Chapter 68: Offering (11)

Chapter 68: Offering (11)

◎The Past [All Memories]◎

Since regaining part of his memory, Shi Youqing's emotions had been simple; events from the past, presumably all events, were like fleeting shadows in his mind, incapable of leaving any profound impact.

Fifteen years ago, in autumn.

That year, Shi Youqing was five. His father's illness relapsed, leading to hospitalization. To seek better medical care, the family moved to Ruocheng.

Ruocheng was not entirely unfamiliar to them. The Shi family had some acquaintances there. After pulling some strings, they found a kindergarten close to their new home for the child.

The young Shi Youqing, frail in health, seldom went out. He was quiet by nature, but this had once led to him being nicknamed 'dumb' by a few children in his previous kindergarten's lower class. Since then, he became even less talkative and gradually developed a reticent disposition.

Concerned he might be bullied outside, Shi Wen packed extra toys and snacks in his bag on the first day of school, holding his hand and advising, "Baby, if you want to make friends at school, you can share your toys and snacks with them. If anyone dares to bully you, tell the teacher and make sure to tell Mommy too... Mommy will teach you how to deal with it."

Shi Youqing nodded earnestly, dressed in his new and pretty clothes, his doll-like eyelashes slightly drooping, looking exceptionally well-behaved.

With a heart full of tenderness, Shi Wen kissed his forehead: “Daddy will get better soon, and we’ll be fine. Don’t be scared.”

Shi Youqing nodded again and followed his mother into the kindergarten.

The new kindergarten was large, with facilities far superior to his previous one. Being a child, Shi Youqing quickly became dazzled and finally showed a look of curiosity.

Shi Wen went to handle the paperwork with the teacher, but just then, Shi Youqing felt the urge to urinate after drinking a box of milk on the way and didn’t follow his mother.

Shi Wen immediately turned back, “What’s wrong?”

Shi Youqing said, “I need to go to the bathroom.”

“I’ll take you…”

“I can go by myself,” he said, his face turning red as he glanced at the teacher, then continued to Shi Wen, “Mommy, wait here for me.”

Shi Wen was mainly concerned about him feeling anxious in a new environment, but hearing him say this, she felt reassured and pointed towards the bathroom, “The bathroom is over there, call for Mommy if you need anything.”

Shi Youqing hummed in response, set down his backpack, and walked towards it.

In the hallway, the teacher continued to chat with Shi Wen, smiling.

As Shi Youqing approached the bathroom, a bell rang outside. Though he hadn't officially started school, the sound of the bell made him inexplicably nervous. Wearing overalls today, he momentarily forgot his mother’s advice that he could just pull down the straps like regular pants and instead fumbled nervously with the buttons…

At that moment, someone else came in and suddenly said, “Hey? Why are you using the teacher’s bathroom?”

It was a child's voice, clear and bright.

Shi Youqing quickly glanced at the boy, who was taller and handsome, slightly widening his eyes in surprise.

Shi Youqing grew even more nervous, looking down and hastily trying to undo the buttons, but struggling…

“You should do it like this,” the other boy approached, his movements becoming gentler as he neared, flipping the straps outward and looking at him, scratching his head and saying, “Don’t rush, you can use the teacher's bathroom. I wasn’t scolding you. It’s all the men's restroom, and I came here to use it too. Actually, I don’t like using the children's one either…”

"Shi Youqing pursed his lips, frowning at him."

The boy blushed under his gaze and quickly turned to leave. After a while, as Shi Youqing was finishing up, the boy ran back in, surprised, “But we’re both boys! Why did you leave?”

Shi Youqing drooped his eyelids as he went to wash his hands.

The boy watched him, unconsciously helping him lift and adjust the straps, then said looking down, “Are you in the lower class?”

Shi Youqing glanced at him, still ignoring him. As he was leaving, Shi Wen came over, “Baby, Mommy will take you to meet the principal.”

Shi Youqing nodded, seeing other children running around, he reached out to hold his mother’s hand.

After a few steps, he noticed someone following him and turned to look back.

The familiar boy stopped, seeming embarrassed, but then suddenly came forward seriously, blocking their path, “Auntie, is Baby a new transfer today?”

Both Shi Youqing and Shi Wen were taken aback.

Shi Wen was the first to react, laughing heartily, “He’s not called Baby. I call him that because I’m his mom... You’re quite an interesting kid!”

The boy’s face turned tomato-red in an instant, his eyes fixed on Shi Youqing.

A teacher coming to meet them saw this and, thinking the two children were having a disagreement, hurried over, “Mrs. Shi, this boy is from the middle class. He may look tall, but he’s a year younger than Youqing... If there’s any issue between the two kids…”

“Oh no,” Shi Wen laughed, shaking her head, “He’s a cute boy, we were just chatting.”

Relieved, the teacher then said to the boy, “Bo Huai, it's almost time for class, you should head back.”

The boy named Bo Huai said, “There are still a few minutes left.”

The teacher looked helplessly at him.

Bo Huai followed them all the way to the office.

While waiting for the principal, the adults chatted cheerfully inside the office. Bo Huai quietly sat down next to Shi Youqing.

Seeing this, the teacher said, “Bo Huai, your class will have music lessons soon. You should go back now.”

Bo Huai, fixated on the unmoving Shi Youqing, asked the teacher, “What is Baby doing here?”

The adults were taken aback, then burst into laughter again, and the teacher replied resignedly, “He’s here to meet the principal.”

“What for?”

“Well…” the teacher pondered, “Consider it like an interview for little children.”

Bo Huai immediately responded, “But I didn’t have an interview.”

Teacher: “…”

There weren't many families with the surname Bo in Ruocheng, and only one was particularly prominent. Shi Wen also began to understand Bo Huai's background based on the adults' reactions, feeling somewhat apprehensive.

However, the next moment, the boy said, “Can I have an interview with Baby?”

Everyone: “…”

At that moment, the principal walked in with a smile, surprised to see Bo Huai there.

After the teacher explained the situation, the principal laughed, “Alright, let’s have the interview together!”

The interview was really just a set of questions to understand the children's personalities. As for the rest, it had already been ascertained through the adults.

Bo Huai watched Shi Youqing answer the principal’s questions methodically and couldn’t help but be stunned.

The principal couldn’t resist calling out to him, “Bo Huai.”

"Bo Huai remarked, 'Principal, the baby seems grown-up.'"

Principal: “…”

Shi Youqing: “…”

The “interview” ended quickly. Bo Huai closely followed Shi Youqing, ready to persuade him to join his class, saying, “I'll give you my spot, and later I'll call my dad to buy a new desk and chair for me. Baby, that’s our class over there.”

The teacher said exasperatedly, “I already told you, he’s in the higher class.”

Upon hearing this, Bo Huai froze, standing motionless as if he had just heard shocking news.

Shi Youqing followed his mother and teacher directly towards the higher class without looking back.

After introducing himself, Shi Youqing began his life at the kindergarten.

His mother watched from outside the classroom for a while before leaving with peace of mind.

After school at noon, Shiyuqing finished lunch and went to his bed for a nap.

When Bohuai came with his bedding, Shiyuqing was startled.

With the teacher absent, Bohuai spread his bedding on the floor beside Shiyuqing's bed and then leaned over to tuck him in, struggling a bit.

Shiyuqing lay motionless.

"Baby, shall I ask my dad to buy a new bed for here tomorrow?"

"...I'm not called Baby."

"But," the boy stuttered awkwardly, "you are a baby."

Shiyuqing stopped talking, soothed his startled heart, and closed his eyes to sleep.

Fearing he might disturb him, Bohuai curled up on his bedding beside the bed and fell asleep. Soon, a teacher on duty came in, was shocked at the sight, and woke them to ask what was happening.

Frowning, Shiyuqing said, "I'm sleeping here, and Baby didn’t object."

“……”

In the end, the boy was heartbroken as he guarded his bedding, but both he and it were eventually taken away by force.

From that day, Shiyuqing was relentlessly pursued.

Unlike previous teasing, the boy who approached him now did nothing to bother him, so Shiyuqing didn’t mind much. Moreover, the kindergarten environment was really nice; everyone seemed to like him, even though he wasn’t very lively.

Later, Shiyuqing discovered that Bohuai had spread a rumor at school – Shiyuqing wasn’t like the other bratty kids; he was a rabbit transformed into a boy.

Kids love animals, especially cute, furry rabbits, and easily believe such absurd rumors, especially when they come from Bohuai, who is domineering and pretends to be mature.

On Friday afternoon, his mother and his somewhat recovered father came to pick him up from school.

Shiyuqing emerged surrounded by a group of kids.

His mother Shi Wen was extremely surprised, "Our Baby is so popular!"

Blushing, Shiyuqing nodded.

As his father began to smile and was about to speak, a figure like a blue whirlwind rushed over from a distance, shouting, “Baby!”

Shi Wen recognized him and smiled broadly, "Little Huai, this is Shi Yuqing. He's a year older than you, so you can call him brother."

Bohuai paused, then asked, "Can Baby come to my house to play?"

Shi Wen looked at Shi Yuqing with a smiling gaze.

After thinking, Shi Yuqing realized he wouldn’t have time; he had to spend one day at the hospital with his dad and another day shopping with his mom, so he shook his head.

Bohuai stopped abruptly and hung his head low.

As Shi Wen was about to say something to ease the tension between the children, Shi Yuqing said, “See you next week.”

Bohuai looked up at him sharply.

Shi Yuqing got into the car and left.

The following week, Bohuai made such a fuss about changing his bedding that his family had to intervene. They discovered he had made friends with an older classmate and, after much laughter, repeatedly emphasized that he should politely call him ‘brother’ instead of ‘Baby,’ which wasn’t suitable for someone his age.

After much insistence, Bohuai finally changed how he addressed him, not to ‘brother’ but repeatedly calling him “Qingqing.”

Shi Yuqing's spot was next to the window, and during activity classes, Bohuai liked to come over to him.

Bohuai wouldn’t disturb him; he would just lie outside the window like a statue, watching him, and then quietly pass him things – sometimes food, sometimes toys from home. He always did so silently, and once, Shi Yuqing was startled to find someone outside the window just as music class was ending, turning pale with fright.

He had nightmares during his nap that day, muttering in his sleep.

Bohuai didn’t realize how menacing his staring eyes looked to others and thought his sudden appearance had scared Shi Yuqing. He was restless for days but couldn’t stop himself from watching him.

Shi Yuqing was indeed a beautiful child, but beyond his doll-like appearance, Bohuai felt he was different from all other kids.

Once, after it rained, Bohuai saw Shi Yuqing standing under the eaves, turning a Rubik's Cube rapidly in his thin hands while gazing into the distance, as if deep in thought.

Thinking Shi Yuqing wanted to play in puddles – a favorite rainy day activity for kids – Bohuai realized the kindergarten's ground was too smooth, with no puddles despite the heavy rain.

Bohuai ran back to the classroom and quickly found a box, lining it with a plastic bag to create a makeshift puddle outside.

But when he returned, he saw Shi Yuqing, who had climbed onto the slide unnoticed.

The rain was heavy, and the slide was slick. The concave edge at the bottom of the slide had indeed collected water.

Bohuai's heart nearly stopped as he saw that small figure sitting and sliding down. He dropped the box and rushed over, but he couldn’t match the speed of the sliding figure.

Bohuai was splashed all over his face with water, dirtying his new clothes, but his focus remained solely on Shi Yuqing at the bottom of the slide, as he anxiously rushed over to pick him up.

Though taller than Shi Yuqing, he was still just a child. Straining with all his might to carry him inside, he caught the attention of the teachers. Adults quickly took Shi Yuqing from him, and after ensuring he was alright, they laid him on a bed to wipe his face and change his jacket, exclaiming, "Oh dear, why would you play on the slide in the rain?"

Sitting in the warm indoors, Shi Yuqing softly said, "I went to pick up my Rubik's Cube and accidentally slid down."

Hearing this, Bohuai stared in shock at the beautiful child before him.

He was certain that Shi Yuqing had climbed up with the Rubik's Cube and had even smiled briefly while sliding down.

He was lying, and without any change in expression.

Even though he wasn’t the one lying, Bohuai's face turned red, and he nervously returned to the "scene of the incident" to look for any left-behind evidence, just in case Shi Yuqing's lie was exposed.

Afterwards, Shi Yuqing often engaged in similar little thrill-seeking acts, always with various reasons, while the knowledgeable Bohuai repeatedly took care of the aftermath, almost becoming immersed in it.

Later, Bohuai finally thought of a way not to scare him – he bought a string of wind chimes and hung them by Shi Yuqing's window, saying, "Qingqing, from now on I'll shake this to let you know I’m here, so I won’t startle you."

Shi Yuqing watched him quietly and said, "It will ring when the wind comes, too."

Bohuai shook his head, feigning composure, "I hung it inside the glass, with the string outside. It will only ring when I pull the string."

Shi Yuqing hummed in response, observing the wind chimes for a while. Through the glass, the chimes were positioned right at Bohuai's collar, causing him to suddenly smile with his eyes curved.

Bohuai was stunned, flustered for a moment, torn between staying and leaving.

A classmate then approached, shouting, "Bohuai, aren't you going back? Class is about to start! Stop breaking the rules!!!"

Bohuai ignored him and after a while muttered under his breath, "Qingqing is the rule."

……

A month later, Shi Yuqing's father passed away in the hospital, and during that time, Shi Yuqing fell ill as well.

At that time, Shi Yuqing didn’t have a concrete understanding of death; he only felt sorrow. On the day his mother picked him up, he finally initiated a conversation with Bohuai.

He solemnly said, "I’m not transformed from a little rabbit. I might end up like my dad one day, so you should forget about me."

The boy, who had stood tall, suddenly wavered, then erupted like a volcano, struggling against a crowd of adults to find him, crying out in anguish.

Shi Yuqing got into his mother's car, poking his head out with his backpack, waving goodbye to the teachers and the distraught boy.

His mother, long since unable to shed tears, stroked his head and said, “Once we get your health back on track, we’ll come back, okay?”

Shi Yuqing maintained his usual composed expression, but his nod carried a hint of childlike gentleness.

The driver, glancing through the rearview mirror at the nearly frantic boy behind, couldn't help but chuckle, “Kids these days… it’s as if they're watching a loved one go to the gallows.”

His words turned out to be prophetic.

[Author's Note]

Thanks to the angels who threw mines: -Chenji- 2;

Thanks to the angels who watered with nutrient solution: Late Night Snack 48 bottles; Dust Finger 10 bottles; Luo Shui Floating Lantern 5 bottles; Please, Next Snow 3 bottles; 49773938 2 bottles; Weak, Helpless, Pitiable but Can Cause Trouble 1 bottle;

Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!