The next morning, Lu Qingfeng had just returned to the Yun Mansion after his morning run. The sky was still dark as it was almost the break of dawn. The song playing in his earpiece kept him company as he looked at the familiar home that Su Xiaofei had taken him into when he was merely a six-year-old child.
Thinking about it, it wasn't him who claimed her first, but her. On that day, he met the snobby little girl and the most beautiful person he'd seen in his short years, reading a book on her own while sitting on the bench as everyone was busy playing touch ball several meters away from her.
Young Lu Qingfeng had snuck away from his bodyguards, as he couldn't stand being watched by others. His parents had just passed away from an accident a few months before and he was left under his grandfather's care.
The first time he laid eyes on Su Xiaofei, he couldn't turn his gaze away from her. He didn't think he had seen another kid as cute and as beautiful as her, but young Lu Qingfeng wondered why she was alone. It was until she opened her mouth and chased away another kid did he realize the problem.
"Hey, princess! Are you alone again?" The kid grinned at her mockingly.
The girl narrowed her eyes and harrumphed, clutching the book she was reading on her chest.
"Who would want to play with people like you?" She countered, with a hint of arrogance in her tone. To Lu Qingfeng, it looked like this wasn't new for the girl as she seemed used to it.
Her eyes contradicted her mouth. Although she said that she didn't want to play with them, Lu Qingfeng could see the sadness in her eyes as the kid left her alone. Lu Qingfeng looked around, and he only found a middle-aged woman talking with another parent at the playground. He surmised that it was this girl's nanny.
The girl wasn't alone, nor did he think she wanted to be. It seemed that none of the other kids around the vicinity had wanted to play with her. Given the quality of the clothes she was wearing, Lu Qingfeng could tell that she wasn't anything like those children who liked to play in the mud and get themselves dirty.
"What are you doing?"
The young Lu Qingfeng snapped out his thoughts as the girl found him staring blankly at her. He was a little flustered at being caught staring and thought of the reason to explain himself. His eyes then caught the book in her hands.
"Just wondering what kind of book you are reading." He lied, hoping that she wouldn't question him again about his staring.
The girl stayed silent for a moment before nodding her head, her slight curls bouncing in the process. She then patted the space beside her at the bench and gestured for him to take a seat next to her.
"You're new here, right? This is the first time I've seen you." She said with a genuine smile this time. "I'm Su Xiaofei, but you can call me Feifei if you want."
As a child, Lu Qingfeng didn't have many interactions with other children, so he wasn't sure how to respond to this girl named Feifei.
"Yes." He begrudgingly replied, but still took a seat next to her. "I live with my grandfather, but he's always away for work."
"Ah! Just like my Mama and my Papa." She hummed, then turned her head to look at him. "Your name?"
"What?" Young Lu Qingfeng blinked.
"It's impolite not to tell me your name after I told you mine." Su Xiaofei frowned.
Lu Qingfeng wanted to say that she was also impolite with the other kid earlier, but he didn't dare to make her upset with his words.
"Lu Qingfeng." He muttered, not knowing why he was even bothered by what she thought of him.
"Since you are obviously younger than me, Xiao Feng, it is." She beamed a smile at him, which made Lu Qingfeng think that it was the most beautiful thing he saw that day. Her smile suited her.
The two proceeded to talk about her book, and Lu Qingfeng was forced to listen to her reading the content of the book out loud. His brows furrowed as he realized that Su Xiaofei had trouble reading some words, so he helped her with it.
"Wow, Xiao Feng. You are still young, but you are really smart." She complimented him with a smile.
It wasn't the first time Lu Qingfeng heard someone compliment him like this, but Su Xiaofei's eyes that were glinting with admiration caught him off guard. Others only said those words in hopes of getting acquainted with him and the Lu family, so he had never taken their words seriously.
"You think so?" He asked cautiously.
"Of course! And I think it's good. Look at me. I'm already nine, but I still have difficulties with it." Su Xiaofei's tone was exceptionally sad this time, making the young Lu Qingfeng wonder what worried her.
"Well, you are beautiful. Didn't anyone tell you that?" He said in an attempt to see her smile again.
"What's the use of being beautiful if I'm not smart? Look at them." She then pointed at the children who were still caught up with their play. "They all think I'm beautiful, but just as good as a flower vase."
Despite his young age, Lu Qingfeng understood what she meant. He didn't dare to show her pity, as he knew that she might not like it.
"But you, you're cute and smart." Su Xiaofei grinned at him. "Do you want to be friends with me? My Auntie Liu always makes delicious treats for me."
He blinked, not sure what he should tell her this time. If he declined her, it would surely make her sad. Just like him, it seemed like she also didn't have any friends or close companions.
"Okay."
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