Shen Ji wasn’t opposed to physical contact with others.
He was just afraid.

Afraid that he might hurt someone.

If it were someone he disliked, he wouldn’t care. But when it came to Yuanyuan…

He couldn’t quite explain why, but he just didn’t want her to get hurt, not even a little bump or bruise.

The soft touch on his fingertip lasted barely a second before Shen Ji quickly pulled his hand away. He intentionally put on a stern face and scolded her, “I told you not to touch my hand! Do you not understand?”

“Why?” The little girl looked pitiful, poking her fingers together in sadness. “Does Brother Shen Ji hate Yuanyuan?”

She looked so sad that even Shen Ji couldn’t bring himself to be harsh with her.

“No, I don’t hate you,” Shen Ji replied, his inner conflict making him grit his teeth.

“Great!” The little girl instantly brightened up. This time, she learned her lesson and didn’t try to grab his hand. Instead, she tugged at his sleeve and asked, “Brother Shen Ji, can we be friends?”

“Why?” This time, it was Shen Ji who threw the question back at her.

He had never had friends growing up and was used to it. He didn’t see the need for friends.

Such a simple question left Yuanyuan momentarily flustered. She didn’t know how to answer.

Do you need a reason to want to be someone’s friend?
She thought hard, her little face turning red from concentration.

Shen Ji was sure she wouldn’t be able to answer when she suddenly moved around him, blocking his way as if afraid he might leave without saying anything.

Why did she want to be friends with Brother Shen Ji?

She couldn’t exactly tell him it was because she was afraid he’d hurt her dad in the future, so she needed to stay close to him and be his friend, right?

But, as she looked at Shen Ji now, he didn’t seem like a bad person.

Maybe he just went down the wrong path later on.

If Yuanyuan kept an eye on him, he could stay on the right track and become a good person!

Unsure of how to explain all this, Yuanyuan didn’t want to lie. Instead, she raised her small hand, offering a friendly handshake.

Shen Ji stood there, staring down at her chubby little palm.

Her open, sincere gesture of friendship made him feel something he had never felt before—genuine kindness.

It was like a soft ray of sunshine struggling to break through thick clouds, gently falling on a small plant that had long been growing in the shadows.

The little plant trembled, wanting to move closer to the warmth.

Timidly, cautiously, and with hope.

“Miss Yuanyuan!” Gao Zhou’s raspy shout suddenly shattered the world of the two children.

Shen Ji snapped out of it, realizing he had almost pulled his hand from his pocket to grasp that small, outstretched hand. He had nearly touched the rare sunlight that had appeared in his life.

Had Gao Zhou not interrupted, he might have made a mistake.

“High uncle!” Yuanyuan’s attention was immediately drawn to Gao Zhou and her brothers, and she forgot that her invitation to be friends had gone unanswered. She ran toward them, her little feet pattering on the ground, her face filled with joy.

“I nearly had a heart attack,” Gao Zhou gasped, clutching his chest and panting heavily. “Miss Yuanyuan, please, don’t wander off again! I can’t handle losing you a third time.”

“Yuanyuan didn’t do it on purpose,” the little girl explained, pouting. “I got squeezed and pushed, and suddenly, I ended up somewhere strange.”

Finally reunited with her family, Yuanyuan’s presence allowed Shen Ji to feel relieved enough to leave.

He glanced at the happy smile on her face. That carefree joy stirred a strange feeling of envy within him.

Everything that Yuanyuan had seemed like an unattainable luxury for him.

It was something he could only dream of but never touch.

Although he knew he’d be in trouble for disappearing for so long, Shen Ji didn’t regret it. For just a brief moment, he had felt more at ease than ever before.

Because of Yuanyuan, he had something to look back on—a small yet precious memory.

“Hey,” Shen Ji said gruffly as he walked over to Gao Zhou, frowning and speaking harshly, “Make sure you watch her properly. Don’t lose her again!”

Gao Zhou flinched, feeling like he was being scolded by Yu Jinxiao himself. He instinctively bowed, “Yes, sir!”