Jiang Qisheng wore a white taekwondo uniform and had gathered a small crowd of children from the courtyard around the entrance of the boiler room, creating a tight circle.

He was showing off the yellow belt he had just received today, demonstrating a front stance punch for everyone.

“Hey! Ha! Hoo!”

A chubby kid shouted loudly, swinging his little fists at the worn iron door of the boiler room as if trying to strike it.

“Brother Dasheng is amazing!”

“Awesome!”

“Dasheng could break that old door!”

The kids around him erupted into cheers and thunderous applause.

Jiang Qisheng basked in the feeling of being the center of attention and decided to “up the ante” by throwing in a front kick for good measure.

But his gaze kept shifting, and deep down, he felt a bit uneasy.

The chubby kid had been on edge all week, unable to figure out why Chu Jin had moved back in, even though his parents had been dead for a year. Wasn’t he supposed to be living with his uncle by now?

Why was this guy still lingering like a ghost that wouldn’t go away?

Jiang Qisheng didn’t like Chu Jin. Though it wasn’t the intense dislike he felt for the “Three Stooges,” Chu Jin had always been a major “threat” to him in the compound.

The guy was handsome, polite, spoke perfect Mandarin, had flawless English, passed the piano grade six exam at five, and earned his red-blue taekwondo belt at six…

All the praise and accolades always went to Chu Jin. The adults constantly called him a prodigy.

Meanwhile, Jiang Qisheng was forced by his mother to attend little presenter classes, study New Concept English, play the piano, and practice taekwondo. But no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t measure up to Chu Jin.

When Chu Jin left the compound, Jiang Qisheng had been thrilled for a long time—finally, no one to steal his spotlight.

Now that Chu Jin had returned, Jiang Qisheng had been secretly observing him all week and noticed how much he had changed.

Chu Jin had become skinny like a matchstick, his face pale, and he no longer wore his crisp white shirts and polished shoes.

Seeing him so down, brought out a sense of relief.

A parentless little stray could never be better than him.

Today, Jiang Qisheng purposely practiced his punches in the open space near the boiler room, showing off for all the kids in the courtyard. He wanted them to see his skills and spread the word.

He wanted everyone to say that Jiang Qisheng was the best kid in the whole compound!

After all, his father was the deputy editor-in-chief of a newspaper. At home, he often overheard his father talking about how one era had ended and another was beginning.

Jiang Qisheng wanted all the kids to witness the start of his era, and the end of Chu Jin’s.

He turned and threw another punch, but then his eyes landed on his “archenemy”—Song Qiaoxi.

And… the person she was pulling along?

It was Chu Jin?!

Chu Jin wore a loose-collared sailor-striped shirt, simple athletic shorts, and cheap blue-and-white cloth shoes. He looked frail, as if a gust of wind could blow him over…

Song Qiaoxi, on the other hand, wore a navy-blue dress with a sailor collar, her hair styled in two cute buns on top of her head. Her curly bangs were fluffy, and her chubby face made her look adorably innocent.

The little girl was standing on her tiptoes, wide-eyed as she peered into the crowd.

Next to her, the tall, skinny boy gazed at her with an indifferent expression.

How did those two end up together?

No way! At such a crucial moment, he couldn’t afford to lose his presence.

Jiang Qisheng let out a loud shout and led a group of kids as they rushed over to face Song Qiaoxi and Chu Jin.

He threw a mock punch, then patted his yellow belt proudly in front of the little girl. “Song Qiaoxi, look how strong I am! I got my yellow belt!”

Ha! With this yellow belt, her “Three Musketeers” would have to tremble in fear whenever they saw him!

Song Qiaoxi watched as his pudgy fist waved in front of her like a meat bun, while she wrinkled her nose in mild distaste as she took a step back.

Looking at Jiang Qisheng’s barrel-like waist tied with a yellow belt, Song Qiaoxi thought he looked like a ridiculous little gourd.

A yellow belt? It might as well be seaweed—at least she could eat that.

She didn’t have time to argue with him. If she and Chu Jin strolled around a bit longer, they’d get home just in time for her mom’s delicious sticky bean buns, sweet and sour ribs, crispy braised fish, and the rich, savory five-spice soup…

Why waste time with Jiang Qisheng?

Ah, just thinking about those sticky bean buns made her stomach growl…

She glanced at Jiang Qisheng, smiled silently, and tugged Chu Jin, ready to leave.

“You still haven’t said how strong I am!”

Jiang Qisheng planted his hands on his hips and took a step forward, his breath huffing out like steam from a bull’s nostrils. His tall, stocky body blocked her path like a solid wall.

Really? Does he have to be this childish?

Song Qiaoxi forced a smile, looking up at him and blinking awkwardly. “You’re… strong.”

There, that should do it…

But wait, why wasn’t he moving?

“Now tell me, who’s stronger—me or Chu Jin?” Jiang Qisheng pointed to the boy behind her, his voice rising unwilling to let it go.

Maybe Jiang Qisheng had caught on to her half-hearted response, because the chubby kid still stubbornly blocked her way, clearly determined not to move without a proper answer.

Normally, Song Qiaoxi wouldn’t even bother with him.

During the summer, she had ignored his provocations several times, knowing that if she didn’t react, he’d eventually lose interest and stop bothering her.

After all, their feud went way back to their toddler days, when both of them were far from innocent. There was no clear right or wrong, just two strong-headed kids constantly at odds.

She recalled from the original book that the conflicts between Jiang Qisheng and the original Song Qiaoxi escalated throughout elementary school. In sixth grade, she had even pushed him off the school building, breaking his leg.

That incident had caused her father to fall out with his superiors, stunting his career prospects, and it had planted the seeds for the disaster that would come in her third year of middle school when her father was framed and sent to prison.

Now, all she wanted was to be a good girl, one who didn’t cause trouble for her parents.

To avoid any trouble for her dad, the best thing was to steer clear of any direct conflict with Jiang Qisheng. That way, her father wouldn’t be put in a tough spot with his superiors.

“Hurry up and say it! Who’s better?”

Jiang Qisheng’s noisy voice echoed in her ear.

Song Qiaoxi’s head throbbed from his constant pestering, and her stomach growled in hunger.

Her beloved sticky rice buns were probably just about ready to come out of the pot, cooling down any moment now. She didn’t have time to waste arguing with Jiang Qisheng.

Was there anything more urgent than letting your food get cold?

Yes—when a whole table of delicious dishes was about to cool down!

Song Qiaoxi’s temper flared. She refused to answer Jiang Qisheng’s childish question, too fed up to argue any further.

Using a bit of quick thinking, she faked a move to the left. While Jiang Qisheng shifted his heavy feet, she grabbed Chu Jin and slipped past him on the right.

Just as they were about to make a run for it, someone yanked hard on the collar of her sailor dress from behind.

She stumbled backward a few steps, nearly falling as Jiang Qisheng’s angry voice bellowed in her ear. “Song Qiaoxi! Trying to fool me? Today, you will tell me—who’s better, me or this orphan with no parents?”

Song Qiaoxi let go of Chu Jin’s wrist and reached up, trying to pry off the hand gripping her collar.

But Jiang Qisheng was a head taller and much stronger. Her short arms and small hands couldn’t even reach him properly.

“You’re the real stray! Everyone in the compound knows Chu Jin had parents! His dad was a police officer, a hero, and his mom was an amazing journalist! You’re just mad because you’re not as good as him. Chu Jin’s the best!”

Forget about avoiding trouble—she was too angry to care. Yelling as she struggled, Song Qiaoxi tried to twist around and push Jiang Qisheng off.

But she was no match for the chubby boy. As he yanked her collar, she fell to the ground, her palms and knees scraping against the rough cement, turning red.

Jiang Qisheng, still holding tight to her collar, waggled his head and stuck out his tongue mockingly.

Enraged, Song Qiaoxi groped blindly for his pudgy arm. When she found it, she yanked hard and, without thinking, opened her mouth to bite down.

Just as she was about to bite down, Song Qiaoxi froze, eyes widening in surprise.

She looked up to see Chu Jin grabbing Jiang Qisheng’s taekwondo uniform by the collar, his other hand clamped tightly around Jiang Qisheng’s wrist.

Chu Jin’s long fingers were pale from the force of his grip.

His eyes were a deep, terrifying black, filled with emotions she couldn’t quite understand.

“Let her go.”

He said coldly, his voice devoid of warmth. His brows were tightly furrowed, and the tension in the air was palpable.

The kids watching nearby quickly took a few steps back, sensing the shift.

People were used to Jiang Qisheng and Song Qiaoxi bickering since they were kids. They’d fought so many times that no one could tell who was in the right or wrong anymore.

Now, with the addition of the orphan Chu Jin, no one dared to step in and break it up.

“I-I’m a yellow belt in taekwondo! I-I’m not afraid of you at all…” Jiang Qisheng stammered, but his voice was shaky, betraying his nerves.

Cold sweat inexplicably trickled down his back as he hesitated for a moment.

Eventually, the chubby boy slowly released his grip on Song Qiaoxi’s collar.

Chu Jin’s gaze was too intense, almost paralyzing him with fear. He could feel his scalp tingling under that piercing stare.

Jiang Qisheng glanced up and down at Chu Jin. Sure, he was skinny, but he was also a bit taller, and there were visible muscle lines on his arms.

Jiang Qisheng suddenly remembered that Chu Jin had earned his red and blue belt over a year ago, while his own yellow belt was only won after his mom slipped the coach a bribe.

Panic set in. Just a few days ago, their taekwondo coach had told the class that Chu Jin was the most talented student he had ever taught—skilled, hardworking, and with a rock-solid foundation.

If they actually fought…

Oh no. No way was Jiang Qisheng going to fight Chu Jin in front of all the kids from the compound. Losing would be humiliating.

“Ch-Chu Jin, uh… y-you’re not wearing a gi, and the coach said for a proper taekwondo match both people need to wear one. It wouldn’t be… fair…”

He stammered, his voice trembling. His legs were practically jelly.

Still sitting on the concrete, Song Qiaoxi couldn’t help but find his excuse both infuriating and laughable.

Was Little Fatty really using such a weak excuse?

She got up from the ground, dusted off her dress, and bent down to check her scraped knee.

It wasn’t too serious; it was just a bit red with some abrasions, not nearly as painful as the time she had cut her finger on calendar paper.

When she looked up, she noticed Chu Jin had glanced at her knee.

Then, without warning, he executed a shoulder throw, taking down Jiang Qisheng in one swift motion. The whole thing happened so fast that she barely caught the details.

On the ground, Jiang Qisheng’s face turned as red as a monkey’s backside. His taekwondo uniform hung loosely, and his yellow belt drooped to one side like a limp pickle.

Perhaps stunned from the fall, it took him a moment to react. Suddenly, he kicked his legs and began to wail, “Ow… Waaaah! You guys are ganging up on me!”

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