电车狼

The first time they met, Qin Zhenzhen was in a terribly disheveled state - her hair was messy, clothes tattered, and eyes lifeless.

The next time they saw her, Jiang Yan\'s eyes widened in surprise. Although her skin was still a bit sallow and her frame too small, her facial features were strikingly beautiful - cool and sharp, almost overwhelmingly pretty.

Lin Cheng was also surprised and took a few extra glances, but quickly turned his gaze back, thinking Yan Yan was still cuter.

Jiang Yan lay on the low wall reading a storybook, while Lin Cheng took out a cupcake he had secretly hidden in his schoolbag. This shady corner of the garden was their secret base.

Jiang Yan read aloud to Lin Cheng from her perch. Apart from the rustling of leaves in the wind and the melodious cicada songs, only Jiang Yan\'s intermittent reading voice could be heard.

The early summer sunlight was bright and warm. Lin Cheng sat cross-legged on the ground, ready to applaud at any moment.

Qin Zhenzhen sat at the base of the garden wall, like a listless gray cat. Her overgrown bangs hid her eyes as she carelessly pushed her fingers into the dirty soil, tilting her face up to listen to the reading from inside the garden.

The man surnamed Qin, realizing that Madam Yang had made up her mind and knowing his good days were coming to an end, paced anxiously around the villa, making phone calls left and right, trying to get people to plead his case.

But those who used to greet him cheerfully as "brother" only did so because of Madam Yang. Now, having heard the big news from the Yang Family, they knew the man surnamed Qin was probably finished. They didn\'t outright refuse him, but each of them dodged and evaded without agreeing to help...

Jiang Yan finished reading a page and turned it. The dried flower bookmark accidentally fell out of the book.

Qin Zhenzhen, who had been half-squinting her eyes lazily, stretched out her hand and caught the light, fluttering dried flower. She immediately extended her arm upwards, returning it to Jiang Yan, who was poking her head out to look for it.

Jiang Yan picked up the flower from her palm, feeling inexplicably embarrassed for some reason, and said stiffly, "Thank you."

Qin Zhenzhen seemed to be stunned for a moment, then rested her wrist on her knee, lowered her eyes, and replied equally, "Thank you."

...

Qin Zhenzhen joined Jiang Yan and Lin Cheng\'s little group.

Lin Cheng, knowing Qin Zhenzhen\'s excessively tragic background, initially felt very sympathetic towards her. But soon, this sympathy was worn away by Qin Zhenzhen herself.

Although Qin Zhenzhen was only a year older than the two of them, she had experienced much more in life, was smart beyond her years, and excelled in her studies, making her a favorite among teachers.

Whenever they accidentally got into trouble, if Qin Zhenzhen went to explain to the teacher, the teacher would always believe her.

Yet, every time she would only vouch for Jiang Yan, leaving Lin Cheng to face the consequences alone.

What was even more infuriating was that after Lin Cheng had been scolded at home, he would often run into Jiang Yan and Qin Zhenzhen returning together, eating ice cream.

As a child, Lin Cheng was stubborn and proud, and a bit slow. Knowing he was the only one punished made him feel inexplicably upset. Feeling too ashamed to face the others and afraid that Jiang Yan would think he was useless and stop playing with him, he didn\'t go to find Jiang Yan but instead hid in a corner, wiping away tears.

Jiang Yan had a math problem she couldn\'t solve and had planned to have Qin Zhenzhen teach her. But when Lin Cheng didn\'t show up, Jiang Yan said to Qin Zhenzhen, "I\'ll come find you in a bit. I want to check on Lin Cheng first; he might be upset today."

Qin Zhenzhen watched Jiang Yan run off, biting her ice cream. The expression on her face gradually faded, like a little robot with its batteries removed.

Few people had ever been kind to her. The man surnamed Qin had brought her back only because of her bloodline and surname. Not to mention her D-list celebrity mother who always treated her as a burden.

No one had ever been truly kind to her for her own sake. So when such a person appeared, Qin Zhenzhen wanted to hold onto them, to make Jiang Yan be kind only to her.

But clearly, Qin Zhenzhen hadn\'t succeeded. And she wouldn\'t succeed in the future either.

Because Qin Zhenzhen gave up. Not because Lin Cheng also cared deeply for Jiang Yan\'s kindness, but because a Jiang Yan who was only kind to her didn\'t seem like the real Jiang Yan anymore.

...

Lin Cheng seemed to be developing a bit slowly. Usually at school, he acted tough like a little tyrant, but inside he was pure and childish, truly believing that Jiang Yan might not want him anymore.

Qin Zhenzhen was smarter than him, the teachers liked her, so Jiang Yan would probably like her too...

As he was sobbing sorrowfully, he was suddenly patted by a small hand. Jiang Yan crouched down beside him and asked softly, "Why are you crying?"

Lin Cheng\'s face was a mess of tears, he was so upset he could barely speak, his eyes brimming with tears, almost wailing, "Yan Yan, will you still be my best friend?"

Jiang Yan answered very seriously, "Of course, I always will be. We\'ll be best friends forever and ever."

Lin Cheng cried so hard he hiccupped, tears still glistening in his eyes, whimpering pitifully, "But I... the teacher scolded me... I\'m not as good as Qin Zhenzhen..."

It was clear he was truly upset.

Jiang Yan hurried to comfort him. Luckily, Lin Cheng\'s temper was always fleeting. After being consoled and drying his tears, he clenched his fists again and said fiercely, "Next time I see that candy-stealing kid, I\'m gonna punch him again!"

Jiang Yan said, "No, we can\'t do that. The teacher will scold us again if we do."

Jiang Yan cupped her chin, coming up with a mischievous plan: "Let\'s bring wasabi-flavored White Rabbit candy."

The next day, Jiang Yan openly placed the candy on her desk. The boy who liked to steal others\' food was attracted by it. Having been punched by Lin Cheng yesterday and receiving the teacher\'s sympathy afterwards, he had become even more brazen.

He grabbed the candy right in front of everyone, even mocking Lin Cheng who was watching with clenched fists: "Lin Cheng, did your parents beat you when you got home? Why aren\'t you saying anything today? Are you scared?"

Jiang Yan held Lin Cheng\'s hand, watching as the boy unwrapped a candy and popped it whole into his mouth. Suddenly, his expression turned strange, and he spat it out violently: "Ugh! What\'s this flavor! Jiang Yan, Lin Cheng, did you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, the homeroom teacher suddenly walked in, her face showing a hint of anger at being deceived, and called him to the office.

Qin Zhenzhen stood at the back, her face expressionless, and blinked.