The boy stood inside the bathroom; the girl waited just outside the door.

Their eyes met.

Worry flickered in her gaze.

Anqing, meanwhile, felt deeply embarrassed for lingering so long.

“Um… Yuting, sorry… for keeping you waiting. And… I made a mess in there.”

Anqing hurried out, glancing back at the floor.

Damp from earlier, it was now smudged with faint tracks from his slightly dirty little shoes after pacing back and forth.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it… Mom’ll fix it,” Yuting said softly. The dirty floor didn’t matter—she was still weighed down by guilt over spilling the drink on him.

“I… I should go home now.”

He couldn’t stay. He’d realized the chasm between them. He was just a poor boy; she came from wealth. They shouldn’t be friends… Maybe tomorrow she’d ignore him completely.

So he stepped back—back to solitude.

Just like Mom always said: poor people only belong with other poor people.

“But you just got here! Don’t go… You’re mad at me, right? I really didn’t mean to spill it!”

Yuting’s voice tightened with panic. She gently clasped his small hand, refusing to let him slip away.

“No… I’m just tired. Wanna go home and sleep…”

He fumbled the lie, cheeks flushing pink.

“Anqing, take your shirt off! Mom says we fix our mistakes. I’ll wash it—then we’re friends again!”

Yuting dug her heels in, convinced the spilled drink broke their friendship. Her chest tightened. No one had ever made her feel this frantic. He was the first.

“No, no—I’ll wash it myself! I don’t blame you, Yuting, really… please believe me.”

A boy couldn’t strip in front of a girl. Dad warned him: stay safe, don’t let anyone take advantage. Being half-naked definitely counted.

“Come on, let me—”

“Don’t! Or… or I’ll get mad!”

Flustered, Anqing pushed her away.

“Ouch!”

Yuting tumbled back, landing with a soft cry.

“You okay?!” He rushed to help her up.

“My butt hurts…” she admitted quietly.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to… you were pulling my clothes… I just reacted… I really didn’t want to…”

His hands trembled. What if she was hurt? His family couldn’t afford to pay. Regret coiled tight—he shouldn’t have come.

“It’s okay… doesn’t hurt now. I don’t blame you, Anqing. But… will you forgive me for spilling it? I just wanted to help…”

Yuting rubbed her sore spot. Girls toughed it out—pain faded fast.

“I already forgave you. I’ll wash the clothes myself…”

Relief softened his shoulders.

“Then… stay a little longer? We haven’t even played yet!”

She laced her fingers through his, holding on tight.

“Okay… what should we play?”

As long as she didn’t mention clothes again.

“Come see my room! So many fun things—you’ll love it!”

She tugged him toward her pink-decorated bedroom: a plush bed, a tiny wardrobe, a child-sized desk set, even an air conditioner humming softly.

“Look! Mom bought me these princess dolls. Pick your favorite—I’ll give it to you!”

She poured a handful of dolls onto the desk, offering her most treasured things. For him. Only him.

“No… I’ll just look,” he whispered, eyes wide but hands still.

“Pick one…” She scooted two tiny stools close.

“I don’t like dolls… thanks anyway.”

He’d only ever owned one toy: a palm-sized teddy bear, a free gift tucked beside his pillow every night. Lost during a move. He mourned it for months. Never got another.

These dolls were ten times nicer—but he didn’t want them. Things like this weren’t for him. What if she changed her mind later? He hated the ache of gaining then losing. And he still hadn’t repaid her for the chocolate candy.

“Oh! Right—you’re a boy.” Yuting tapped her head. “What toy *do* you like? I’ll ask Mom to get it!”

“I already have one… thank you,” he murmured.

“…Okay! What’s it like? Does it transform? Make sounds?”

Disappointed but bouncing back fast, she chirped with curiosity.

“It’s a little teddy… this big.” He shaped his hands. “Soft. No sounds. No tricks. But I loved it.”

His voice dipped. Without it, some nights felt too dark, too quiet.

“Then… next time I visit your house… can I see your teddy bear?”

Yuting’s eyes sparkled. What kind of toy could he love *that* much? It had to be better than all her princess dolls.