CHAPTER 66: KNOW EACH OTHER

"Take care. If anyone bullies you, tell Daddy. If anyone tries to flirt with you, tell Daddy. If anyone gives you snacks you don’t like, tell Daddy that, too. If the weather is too hot, too cold, too average, tell Daddy."

"Dad."

"And if someone—"

"Dad."

"Yes, Baby?"

"Go inside."

"...Okay."

He sniffled one last time, then retreated with the defeated dignity of a single father whose universe revolved around a tiny six-year-old tyrant.

Huaijin watched him go, heart softening.

Last life, she never bothered to enjoy this warmth.

This time... she would.

But not right now.

Right now, she had a bus to catch.

***

In front of the apartment building, a large silver bus was parked, the variety show’s logo pasted on its side:

"Kids Go! Adventure Unlimited"

—It was bright, colorful, and terrifyingly cheerful.

A staff member hurried forward with a clipboard.

"Are you Miss Chi Huaijin? Welcome! Your seat is inside to the right!"

"Thank you," she replied politely.

Then she climbed up.

The bus interior was warm and lively. Colorful decorations, cartoon stickers, small camera pods at each seat, yes, this was a full filming environment.

But the moment she stepped in, she noticed three familiar heads turn toward her at the same time.

Yuanying.

Lingzhi.

And—

Oh.

Three unknown boys, seated across the aisle.

The six children roughly formed two neat rows:

In the girls’ row on the left was Huaijin (6), Yuanying (8), and Liang Lingzhi (8), while on the right side was the boys’ row, a boy with chubby cheeks, holding a Rubik’s cube, around Huaijin’s age. While the guy beside him seemed the same age as Yuanying and Lingzhi, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, serious-looking, and lastly, there was a tall, cold-faced guy... and vaguely resembling someone she knew.

Huaijin raised a brow.

That older boy... why did he give her Yun Jue vibes?

The same dead-fish eyes.

The same "I matured too early and now everyone annoys me" aura.

The same quiet, clean posture.

Oh dear.

Did the production team purposely match their ages?

Youngest girl → youngest boy

Older girl → older boy

...And Huaijin → another little monster with deadpan soul?

Interesting.

She climbed into her designated seat, right beside Yuanying.

Immediately, Yuanying puffed her cheeks.

"Why are you sitting next to me?"

"Because this is literally my assigned seat," Huaijin replied.

"Hmph." Yuanying crossed her arms. "Hmph!"

It was the kind of double-hmph only a tsundere older sister could properly execute.

Huaijin smiled sweetly.

"You’re happy I’m next to you."

"I AM NOT."

"You’re very happy."

"I SAID I’M NOT!"

"Your ears are red."

Yuanying slapped both hands over her ears.

"YOU SAW NOTHING!"

Huaijin chuckled and poked her cheek.

"Little Yingying~"

"I’m older than you!! Stop calling me Yingying!"

"Yingying~ Yingying~ Ying—"

A tiny hand clamped over her mouth.

Unlike last time, the child didn’t pull away immediately.

Instead, the hand trembled ever so slightly... as Yuanying whispered:

"...You left without saying goodbye the other day."

Huaijin blinked.

Aha.

So that was the root of the sudden sulkiness.

The dance competition had ended. Yuanying lost. Huaijin comforted her backstage. And she left the Chi Manor in a hurry after her father came out of her grandfather’s study like a sandstorm. But afterward, Huaijin had left with Yuanfeng before Yuanying could process anything.

So this proud little hedgehog... had been brooding.

"So you missed me?"

"I DID NOT! I JUST—!" Yuanying choked, face reddening. "I just... thought... it was rude..."

"Oh? Then I’ll remember to say goodbye every time~"

Yuanying stared at her suspiciously, like a baby fox who wanted to bite but also wanted to cuddle.

Then she turned her head, muttering with a pout:

"...Fine. Sit if you want."

"Aww, you are happy!"

"I AM—!"

She slapped the seat.

"I AM NEUTRAL!!"

The bus driver’s booming voice saved her from further embarrassment:

"Buckle your seatbelts, kids! We’re heading to the filming location!"

Across the aisle, the three boys had been stealing glances at the girls for a while.

The chubby six-year-old whispered loudly:

"Brother Hao, Brother Mu, that girl is pretty..."

The glasses boy adjusted his frames, sounding like a miniature professor.

"She has symmetrical features. That generally means high camera appeal."

The tall ten-year-old boy said nothing—

But his eyes narrowed thoughtfully at Huaijin.

He frowned slightly, then looked away, as if displeased or confused.

Huaijin noticed.

And she instantly got a feeling.

This boy...

This boy was 100% going to be trouble.

The smart, quiet type.

The one who looked normal on the outside but was secretly judging the world.

Oh dear.

She already had Yun Jue at home.

Now she met a Yun Jue Version 2.0.

Just what she needed.

Fine.

Let him brood.

She had her own tsundere to tease—

As if reading her thoughts, Yuanying huffed and nudged her.

"Don’t look at them. Look at me."

"Yes, yes. Yingying is my number one priority."

"STOP CALLING ME!!!"

The boys stared with wide eyes.

Lingzhi sighed next to them like a retired grandmother.

Ah.

This trip was going to be chaos.

She could feel it already.

***

Despite the hilarious chaos of Yuanying’s puffed-up tsundere act, Lingzhi’s resigned sighs, and the older boys’ silent judgment, the bus suddenly quieted for a moment when the youngest boy across the aisle shifted nervously in his seat.

He was tiny with round cheeks, soft eyes, legs dangling off the edge because he couldn’t quite reach the floor. He clutched his Rubik’s cube like a security blanket, twisting it anxiously.

Then, after mustering all the courage his little six-year-old soul could gather, he hopped down from his seat.

Thump.

Wobble.

Stumble.

He almost fell.

But then he straightened his shirt, puffed up his chest like a baby sparrow, and marched toward Huaijin.

Huaijin blinked.

The entire bus watched.

Even Yuanying raised a brow.

The tiny boy stopped directly in front of Huaijin, hugging his cube tight.

"...H-Hi..." he whispered.

His voice was so soft that the camera had to zoom in.