The Fairy Tale of a Murderer - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Ji Xingrui still slept with me that night.

If I really were a child, I definitely would have cried and thrown a fit until I got my way. But inside, I was an adult, and sleeping beside such an adorable little kid? Honestly, I was pretty willing.

He was very quiet when he slept. His breathing was so light it was almost inaudible, and his presence was so faint that several times, I forgot there was another person in the room.

Of course, there was one dog I could never forget.

“Seriously, can you turn down the sound of your game?”

System rolled his eyes at me and silently connected a pair of earphones.

The next morning, Ji Xingrui woke me up bright and early.

I squinted blearily at the alarm clock-wait, it wasn’t even my usual wake-up time yet.

“It’s still early. I can sleep a little longer!”

Ji Xingrui’s face was solemn. “It’s not early.”

System had stayed up gaming all night. With two dark circles under his eyes, he gloated as his hands kept moving without pause.

“Heehee, you have to listen to the male lead, you know. Otherwise, the male lead might hold a grudge.”

That woke me right up.

By the time my mom came in, I was already fully dressed.

“Well, well. Did the sun rise in the west today? Why are you up so early?”

I glared at Ji Xingrui with resentment written all over my face. My mom grinned and actually reached out to pat Ji Xingrui on the head. “Xingxing really is amazing. From now on, the mission of waking Qiaoqiao up will be left to you.”

Ji Xingrui looked at me, then at my mom, like he’d just received some special assignment, and nodded with a grave expression.

Me: “…”

Thanks to Ji Xingrui, I arrived at school very early today.

The moment I entered the classroom, I got straight to work packing up my things and moving to the very back row.

Skinny Monkey stared at me in disbelief. “Ding Qiaoqiao, what are you doing?”

“Can’t you see? I’m not sitting with you anymore. Every day in class, all you do is sleep, sleep, and sleep. You’re affecting my studies.”

Skinny Monkey: “…Wait, aren’t you even better at sleeping than I am?”

I didn’t bother saying more. Carrying the last of my things, I walked over to Ji Xingrui. “I’m here. From now on, I’ve got your back.”

Ji Xingrui lifted his head from his book and glanced at me calmly. “Oh.”

Because I was sitting beside Ji Xingrui, that fatty hadn’t dared to bother him lately.

I thought he’d finally settled down, but after school that day, he actually blocked our way by the roadside again.

Skinny Monkey was even more arrogant than I was. He lifted his chin, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth. “Fatty, do you want Ding Qiaoqiao to beat you up again?”

I really did find this guy annoying to death, and I was just wondering exactly how badly I should beat him up this time when the fatty gave us a strange smile and waved his hand. From around the corner, about a dozen guys who looked like young delinquents walked out.

The one in the lead was also fat, with a face full of fierce-looking flesh. He stared at me and asked, “So you’re the fucking Ding Qiaoqiao, huh?”

I swallowed dryly.

System sneered. “Keep acting tough. Go on. Get him. Hit him.”

Me: “Shut up!”

To be honest, that damn fatty really thought highly of me. I was only in second grade this year, yet he had found people this big to deal with me. One would have been bad enough, but there were so many!

“System, tell me, how do these people have the nerve to pick on an eight-year-old kid like me?”

System whistled as if it had nothing to do with him. “Maybe because you’re too obnoxious.”

Me: “…”

Of the thirty-six stratagems, retreat is the best.

I grabbed Ji Xingrui’s hand and exchanged a look with Skinny Monkey. Then I gave the order. “Run!”

There weren’t many people in this alley. We had to hurry and run somewhere crowded. I sprinted with everything I had, my right hand gripping Ji Xingrui’s arm tightly, and very soon we’d put a good distance between us and them.

Skinny Monkey wasn’t so lucky.

He got caught and was lifted up like a little chick.

He waved at me and shouted, “Go! Don’t worry about me!”

I was so moved tears sprang to my eyes.

“System, I never thought he’d be so loyal. At a time like this, how could I possibly leave?”

System looked at me in shock. “You actually have such-”

I cut him off. “I have to run.”

System: “…”

As soon as I reached a crowded area, I immediately asked the adults nearby for help. They kindly called the police for me and came with me to rescue Skinny Monkey.

But by the time we got there, the delinquents were already gone. Only Skinny Monkey was left, crying on the spot.

I hurriedly checked him over. “Did they hit you? Huh? Where did they hit you?”

Skinny Monkey shook his head, sobbing so hard he could barely breathe, then suddenly threw his arms around me. “Ding Qiaoqiao, I knew you wouldn’t abandon me!”

System snorted. “Did even the slightest trace of guilt ever pass through your heart?”

I patted Skinny Monkey on the back to comfort him. “It’s okay now. Let’s go. I had someone call your mom. She’ll be here to pick you up soon.”

Ji Xingrui, who had been standing silently to the side the whole time, suddenly took hold of Skinny Monkey’s arm and pulled him up from the ground.

“Stand properly.”

Skinny Monkey’s little body had gone weak from crying, and he leaned against Ji Xingrui again.

A trace of impatience crossed Ji Xingrui’s small face, but he endured it and did not lose his temper.

Skinny Monkey’s mom and my mom arrived at the same time. After they asked what had happened from beginning to end, both parents’ faces darkened, and they insisted on pursuing the matter to the end.

I also felt that fatty had gone too far, and those delinquent punks had gone even further. How dare they harm me, a flower of the motherland!

System: “You’re more like the motherland’s man-eating flower.”

Me: “Please continue shutting up, thank you.”