Sunlight filtered through the window, landing softly on the room’s only decoration—the small wooden bed.

“…Gurgle!”

Zhao Anqing groggily opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the reddish-brown, unpainted ceiling.

“I… I’ve already moved to the new house…”

He sat up abruptly, shaking his little head to shake off the drowsiness.

“So itchy… unbearably itchy.”

Arms, cheeks, calves—Zhao Anqing felt a maddening itch crawling all over. He longed to scratch until relief came.

“Brush teeth, wash face after waking up…”

He touched his cheek. Swollen. Itchy. Deeply uncomfortable.

He pushed open his bedroom door.

“Dad… Mom…”

No answer.

He quietly nudged open his parents’ door. Empty.

“Downstairs? Gotta pee first.”

He’d wanted to ask where his toothbrush was, but with no parents in sight, he let it go.

The second-floor bathroom was grimy—not foul, but windowless. Shadows clung to the corners, making it feel eerie.

“Gurgle… gurgle…”

He pulled out his little brother, hurried to finish, gave a few final shakes, didn’t flush, and fled.

“The stairs are scary…”

No railing. A sheer drop visible from above. His heart hammered.

Clutching the wall, he descended step by careful step.

“Dad… Mom…”

He called out the moment his feet touched the bottom.

“Tsk. Yelling for no reason? Asking for a spanking?”

An impatient voice came from nearby. Mom Zhao was bent over plumbing tools.

“…Mom…”

Zhao Anqing greeted her timidly.

“Go play somewhere else.”

She waved him off like a fly.

“Where’s Dad?”

Though scared of her, he pressed on.

“Buying breakfast.”

She didn’t turn around. Just a flat reply.

“Oh!”

Anqing trotted to the main hall alone.

“Yuting said she’d come play this morning… but Dad said no. What do I do?”

Last night’s memory surfaced. His chest tightened.

He wanted to be friends. But he’d promised Dad.

“So annoying.”

He scratched his head till it felt ready to burst.

Just then, Dad Zhao returned, breakfast in hand.

“Dad…”

The boy hurried over.

“Xiao Qing, my fault. Forgot the mosquito coil.”

Dad’s voice cracked with concern.

His porcelain-doll son now wore a map of bright red bumps. Heaven knew how many bites he’d suffered.

“It’s fine… not many bites…”

Zhao Anqing only felt the itch. No mirror. No clue how bad it looked.

“Eat the baozi. Drink the soy milk. Dad’ll get ointment.”

He handed the food over and rushed upstairs.

“Breakfast? You came back empty-handed? Selfish!”

Mom Zhao scowled at her husband.

“Your son’s face is swollen from bites—and you ignore it?”

Dad Zhao shot back, then vanished upstairs.

“Mom, Dad left breakfast with me. Here…”

Anqing hurried over, offering the barely-warm baozi and soy milk.

“Clumsy! Why not pull the blanket over your head?”

Only now did she glance at him—not comfort, just scolding.

“I… I…”

He stood frozen, words stuck.

The room was stifling. No AC. No fan.

A blanket might block mosquitoes… but he’d sweat all night.

“Don’t make us sad. Raising you isn’t easy.”

She shoved a baozi and soy milk into his hands and dismissed him.

Alone in the hall, he waited.

Soon, Dad Zhao hurried down.

“Xiao Qing… must hurt, huh? Ugh, these damn mosquitoes.”

Regret and tenderness warred in his eyes.

“It’s okay… just a little itchy…”

The boy forced a brave smile.

“Let Dad cool it for you.”

Dad dabbed ointment on his fingertip and gently smoothed it over each bump.

“Comfy…”

Anqing’s eyes fluttered shut. A cool wave washed over the itch.

“Tonight—I’m buying coils. Poison every last mosquito.”

Dad’s pity turned to quiet fury.

“Dad… can I brush my teeth now?”

Breakfast in hand, hope flickered.

“No water yet. Eat now. Brush tomorrow.”

The words sank his little dream.

“Mm-hmm…”

He swallowed the disappointment.

“Dad, I’ll eat outside…”

An excuse. The house smelled of damp and mildew.

“Sigh… can’t be friends with Yuting anymore…”

He shook his head, small shoulders heavy with worry.

“How do I tell her? I promised… So annoying…”

He chose to obey Dad. But breaking a promise felt cruel.

“Anqing… Anqing!”

A cheerful voice rang out.

On the balcony of the opposite villa, a girl waved wildly.

“It’s… Yuting!”

Joy bloomed on his face. He waved back.

“I’m coming!”

Her voice faded. The balcony stood empty.

*At the girl’s house—*

“Xu Yuting! Stand on the railing again using a stool, and I’ll spank you hard!”

Xu Lu, fresh from cooking breakfast, rushed up after hearing the shouts.

Her daughter balanced on a stool, tiny hands gripping the railing.

Dangerous. One slip—

“I know, I know! Going to find Anqing!”

Xu Yuting chirped, slipped past her mom, and dashed downstairs.