After the round-faced girl’s earlier tantrum settled, the kids happily munched on their snacks.

“Anqing, have a prune.”

Inside the small store, a row of tiny stools was set up for little ones. The children sat side by side. Xu Yuting, a smile lighting her little face, eagerly offered the snack.

“I’ve got plenty… more than I can finish. Yuting, want some too?”

Sandwiched between two girls—Yuting on his left, Jin Xia on his right—the boy basked in the joy of playing with friends, his face glowing with happiness.

“Anqing, I want a prune too.”

Jin Xia had long finished her milk popsicle. Bold and unreserved, she straightforwardly asked the boy for a snack.

“Mm, here you go.”

Zhao Anqing wasn’t selfish at all. Hearing his friend’s request, he passed over the open bag of prunes.

“Feed me… ah…”

Jin Xia seemed to have turned lazy, parting her tiny lips wide and waiting to be fed.

“Lazybones! Anqing, ignore her,” Xu Yuting chimed in crisply, clearly uneasy with Jin Xia’s boldness.

“It’s okay…”

Zhao Anqing didn’t mind. Gently picking up a prune with his small hand, he placed it into her waiting mouth.

Though he’d grabbed sand during the earlier scuffle with Zhang Xiaohua and others, he’d washed his hands thoroughly—they were perfectly clean.

“Mmm! Anqing’s prunes are so good!” Jin Xia squinted her eyes, swaying her head happily.

“Anqing, I want some too.”

Xu Yuting secretly fumed but couldn’t take it out on him, so she too asked to be fed.

“Mm.”

The boy softly replied, offering her a prune.

He felt pure joy in these moments with friends—no trace of impatience.

“Hehe, Anqing, we’re best friends, right? Have a prune!” Xu Yuting giggled, popping a prune into her own mouth before offering one to him.

“Ah… Mm! Yuting and I are best friends!” Zhao Anqing nodded contentedly. To him, being her best friend felt like a quiet blessing.

“What about me? Anqing, what kind of friends are we?” Jin Xia pouted, secretly clenching her tiny pink fists.

“Jin Xia and I are good friends!” he answered without hesitation.

“Ziqing, would you like a prune too?” He gently turned to the quiet, short-haired girl.

“Ziqing doesn’t like sweet or sour things,” Xu Yuting answered before Chen Ziqing could speak—truthfully, she knew her friend usually avoided such flavors.

“I can try…”

Chen Ziqing had been fiddling with her Rubik’s Cube, but today the puzzle felt strangely stubborn. Hearing his question, she murmured a reply.

“Ziqing’s trying new things?” Xu Yuting scratched her cheek, flustered at being instantly contradicted.

“Just feeling like it,” the short-haired girl replied calmly.

“Ah…”

The boy had already held out a prune.

“Not bad!”

Though not her usual taste, Chen Ziqing found herself enjoying it—as if the boy carried a quiet, warm magic.

“I’m glad! There’s plenty in the bag—more than I can finish. Just say the word,” he said with a bright, sincere smile.

Their laughter, their praise—it all filled him with quiet happiness.

He never dreamed he’d have real friends like this.

If this was a dream… he hoped it would never end.

“I want more! I want more!”

Jin Xia gobbled it up fast, spat out the pit, and raised her hand eagerly.

“Have a prune.” Xu Yuting popped one into Jin Xia’s mouth, as if to quiet her.

Xu Yuting knew Anqing was happy—but a subtle regret stirred in her heart.

She wanted to keep this best friend all to herself.

Too late now. Jin Xia and Ziqing were already his friends.

*Next time… let’s skip the park. Anqing can come to my house. Just us two.*

Just then, Anqing trotted to the store counter.

“Big sister, want a prune?”

Though usually shy, Wang Wanying’s gentle ways—and that lollipop she’d given him—made him feel safe. He offered the snack without fear.

“Wow, little one… you’re really sharing with me?”

Wang Wanying had been pretending to read, but her eyes never left the sweet-faced boy. His approach sent a warm thrill through her.

*Such a little angel—tiny, sweet-voiced… who wouldn’t adore him?*

“Mm! For big sister.” He nodded earnestly, stretching onto tiptoes to reach her.

“Thank you—you’re such a good kid. What’s your name?” Wang Wanying took a prune but held it, seizing the chance to connect.

“I’m Zhao Anqing! I’m six!” he answered openly.

“Big sister, what are you reading?” He peeked curiously at the book’s odd cover.

“Anqing? A lovely name. It’s a storybook. Want me to read it?” Wang Wanying smiled softly, flipping open the pages.

“I… I can’t read… but I can write my name!” Zhao Anqing looked up proudly. Every character was a mystery—but the name Ziqing taught him was etched deep in his heart.

“You can write your name? Wonderful! Shall I read the story to you?”

Talking with him was a hundred times better than reading alone. She cherished this moment.

“Really?” His eyes sparkled with stars, brimming with hope.

“Of course!”

Wang Wanying’s heart melted. She nearly scooped him up—so angelic, so healing just to behold.

“Anqing… what are you doing?”

Xu Yuting finally rushed over. She grabbed his little hand possessively and shot Wang Wanying a subtly sharp glance.

*He’s mine. Don’t touch.*

To Wang Wanying’s surprise… she read those exact words in the little girl’s eyes.