After a quick meeting, the little friends bustled into the small grocery store near the children’s park.

“Welcome back, little friends! What snacks are you grabbing today?” Wang Wanying had been resting her chin in her hand, idly flipping through a storybook. At the pitter-patter of footsteps, she glanced up—oh, it was the same group of kids from earlier. Her listless eyes instantly lit up. She greeted them warmly.

Among them stood the timid little boy.

“Sister, I want a milk popsicle!” Xie Jinxia skipped to the freezer, stood on tiptoe, gazed longingly at the treats inside, and chirped in a crisp voice.

“Whoa… Jinxia, skipping your favorite strawberry ice cream today?” Xu Yuting, playing the generous host, tilted her head curiously. She’d treated them before—this round-faced girl never held back. Why pick the cheapest popsicle now?

“Just switching it up! Strawberry gets boring after a while,” Xie Jinxia explained earnestly, after stealing a quick glance at the boy. Truth was, after snagging Anqing’s milk popsicle last time and tasting a few bites, she’d found it surprisingly good—and wanted to try one herself.

“Little friend, you just had ice cream. Too much might upset your tummy,” Wang Wanying gently warned.

“No worries! I’m tough. Sister, please hand me the milk popsicle,” Xie Jinxia insisted, unfazed.

“Alright, here you go.” Persuasion failed—time to earn a little cash. Wang Wanying pulled out the popsicle.

“Thank you, sister!” Ever polite, the round-faced girl beamed, tore open the wrapper, and eagerly licked the treat with her pink little tongue.

“My stomach’s not feeling great. I’ll pass,” Chen Ziqing declined Xu Yuting’s offer with a soft smile.

“Got it.” Xu Yuting, longtime friends with the short-haired girl, didn’t push. She turned to the boy. “Anqing, what flavor would you like?”

“My stomach’s not well either… I’ll skip it.” The boy had no idea what a “stomach” even was—but seeing Ziqing use that excuse, he quickly copied it to resist temptation.

“Anqing… best friends don’t lie. Is your stomach *really* upset?” Xu Yuting searched his eyes, voice gentle but firm.

“I… I…" The boy froze, stammering, unable to form a full sentence.

“The sister’s right,” Chen Ziqing chimed in calmly. “Boys are delicate. Too much ice cream gives tummy aches.”

“Oh! Right! Anqing can’t get sick—that’d be awful,” Xu Yuting nodded firmly, heart wholly wrapped around the boy.

“Anqing, how about sweet-and-sour preserved plums? They’re yummy!” She wanted to swap snacks but checked with him first.

“Yuting… I’m not hungry, really,” Zhao Anqing murmured, not wanting her to spend more.

“Hungry or not, snacks are fun!” Xu Yuting turned to Wang Wanying. “Sister, one pack of preserved plums, please.”

“Here you go, sweetie.” Wang Wanying, catching the context, handed the plums straight to the boy.

“Th-thank you, sister.” Trapped, the boy accepted them shyly.

“Hehe, so polite.” Wang Wanying’s heart warmed. The more she looked at him, the more she liked him.

“Sister, get me a pack of Chinese plums too,” Xu Yuting swiftly stepped in front of the boy. Something about how the shopkeeper eyed her best friend felt… off.

“Anqing… lick my popsicle? This one doesn’t taste as good as the one you licked last time,” Xie Jinxia pouted after a few sucks. Meh. Not great. But last time it was tasty! She blamed the popsicle—and boldly held it out.

“Hey, Jinxia! Have some hygiene!” Xu Yuting frowned before the boy could speak.

“Pfft, we’re best friends! What’s the big deal?” Xie Jinxia blinked, clueless.

“Jinxia… maybe not,” the boy murmured, flustered.

“Yeah, lick it yourself. Don’t bother Anqing.” Xu Yuting shielded him protectively.

“Ugh! It’s just to make it tasty! Best friends won’t even do this tiny favor?” Xie Jinxia huffed, feeling betrayed.

“I’ll lick it. Happy?” Seeing her pout, the boy hesitated. Xu Yuting sighed, ready to sacrifice herself.

“Ew! If *you* lick it, Yuting, I’m tossing it!” Xie Jinxia recoiled instantly.

“Hehe. So you *only* want Anqing’s lick? Not happening.” Xu Yuting shot her a knowing look, pulling the boy tighter behind her. *Gotcha. You’re just craving his saliva.*

“Your Chinese plums, little friend,” Wang Wanying said, quietly stunned by the kids’ boldness. “Sharing saliva isn’t healthy, sweetie,” she added gently, big-sister tone intact.

“He’s my best friend—not ‘someone else’! It’s fine,” Xie Jinxia insisted, still licking the bland popsicle, eyes drifting back to Anqing.

“If your mom finds out you made a boy lick your popsicle… she’ll spank you,” Chen Ziqing said quietly, dead serious.

“You won’t tell… I won’t tell… who’d know?” Xie Jinxia shivered, then shrugged. *My best friend wouldn’t betray me… right?*

“If you keep this up, I *will* tell Auntie.” Chen Ziqing’s tone left zero room for jokes.

“Wah! Okay, okay! I won’t ask Anqing! Ziqing, please don’t tell!” Xie Jinxia instantly backed down, all mischief gone.

*Ziqing’s amazing. She did what none of us could.* Zhao Anqing gazed at the calm, composed short-haired girl, admiration glowing in his heart.

*Do I… actually like being looked at like this by him?* Chen Ziqing caught his gaze—and felt a quiet, happy flutter bloom inside.