Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I ate until my stomach was completely stuffed.

I patted my belly with satisfaction.

Cen Yi’s mother drove me back and dropped me off right in front of my building.

To my surprise, I found both Mom and Dad downstairs waiting for me.

As soon as I opened the car door, I cried out happily, “Mom! Dad!”

My parents walked over and naturally patted my head before smiling at the woman in the car.

“Thank you for the trouble… I didn’t realize Xiaoxiao was going over so often… Sorry for the bother.”

She smiled back. “Xiaoxiao is adorable, and the two children get along so well. Xiao Yi loves playing with her, too.”

I was being praised!

I felt a surge of happiness.

She turned to me. “Come back next week, Xiaoxiao.”

“Okay!”

I nodded.

The car drove away into the distance.

Dad patted my head, and Mom looked at me with a smile.

“Xiaoxiao, Dad will drive you there next week.”

“Thank you, Dad.”

My parents seemed very happy as well.

When it came time to divide the strawberries later, I even had as many in my bowl as Ni Jiajia did.

But Ni Jiajia wasn’t happy.

She glanced at the strawberries in my bowl.

Then she shot me a glare.

Mom said, “Eat up, Xiaoxiao. The strawberries are very sweet.”

I hesitated for a moment before picking one up and putting it in my mouth.

It really was sweet.

In the past, whenever I finished mine, I would always crave the ones in Ni Jiajia’s bowl.

I used to always think that next time, I had to make Mom give me more.

But every single time, Ni Jiajia’s bowl had been fuller.

“…”

The sweet, refreshing juice of the strawberry burst in my mouth.

I had finally gotten what I wanted.

But why…

Why wasn’t I as happy as I thought I’d be?

When Saturday rolled around.

Dad really did drive me there.

Except Ni Jiajia was also in the car.

I was startled. “What are you doing here?”

She just huffed at me.

As he drove, Dad said, “Xiaoxiao, Jiajia is always busy with extracurricular classes and doesn’t have many friends.”

“It’s perfect that the three of you can play together. You’ll be right there in the middle, so look after your sister.”

“But…” I pouted. “There are plenty of people who want to be her friend.”

Like Ji Shu, for instance.

Dad continued, “Oh, doesn’t Cen Yi play the piano? Jiajia does too, so they’ll definitely have plenty to talk about.”

“Isn’t it better to have more people to play with?”

He kept talking to himself.

I looked out the window.

The street scenery blurred past.

“But…”

I wanted to say that he was *my* friend.

But then I thought of Ji Shu again.

What if…

What if Cen Yi wanted to be friends with Ni Jiajia too?

Even though he was quiet.

Even though he didn’t like talking to people.

He was very smart, and Ni Jiajia was very smart too.

What if.

What if they really did hit it off?