Chapter 1: The Childhood Friend Taught a Lesson

"Shi Song, hurry up! We're going to be late!"

"I know, I know," Shi Song mumbled as she broke into a jog. Catching up to Shen Xianxing, she muttered under her breath, "Show-off. Just because you have long legs..."

Shen Xianxing grabbed her by the back of her collar. "What was that, shorty?"

Uncomfortable with the grip on her collar, Shi Song swatted at his hand. "Let go of me, Coalie!"

Actually, Shen Xianxing wasn't dark-skinned at all; on the contrary, his complexion was quite fair. The nickname "Coalie" came about because when he was born, he looked wrinkled, dark, and ugly. His mother had been so frightened that she cried, and subconsciously dubbed him "Coalie" as a baby name.

Once Shen Xianxing released his grip and the constricting feeling around her neck vanished, Shi Song took a few deep breaths, straightened her clothes, and ran ahead into the campus of Chongde High School, leaving him behind.

Knowing she was angry, Shen Xianxing figured he would buy her favorite snacks after school to coax her back into good spirits.

Shi Song arrived at the classroom first and stood in line to pay her fees.

"Why are you in this class? Shouldn't you be in the Vanguard Class? You ranked fifth in the city."

Chongde High School had five class tiers. The best was the Vanguard Class that Shi Song mentioned. There were only two such classes, exclusively admitting students who ranked in the top one hundred of the city's high school entrance exam.

"Didn't you know your godmother used her connections specifically to get us into the same class?"

Shi Song shook her head, genuinely clueless.

"You two talking over there, it's your turn to pay."

"Coming, Teacher!"

Once everyone finished paying and took their self-selected seats, the teacher went over some guidelines. They were told that today wasn't the official start of school, so they could go home soon. However, a few boys needed to stay behind to clean the ceiling. The teacher also reminded everyone to arrive before 7:20 tomorrow morning.

"Shi Song, wait for me. Let's go back together."

Shi Song didn't hear a word. The moment the teacher selected the boys for cleaning duty and dismissed the class, she darted out of the room.

By the time Shen Xianxing and the other boys finished cleaning, Shi Song was already nearing the entrance of their residential compound.

"Shi Song?" Shen Xianxing looked around outside the classroom. Finding no sign of her, he sighed. "She's probably almost home by now. Whatever, I'll go buy some snacks to appease her first."

"Achoo!" Shi Song rubbed her nose. "Who's talking behind my back?"

Just as she walked into the compound, she ran into Mother Shen returning from grocery shopping. Shi Song waved. "Godmother! What are we having for lunch today?" She jogged over, hugging Mother Shen's free arm affectionately.

Mother Shen smiled warmly at her. "Sweetheart, what do you feel like eating?"

"Whatever you make, Godmother! I'm not a picky eater at all!"

"All right, all right." Mother Shen stroked Shi Song's hair. "You always know just what to say to make me happy!"

Shi Song took the groceries from her. "Godmother, let me carry this for you."

"Okay, thank you, sweetheart."

As they walked home together, there was no generation gap between them; they chatted and laughed like best friends.

Upon returning to the Shen residence, Mother Shen went to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Shi Song dropped her backpack in the living room and went to help. She had just started prepping some vegetables when Father Shen walked in.

The moment Father Shen stepped through the door and saw the two of them in the open kitchen, he cried out in concern, "Oh my! Sweetheart, honey, what are you doing? The kitchen is such a dangerous place, how could you be in here? What if you get hurt? That brat of a son of mine really doesn't know how to look after girls."

Grumbling about Shen Xianxing's shortcomings, Father Shen took over the prep work from Shi Song and his wife.

"Dad, what are you complaining about me now?"

Shen Xianxing stood at the entryway with a large bag of snacks. He had just changed his shoes when he heard his father talking behind his back.

"Oh, I'm saying you don't know how to treat girls. Letting two delicate ladies into the kitchen, which is terrible for their skin." Father Shen didn't even look at his son, focusing entirely on chopping vegetables. "Come over and help. What are you standing there for, acting like a door guardian?"

"Got it, Dad."

Shen Xianxing placed the snacks on the living room shelf and walked into the kitchen.

While waiting for the two men to finish cooking, Shi Song and Mother Shen chatted in the living room.

Taking advantage of Shen Xianxing's absence, Shi Song began complaining to Mother Shen about his offenses from that morning.

Mother Shen looked at Shi Song with deep sympathy. "Sweetheart, did it hurt when he pulled your collar? I'll have your godfather teach him a lesson later!"

Mother Shen had grown up in the Jiangnan region. She later moved to City A for work, where she met Father Shen and settled down. She had always spoken with a gentle, soft cadence. She was incapable of harsh words, so whenever Shen Xianxing misbehaved, it was Father Shen who disciplined him. As a man raised in the North, Father Shen had a bit of northern toughness in his blood, though he was gentle and amiable most of the time.

"Time to eat, you two beautiful ladies on the sofa!"

Father Shen and Shen Xianxing set the dishes on the dining table.

Hearing the call, Mother Shen and Shi Song stood up and walked over. Upon reaching the table, Shi Song deliberately chose a seat as far away from Shen Xianxing as humanly possible, squeezing in right next to the Shen couple.

"Shi Song, come sit over here. Don't crowd my parents."

Shi Song pretended not to hear him. She had no desire to acknowledge him right now. Remaining in her seat, she used the serving chopsticks to put food on the plates of the older couple.

Seeing this, the couple smoothed things over. "She's not crowding us. If Songsong wants to sit here, let her."

"Godmother and Godfather are the best!" Shi Song made a face at Shen Xianxing.

After lunch, Shen Xianxing was summoned to the study by his parents. Shi Song sat in the living room eating post-meal fruit and watching a popular room-escape variety show.

In the study, Father Shen sat at his desk, listening to his wife recount the morning's events.

"Xianxing, care to explain?"

Shen Xianxing stood before the desk and explained himself. Once he finished, Father Shen warned him to steer clear of Shi Jingcheng for a while. After all, Shi Jingcheng would definitely find out about this. The Shi parents were away on business trips for most of the year, so Shi Song had practically been raised by her older brother. It was only natural for her to tell him. Though Shi Song wasn't the type to complain about every little thing, this was the first time she had actually gone out of her way to tattle.

Shi Jingcheng was indeed the first to know. When he saw the message from his sister, he wanted nothing more than to skip work and come home to settle the score with Shen Xianxing. As a doting older brother, how could he let his sister be bullied? However, due to work obligations, he couldn't leave early, let alone skip out.

Coincidentally, Mr. and Mrs. Shi were returning to City A from their business trip today, and the two families planned to gather for dinner that evening.

Left alone in the study, Shen Xianxing muttered to himself, "Why is my nose so itchy?" He had no idea that he would have to face the interrogation of the Shi family elders alone at dinner.

Time always flies, especially when one has nothing to do in the afternoon. By early evening, Shi Jingcheng and his parents had returned to the Shi household one after another. Not finding Shi Song at home, Shi Jingcheng knew his precious sister must be next door at the Shens'.

A knock sounded on the door of the Shen residence. Shi Jingcheng stood outside. "Godmother, could you open up? I'm here to pick up An'an."

Hearing the knock, Mother Shen got up from the sofa. "Jingcheng, you're back. Sweetheart is inside watching a show."

Shi Jingcheng nodded. "An'an, time to go home," he called out to Shi Song.

Hearing her brother's voice, Shi Song turned off the TV, got up from the sofa, walked to the entryway to change her shoes, and went home with him.

Before leaving, they said to Mother Shen, "Godmother, remember to come over to our place for dinner later."

Mother Shen nodded. "We will."

Back at the Shi home, they saw Mr. and Mrs. Shi busy in the kitchen.

"Dad, Mom, I'm home!"

"Ah, An'an is back. Go have some fruit in the living room with your brother first."

"Okay~"

The siblings sat on the sofa, eating fruit and chatting.

"Jingcheng, why are you back so early today? Is the case over?"

If she hadn't brought it up, it would have been fine, but the moment she did, Shi Jingcheng's temper flared.

"Why do you think, An'an? It's all because that brat dared to bully you!"

"Calm down, Jingcheng. Getting angry is bad for your health."

"I can't calm down! I can't even bear to raise my voice at you, and he dares to grab you by the collar? If he thinks he's ever getting through our front door again, he's dead wrong!"

Over in his study, still reflecting on his actions, Shen Xianxing sneezed. "Who's talking about me?"

Shi Song gently patted her brother's back to soothe him, trying to cool his fiery temper. "Jingcheng, after lunch, Godmother and Godfather called him into the study to lecture him. Think about Sister Luo Ran. She's coming back from her business trip soon, and she wouldn't want to see you getting sick from anger, right? Don't be mad. If it makes you feel better, you can just give him a good beating later."

Hearing that Luo Ran would worry, Shi Jingcheng's anger subsided slightly, though his urge to beat up Shen Xianxing remained strong.

"An'an, Jingcheng, stop chatting and go invite your godfather and godmother over for dinner." Mrs. Shi took off her apron and hung it on the hook behind the kitchen door.

"Mom, you finished cooking so quickly?"

Mrs. Shi nodded. "The helper came by this afternoon to prep the ingredients. We're having sukiyaki tonight, so we just need to put the ingredients in. It's very quick."

Shi Song had a look of sudden realization.

"Mom, I'll go call them."

"Go ahead, Jingcheng," Mrs. Shi said.

Shi Jingcheng didn't forget to ruffle Shi Song's hair before he left.

After calling them over, Shi Jingcheng returned to help set out the bowls, chopsticks, and dipping sauces. Meanwhile, Father Shen was urging Shen Xianxing to hurry up. Shen Xianxing, carrying a bag of apologetic snacks, walked over to the Shi residence with his parents.

"Old Shi, we're here!"

Mr. Shi and Mr. Shen had met in the North. Years ago, Mr. Shi had been on a business trip there. Unfamiliar with the area, he had asked for directions and run into Mr. Shen. Mr. Shen had been incredibly warm and hospitable, guiding Mr. Shi and introducing him to the local specialties. Under his warmth, Mr. Shi's slow-to-warm personality began to shift over the course of a few days, and they became close friends. Strangely enough, without informing each other, they both ended up settling down in City A, even becoming neighbors right across the hall.

"Dad, Mom, Godmother, Godfather, dinner is ready!" Shi Song set down the last pair of chopsticks.

"Coming, An'an," the four elders replied in unison.

Shi Song didn't call Shen Xianxing. Left standing there awkwardly, Shen Xianxing pointed at the four parents, then at himself, wondering why she hadn't called him. He had no idea she was simply ignoring him.

Shi Jingcheng leaned against the corner of the entryway with his arms crossed. "Hey, brat, it's time to eat. Are you standing at the door because you want to be our door guardian? Our house doesn't need one."

Shi Jingcheng looked at Shen Xianxing standing at the door with the snacks, feeling irritated. He was already annoyed, and seeing him made him even more vexed.

"Ah? Coming, Jingcheng."

Shen Xianxing placed the snacks on the entryway cabinet and walked toward the dining table.

Shi Jingcheng straightened up. "Tsk, I can't afford to be your brother."

"Your godfather and godmother are right here," Mrs. Shi patted her son's arm. "Jingcheng, don't take it too far."

Mr. and Mrs. Shen silently signaled for her to ignore them—that boy simply deserved a good scolding.

No matter how dense Shen Xianxing was, he finally realized what the elders' attitude meant tonight.

The atmosphere at the table was tense, and no one spoke. It wasn't until they were halfway through dinner that someone finally broke the silence. Shen Xianxing thought the lecture was about to begin, but the words were directed at Shi Song instead.

"An'an, why don't you go find Siyi after dinner? You two girls can go watch a movie. It's been so long since you last saw each other. Call your brother when you're done, and have him pick you up."

"Okay, Mom."

Shi Song had a small appetite. By the time everyone else was halfway done, she was already full. She took her dishes to the kitchen, washed her bowl, put it back in the cupboard, said goodbye to the elders, and left to find Jiang Siyi.

Jiang Siyi didn't live far—just in the neighboring building.

Once Shi Song was gone, Shen Xianxing braced himself for the impending judgment of the Shi family elders.

"Dad, Mom, if you won't say it, I will." Having received a message from his sister saying she had arrived at Jiang Siyi's place, Shi Jingcheng put down his chopsticks and looked at the others, his impatience showing. "Shen Xianxing, I don't care whether you pulled An'an's collar on purpose or by accident this morning. Don't you know that a thoughtless action like that can make it hard for her to breathe? Where is your common sense? You grew up together. It's not like you don't know she's in delicate health!"

"Jingcheng, I really know I was wrong. My dad already scolded me this afternoon."

Hearing this, Father Shen, who was sharing a drink with Father Shi, quickly chimed in, "Let's sever our father-son relationship for today. You are not my son right now. Leave me out of this."

*Who told you to bully the daughter they wished for on a shooting star?* Father Shen didn't say this out loud, only grumbling it in his head.

Father Shen's sudden declaration of severing ties for the day cut half of Shi Jingcheng's prepared lecture short.

"You don't think you're wrong? The problem is that An'an has never been mad at you all these years, so you think she's an easy target. She even saved up her allowance to buy you that drum set you couldn't bear to buy for yourself. Now it looks like she might as well give it to someone else." Shi Jingcheng grew angrier as he spoke. Even when his assistants in the forensic lab made amateur mistakes, he had never been this furious. He couldn't bear to say a single harsh word to Shi Song, let alone bully her small frame.

Shen Xianxing had never expected that a casual comment of his would be remembered by Shi Song for so long, let alone that she would actually buy it for him. He didn't dare reply to Shi Jingcheng now, fearing he would only get scolded worse. He could only take it in silence.

"Jingcheng, go buy some bubble tea for An'an and Siyi, and maybe grab some snacks from the convenience store so they have something to eat after the movie. If they want late-night snacks, take them out. Leave the rest to your mother and me," Father Shi, who had been catching up over drinks with Father Shen, finally spoke up.

"Got it, Dad."

Shen Xianxing groaned inwardly. *There's more? Heavens, if I had known, I would have apologized on the spot. I shouldn't have teased her at all. Someone save me.*