"Yuting, listen—if you keep insisting on being friends with that stinky boy, Ziqing and I won’t be your friends anymore. Hmph! Other kids will totally laugh at you for playing with a boy," Jinxia said, her mouth dry from all the shouting. She was making her final stand.

She truly cherished her friendship with Yuting. After all, they’d played together for so long—even in the same elementary school, the same class.

Before, Yuting would always secretly slip her candies on the way to school. So delicious.

This friendship—camaraderie, sweet treats…—held huge appeal for a six-year-old.

"Anqing is *not* a stinky boy! Say that again and I’ll hit you!"

Yuting, already exhausted from arguing with the round-faced girl, flared up the moment she heard the insult. She pointed sharply at Jinxia, voice crisp and fierce.

"Yuting, stop. Having you as my friend is enough… I don’t need anyone else," Anqing said softly, gently pulling her arm to calm her.

"She insulted you. I’m furious."

Yuting’s sparkling eyes widened, fierce as a little tiger ready to pounce. If Anqing hadn’t held her back, she’d have shoved the round-faced girl.

"It’s okay. Words don’t hurt. I don’t care," Anqing murmured.

Inside, he ached—but hid it.

He blamed himself.

All his fault for coming to the children’s park with Yuting, tearing their friendship apart.

So greedy. Yuting alone should’ve been enough—why crave more?

"Fickle…"

Jinxia shook her head nervously. Seeing Anqing hold Yuting back, she muttered angrily again.

"Hmph, ignoring stinky Jinxia! Anqing, don’t worry—Ziqing *will* be your friend," Yuting said. Her heart twinged at his forced smile. She glanced at the calm, short-haired girl nearby, winked, and shot her a meaningful look: *You’ve gotta be his friend.*

"Mm. I’ll be his friend," Ziqing said evenly, nodding.

"Ziqing, don’t! Boys’ll get you laughed at!" Jinxia cried, panic rising as she felt left out.

"Minority follows majority—teacher said so," Ziqing whispered close to her ear. "Yuting and I are friends with him. If you still want daily candies… you know what to do."

"One… two… you all…" Jinxia’s face flushed crimson. Betrayed.

All because of that ugly boy—red marks on his face, shabby clothes.

She glared at Anqing, resentment burning in her eyes.

"What’re you staring at? Don’t scare Anqing!" Yuting pulled him close, glaring back without flinching.

"I’ll… be his friend…" Jinxia relented—for candies, for friendship.

"For real?" Yuting pressed, uneasy about the forced compromise.

"For real!" Jinxia stomped her tiny shoe-clad foot and shouted.

"Anqing… do *you* want to be friends with her?" Yuting handed him the choice.

"Hello… I’m Zhao Anqing… If you’ll be my friend… I’d be really happy," he said softly, earnest smile lighting his small face. His words were gentle, sincere.

And in his bright eyes—longing, and quiet nervousness.

"J-Jinxia… I’m Xie Jinxia… Nice to meet you…" Flustered under his gaze, she stammered, momentarily stunned.

*Huh… being friends with a boy isn’t so bad. Kinda fun.*

"I’m Chen Ziqing. Nice to meet you too," the quiet girl added.

"Mm! Nice to meet you both, Ziqing, Jinxia…" Anqing beamed, joy warming his chest.

"Yay! All four of us are friends now—help each other, play together, no fighting!" Yuting cheered, palm pressed downward.

"Of course…" Jinxia stole a glance at Anqing’s smile, then placed her small hand over Yuting’s.

"Mm. Got it." Ziqing added hers atop Jinxia’s.

Three pairs of eyes turned to Anqing, waiting.

"Friends… we’re all friends." He pinched his cheek—*ouch*—and laughed brighter, the dreamlike joy feeling real.

"Anqing, put your hand in! Time to celebrate!" Yuting gently prompted his dazed grin.

"Mm!" Trembling with excitement, he placed his hand on top.

"Yay!" The girls cheered and slammed hands down together.

"Yay…" Anqing, new to this ritual, clumsily mimicked them—shouting late, swinging his hand down.

"Hehe, you’re so slow…" Jinxia giggled, not mocking—just charmed by his earnest clumsiness.

"Hehe…" Anqing scratched his head, smiling warmly, no anger at all.

"Anqing’s not silly! He’s just new at this—you can’t laugh!" Yuting snapped, fiercely protective.

"I wasn’t laughing *at* him… just thought his move was kinda cute…" Jinxia replied honestly—straightforward, zero guile.

"Yuting, Jinxia was joking. I’m fine," Anqing quickly added, not wanting tension.

"Fine. Let’s get ice cream first, then play in the children’s park," Yuting said. Thirsty from the long argument, she let it go.

"Come on! I’ll treat—ice cream bars for everyone!" Jinxia chimed in, equally thirsty and suddenly generous.