimson lightning, dwarfing the motorcycles. *Chevrolet 9561.* Qin An recognized the legendary all-aluminum ZL-1 427 engine instantly—his favorite ride in another life.

The door swung open. A tall woman in a white lab coat stepped out, cradling a baby. Her raven hair whipped in the wind; her porcelain face left the thugs gaping—even Big Ji.

*Click-clack. Click-clack.*

Her high heels struck the pavement like a heartbeat.

"Move."

Ji Yu blocked her path. A spinning heel kick sent him crashing down. He felt the sharp sting of her shoe—*between her legs must be—*

Before he could look up, her heel pressed his face. He groaned happily… then passed out.

She bent down. Qin An caught a glimpse of pale skin above her robe’s neckline as she placed the baby in his arms.

"My name is Qin Yuqing. This child is Qin Chan. Your sister."