Sitting a little further away were the uncle, aunt, brother, and sister that Yuanyuan had seen before. They were a family enjoying each other’s company, eating, chatting, and playing together.

Yet, Shen Ji stood apart from them, like an outsider. Even just getting close to them seemed to stir their disdain.

“Brother Shen Ji, do you want to come play with Yuanyuan?” The little one reached out her hand, offering a sincere invitation.

Shen Ji despised pity from others. At the moment he heard her invite him, he instinctively wanted to refuse.

But in Yuanyuan’s eyes, there was no trace of pity—just pure, genuine excitement.

To her, not having a perfect family wasn’t something to feel sorry about. All she wanted was to play with her brother Shen Ji.

Especially after seeing that no one in that other family needed Shen Ji around, Yuanyuan felt it was only right that Shen Ji come play with her instead.

“Just… for a little while,” Shen Ji finally said, slipping his gloved hand into hers.

Feeling the leather glove, Yuanyuan curiously squeezed it. “Wow, what’s this?”

“Gloves,” Shen Ji explained out of habit.

“Why does brother Shen Ji wear gloves?” Yuanyuan, innocent and inquisitive, blurted out whatever came to her mind.

It wasn’t the first time someone had asked him that question, but Shen Ji usually couldn’t be bothered to answer.

Why did he wear gloves? Of course, it was… to shield others from danger.

Not to protect himself, but to protect others.

Yuanyuan tilted her little head, waiting expectantly for an answer, but after waiting a while with no response, her restless mind started trying to figure it out on its own.

Just as Shen Ji was debating whether to tell her the truth, he felt her small fingers tighten around his, pulling him out of his gloomy thoughts.

“I know!” Yuanyuan exclaimed, raising her arm triumphantly. “Brother Shen Ji likes to stay clean, so he wears gloves, right?”

Shen Ji had never thought of that reason before, but it made him smile.

At school, his classmates would only mock him, saying he must wear gloves to hide scars or a terrible skin condition.

After all, who else would walk around school wearing black gloves all day?

But Yuanyuan’s explanation was as sweet and innocent as she was.

Seeing Shen Ji’s smile, Yuanyuan assumed she had guessed right and giggled proudly.

Hand in hand, Yuanyuan led Shen Ji to explore the plant sculptures of animals nearby. There were cats, dogs, and even bunnies, all made from carefully trimmed greenery.

It was Yuanyuan’s first time seeing something like this, and she was so excited that she gently touched them, nervously asking Shen Ji if she might accidentally damage them.

Compared to Yuanyuan’s boundless energy, Shen Ji seemed like a shadow, quiet and solemn—a stark contrast to her sunny disposition.

But despite their differences, there was something about Yuanyuan that made Shen Ji feel at ease.

“Brother Shen Ji, look at this!” Yuanyuan pointed at a little white flower growing beneath the plant cat sculpture. “There’s a flower under the kitty!”

“Do you want it? I’ll pick it for you.” Without hesitation, Shen Ji crouched down, ready to pluck the delicate white flower swaying in the breeze.

But before he could, Yuanyuan jumped forward, protectively shielding the flower with her little hands. “No! Yuanyuan doesn’t want to take it away. The flower should stay with the kitty.”

Her awkward yet adorable stance, combined with the plant kitty beside her, made her look just like a tiny guardian of the garden.

“Shen Ji! I’ve been looking all over for you, and here you are?!” A furious male voice suddenly broke the peaceful moment, making Yuanyuan flinch.

Startled, Yuanyuan turned around to see Shen Ji’s uncle storming toward them, his face livid.