After winter set in, the sky darkened early. Any later, it would be already so dim that the road was barely visible.
The Qu couple was clearly worried about Lin Zhenmo, but faint cries could be heard from the neighboring house. After discussing briefly, Mother Qu decided to knock on the door to comfort Lin Wan and ask what had happened, while Father Qu went downstairs to find Lin Zhenmo.
They originally wanted Qu Tantan to stay home, but to their surprise, she took the initiative to grab her Dad’s hand and insist on going along.
—That guy, seriously. Why is he always so stubborn? No matter how angry he is, he shouldn’t just run off like that.
Following her Dad downstairs, Qu Tantan frowned, feeling uneasy. The security in the area hadn’t been great lately, and with the sky so dark, what if something happened?
Fortunately, Lin Zhenmo hadn’t gone far. The father and daughter had only searched nearby for a short while before spotting his small figure crouched on the ground, seemingly lost in thought.
In contrast to his usual cold and resistant demeanor, the boy at this moment looked entirely different. Qu Tantan could only think of one word: lonely.
Thinking back, though she had known him for a while, aside from a few boys who always picked on Lin Zhenmo, she had never seen anyone get close to him. Even the friendly neighbors avoided mentioning him, labeling him a weirdo.
His Mom, on the other hand, seemed like someone who needed protection. Though Qu Tantan didn’t know why their relationship was so tense, it was clear that the mother and son weren’t close, and his Mom probably didn’t take care of him much.
Realizing this, Qu Tantan suddenly felt a bit guilty. She had always silently held a grudge against him, but thinking back, all he ever did was glare at her. He had never actually done anything to her. She really shouldn’t have been so petty.
“Hey, Lin Zhenmo, let’s go home.” She let go of her Dad’s hand and ran over, reaching out toward him.
But just as a trace of sympathy began to form in her heart, it was immediately shattered by his icy glare. His sharp, fierce eyes looked particularly cold in the dim light, his entire being like a prickly hedgehog, ready to hurt anyone who got too close.
“Get lost. I don’t need your concern.”
Qu Tantan twitched at the corner of her eye. This brat was as unlikable as ever. But recalling the scene just now, she silently reminded herself to stay calm. Kids his age had strong pride, it was normal for him to refuse comfort…
“Every time I see you, nothing good happens. Stay away from me. I don’t need your so-called kindness.” Lin Zhenmo’s words were deliberately harsh, as if trying to drive her away.
Seeing that Qu Tantan still hadn’t left, and remembering the humiliating moments she had witnessed before, he pressed his lips together in frustration. That awkward feeling inside made him not want to see her stupid face any longer.
Since she wouldn’t leave, he would.
He stood up, intending to walk away, only to find himself blocked by Qu Tantan. Frowning, he reached out to push her aside, but misjudging his strength, he ended up knocking her backward against a flowerbed.
The sudden pain made Qu Tantan forget any noble intentions of softening her prickly little neighbor. Assuming he had done it on purpose, anger flared within her, and she retaliated by shoving him back.
And just like that, Lin Zhenmo and Qu Tantan inexplicably got into a fight. It wasn’t an all-out brawl, but it certainly wasn’t just playful roughhousing either.
Watching from the side, Father Qu found the scene amusing. As an adult, he knew he should step in, but seeing the two of them flailing at each other like baby birds just learning to fight—bumping, tumbling, and rolling around—he realized they weren’t actually hurting each other. Their eyes were just comically wide with anger.
To be honest, his daughter seemed to have the upper hand. After a moment of silence, he rather unkindly turned away, pretending not to see this ridiculous scene.
—…It’s fine. Let the kids vent a little.
Lin Zhenmo had been fighting since he was little and was usually quick to overpower his opponents. But Qu Tantan had learned a few tricks from Meng Jiajia, the provincial Taekwondo champion. While she wasn’t as strong, she had the ultimate weapons of a girl in a scuffle—hair-pulling and biting.
Eventually, with a vein twitching at his temple, Lin Zhenmo found himself staring blankly at Qu Tantan, who was currently biting his wrist like a stubborn little puppy. Defeated, he gave up.
The moment he stopped resisting, Qu Tantan seized the opportunity to flip over and pin him down, grinning smugly like a victorious cat. Her black-and-white eyes sparkled with mischief as she silently challenged him—Do you admit defeat?
…Lin Zhenmo didn’t know why, but at that moment, he suddenly found the whole situation funny. The corners of his lips lifted slightly, and the sharp spikes that had been bristling all over him seemed to quietly melt away.
Qu Tantan tilted her head in confusion, staring into his dark eyes. Why was he smiling?
—Wait… so this guy could smile?
She was surprised. She had always assumed he wore a permanent scowl, forever brooding and too cool to know what laughter was.
…Weirdly enough, he actually looked kind of nice when he smiled.
When the two finally calmed down, Qu Tantan realized what she had done. Embarrassment rushed in, and her face turned red as she awkwardly scrambled off him.
Both of them were covered in dirt, but at least their clothes weren’t torn. Dusting herself off, Qu Tantan puffed up her cheeks in annoyance and turned to glare at her Dad.
—His daughter had just been in a fight, and instead of stopping it, he had been standing there watching, clearly enjoying the show. Was this how a father was supposed to behave?!
Father Qu knew he was in the wrong, so he instinctively rubbed his nose before smiling and walking over to the two of them. He didn’t say anything, just ruffled his daughter’s messy hair.
Qu Tantan puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction and shook her head slightly, but she didn’t dare turn to look at Lin Zhenmo’s face.
She just felt embarrassed, her ears were burning.
Lin Zhenmo, on the other hand, stiffened instinctively when he met Father Qu’s smiling gaze, lowering his head in shame.
He never said it out loud and always seemed resistant to the Qu family, but ever since they moved in, he had secretly envied the warmth between them.
Especially when he saw Father Qu holding Qu Tantan gently, the love in Father Qu’s eyes was undeniable. Lin Zhenmo couldn’t help but wonder, if he had a father, would his father be like Father Qu?
But he knew it was just wishful thinking, which only made him more reluctant to get close to the Qu family.
He knew the Qu family were good people, unlike others who whispered behind his back about him and his Mom, judging them with looks of disdain. He also knew the Qu family genuinely cared about him, but he instinctively kept his distance.
As if responding would mean surrendering something invisible.
And now, after fighting with Qu Tantan and being caught by Father Qu, their family would surely start to dislike and avoid him too.
That would be for the best. Then he wouldn’t have to keep secretly longing for something he couldn’t have.
Lost in his self-mocking thoughts, Lin Zhenmo suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder. He looked up to see Father Qu’s hand resting there, his usual warm smile in place.
“Young man, let’s have a chat?”
Qu Tantan, meanwhile, was pushed onto a flower bed to sit as her Dad ruffled her hair again. She wobbled slightly before propping her elbows on her knees and resting her face in her hands, watching as the two walked a little distance away.
Bored, she swung her legs, able to hear the deep, soothing tone of her Dad’s voice, though she couldn’t make out the words.
She didn’t know what they were talking about, but she could tell that Lin Zhenmo, who had initially been tense and wary, was gradually relaxing. He seemed to soften.
At the end of the conversation, Father Qu said something with a smile and ruffled Lin Zhenmo’s hair. The boy looked up at him in surprise.
For a moment, they looked at each other, the atmosphere between them almost like that of a father and son.
Qu Tantan didn’t feel jealous, though. On the contrary, she was a little proud. Of course her Dad could even tame a little hedgehog!
When their talk was over, Father Qu led Lin Zhenmo back to her and patted his shoulder encouragingly before stepping aside.
Qu Tantan shifted her position, propping herself up on the flower bed and looking up at Lin Zhenmo’s stiff expression. He opened her mouth but couldn’t quite find the words.
“—I’m sorry.”
Just as Lin Zhenmo was about to turn away and gather his thoughts, he suddenly heard Qu Tantan’s voice.
He turned back in surprise.
She scratched her head and, in her usual soft tone, said calmly, “Let’s just call it even. I thought about it, and you probably didn’t push me on purpose. I misunderstood.”
Lin Zhenmo’s lips moved, but he stayed silent, listening.
Qu Tantan gestured, “So I was the one who hit first. But it’s because you’re always so grumpy that I reacted that way.”
His throat felt dry. After a moment, he gave a quiet hum in response.
Seeing him acknowledge it, Qu Tantan immediately turned fierce. “So you should apologize too.”
Lin Zhenmo nodded seriously. Though unfamiliar with the gesture, he still looked her in the eye and said, “I’m sorry.” This time, his voice was clear and firm—unlike yesterday’s mumbled ‘thank you.’
His voice was a little dry but steady. After apologizing, he pursed his lips and looked at her, as if waiting for her next move.
They stared at each other for a long time before Qu Tantan suddenly couldn’t hold back a laugh. “I’m not gonna hit you. Why are you looking at me like that? Like a little puppy.”
Lin Zhenmo didn’t say anything, but his gaze flickered to the deep bite mark on his wrist, left by her sharp little teeth.
In his heart, he quietly refuted, you’re the real little puppy.
She looked small, but she sure could bite.
Then he remembered her grinning wildly while pinning him down, her eyes shining even in the dim light.
He repeated it in his head.
—A fierce little puppy.
…Kind of cute.
Qu Tantan, naturally sociable, decided that since they had fought and apologized, they were now friends. Seeing that he was no longer on edge, she patted the seat beside her.
Lin Zhenmo hesitated before sitting down stiffly.
He had never sat this close to someone before. Their shoulders touched. Even his deskmates always kept a distance from him, drawing imaginary lines to stay far away.
Qu Tantan didn’t notice his awkwardness and even bumped her shoulder against his. “What did you and my Dad talk about?”
Lin Zhenmo shook his head without answering.
She didn’t push. Instead, she changed the subject. “Why have you been coming home so late lately? I heard you argued with Aunt Wan today.”
She had noticed. Even though they hadn’t spoken, she had been paying attention.
Warmth spread through Lin Zhenmo’s heart, but guilt followed quickly. He had said such harsh words to her before.
Even so, when she accidentally touched on a sensitive topic, and he fell silent again, he still found himself speaking before she could change the subject.
“…Actually, today is her birthday.”