On the summer evening of August 31, 1996, a Saturday, the empty space in front of the boiler room echoed with the laughter of children playing games.

Not far away, some kids were playing “1, 2, 3, Freeze!” while others sang “The Malan Flower Blooms Twenty-One” as they skipped rope. Among them was a little dumpling with curly pigtails, walking in slow, deliberate circles like an old man with her hands clasped behind her back, counting steps on the concrete ground.

Meanwhile, three little boys sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the steps of the boiler room, forming a neat row.

On the far left was the short, bespectacled Ding Yi, furiously mashing the buttons of a blue dolphin ring-toss toy as if he were putting every ounce of strength—including his toes—into it.

On the far right was Wang Junyang, a tall, lanky boy with single eyelids and a slicked-back hairstyle that could’ve been pulled straight from a 90s Aaron Kwok music video. He held a copy of The Children’s Encyclopedia: Nature and Environment Volume and carefully stroked its hard cover like it was a prized possession.

Sitting between them was Chu Jin, a boy so strikingly good-looking he seemed to have stepped out of a manga. He held a black-and-red-bound foreign book in his slender hands, flipping through its pages with an air of casual indifference.

Thus ended the last long and sweltering summer before elementary school.

Early the next morning, Song Qiaoxi stood outside the “Parents Stop Here” line, wearing the summer uniform of the Normal School-affiliated elementary: a short-sleeved green-and-white sailor-collared blouse and a green suspender skirt. Perched on her head was a little yellow cap, while a packet of chocolate milk dangled from her mouth. She stood on her tiptoes, craning her neck and glancing around.

Beside her stood Chu Jin, his posture upright, his hands stuffed into his pockets, and his face emotionless.

He, too, wore the school uniform. The boys’ summer outfit was the same for the top, but their bottoms were green shorts.

The uniform’s color scheme was a bit drab, and its design left much to be desired.

Thankfully, the two kids were good-looking, and their uniforms had been tailored by Ding Yi’s mom after being handed over by Song Qiaoxi’s. The outfits fit them perfectly, making them look especially energetic—like little models straight out of a children’s magazine.

The two fresh-faced and adorable kids effortlessly caught the attention of many students and parents alike.

It was September 2, 1996—the first day of the new school term at the Normal School-affiliated Elementary School.

The school had a strict policy to foster students’ independence. Even the youngest first-graders, not yet wearing their red scarves, were only allowed to be escorted as far as the “Parents Stop Here” line.

Beyond that point, students had to walk the remaining 200 meters to the school gate on their own.

Every few meters along the path, upperclassmen wearing armbands stood on duty, checking the younger students’ appearance and behavior. They also served as guides and protectors for their younger schoolmates.

For instance, on Mondays, the school held a flag-raising ceremony, and all students were required to wear their uniforms. Starting in second grade, students also had to wear their red scarves and little yellow caps every day—one of many small but important rules.

If the patrolling upperclassmen spotted any issues—untidy uniforms or missing items—they’d record them, deducting points from the offending class’s overall behavior and discipline score.

Song Qiaoxi and Chu Jin were escorted to the “Parents Stop Here” line, where their parents bombarded them with reminders before finally taking their leave.

As soon as the grown-ups left, Song Qiaoxi began scanning the crowd. Eventually, her eyes landed on Ding Yi and Ding Miao, both dressed tidily and looking freshed. Standing beside them was Wang Junyang, still half-asleep, clutching a bottle of Wahaha calcium milk.

“Miao Miao…” Song Qiaoxi called out.

Excited, Song Qiaoxi wanted to rush forward, grab Ding Miao’s hand, and greet her warmly.

But Ding Miao acted as if she hadn’t heard anything, keeping her head down and clutching her backpack straps. She blended into the crowd and headed toward the school gate without so much as a glance back.

Wang Junyang yawned, then lazily held out his bottle of Wahaha milk toward her and asked. “Xixi, why don’t we have red scarves?”

“We’re not Young Pioneers yet. You have to join the Young Pioneers before you get a red scarf,” she explained, scratching her head in mild disappointment. Her voice was muffled and sticky, as her mouth was busy holding her chocolate milk carton.

She waved her hand, declining Wang Junyang’s offer of calcium milk, and pointed to the one she was already drinking—a clear I’ve got milk already gesture.

“Let’s go?”

Chu Jin’s voice was low, lacking the usual bright timbre of boys his age.

Even though he only said a single word, it carried the weight of a command, like a general issuing order—impossible to ignore or refuse.

Defeated, Song Qiaoxi trudged along behind him, pulling Ding Yi and Wang Junyang with her. Together, the four of them made their way toward the school gate.

Despite the group around her, Song Qiaoxi felt a little gloomy. Being brushed off by Ding Miao left her spirits dampened. She let out a soft sigh—sigh…

Determined, she made a silent vow to herself: I’ll prove to Ding Miao that I’m someone worth being friends with.

Now that the “Little Four Group” had Chu Jin, the genius student, on their team—plus Song Qiaoxi’s edge from her ten-year-old memories and knowledge—they were bound to reinvent themselves and make Ding Miao look at them in a new light.

She even secretly hoped that Ding Miao might someday join them, turning the group into the “Little Five Group.” Wouldn’t that be something?

The classroom for Grade 1, Class 5, was located on the first floor of the northern building of the teaching block.

Having attended preschool, the three kids were already familiar with the school layout and found their way to the classroom with ease.

Song Qiaoxi recalled hearing from her mom during the school visit for class assignments and textbook distribution that over half the students in Grade 1, Class 5, were children of employees at their newspaper agency. The other thirty-some kids were transfer students whose families had paid hefty sponsorship fees to secure a spot.

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