"Phew… That scared me half to death," I patted my flat yet soft chest, breathing heavily. "So scary."

Of course, it wasn’t those burly security guards at the gate. I’m a guy—how could I be afraid of them? It was just guilt gnawing at my conscience for sneaking into an elementary school!

"Second grade, Class Three."

I smoothed my silver hair with my hands. Elementary kids should show up to class neat and tidy from head to toe.

The campus was huge. A few students and teachers passed by here and there, but thankfully, no one stopped me. Everyone was busy.

I spotted a bulletin board with directions:

"[Today, second-grade students undergo a fasting blood draw for physicals. Do not eat dinner beforehand. Class One to Medical Room One, Class Two to Medical Room Two, and so on.]"

"Found it. Seriously though—fasting blood draws in second grade? That’s rough," I clicked my tongue.

A fasting blood draw means no food after waking—straight to the needle, eat only after. Difference from regular? You just feel hungrier…

Still, blood draws this young—and fasting ones? Way too early.

"Second graders still cry over shots," I murmured. "And blood draws hurt way more."

Poor girls of Class Three. I’d rather use my fangs to give the shot myself.

After a quick search, I found the directional sign. Medical Room Three was just past a flowerbed and lawn.

Tiptoeing across the grass, I heard soft whimpering ahead. Real, genuine whimpering.

Seven or eight little girls stood before the medical room. One arm stretched straight out, the other pressing a cotton swab to the puncture site. The swabs covered the tiny wounds but not the pain. Tears shimmered on their cheeks as they sniffled. Only one or two brave ones bit their lips hard, fighting tears, trying to look tough.

"Everyone, stop crying. Just hang in there!" A pink-haired girl with twin buns stepped forward, tears streaming, nose sniffling. "We girls must be brave! Don’t let those smelly boys from next class laugh at us!"

But they were too young for collective pride. They kept whimpering. Hearing those tender cries twisted my heart. How could anyone bear it? This school’s brutal—making kids this small endure blood draws.

I patted my waist, fingers finding the small pouch An Li gave me. Inside: the Zhen Zhi Wei lollipops she bought me, emergency snacks for hunger pangs.

"Don’t cry, don’t cry."

I stepped out from the lawn. Several little girls turned, eyes wide and watery.

"No more tears. Candy for you." I pulled out a Zhen Zhi Wei lollipop.

To those in pain, a figure emerged from hiding—bringing a spark of hope, a whispered promise of comfort. In that moment, I felt like Prometheus himself.

"Candy!"

The girl stopped crying instantly, shuffling closer. Hands busy, I peeled the wrapper and handed it to her. Her tiny lips closed around the cherry-flavored Zhen Zhi Wei fruit lollipop.

"No more crying, okay? Good girl." I couldn’t help but pat her head.

Others gathered quietly, gazing up with hopeful eyes.

"More candy?"

"Can… can I have one too?"

I counted quickly, did the math, gritted my teeth. "Everyone gets one! All of you!"

Seven others here. Minus the one just served—six left. Seven lollipops remained in my pouch. One each, one left for me. The hour was almost up. Disguised as a student in an elementary school, solving a simple math problem—I could do this.

"Come on! Everyone gets one!"

They lined up, small fair hands reaching out. Each took a lollipop.

"Thank you."

"Mmhmm."

"Xie xie… What’s your name?" one asked while taking hers.

I hesitated. "Luo Xiaoxiao."

Fake name anyway. Didn’t matter.

"Xiao Xiao!"

"Big Sister Xiao Xiao is so nice."

"Big Sister Xiao Xiao is a good person."

They’d already dropped my surname.

Two lollipops left. I glanced around—spotted the pink-haired girl who hadn’t come forward. The one who cried while urging others to be brave.

She saw me approach, sniffled hard.

"Hua Hua doesn’t need candy! Won’t cry without it!" she declared, though her body leaned in obediently, hand already reaching.

"Hua Hua isn’t eating this ’cause it hurts!"

"Yes, yes. Open up."

I tore the wrapper. Hua Hua wore a stubborn pout, but her little mouth opened without protest, accepting the candy.

The tears stopped.