Jiang Yi refused the “wonderful opportunity” to be Ying Zhuohan’s number one lackey.

This left Ying Zhuohan utterly shocked.

After all, ever since he was young, he’d been surrounded by adults flattering him and a crowd of kids eager to be his sidekicks.

After his initial shock, Ying Zhuohan felt a bit angry. This was the first time he had lowered himself to offer someone the chance to sit with him, and he had been rejected. His pride was bruised, and with a huff, he plopped down on his chair, head held high, and thought fiercely, Jiang Yi is finished! He will never be my number one lackey!

Jiang Yi calmly packed his pencil case, then poked the boy in front of him.

Ying Zhuohan whipped his head around instantly, his head held high like a proud little lion. “I’m telling you, it’s too late to regret now—”

Jiang Yi tilted his head. “Pencil.”

“Can you give it back to me now?”

“…”

Ying Zhuohan’s face turned red as he grabbed a handful of pencils from his own case and shoved them all at Jiang Yi, who sat behind him.

Those pencils were expensive! You couldn’t even buy them in normal stores!

Jiang Yi glanced at the pile of pencils on his desk, picked out his own, and returned the rest to Ying Zhuohan.

Ying Zhuohan, holding back his frustration, said, “You don’t want them?”

Jiang Yi shook his head, thinking that this curly-haired kid didn’t really resemble Song Ziyi at all—this one was a lot fiercer.

Ying Zhuohan jumped off his chair and stared at Jiang Yi, circling around him several times, his curly hair bouncing with each step.

Jiang Yi paused from writing his name on his books, feeling that at this moment, Ying Zhuohan did resemble Song Ziyi—both had the odd habit of circling around him for no apparent reason.

In every break between classes that followed, Ying Zhuohan would take out various toys from his bag and place them on Jiang Yi’s desk, trying to get his attention. Relentlessly and tirelessly.

He couldn’t believe that Jiang Yi wasn’t interested in any of these cool toys.

Jiang Yi, with patience, put the toys back each time, listening to Ying Zhuohan’s endless chatter about how amazing and cool each toy was. Jiang Yi couldn’t help but feel a little troubled. Why does this new classmate talk so much?

With a sigh like a little adult, Jiang Yi decided to go to the back of the classroom to get some water, hoping the new classmate’s mouth would get a break.

Seeing Jiang Yi heading to get water, Ying Zhuohan’s eyes lit up. He immediately commanded his little gang of sidekicks to help Jiang Yi with his water. He puffed up his chest, thinking, Now I can show Jiang Yi just how impressive I am, being able to command so many people.

If Jiang Yi became his number one lackey, he could then command numbers two and three. His promotion system for lackeys was extremely strict, after all!

But instead of handing his cup to one of the sidekicks, Jiang Yi walked over to the back of the classroom and got the water himself.

Ying Zhuohan thought his sidekicks were useless and angrily rolled up his sleeves, storming over himself.

Jiang Yi put down his cup to go to the bathroom, and Ying Zhuohan followed him all the way, walking right behind him. He went to the bathroom, and Ying Zhuohan followed. He washed his hands, and Ying Zhuohan washed his hands too. He walked back to the classroom, and Ying Zhuohan followed.

When Jiang Yi slowly picked up his water cup, Ying Zhuohan, finding his pace too slow, angrily took the cup and carried it back to their seats.

In the classroom, Ying Zhuohan’s sidekicks muttered, “Doesn’t it seem like the boss is Jiang Yi’s lackey?”

The other sidekick scratched his head, puzzled. “It does seem that way…”

Jiang Yi also felt a little confused. But his father had taught him that when someone helps you, you should say thank you. So, even though Ying Zhuohan was a bit noisy, Jiang Yi thought it over and said, “Thank you.”

Ying Zhuohan, feeling proud, thought to himself, At least I wasn’t rejected by Jiang Yi like the others. With renewed enthusiasm, he declared, “In the future, I can reluctantly help you get water whenever you need.”

Jiang Yi thought to himself, So curly-haired boys are just like Song Ziyi—very helpful, even if they tend to be a bit too enthusiastic.

Jiang Yi shook his head and said it wasn’t necessary. But Ying Zhuohan completely ignored him. As soon as the bell rang, Ying Zhuohan grabbed Jiang Yi’s water bottle and raced to the water dispenser faster than his sidekicks could even react.

From that point on, Jiang Yi always had a full water bottle waiting for him after every class.

By the time school ended in the afternoon, Ying Zhuohan strutted out with his group of sidekicks, turning to tell Jiang Yi to bring a bigger water bottle tomorrow. The current one was too small and didn’t offer much of a challenge for him.

Jiang Yi: “…”

He let out a small burp, patted his now-round belly, and worried that he’d have to hide his water bottle tomorrow. If things continued like this, the overly-enthusiastic new classmate might just empty the school’s entire water supply.

He slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked home with heavy steps.

Jiang Yi’s father was already waiting outside the school. When Jiang Yi got into the car, his father asked how his first day of school went. Jiang Yi responded dryly, saying that his new classmates were all very enthusiastic.

A bit too enthusiastic, in fact.

Jiang’s father was pleased and reminded Jiang Yi to get along well with his classmates, not to be too shy, and to make some good friends.

Jiang Yi nodded heavily.

Around six in the evening, Jiang Yi got home, dropped his backpack, and rushed to the small stool in the living room, waiting for Arno’s call.

But as Jiang Yi leaned over the table, idly flicking the phone cord with his fingers, his eyes were suddenly covered by someone’s hands.

A voice full of excitement and impeccable Chinese echoed in his ear, “Guess who I am?”

Jiang Yi was momentarily stunned. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn’t quite believe it. Hesitating, he whispered softly, “Arno?”

Lu Li (Arno) licked his sharp canine tooth, then eagerly let go of Jiang Yi, trying to act calm and composed as he looked at him.

Jiang Yi’s eyes lit up. The Arno in front of him seemed to have grown taller, but the arrogant glint in his eyes hadn’t changed a bit.

For a few seconds, Arno tried to maintain his composed facade in front of Jiang Yi, but he couldn’t hold back any longer. He squeezed into the small stool with Jiang Yi and started complaining about the terrible weather, which had caused him to be delayed by a day.

Jiang Yi listened obediently to Arno’s grumbling, but something didn’t feel quite right. From beginning to end, Arno had been speaking only in Chinese, and he sounded much more fluent than before.

Curious, Jiang Yi asked Arno what was going on. Arno pointed to himself, then to Jiang Yi, and with a proud but slightly pretentious tone, said, “We’re the same now.”

He had learned Chinese, so now they were truly the same. There was no need to mix English and Chinese, no need to patch sentences together, and certainly no need to call on the butler for help.

Their bond, already the strongest in the world, had just grown even more solid and unbreakable.

Jiang Yi didn’t really understand all this, but he was happy nonetheless and clapped enthusiastically, praising Arno for being amazing.

Seeing Jiang Yi clap like a seal, Arno suddenly felt that all those exhausting days spent learning Chinese in the UK were worth it.

The two kids squeezed together on the same chair, chatting and playing until it was time for dinner. They reluctantly agreed to go to school together the next day before parting.

The next morning, Jiang Yi, carrying his backpack, walked into the classroom with Arno by his side.

But as soon as Jiang Yi stepped into the classroom, he heard Ying Zhuohan shout loudly, “Jiang Yi! Did you change your water bottle?”

Arno frowned and looked at the boy calling out Jiang Yi’s name.

The next second, without a word, he followed closely behind Jiang Yi, his face expressionless.

As expected, the thing he hated most in the world was still curly-haired boy.

Jiang Yi rubbed his nose and honestly replied that he hadn’t changed it.

Ying Zhuohan didn’t even register Jiang Yi’s response. His eyes widened as he stared at the blond boy following behind Jiang Yi. Right in front of Ying Zhuohan, Arno put his backpack on the desk next to Jiang Yi’s.

Ying Zhuohan almost jumped out of his seat.

He hadn’t even gotten the chance to sit in that spot yesterday, so why did this little blond kid get to settle in so comfortably?

Was he here to compete for Jiang Yi’s attention as the number one follower?

Ying Zhuohan was on high alert, staring warily at Arno.

Arno wasn’t feeling any better, fuming inwardly about how annoying all the little curly-haired kids in this world seemed to be.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yi was completely oblivious, happily sitting next to Arno. He reached into his small backpack, pulled out a little orange, and handed it to Ying Zhuohan, thanking him for helping fetch water yesterday.

“…”

Arno stared at the orange in Jiang Yi’s hand, his eyes darkening, but he said nothing.

Ying Zhuohan took the orange, noticing Arno’s gaze lingering on it. For some reason, he straightened his back and proudly thanked Jiang Yi.

A little while later, Ying Zhuohan turned around and, in a rather reserved manner, handed Jiang Yi a pencil, saying, “Thanks for sharpening my pencil yesterday.”

Arno paused mid-signature, glancing over as Jiang Yi accepted the pencil, his eyes bright and slightly curved in that familiar way as he replied, “No need to thank me.”

After a long pause, Arno asked quietly, “Did you sharpen his pencil yesterday?”

Jiang Yi replied “Yeah, he’s just like Song Ziyi, both of them have those little curls.”

“Where do you think Song Ziyi will go for elementary school?” Jiang Yi asked, his thoughts drifting.

Arno didn’t answer. He simply erased the mistake in his name.

During the first class, Arno had to introduce himself since he had missed the day before.

Standing on the platform, he saw that irritating black-haired curly kid whisper something to Jiang Yi, making him laugh.

Expressionless, Arno walked off the stage and, as he passed Ying Zhuohan’s desk, “accidentally” bumped into it, knocking it askew.

Ying Zhuohan glared daggers at him.

When the bell rang for break, Arno wanted to fetch hot water for Jiang Yi, just like he used to do in kindergarten. But Ying Zhuohan beat him to it, grabbing Jiang Yi’s water bottle and darting off to the water dispenser in a flash.

Jiang Yi tilted his head, marveling at how enthusiastic the new kid was—he’d fetched water for him all day yesterday, and no one could stop him.

Arno didn’t say a word, his cold eyes fixed on Ying Zhuohan as he fetched the water.

Later, Jiang Yi noticed that Arno had barely spoken the entire morning.

At lunchtime, Jiang Yi went home and mentioned to his father that Arno didn’t seem to be in a good mood, likely still adjusting after returning from the UK.

By the afternoon, Arno came up to Jiang Yi and asked to switch seats, wanting to move to the front row.

Jiang Yi was startled and asked why.

Arno avoided his gaze, replying coldly, “No reason.”

Jiang Yi hesitated and said, “But this seat is fine.”

Arno didn’t respond. After a long silence, he stubbornly asked, “Aren’t we best friends?”

Jiang Yi nodded.

Arno continued, “Since we’re best friends, we should switch seats together.”

Confused, Jiang Yi asked, “Why do we have to switch seats just because we’re best friends?”

Arno, a little sulky, with a shadow over his face, muttered, “Because you’re about to be best friends with someone else.”