"I beat you at rock-paper-scissors, so you're the dumbest kid..."

Xie Jinxia looked straight into the boy's eyes as she said it.

"Mm..."

Zhao Anqing didn't understand why she kept saying that, but he nodded anyway.

"Then I'm the second dumbest kid... Can we be best friends!"

The round-faced girl clasped the boy's small hand, speaking cheerfully.

"Hey, stinky Jinxia—Anqing's best friend is *me*."

Xu Yuting stood nearby, face sour, clearly annoyed.

Meanwhile, Chen Ziqing—who usually wore no expression at all—let a faint, pleased smile tug at her lips.

After several intense rounds of rock-paper-scissors, Chen Ziqing emerged victorious.

"What? *I'm* second dumbest, Anqing's the dumbest—we should be best friends!"

Xie Jinxia shot back, locking horns with Xu Yuting, not even minding the "dumb kid" label anymore.

"You're the dumbest! Anqing isn't dumb at all. He can't be best friends with *you*."

Xu Yuting suddenly noticed the round-faced girl still holding the boy's hand. Teeth gritted, she stormed over to pry them apart.

"Only best friends hold hands! Anqing's best friend is *me*—you can't touch his hand!"

She scowled fiercely, tugging at their joined hands.

"Hmph. I *will* hold it."

Xie Jinxia wasn't one to yield. She tightened her grip, refusing to let go.

"Yuting... Jinxia... please don't fight because of me."

Zhao Anqing's smile faded. What he feared most was his friends arguing over him.

"Anqing... I'm not fighting *with her*. But holding hands is for best friends only..."

Xu Yuting was still upset, yet couldn't stay angry at the boy.

"I *will* hold it! Anqing didn't say no. What's *your* problem, Yuting?"

Xie Jinxia stood her ground, voice bold and unshaken.

"Let. Go."

Xu Yuting's glare sharpened—this time, truly angry.

"Yuting... please don't..."

The boy's voice trembled, utterly flustered.

"He has two hands. You each take one."

Chen Ziqing, who'd watched silently until now, finally stepped in.

"No! Anqing is *my* best friend. Only *I* hold his hand!"

Xu Yuting held firm, unmoving.

"We're *all* friends! Why should only *you* hold Anqing's hand? That's not fair! Teacher said—be fair!"

Xie Jinxia shouted back, cheeks flushed.

"Ow... it hurts..."

The boy bit his lip, silently enduring the pain in his heart.

The round-faced girl clutched his hand tight; Xu Yuting pulled hard. Caught between two strong girls, only he suffered.

"If you want to argue, go elsewhere. *I* won. *I* play with him next."

Calm as a little adult, Chen Ziqing stepped forward.

Though no bigger than the others, she gripped each girl's wrist with one hand and pulled them apart—leaving the boy with bright red palms.

"You were so wrapped up in yourselves, you hurt him."

Before they could protest, Chen Ziqing pointed at his reddened hands, voice laced with quiet reproach.

"I... I didn't mean to..."

The round-faced girl's confidence crumpled. She fell silent.

"Anqing, it's my fault. Let me blow on it."

Worried she'd damaged their friendship, Xu Yuting gently blew on his palm.

"It's okay... please don't fight. We're all friends. Friends don't argue."

Zhao Anqing first shot the short-haired girl an admiring glance, then spoke in a soft, gentle voice.

(She'd just stopped the fight—leaving a deep impression on him.)

"You both lost. Go play somewhere else."

As the rock-paper-scissors victor, Chen Ziqing's face stayed calm, but her words cut deep.

"Stinky Jinxia, *you* push me!"

"No way! *You* push *me*!"

The two losers bickered loudly.

"You push me."

The short-haired girl turned to the boy.

"Mm."

He obeyed quietly.

"Not too hard. Just a light push."

Chen Ziqing still looked uninterested, as if the swing held no joy for her.

"Ziqing... do you not like swinging?"

Zhao Anqing pushed harder against her back.

(Sensitive as he was, he noticed her lack of enthusiasm.)

"Not really."

She swayed with the swing, face serene, no squeals or shouts.

"Is... is it because I'm too weak?"

The boy naively blamed himself.

"Friends are equals. Don't be so hard on yourself."

Chen Ziqing closed her eyes, enjoying the breeze.

"I... I..."

Just a child, he had no words.

"No need to answer. You're just a kid."

Though a child herself, her tone carried quiet maturity.

"Hehe... Ziqing, you sound like a grown-up! So mature!"

Zhao Anqing chuckled—not mocking, but full of admiration.

"I'm six. Haven't had my birthday yet."

The short-haired girl stated it plainly, no pride in her voice.

"Me too! I'm six, and I haven't had my birthday either!"

Zhao Anqing pushed the swing more eagerly, chatting brightly.

(Talking with her felt like talking to an older sister—he really liked it.)

"When's your birthday?"

Chen Ziqing asked casually.

"May fifth!"

He answered without hesitation, completely trusting.

"Then you're a little older than me."

Her hair swayed with the swing, her expression utterly calm.

"Aren't we both six?"

Confused, the boy only knew they shared an age—but not *why* he was older.

"My birthday's July eighth. You were born two months before me. So you're older."

Chen Ziqing explained patiently.

"Wow, Ziqing—you know so much!"

He didn't fully understand, but her calm logic felt true.

"I just happened to know. Read more books—you'll know too."

Where others might boast, Chen Ziqing stayed humble. Nothing like a typical six-year-old girl.