The little companions were stunned and stammered, “But you said she wasn’t your sister before! Who is she really?”

“My dad has adopted her, so she’s my sister now,” Yu Yingze hurriedly explained, trying to quell their “intentions.” “I’m her brother.”

“Second Brother~” Little Yuanyuan cooperatively called out in her soft, milky voice.

The tender, sweet sound melted the hearts of the four young boys.

They all wished Yuanyuan would call them “brother” just once.

“Yuanyuan’s cheeks look so soft,” while the others were still caught up in the “brother” situation, Tian Bin had already shifted his attention elsewhere, “they seem like they’d feel nice to touch.”

Kids always acted on impulse. Before anyone could react, Tian Bin reached out and pinched Yuanyuan’s cheek.

The little girl, looking innocent and confused, didn’t resist. She blinked her big eyes as if she hadn’t even realized what had happened.

Seeing Tian Bin’s bold move, the other boys followed suit, each taking a turn pinching her soft cheeks.

Soon, Yuanyuan’s once clean and fair face was covered in smudged fingerprints.

Yu Yingze took a deep breath and waved his fists, trying to act tough, “Stop pinching her with your dirty paws!!!”

The four boys, having achieved their mischievous goal, grinned in satisfaction and ran off.

Standing by the courtyard gate, Yu Yingze looked at Yuanyuan, who was still in a daze, and began lecturing her, “Next time, swat their hands away, understand?”

“Why?” Yuanyuan tilted her head, her expression confused.

Yu Yingze had expected this response, but instead of leaving in frustration, he patiently explained, “If you don’t like people pinching your face, you need to say no. Otherwise, they’ll keep doing it,” he crossed his arms, turning away in a huff, “But if you don’t mind, then forget I said anything.”

A bird hopped on the tree branch above, chirping cheerfully, but the atmosphere between the two children grew oddly quiet.

Yuanyuan didn’t say anything at first. She stared down at her dirty hands for a while before looking up earnestly at Yu Yingze, “But… they’re your good friends, Second Brother.”

Did she let them pinch her because they were his friends?

Realizing that, Yu Yingze suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, making it hard to speak.

Yuanyuan stood there, dirty and disheveled, with smudged fingerprints on her pale cheeks, looking pitiful.

Though Yuanyuan couldn’t fully articulate her feelings, Yu Yingze recognized it as a form of humble flattery.

He had experienced similar treatment at school—people trying to get close to him just because he was Yu Jinxiao’s son. Most of them had ulterior motives, and their intentions were obvious.

Yu Yingze despised insincere friends and fake flattery.

He refused to associate with such people. The more they tried to please him, the more disgusted he felt.

But Yuanyuan’s way of pleasing didn’t make him feel disgusted; instead, it made him feel a bit uneasy.

At his age, he had no concept of pleasing others. He had always been the little tyrant of the house, spoiled by his parents and older brother. He always had the best of everything.

Yu Yingze frowned, and for the first time, he took the initiative to reach out and hold her dirty hand. “You’re filthy from playing today, but don’t tell Dad and Brother it was my fault. Just say… you accidentally got dirty!”

“Got it!” Yuanyuan agreed cheerfully.

When the two of them walked back into the house, Aunt Chen was the first to see the pair, looking as if they’d just crawled out of a haystack.

Yuanyuan even had a few dried leaves stuck in her hair, while Yu Yingze had a small twig tangled in his hair, completely oblivious to it.

Their clothes were a mess, nothing like how neat and tidy they were when they had left earlier in the day.

“Miss, what happened to you? Did you fall?” Aunt Chen exclaimed, her heart aching as she grabbed Yuanyuan’s scraped little hand. She glanced over at Yu Yingze for an explanation.