“Want to go for a walk over there?”  

Xia Yan finished his three-delight dumplings in just a few quick bites, wiped his hands clean with a wet wipe he always carried, placed his helmet on the bike, and turned back to ask—his tone unconsciously softened.

(I’ll just see what tricks you’ve got up your sleeve this time 👊🏻…)

Hua Xin lifted her long sleeves and playfully swung them forward like a mischievous little spirit.

(-...--.-.---....-.---....--...--...--.-.---....)

“Aww, you’ve gotten braver lately, huh?”

Xia Yan laughed cheerfully and patted the girl lightly on the shoulder. Hua Xin’s recent gesture made him finally let go of the constant caution he’d been holding onto.

(Ouch…🥺)  
(Feels like my whole body’s falling apart…)  
(Damn it… Is he already making his move? 😭…)  
(Where’s my hammer? 🔨 It’s in my backpack! 😨)

At the exact moment Hua Xin handed him the dumplings, Xia Yan thought he truly saw a reflection of his former self in her.

He—Cun Qi Er—was genuinely happy to see Hua Xin like this: able to attend school normally with him, learning how to interact with “friends,” and expressing her feelings—things she’d always lacked before.

To Xia Yan, it felt like he was playing Dororo, helping Hyakkimaru reclaim his lost body parts. That indescribable sense of fulfillment warmed his heart.

“What’s wrong?”

Xia Yan turned around, noticing Hua Xin still standing rooted in place, and asked with mild confusion.

Uh-oh…  
Caught.

(My hammer…😭)  
(Where’s he taking me? Is he gonna make me fly? Could he be planning to dump my body somewhere no one’ll find? 😨)

Hua Xin shook her head stiffly and forced herself to take an awkward step forward.

(It’s fine. He just wants to mock me—just trying to mess with me… Murder’s illegal… He’s not some tyrant who can kill me on a whim… Plus, there are people around here.)

Xia Yan deliberately waited a bit so Hua Xin could catch up and walk beside him.

If only someone had walked beside me like this back then… Would things have turned out easier for me?

The fleeting thought passed through his mind, and the corner of his lips curled into a faint smile.

“How about the welcome party after the National Day holiday? Wanna come watch my performance?”

“I’ve got a solo singing act. As my good friend, could you come cheer me on? It’s lonely performing without anyone in the audience…”

(Seriously, dude—you’re acting all cutesy now?)  
(And… so you dragged me out today just to play this ‘friendship’ game? 😡)  
(Does he think it’s too early to reel me in?)

Hua Xin kicked a pebble on the ground absentmindedly—but nearly flung off her oversized shoe in the process.

…………  
Hmm…  
Turn his own trick against him?

The black helmet on the girl’s head bobbed up and down slightly.

If I play along, maybe I can scam this fake-nice guy out of a free meal… Free food’s free food! 😋

The thought of getting a meal lifted her spirits, and she took an overly enthusiastic step forward with her right foot.

In Xia Yan’s field of vision, a mysterious black object suddenly shot out.

Hua Xin: 😨😱  
Xia Yan: 🤔〘Ba3 Ling9 Ling V〟II Jiu 〹〱 Wu Ba Zhang😮

(Don’t panic.)  
(Bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce…)

She forced calmness onto her face, though inside she was already spiraling into panic.

(I need to rush home, log into my online dating account, sell all my gold coins for rice😭… and buy proper shoes!)  
(This is so embarrassing… that fake-nice guy’s definitely laughing his head off at me now😭…)

AAAAAAAH!

In her frantic state, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her ankle—making her instantly regret ever trying to hop on one foot in ill-fitting shoes.

(My life…)  
(This must be how it ends. 😇)

As she watched her body lurch forward, she knew the helmet would protect her head—but her arms would surely get scraped. What if there was a needle on the ground? Or even… a landmine?!

😨  
(Am I about to see my life flash before my eyes…?)  
(No way!! Not like this!)

“Careful!”

Xia Yan swiftly caught Hua Xin around the waist. Startled by her sudden hopping, he hadn’t reacted fast enough at first—but once he stabilized her, he asked urgently:

“You okay, Xiao Hua?”  
“How’s your ankle?”

Weird… Why’s she so soft…?  
Xia Yan instinctively reached to support her arm—but his hand accidentally brushed against her chest through her clothes.

The thought flickered briefly in his mind—

“SMACK!!”

His arm was instantly slapped away. Watching Hua Xin plop down onto the ground, Xia Yan looked utterly bewildered.

(He groped me! He groped me! He groped me! A guy touched my slime-like chest!!)  
(Am I gonna get pregnant?! This is terrifying!!)  
(Wait…🤔 Hold on.)  
(Am I even a guy or a girl right now?)  
(Ah… well, as long as Jinzi hasn’t flowed into Huhu, pregnancy’s impossible. 😇)

For a moment, Hua Xin’s clever little brain went into overdrive. Hidden beneath her helmet, her face flushed crimson—so hot it could boil water.

She’d only gone out for a casual stroll, so she hadn’t wrapped anything tight underneath!

And Xia Yan’s movement had been so sudden and forceful—it’d ripped off her adhesive bandage.

(I’m a guy—what’s the big deal? We’re bros, right? 😭)  
(I’m gonna kill you—I’m gonna kill you—I’m gonna kill you! I’m not pure anymore! 😡)

!

Suddenly, she felt a broad, warm palm grasp her right ankle.

Xia Yan was gently slipping her shoe back onto her foot.

“Can you walk?”  
“Do you want me to carry you?”

Hua Xin looked up with teary, shimmering eyes. Xia Yan’s expression held no trace of weird intentions—just gentle concern as he smiled softly at her.

“I… I can walk myself.”

Flustered, she pushed herself backward with both hands, testing her left ankle. Thankfully, no stabbing pain.

Phew…

Xia Yan stood up, hesitated to offer his hand again, then withdrew it and said softly:

“Let’s go home?”  
“Walk slowly for now…”

Only after confirming Hua Xin could walk properly did he finally exhale in relief.

“Xia Yan?”

A pleasant female voice called out from behind, sounding pleasantly surprised.

Xia Yan paused, then chuckled lightly. “Senior Lin—what a coincidence.”

“Out for a late-night run?”

He looked at Lin Qingyu standing before him—in yoga pants and a sports crop top that perfectly outlined her figure—and a flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes.

“Yep…”  
“I’m all sweaty now—hope you don’t mind?” Lin Qingyu joked half-seriously.

Her hair was slightly damp, sweat glistening on her exposed midriff from the workout and warm weather. She placed a hand on her bare waist and grinned:

“How about some late-night comfort food? You still owe me a meal.”

(Disgusting couple… disgusting couple… disgusting couple…)

Hidden beside the motorcycle, Hua Xin glared coldly at the two “chatting happily.”

So it’s true…🥺  
They planned this together to mock me…😭

I’ll grab my phone—I’ll record their video of them bullying me and expose them online…

Tears streaming, she fumbled for her phone and tremblingly opened the camera app.

“Sorry, Senior Lin. It’s really late. Rain check?”

“I’ve gotta go. Keep up the running.”

Unexpectedly, Xia Yan turned down Lin Qingyu’s invitation and walked straight back toward Hua Xin.

Lin Qingyu didn’t seem angry at the rejection. Instead, she calmly watched the two of them, a quiet resolve forming in her heart:

I won’t forget you.

“We’re going home.”

On Hua Xin’s phone screen, only Xia Yan’s approaching figure filled the frame—along with those casually spoken words.

What’s going on??

Dazed, the girl climbed onto the motorcycle and watched as Xia Yan turned the key.

Her eyes caught a slightly worn gray wolf-head acrylic keychain dangling from the ignition—before Xia Yan’s body blocked her view.

(That looks familiar…)

Xia Yan put on his helmet and started the engine.

Hope Hua Xin learned how to say ‘no’ just now. I demonstrated pretty clearly—she must’ve seen it, right?

He knew full well how terrible she was at refusing others.

Still…

Xia Yan couldn’t help but recall that fleeting softness—and those tiny, delicate feet while putting her shoe back on.

Hua-xiong… 🤔 How come your hands and feet are so small?