chapter 2

I stood on tiptoe and waved with all my might.

“Zhao Xinran! Your mama is over here!”

The boy showed no reaction and slowly shuffled toward me.

A round little fatty blocked his way.

“Zhao Xinran, I heard stepmothers are all tigresses. You’re going to suffer now!”

Xinran, already unhappy, looked even more dejected.

I crossed the distance in three strides, stuffed a packet of snacks into my dumpling’s arms, and turned a benevolently lethal smile on the little fatty.

“Why, if it isn’t Madam Wang’s precious darling! I hear you’ve spent three months trying to memorize ‘A Gift to Wang Lun’ and still can’t remember it. And that you can eat ten eggs in one meal?”

The boy’s face turned the color of pig liver. His clenched fists creaked.

I patted my chest. “Come on. Hit me right here.”

“Knock me down today, and tomorrow your concubine-born younger brother will become the heir. Ha ha ha!”

I took Zhao Xinran’s hand and walked away in high spirits.

Behind us came the little fatty’s piglike wails.

As our carriage passed the Marchioness, all three women bore injuries of varying severity. They looked like hens defeated in battle.

I cackled shamelessly inside the carriage and accidentally blew a snot bubble onto Zhao Xinran’s sleeve.

“Ew.” He recoiled in disgust.

I hurriedly took osmanthus cakes from a hidden compartment.

“Fresh from Xu’s Bakery. I stood in line forever for these.”

His nose twitched, and he secretly swallowed.

“Grandmother says these foods are bad for you.”

“That’s a load of his mother’s -” I caught myself and cleared my throat, putting on a gentle voice. “I saw her sneaking peach pastries this very morning.”

I picked up a cake and tapped it against his.

“Cheers!”

He finally accepted it and took dainty bites. Then he looked up.

“You offended Wang Jikai today. What if he goes home and complains?”

Wang Jikai was the little fatty.

I spoke around a mouthful of cake. “It was only a normal joke between children. Adults shouldn’t interfere.”

Zhao Xinran had heard those words before.

Wang Jikai often bullied him at school. When his grandmother confronted the Marchioness, the woman said, “These are normal scuffles between children. Adults shouldn’t interfere, or they will damage the children’s natural spirit.”

Zhao Yuanxiu had told me all about it.

I might have a savage mouth, but even savagery required technique. Cursing at random was an excellent way to get beaten.

I watched my dumpling lower his head, and my heart melted.

He was so young, yet he already had to endure such cruel gossip.

I crouched until our eyes were level and gently held his little hand.

“You know, when I was small, people also called me a motherless little bastard.”

His head snapped up, eyes round with surprise.

“Your mama was fierce back then. Anyone who said that got chased and beaten.”

I smiled and tapped his nose.

“Once, I chased the boy next door up a tree. He cried for his mother to save him.”

The dumpling burst into giggles, revealing two adorable dimples.

“You… you’re not like what they said.”

I wiped his mouth with my handkerchief.

“Let me guess what they told you.”

I mimicked the little fatty’s voice.

“‘Zhao Xinran, your stepmother is here. Your good days are over!'”

“‘Once she has a son of her own, you’ll be worse off than a beggar.'”

Xinran laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

I cupped his face, my voice softening without conscious effort.

“Someone who loves you will find a way to mend the sky even if you poke a hole through it. Someone determined to bully you will still find fault even if you curl up into the tiniest little ball.”

“So instead of hiding and crying, you must learn to fight back.”

His voice was muffled. “But that might cause trouble for the family.”

I brushed the stray hair beside his ear.

“Your father is a vice minister, the second-in-command of one of the Six Ministries. We don’t start trouble, but we never fear it. Understand?”

His eyes shone, and he nodded.

“I… I want poria cakes tomorrow. May I have some?”

My heart dissolved into a puddle. I opened my arms and pulled him close.

“Of course! Mama will buy the biggest one. We’ll sit outside the academy and eat it where all those little villains can see!”