Chapter 2 — We Will Meet Again

The soft, sweet voice of a child sounded, and Cheng Yishu was instantly petrified on the spot. That simple sentence—"I just wanted to help Brother stand up"—made his face, hidden behind his mask, flush with heat.

"Ranran… be good, Brother… Brother didn't mean anything bad!" The little girl's mother crouched down, choosing her words carefully, her gaze serious as she looked into her daughter's eyes, which were already misted over with tears.

A child's heart is the simplest and purest; in their eyes, there are no lies or interests at stake. Their responses are always straightforward and direct. Yet, that pure little happiness was maliciously denied.

There was a half-minute silence.

"Ahem… well, then I wasn't entirely wrong, was I? This child is so adorable, it's obvious she's not your biological daughter!" Cheng Yishu regained his voice, breaking the awkwardness while using "adorable" to comfort the child.

It was undeniable that the little "rice ball" in front of him, with round eyes and puffed cheeks, though still young, possessed a maturity beyond her years. Realizing she was misunderstood, she didn't burst into tears but even tried to hold them back.

This made Cheng Yishu, who had always disliked children, suddenly feel that this little girl was not so annoying after all...

"Xiaowen is my mother. She gave birth to me. Aunt Ning said it was very dangerous when she had me, and she lost a lot of blood…" Pushing past her mother's protection, Ranran strained to look up, explaining earnestly to Cheng Yishu.

Her rosy lips opened and closed, revealing a row of little white teeth like grains of sticky rice.

Lin Xiaowen's eyes burned with emotion, but she remained composed, her gaze almost challenging as she looked at Cheng Yishu.

He raised his eyebrows ever so slightly.

"Alright, little one… it was Brother's mistake. I formally apologize to you." For once, his voice held an unaccustomed gentleness as he crouched down and gently ruffled Ranran's hair.

The girl's hair was soft, just like her voice. Touching it filled his heart with a tender sweetness.

Seeing this once overbearing man sincerely apologize to her daughter, Lin Xiaowen finally let go of the frustration in her heart.

She sighed to herself—so long as her daughter wasn't wronged, she could endure anything.

"Brother, you're bleeding!" Ranran took Cheng Yishu's right hand, her little brows furrowed, and looked up at him in a small voice.

"Don't move. Xiaowen has pretty stickers. If you put one on, it won't hurt anymore!"

Turning her little head, she spoke to her mother again.

"Xiaowen, let's put a sticker on Brother, okay?"

Before Lin Xiaowen could reply, Cheng Yishu interjected, "No need, it's alright. Brother doesn't need a sticker… It's just a scratch, it doesn't hurt anymore!"

It seemed that faced with this little girl, his usual coldness melted away in an instant. By the time he noticed, his tone was already soft.

"It's no trouble. Xiaowen said people should help each other, and that's what the teachers at kindergarten say too!" Her serious manner once again melted their hearts.

Feeling a bit gratified by the effect of her teachings, Lin Xiaowen generously fished out a band-aid from her bag and handed it to Ranran.

"Here you go!"

"Thank you, Xiaowen!" Ranran took the SpongeBob band-aid with glee, but then hesitated, looking from Cheng Yishu's injured hand to the sticker in her own.

"Xiaowen, can you help Brother put it on?" Ranran asked softly, seeking help, and Lin Xiaowen was momentarily stunned.

"Why?"

"I'm afraid I won't do it well. Brother's hand is so good-looking—what if I make it look ugly?"

"Pfft… hahaha!" Cheng Yishu finally couldn't help laughing, ruffling Ranran's little head again.

"Little one, you really know how to talk—and you have a good eye too!"

Hearing the praise, Ranran grinned, her eyes turning into crescents of delight.

"Just give the sticker to Brother and let him put it on himself. We're going to be late," Lin Xiaowen gently reminded her.

A flash of disappointment appeared in Ranran's eyes, but it quickly faded as her eyes brightened again.

"Brother, this SpongeBob sticker is for you. Remember to put it on properly, and don't get it wet. The teacher says if it gets wet, it'll grow fuzzies!"

"Pfft…" This time it was Lin Xiaowen who laughed, but when she saw Cheng Yishu's indifferent gaze, she quickly composed herself, tugging Ranran's little hand and earnestly instructing her, "Say goodbye to Brother."

Ranran looked reluctantly at Cheng Yishu's exposed eyes and murmured, "Brother, will we meet again?"

"Your name is Ranran, right?" Cheng Yishu asked with a smile.

"Mm!" Encouraged, little Ranran nodded vigorously.

"We will. If you're a good girl and listen to your mom, maybe we'll meet again someday."

Cheng Yishu found himself enjoying talking with this little girl. Under her pure, clear gaze, he felt as if he himself had become clean.

"Really?" Ranran's eyes were round and bright, full of joy.

"Really! Let's pinky promise!"

To his own surprise, Cheng Yishu childishly offered his pinky finger.

So, when that little pinky, only half the size of his, hooked onto his own, he began to mock himself inwardly—

"Cheng Yishu, you really are… sick."

The SpongeBob sticker in his palm grinned, showing off its blocky, unattractive teeth.

How could it compare to the cuteness of that little "rice ball"?

Yet Cheng Yishu carefully put the sticker away before mounting his motorcycle and riding off.

The shadows of the mother and daughter stretched lightly across the tree-lined road. Ranran skipped along cheerfully, trying to step on every patch of sunlight that filtered through the leaves, landing on her new little shoes.

"Ranran…"

Lin Xiaowen knew well her daughter's usual sensibility and talkativeness. But just now, after that little incident, the way Ranran spoke so much to that impolite man who had unjustly accused her made her curious.

"Yes?" Ranran looked back, tilting her head. "What is it?"

"You… seem to really like that brother from just now?" Lin Xiaowen asked softly.

Ranran's big eyes blinked, a faint blush rising to her cheeks, but her mouth couldn't help curling into a secret smile.

"Why?"

Seeing her daughter's reaction, Lin Xiaowen knew she had guessed right, so she pressed a bit further.

"He's good-looking!"

Ranran tilted her head, thinking for a moment before adding, "Brother is a good person!"

"Good-looking?" Lin Xiaowen said, somewhat speechless.

"He was wrapped up so tightly—how do you know he's good-looking? And he was so fierce!"

Thinking of that mask-wearing man who had so casually and maliciously jumped to conclusions, Lin Xiaowen shook her head.

"His eyes are very pretty," Ranran said softly, suddenly stopping and looking at her mother. "His gaze is gentle, just like Daddy's eyes…"

Lin Xiaowen abruptly halted, her cool fingers unconsciously clenching tightly in her palm…