Song Qiaoxi took a step back, nervously tugging at her curly hair and offering an awkward smile.

Still thinking about how to apologize, Song Qiaoxi suddenly heard a group of familiar kids from the courtyard talking loudly outside.

“He’s so old and still wetting the bed! Isn’t he embarrassed?”

“Is that blue checkered bed sheet the one from that homeless guy? Stay away, it stinks!”

“Watch out, everyone! Bed-wetting is contagious! Whoever plays with Chu Jin or stays within a meter of him will turn into a bed-wetting freak!”

“Ugh, so gross, it’s disgusting! He’s seven and still wets the bed! Thank goodness Yangyang was the first to notice and told us!”

…

Yangyang?!

The voices of the kids outside grew louder, and the sound of footsteps echoed as more children gathered around.

“Yangyang! When did you find out?”

“Hey, his door’s open. Did he wet the bed again?”

“Ew… the boiler room reeks!”

It sounded like someone had pushed someone else, followed by a sharp “slap” sound.

Then Wang Junyang’s loud voice rang out from outside, “Who pushed me? Oh, Ding Yi! Just wait until I throw you into the bed-wetting room and turn you into a bed-wetting freak too!”

“Ha ha ha! You can’t catch me! Come on, come on, ah hahahaha…”

The voices faded in and out, but it was clear that Ding Yi was the one speaking.

Outside, the chaos continued as the kids shouted and chattered all around.

Song Qiaoxi clenched her small fists, truly angry now.

How did the bed sheets that Mom had just washed this morning and hung out to dry get dirty in just a few hours?

Finally, she understood what Wang Junyang had meant with his cryptic words after lunch.

She listened to the kids outside, with Wang Junyang leading the group, each child taking turns saying the most hurtful things in their innocent voices. It felt like her heart had shattered into pieces, her cheeks burning with embarrassment, her body trembling slightly.

Please, stop. Don’t say anymore…

Song Qiaoxi glanced at Chu Jin, who was sitting up straight at the desk, his fingers gripping the pencil so tightly that the tips turned white.

He calmly opened the drawer, took out a green pencil sharpener, and began sharpening the pencil quickly and precisely.

Chu Jin’s bangs hadn’t grown long enough to cover his forehead, and it was easy to see his thick, dark eyebrows furrowed together. His eyes were as dark as an abyss.

It was her fault for not keeping an eye on Wang Junyang.

No matter what, in the eyes of the other kids in the courtyard, Wang Junyang represented the “three amigos,” and she was the recognized leader of them.

She turned and rushed to the door, her gaze sweeping over the group of kids gathered by the open space.

As soon as the kids saw Song Qiaoxi running out of the boiler room, the noise abruptly stopped.

Wang Junyang and Ding Yi, who had been laughing and playfully wrestling, froze in place. Their puzzled eyes stared at her, as if asking, “What are you doing here?!”

Song Qiaoxi’s gaze lingered on a corner, away from the crowd.

There, leaning against the wall, stood a small girl with bangs, wearing glasses and holding a book.

Ding Miao?

She was Ding Yi’s twin sister. Unlike the other children, she never ran around with kids her age in the courtyard and was often referred to as “aloof.”

Why was she here today…?

Ding Miao glanced at her, her face serious, before burying her head back in the book.

Song Qiaoxi didn’t have time to think about it anymore; she had to do something.

If this kind of thing got out, Chu Jin would be laughed at by all the kids in the courtyard for a long time.

Song Qiaoxi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

The sound of a child’s voice rang out from the open space near the boiler room, clear and sweet, like pearls falling on a silver plate, each word crisp and articulate. “He didn’t wet the bed. I can vouch for him. This morning, when my parents were hanging the bed sheets, they were perfectly clean. You can’t say things like that about him. His name is Chu Jin.

You all know Chu Jin. We all grew up in this courtyard together. Chu Jin used to live in the building next to mine. Every year, Uncle Chu and Aunt Sun would prepare candies for all the kids in the courtyard. Don’t you all remember that?

Uncle Chu is a police officer, a hero. Aunt Sun is a skilled journalist. They were colleagues with our parents. Now that they’re gone, shouldn’t we be helping take care of Chu Jin? Why bully and mock him? He hasn’t done anything wrong…”

Chu has never been bad or done anything wrong. He was abandoned or hurt by relatives, but he still thoughtfully helps the whole family wash clothes, apply band aids and wrap book covers for her. After dinner, he always goes to wash dishes for his mom and dad, and even carries her back when he knows her leg is broken…

Chu Jin hasn’t turned bad. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He was abandoned and hurt by his relatives, yet he still takes care of the whole family, washing clothes for everyone, helping her with band-aids and covering her books. After meals, he always helps his parents wash the dishes. He even carries her when he knows her leg is hurt…

Why don’t you all understand him?

Song Qiaoxi felt an overwhelming sense of injustice on his behalf.

By the end of her speech, her throat felt like it was closing up, dry and nearly unable to speak.

The summer afternoon breeze brushed against her face, and she felt a coolness at the corner of her eyes.

Most of the children lowered their heads, expressions of guilt on their faces.

Some wrung their hands together, others kicked at the gravel on the ground, softly muttering “sorry,” while a few wiped away the tears on their cheeks, sniffling.

Children aren’t unreasonable; everyone has their own sense of right and wrong.

They’re just forgetful, and when they’re together, they tend to follow the group. Uncle Chu and Aunt Song were always kind and smiled at all the kids in the courtyard when they were alive.

No matter what delicious food they bought, if they ran into any child in the courtyard, they’d always share. During the New Year, they would prepare a lot of expensive imported candies and give a bag to every child who came to visit.

Wang Junyang ignored Ding Yi’s glaring look and forcefully shook off Ding Yi’s hand that was gripping his arm.

He ran up to Song Qiaoxi and loudly declared, “I—I really saw it. It was Chu Jin who wet the bed. It must have happened after your parents hung up the sheets, right around the time you guys were taking a nap at noon.”

His eyes were red, and he looked very aggrieved, his face flushed with embarrassment.

This move left the group of children watching in confusion.

Qiaoxi seemed so sincere, and Junyang appeared so pitiful?

Who was telling the truth, and who was lying?

Wait, Qiaoxi and Junyang were in on this together, right? They, along with Ding Yi, were the “little trio”!

Could this be an internal conflict?

=^_^=