It was odd—whenever someone else passed by, the big orange cat stayed calmly in place. But whenever Han Ya tried to pass, it puffed up aggressively, as if trying to intimidate her.

That morning, the cat had sprayed her shoes, and now, already fearful of it, Han Ya was even more reluctant to move.

Unable to vent her frustration on the cat, Han Ya shifted her anger toward Yu Yuanyuan.

“Yu Yuanyuan didn’t do anything!” The little one pulled back her hands nervously and sat quietly. “Maybe the kitty was just stretching.”

“Stretching? Why was it baring its teeth while doing so!?”

“Maybe… it was smiling?”

Smiling, seriously?

“Kitty, let her pass,” Yu Yuanyuan, acting as the cat translator, called out. “The little girl needs to go home.”

The big orange cat lazily glanced at Han Ya before lying back down. “I’ll let her go today, but if she pulls my fur again, I’ll scratch her.”

“You can go now,” Yu Yuanyuan said, stepping aside to clear the path. “Kitty said to stop pulling its fur—it hurts.”

Fuming, Han Ya rushed past the big orange cat, stopping at the doorway to pull a face at Yu Yuanyuan. “You’re so dumb! You really talk to cats? Idiot! Bleh!”

Confused by the sudden insult, Yu Yuanyuan remembered what her father and brothers had taught her—if someone insults you, you insult them back!

“But… why are you calling me names?” Yu Yuanyuan wanted to clarify the situation before retaliating.

Han Ya didn’t bother answering her, instead repeating her insults. Yu Yuanyuan, now flustered and alone, felt like a dumpling rolling in boiling water.

With both Chu Qi and Gu Beiyan already picked up, Yuanyuan was left in a state of panic, struggling to come up with a comeback.

Just as she managed to think of a few words to throw back, a shadow suddenly appeared between the two girls.

Yu Yuanyuan looked up to see Shen Ji standing there, casually resting his backpack on his shoulder.

But something about his gaze—it was cold, almost frightening, as he stared directly at the startled Han Ya.

“Brother Shen Ji!” The once sad little dumpling instantly transformed into a joyful one, rushing to hug his leg. “What are you doing here?”

“Why are you still here so late? What’s going on?” Shen Ji patted her head, his gaze never leaving Han Ya.

Han Ya, unsure whether it was her imagination, felt an icy chill from Shen Ji’s gaze, like a silent threat.

“Daddy hasn’t come yet. Yuanyuan’s waiting for him,” she answered sweetly. “Did you just get out of school, brother Shen Ji?”

“Yes,” Shen Ji replied, retracting his hand from her head and turning fully toward Han Ya. “Is this your friend?”

“I…” Han Ya wanted to deny it, but the boy in front of her was just too good-looking, almost hypnotically so. She couldn’t find the words.

It would be too embarrassing to admit she was bullying Yu Yuanyuan just moments ago and then turn around and claim to be her friend. So, Han Ya remained silent.

Seeing her hesitation, Yu Yuanyuan puffed up her cheeks in frustration. “She’s my classmate,” she muttered softly.

“I see,” Shen Ji said with a smile. He casually adjusted the edge of his glove, revealing a sliver of his hand. “Hello.”

His flawless fingers were encased in black leather gloves, and everything about him—his presence, his look—was so perfect, it felt almost otherworldly.

Faced with such a person extending their hand, how could anyone refuse?

Han Ya stared blankly for a moment before slowly placing her hand into Shen Ji’s palm. But the touch—there was no warmth. The glove felt cold to the touch, and even beyond that, there was an unnatural chill that sent a shiver down her spine.