By the time Xia Chuan and Qian Yu started heading home again, it was nearly nine.

At this hour, not only dinner but even late-night snacks were being served.

Yet they still walked slowly down the street.

Xia Chuan pushed his bicycle while Qian Yu, beside him, carried her backpack and a bag, head slightly bowed.

Occasional cars passed on the road, their headlights flashing white light over them.

They walked slowly until reaching a crossroads, where a red light forced them to stop.

At this neon-lit intersection, they stood still as the cool night wind tousled their hair.

After a long silence, Xia Chuan finally spoke up:

"Qian Yu, didn’t you say you had something to ask me? Why haven’t you asked yet?"

Hearing this, Qian Yu unusually didn’t argue back. Instead, she looked vulnerable and whispered:

"It’s not that I won’t ask… I just don’t know how to start…"

Xia Chuan was taken aback by her tone.

"This voice… where’s your usual tsundere attitude? This isn’t like you at all, Qian Yu…"

"What’s ‘tsundere’? That’s not the point! Shouldn’t you be asking what’s wrong instead, you idiot Xia Chuan!"

Qian Yu, whose mood had been low, flared up like a startled cat. She grabbed his waist and pinched hard.

Xia Chuan barely flinched at the familiar pain.

Seriously, kid! Pinch all you want, but stop targeting your dad’s waist—I’m already injured on top of injured! Show some restraint!

This time, before she could let go, Xia Chuan grabbed her arm, pulled it away, and gently shoved it aside.

Rubbing his sore waist, he grumbled:

"You little troublemaker. I’m your so-called dad, at least show some respect. Stop manhandling me."

"Pfft. You’re no dad of mine, idiot."

Qian Yu stuck out her tongue without a hint of remorse.

"You… fine. I’m the adult here. I’ll forgive you, brat." Xia Chuan took a deep breath to calm down. Once steady, he continued:

"So, what exactly did you want to ask?"

Returning to the topic, Qian Yu’s mood dipped again. After a long pause, she asked softly:

"Xia Chuan… were you ever bullied at school?"

"Huh? Why ask that…" Xia Chuan paused, then answered seriously:

"Well… not exactly bullied. Back then, I beat up some delinquents who were picking on my childhood friend. They framed me for it. With no friends to vouch for me, my classmates isolated me quickly."

"...I could hold my own in high school—they didn’t dare mess with me physically. But after the isolation, besides your Uncle Xiao and my friend, I had no one for three years… Looking back, it wasn’t outright bullying. Just cold violence, I guess…"

Qian Yu fell silent, deep in thought. Her expression twisted with inner conflict before she exhaled sharply, as if making a decision:

"Xia Chuan, do you know who that girl was earlier?"

"Your friend?"

Xia Chuan guessed uncertainly.

"No. She’s my girlfriend…"

Qian Yu sighed lightly.

"Huh?"

Xia Chuan froze in shock.

Didn’t you just say you had no girlfriend? Now this twist! Spare my old heart, please!

"Stop imagining things, idiot! Listen first!"

Seeing his face, Qian Yu knew his thoughts. She lightly punched his shoulder, annoyed.

"Huh? Oh… right."

Xia Chuan snapped back, sensing something deeper.

"Look, the whole ‘girlfriend’ thing was just a rumor at school. She got bullied often, and I kept defending her. People started saying we were dating. That’s probably how Teacher Bai thought I was in a relationship… Seriously, how could anyone think I’d go for girls?!"

She ended by poking his forehead with a raised finger.

"So, your earlier question about bullying… was it about her?"

Xia Chuan connected the dots.

"...Yeah."

Qian Yu hesitated before answering quietly.

"What did your classmate do to get bullied…?"

Xia Chuan asked, puzzled.

But Qian Yu didn’t answer directly. Instead, she said:

"Xiao Yu transferred in about a month after school started. Her family’s really poor—her dad died of illness when she was little, and her mom lost both legs in an accident. Now she’s in a wheelchair… So Xiao Yu carries almost everything alone."

Qian Yu spoke softly while Xia Chuan listened quietly.

"She almost dropped out after middle school to work. But thanks to kind strangers, she made it to high school. Juggling studies and caring for her mom is exhausting, yet she never complains. She’s truly filial and kind, just bad at showing emotions… But…"

"Why would someone so good have no friends? Why do they bully her when she’s done nothing wrong…?"

Her voice trembled at the end.

Qian Yu never explained who "Xiao Yu" was, but Xia Chuan guessed it was her nickname for that "girlfriend."

Hearing this, Xia Chuan felt a weight in his chest. He opened his mouth to speak, but the traffic light turned green. He changed his words:

"Qian Yu, let’s cross first."

He pushed his bike across the road. Qian Yu followed with a soft "Mm."

—————

After crossing, their apartment complex was near.

But Xia Chuan slowed his pace.

It was late. The residential area was nearly empty, dim streetlights casting faint glows on the few passersby.

A short distance from the crossroads, Xia Chuan spoke again:

"Qian Yu, you wanted to know why your classmate gets bullied?"

"Yeah… I just don’t get it…"

Qian Yu glanced at him, voice low.

"Qian Yu, do you really know her? How can you say she’s done nothing wrong?"

Xia Chuan countered instead of answering.

"I… don’t know her that well… She’s always alone. Though poor, she shares her meager food with stray animals. She does her duties perfectly, but no one notices her effort…"

Qian Yu paused, recalling that afternoon’s cleaning duty.

Unlike others who slacked off, days when she and Xiao Yu cleaned together were spotless. Yet classmates only praised Qian Yu, ignoring Xiao Yu completely.

Whenever praised, Qian Yu would say, "Xiao Yu helped too!" But they’d brush it off with "You’re too modest" or "Don’t joke."

Only then did she see the coldness beneath their friendly masks.

Her eyes dimmed, head drooping slightly.

That’s not ‘not knowing her’… No wonder people think she’s Qian Yu’s girlfriend…

Xia Chuan thought dryly before saying:

"Fine, I’ll take your word—she’s a well-behaved student."

"What ‘take my word’? She *is* a good student!"

Qian Yu shot him a fierce glare.

"Okay, okay. She’s a good student… But why get bullied then? Without knowing her, it’s likely tied to family, looks, or personality…"

Xia Chuan explained objectively.

"Nonsense! Xiao Yu’s just poor—not a criminal. Her looks and personality are great! How’s that relevant…?"

Qian Yu clearly doubted him.

"Qian Yu, you’re wrong…" Xia Chuan’s tone turned serious. "Her family situation is exactly why she has no friends. People are vain. Everyone has that streak. Society’s full of one-upmanship—stepping on others to feel superior. Your classmate’s at the bottom because of her background. Some think they’re better and stomp on those beneath them. As a transfer student, she became the easiest target…"

"Qian Yu, she’s not at fault. But that doesn’t shield her from bullying. The core reason is her weakness—in every way… So anyone can isolate her, hurt her…"

"In the end, weakness is the root of all sin…"