A Rose on Thin Ice - Chapter 3

The Maybach sped away so fast it looked almost as if it were fleeing in embarrassment.

Hugging my new favorite pacifier, I huffed and puffed my way upstairs.

I had barely reached the door to the junior class when a blond, mixed-race boy blocked my path.

He asked haughtily, “What are you holding?”

“A pacifier,” I answered honestly.

His eyes widened. “You still play with those?”

When I merely looked confused, he spread his hands. “Aren’t you supposed to be a genius hacker who attacks foreign websites? Or a financial prodigy who conquered Wall Street? At the very least, shouldn’t you speak eight languages?”

Several suspicious gazes landed on me.

I had miscalculated. I thought being a former university student would let me crush the competition in kindergarten. Instead, I was the lone idiot blundering into a den of prodigies.

I played dumb. “Big brother, what are you talking about?”

His ears turned scarlet.

“W-Who said I’m your big brother?”

“Okay,” I said mournfully.

I was about to enter the classroom when he spoke again, now sounding oddly coy.

“You’re so stupid. You don’t know anything.

“I can protect you, but you’ll have to pay me.”

I slowly turned my head.

What was this little flirt trying to pull?

He was already demanding protection money at his age?

Noticing my stare, the blond boy puffed out his chest.

“I’m the boss of the junior class.

“If you want my protection, you have to call me big brother.”

After spending a few days with my classmates, I discovered I was the youngest among them.

So I called everyone “big brother” or “big sister.”

The blond boy was deeply unhappy about this, but he still had to honor his promise.

Unfortunately, he also liked tugging my pigtails.

“Gu Xingyi!” I snapped.

Gu Xingyi grinned wickedly and tugged again.

Furious, I ground my back teeth.

He was descended from an old-money family. I could not afford to offend him.

Suddenly, someone caught his hand.

“That’s enough. Let her go.”

I turned. It was the owner of a face blessed by the gods—Ruan Jingsu.

He was Ruan Jingtian’s younger half brother. With black hair, black eyes, and an aloof expression, he looked exceptionally cool and distant.

Gu Xingyi’s pride had taken a blow. He opened his mouth, but Ruan Jingsu cut him off.

“Do you think pulling a girl’s pigtails will make her like you?”

Gu Xingyi froze and released me without realizing it. His face turned bright red.

“Who likes her?

“She doesn’t speak Spanish or know advanced math. She’s so dumb!”

My face fell.

He did not have to like me, but he was not allowed to call me stupid.

“Gu Xingyi, I hate you.”

As the most popular child in class, I had everyone’s support. My classmates immediately began condemning him.

Gu Xingyi stood there at a loss.

After school, he followed me from a cautious distance.

He took out a box of imported snacks. “Yaoyao, I’m sorry. You can have these.”

I sneered.

Did he really think I was that greedy?

Then I recognized the logo. It was the same limited-edition chocolate the housekeeper gave me every day.

I swallowed.

Yes. I was a shameless glutton.

I accepted the chocolate without ceremony.

Gu Xingyi sighed in relief. Watching my cheeks puff as I ate, he blurted out as if possessed, “Yaoyao, can I kiss you?”

Before I could refuse, a large hand lifted me off the ground.

Fu Sinian looked down at Gu Xingyi.

“Who are you?”