Chapter 24

As the boy felt his hand being held by Nuo Nuo, he still couldn’t quite believe it.

Could there really be someone who wanted to be this nice to him?

He wondered if Nuo Nuo would be like his past friends—kind at first but then mocking him along with everyone else.

Ning Yichen thought that if that happened, he would rather never have any friends at all.

But this little girl was so beautiful, looking like a little princess. Her eyes were lovely, her hairstyle beautiful, and her dress was stunning. She seemed as friendly as a little angel, making Ning Yichen want to get closer, to trust her, and to be her friend.

Still cautious, he asked again, “Do you really want to be my friend?”

Nuonuo didn’t quite understand why he kept asking the same question. She had already said she wanted to be his friend. The boy seemed a bit strange, but she explained again, “Yes, really. What’s your name?”

Ning Yichen lowered his head and told her, “My name is Ning Yichen. Ning as in tranquility, Yi as in one, and Chen as in morning star.”

Nuo Nuo’s eyes sparkled. “My name is Nuo Nuo.”

Ning Yichen tilted his head, looking into Nuo Nuo’s sincere eyes. They were clear and pure, unlike any other child he had met. If even a child like her turned out to be a liar, then perhaps no one in the world truly wanted to be kind to him.

Ning Yichen tried to trust Nuo Nuo but couldn’t help doubting if she might be a deceiver too.

From his past experiences, if Nuo Nuo were a deceiver, it wouldn’t be long before she would join others in criticizing him.

Ning Yichen felt extremely anxious. He hoped Nuo Nuo wasn’t like that, but he was scared.

The castle’s garden was beautiful, with vast lawns, Roman-style colonnades, lovely fountains, and many fun facilities for children. Many kids were now playing games with the pretty princesses.

Nuo Nuo, holding Ning Yichen’s hand, wanted to join the games.

As soon as they got there, a little girl came over and curiously asked Nuo Nuo, “Nuo Nuo, why are you playing with Ning Yichen?”

Nuo Nuo was surprised. “You know him too?”

Ning Yichen recognized the girl. She once wanted to be friends with him but later joined others in mocking him.

He feared Nuo Nuo might become like her, so he took a step back, keeping his distance.

The girl, Wen Wen, told Nuo Nuo, “Of course I know him. Ning Yichen poops in his pants. Don’t play with him, he’s dirty and smelly.”

Nuo Nuo was the birthday star today. All the kids had been told to be nice to her, so Wen Wen thought she was doing Nuo Nuo a favor. She reached out to pull Nuo Nuo away.

Nuo Nuo glanced back at Ning Yichen. He didn’t seem dirty or smelly. He looked clean and neat. After all, they were just kids, and a bit of mess was normal, just like how she sometimes cried, which was also acceptable.

Nuo Nuo remembered how lonely Ning Yichen looked when she first saw him. If she didn’t play with him, he would really have no one to play with.

Nuo Nuo freed herself from Wenwen’s grip and moved closer to Ning Yichen, defending him. “Who told you he smells?”

Nuo Nuo’s expression was a bit stern, which startled Wen Wen. She said, “Ning Yichen’s brother said so, and we’ve seen it happen once.”

Hearing his embarrassing moments being exposed in front of everyone made Ning Yichen’s eyes redden. He raised his voice, “It’s not true!”

Nuo Nuo wasn’t close to Wen Wen, but Ning Yichen was someone she wanted to be friends with. Naturally, she sided with Ning Yichen and chose to believe him. “If Ning Yichen says it’s not true, then it’s not true.”

She then grabbed Ning Yichen’s hand and led him to the merry-go-round.

Ning Yichen had been prepared for Nuo Nuo to abandon him, but she defended him instead. The boy’s eyes filled with amazement and disbelief. This was the first time he had ever been protected like this. Even his father had never stood up for him this way.

Nuo Nuo took Ning Yichen around to play, and soon Pei Zhen joined them. Pei Zhen was friendly and quickly became acquainted with Ning Yichen. The three children ran around, played games, helped Nuo Nuo open her gifts, and took photos together. By three or four in the afternoon, many children started to leave, and Ning Yichen also had to go.

Nuo Nuo and Pei Zhen walked Ning Yichen to the exit. Just as they were saying goodbye, Ning Yichen’s brother spoke in a mocking tone, “Ning Yichen, you actually found friends to play with? Don’t they mind being around you?”

Nuo Nuo already had a bad impression of Ning Yichen’s brother. She was about to leave but got angry upon hearing this. She turned around and snapped, “What’s wrong with Ning Yichen playing with us? You’re his brother, right? How could you tell other kids that Ning Yichen is dirty and smelly? That’s too much!”

Ning Yichen’s family was also present. The tall man was Ning Yichen’s uncle, Ning Feng’s father. The adults were somewhat aware of Ning Yichen being bullied, but his biological father was often busy with work. Aside from occasionally scolding their son, they didn’t intervene much. Now that the issue had escalated with the Sheng family’s little princess involved, Ning Feng’s father frowned and asked Ning Yichen, “Yichen, what’s going on?”

Frightened by his uncle’s authority, Ning Yichen lowered his head. “Uncle, I…”

Nuo Nuo immediately interjected, “Uncle, can you not be so harsh? You’re scaring Ning Yichen. It’s his brother who told other kids not to play with him.”

Realizing something, Nuo Nuo added, “Ning Yichen calls you uncle, so you’re not his father. Ning Yichen, tell your father that they are bullying you.”

Ning Yichen lowered his head even more. “My father is very busy. I rarely talk to him.”

Nuo Nuo thought of her own father, who was also busy, but her mother protected her. She pondered and said, “Then tell your mother.”

Ning Yichen’s head dropped even lower. “I don’t have a mother.”

Nuo Nuo was stunned, feeling confused but sensing it wasn’t right to ask further.

She hesitantly asked, “Who in your family is nice to you? You can tell them.”

Seeing Nuo Nuo encouraging Ning Yichen to complain, Ning Feng’s father’s face darkened. He quickly urged his children into the car. “Alright, we’re going home now. Goodbye, Miss Sheng.”

Just then, Sheng Zexi appeared behind him.

Sheng Zexi originally didn’t want to interfere, but since his daughter had stepped in, he spoke up, addressing Ning Feng’s father, “Young Master Ning, isn’t Second Young Master Ning currently in the U.S.? Has he had time to check on things at home?”

Ning Feng’s father’s face changed immediately. “I’ll make sure to handle it when we get home.”

The Ning family quickly left, and Nuo Nuo complained to Pei Zhen, “They were too much, two big kids bullying Ning Yichen.”

Ning Feng looked around seven or eight years old, and chubby.

Xu Ai, who had come out to look for Nuo Nuo, witnessed the entire scene. She sighed, “Nuo Nuo, can’t you just stay out of trouble?”

Nuo Nuo quickly retorted, “How is standing up for my friend causing trouble?”

Xu Ai felt she had a point but was still a bit annoyed. She turned to Sheng Zexi. “Look at your daughter, tsk tsk.”

Realizing she was complaining to Sheng Zexi, Xu Ai quickly covered her face, feeling her cheeks heat up under her hands.