"My little bear isn't for you to see... because he's mine alone!"

His own toy was already gone. Otherwise, the boy would've happily shown it to her—even let her touch it. So to cover his lie, he just said something hurtful.

"Alright. If it's that precious, I won't look."

The girl felt disappointed... She thought the boy didn't see her as a true friend.

After all, she'd brought out her very best toy, willing to share it with him.

But why wouldn't he let her see his little bear?

Her mind began to wander—was something wrong with their friendship?

"Anqing... Do you not want to be my friend anymore?"

She didn't want to keep it bottled up, so she spoke plainly.

"We... maybe we can't be friends... anymore."

After realizing Xu Yuting came from a wealthy family, Zhao Anqing had already stopped hoping their friendship would last.

Maybe tomorrow. Or the day after. She'd forget him.

"Why?"

Xu Yuting reacted sharply, nearly shrieking. She couldn't accept it. Everything had been fine—why wouldn't he stay her friend?

Was it still about spilling drinks on him? But he'd said he forgave her.

"I... I..."

The boy shrank back, voice timid and unsure.

"Anqing, I want you as my friend. We're neighbors! We can play together every day, do fun things... Don't you want that?"

Though young, Xu Yuting's words were earnest, sincere—even a little pleading.

"We don't fit. Your family's rich. Mine's poor. No fruit, no drinks. Rough floors, ugly walls..."

He blurted it all out.

He expected her to grimace and shoo him away—just like Mom said rich people do to the poor.

He was just a child. He believed his parents completely.

"What? I just want to be friends with Anqing! What does money have to do with it? Why would I look down on you? Teacher says friends help each other and accept flaws."

Hearing his reason, Xu Yuting felt a little speechless. His worry was one-sided. She didn't care about his family's money at all.

She'd wanted to be his friend since the very first glance.

Pure. Simple. No hidden motives—she was too young for that.

"...B-but..."

Zhao Anqing braced for disgust. But her expression stayed warm, unchanged.

He realized—Mom might be wrong.

Rich and poor *could* be friends.

A quiet joy bloomed in his chest. He truly wanted this friendship.

"What 'but'? Anqing is my best friend—forever! Let's pinkie promise. Then it won't change... not even in a hundred years."

She smiled sweetly and held out her small hand.

"...Mm. We're best friends. Forever."

Zhao Anqing smiled back, heart warmed by her sincerity. He knew—she meant it. She wouldn't scorn him for being poor.

He quickly linked his pinkie with hers.

"Pinkie swear, a hundred years won't change it. Anqing and I are forever best friends..."

Fingers hooked, Xu Yuting gazed at him with sparkling eyes and spoke first.

"Pinkie swear, a hundred years won't change it. Yuting and I are forever best friends."

Zhao Anqing echoed her words softly.

He felt happy—a solemn, sacred feeling. These words would bind them. Forever friends, just as promised.

"There! We're best friends now!"

Xu Yuting beamed. It was her very first pinkie promise.

"Mm. Friends!"

He chimed in, face glowing with a radiant, angelic smile.

"Anqing, you just moved here. When do you start elementary school? I want to walk to school holding hands tomorrow morning!"

She asked eagerly.

At six, she was a first-grader at Hope Elementary in their small town.

In her mind, he must be the same.

"I... I haven't started school yet..."

He murmured shyly.

He was six too—but had never attended elementary school. Not even kindergarten.

Mom said schooling was pointless. Just work and earn money when older.

So school felt like a distant dream he deeply longed for.

He envied kids with backpacks. School must be wonderful.

But he couldn't go.

"Still in preschool? Or kindergarten?"

She tilted her head, confused. All kids went to school, right?

She found school boring... but with him, it'd be fun.

"No... neither. Mom won't let me go."

His small face fell with quiet dejection.

"Oh! Then I'll ask Mom to withdraw me too! School's no fun—sitting on chairs all day staring at the blackboard, my butt aches! And writing... so boring."

Hearing he didn't go to school, Xu Yuting felt instantly envious, missing his hidden longing as she rambled on.

"So school is just sitting and watching a blackboard? What *is* a blackboard—a dark wooden board?"

He listened quietly, then asked with innocent curiosity.

"Mm! A long, dark rectangular board. The teacher stands at the podium, writes with white chalk, and makes us recite."

"Sometimes she calls us up to solve problems on it. Super scary—I hate it!"

She kept complaining to Zhao Anqing, wishing she could skip school entirely.

"What's a teacher?"

He was curious about every new word she used.

"A strict woman who always frowns! She gives homework constantly. If you don't finish, she tells your parents. Teachers are the scariest people in school!"

She explained solemnly—her expression clearly afraid.

"Oh... Does she hit kids? And what's homework?"

He was endlessly curious, knowing nothing yet eager to learn everything.

"She doesn't hit. But if you zone out in class, she makes you copy school rules. Homework? I'll show you mine."

The girl hopped off her small stool, fetched a pink schoolbag from her bed, and hurried back.