“Huff… huff… Anqing, good morning!”
Xu Yuting’s short legs carried her swiftly. In no time, she’d dashed from home to the boy’s doorstep, panting as she greeted the one she’d been longing to see.
“Yuting… morning,” Zhao Anqing replied with a forced smile, his heart heavy at the thought of cutting ties.
“Oops—what happened to your face? So many bumps!”
She noticed the mosquito bites marring his delicate features.
“Mosquito bites…”
Still wrestling with how to say it, he answered absently.
“Bad mosquitoes! I hate them for biting my friend!”
Xu Yuting puffed her cheeks like a steamed bun, tiny fists waving as if ready to crush them.
“Yuting… I—"
He hesitated, words poised to shatter their hard-earned friendship.
“Talk later! I’ll grab the anti-itch lotion. Mom used it on me once—it worked!”
Overwhelmed by how pitiful he looked, she didn’t wait. She spun around and sprinted home.
“Yuting… she’s so kind to me…”
Zhao Anqing watched her retreating figure, a warm tide surging through his chest.
He didn’t want to lose this friendship—but his father’s words gnawed at him.
*At Xu Yuting’s house*
“Mom! Mom! Where’s the mosquito lotion? Anqing’s covered in bites—I need to help him!”
She burst in, breathless.
“Bitten? Hold on, I’ll get it.”
Though Xu Lu saw it as trivial, her daughter’s near-tearful urgency sent her hurrying off.
“Thanks, Mom!”
Xu Yuting snatched the bottle and raced back without pause.
“This girl… bewitched?”
Xu Lu watched her skip breakfast, eyes flickering with quiet concern.
Panting hard, legs aching, Xu Yuting pushed harder—just thinking of his swollen face tightened her chest.
“Huff… huff… Anqing, here! Rub this on—it stops the itch!”
She reached him, breath ragged, holding out the tiny bottle like a treasure.
“Dad already put ointment on… Yuting, you’re exhausted. Sorry—it’s my fault. Drink this soy milk first.”
Zhao Anqing’s voice softened, noticing her flushed cheeks and wind-tousled hair.
“More is better! Helps it heal faster.”
She’d already poured lotion into her palm, determined to soothe every bump.
“No trouble needed…”
His young heart trembled under her kindness. *Why must Dad make me lose such a friend?*
He pressed his lips tight. The words wouldn’t come.
“No worries! Anqing’s my very, very best friend—I’m doing it.”
Ignoring the sharp scent, she dabbed gently, tender and precise.
“Your arms too! Ugh, mosquitoes are the worst! I’ll get Mom an electric swatter to zap every single one!”
Spotting more bites, she grumbled fiercely.
“Yuting…”
Zhao Anqing stared blankly, voice barely a whisper.
“What is it?”
She glanced up, wide watery eyes puzzled by his hesitation.
“I… I…"
The words stuck deep in his throat.
“What about ‘I’?”
She tilted her head, confused.
“It’s… we can’t be friends anymore.”
He dropped his gaze, shame burning his cheeks.
“What? Yesterday we pinky-promised forever! Why this sudden change…?”
Shock flashed across her face, then raw hurt.
“…Sorry…”
He kept his eyes down, voice hollow.
“No! No! Anqing is *my* friend!”
She gripped his hand tightly, voice ringing with defiance.
“Let go… we can’t play together…”
He tried to sound firm—but his voice wavered, weak and unsure.
“We *promised*! Anqing, why? Give me a reason!”
No explanation—just “we can’t be friends”—felt unbearable. *Did I do something wrong?*
“Dad… said… I can’t be friends with you…”
Tears spilled as the words finally broke free.
“Adults don’t matter! We’ll *always* be friends. Don’t cry.”
Heart aching, she pulled him into a gentle hug, whispering comfort like in her favorite dramas.
“I have to listen to Dad…”
He eased back, unable to meet her eyes.
“No…”
Realization dawned—it wasn’t his choice. In her mind, his father was the villain. She held his hand tighter.
“Yuting… we really can’t.”
He fumbled to loosen her grip, but her fingers stayed locked.
“Why should adults ruin *our* friendship? I won’t accept it!”
Her resilience shone—unyielding, even against grown-ups.
“Little girl… please don’t come looking for my little Anqing again.”
Zhao’s father appeared, voice polite yet cold, understanding the scene at a glance.
“Why? What right do you have to keep us apart?”
Xu Yuting stood her ground, fearless.
“You’re not suited to be friends.”
Slightly taken aback by her boldness, he replied flatly.
“Anqing *wants* to be my friend! I want to be his! Why isn’t that enough?”
*The prettiest girl and the prettiest boy—shouldn’t we be best friends?*
“Dad… I want to be friends with Yuting too…”
Bolstered by her courage, Anqing stepped forward—refusing to let her stand alone.
