In the sandbox, two kids played happily.

"Huh? Isn’t that Chen Ziqing? Playing with a boy? How pitiful—no girls want to play with you."

A child’s voice cut in, dripping with sarcastic singsong mockery.

The speaker was a dark-skinned girl with thick lips, about six or seven, trailed by two plain-looking little girls acting as her lackeys.

"Ziqing… does she know you?"

Zhao Anqing’s bright smile vanished at the uninvited guests. He asked nervously.

*Did I make my friend get mocked again?*

But was it wrong for a girl to play with a boy? Why laugh at them?

He couldn’t understand. He hated seeing his friend ridiculed—a tight ache bloomed in his chest.

"Just classmates. We don’t get along. Ignore her."

Chen Ziqing shot the approaching girls a cool glance. Unfazed, she utterly ignored them.

"Mm."

The boy obediently nodded and kept tracing his name in the sand.

"Huh? This boy’s writing in the sand? So ugly! Don’t you think?"

Seeing no reaction, Zhang Xiaohua didn’t back down—she escalated, voice sharp with taunts.

"He’s obviously a dummy. His writing’s hideous."

"Yeah! He’ll fail every test. Total stupid kid."

The two lackeys chimed in blindly, voices grating.

"I…"

Zhao Anqing, still a child at heart, felt his eyes sting. He bit his lip, frozen—a picture of helpless confusion.

"Yuting! Jinxia! Someone’s bullying us!"

Seeing the boy’s wounded look, Chen Ziqing couldn’t stay seated. A cold glint flashed in her calm eyes as she called her friends.

She stayed smart—not rash. No fighting. Just backup.

"Hmph. Calling for help? So weak."

Zhang Xiaohua, already holding a grudge against the short-haired girl, sneered louder.

"What? Someone bullying Anqing and Ziqing?"

Xu Yuting and Xie Jinxia had been listlessly on the seesaw nearby. At the call, they sprang up and sprinted over.

"Hey! Who are you? Bullying my friends? Looking for a beating?"

Xu Yuting reached the sandbox first. Seeing Anqing’s red-rimmed eyes, fury flared. She pointed and scolded fiercely.

"Which eye saw me bully him?"

Zhang Xiaohua smirked shamelessly, voice dripping with fake sweetness.

"The boy in the sand is my best friend! He’s near tears—all because of you!"

Xu Yuting’s bright eyes widened, ready to throw a punch.

"Hehe. We didn’t touch him. He’s just a crybaby—teehee, crybaby!"

Zhang Xiaohua sneered on.

"I heard you! You dare bully my friends? I’ll beat you up!"

Xie Jinxia arrived slightly late—not cowardly, just tripped while running.

"I… I’m not a crybaby! I’m not crying!"

Zhao Anqing held back tears, eyes reddened, looking like a timid little rabbit.

But his friends were here. Courage swelled. He stood his ground.

"Mm. Anqing’s not a crybaby. He’s a brave boy."

Xu Yuting rushed to his side, voice soft and soothing.

"Hehe. A whole group of girls playing with one boy? Ridiculous."

Zhang Xiaohua seized the chance to twist the knife.

"Say that again! We play with Anqing—what’s it to you?"

Xie Jinxia’s temper snapped. She clenched her teeth, shoved the girl, and yelled.

"You pushed me? You’re dead! Get her!"

Zhang Xiaohua used it as an excuse.

The two lackeys circled the round-faced girl, fists raised.

"Yuting, help Jinxia!"

Chen Ziqing charged forward.

"Bring it! Who’s scared? Brats bullying us? We’ll make *you* cry!"

The round-faced girl stood firm, wide eyes blazing with defiance.

"Anqing, stay back! I’m helping them!"

Xu Yuting patted the boy’s shoulder and dashed off.

"How dare you bully my friends? You asked for this!"

She saw Ziqing and Jinxia surrounded—and joined the fray with a shout.

A childish brawl erupted in the park.

Three versus three. Evenly matched. Fists flying.

"Yuting… Ziqing…"

The boy watched, heart pounding. He couldn’t just stand by.

"I have to help them. Help my friends."

He scooped two handfuls of sand and charged.

"Don’t bully my friends!"

He flung sand straight at Zhang Xiaohua.

"Wow, Anqing! Good job!"

Xu Yuting, mid-fight, was startled—then proud. She pulled him safely behind her.

"Stupid boy! Throwing sand? I’ll beat you!"

Sand stung Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes. Blinded, she flailed wildly at empty air.

"That’s for insulting Anqing!"

Xu Yuting shoved her hard.

"Waaah… It hurts… my butt!"

Zhang Xiaohua landed hard, sobbing, snot streaming.

"Don’t bully my friends—or I’ll throw sand at you too!"

The boy trotted to Chen Ziqing’s side, face scrunched in fierce warning.

"Waaah…"

Facing two girls—and a sandy "weapon"—one lackey burst into tears and fled.

The other, seeing the tide turn, bolted after her.

"Ziqing… you okay?"

Still clutching the sand, the boy asked softly.

"I’m fine."

The short-haired girl shook her head, eyes holding a new, quiet wonder.

*Anqing… unexpectedly brave. Nothing like a timid boy.*

"Wow! Anqing, you were so brave! Running into a girls’ fight? Boldest boy I’ve ever seen!"

Xie Jinxia cheered, grabbing his sandy little hand and spinning him joyfully.

"I… I just didn’t want my friends bullied."

With danger gone, his courage melted. He ducked his head shyly, cheeks warm.