These food stalls were always the favorite of elementary school students, especially those set up right outside the school. At the moment, a group of children had gathered around the cotton candy stand, forming a long line.
Finally, it was their turn. Gu Nianxi excitedly pointed to the pink cotton candy. "Brother Ye Chen, I want that one!"
Ye Chen smiled. "Alright, let's get it." He pulled out cash and handed it to the vendor.
Back then, there was no mobile payment—everyone used cash.
Little Nianxi loved cotton candy. Once, Ye Chen had jokingly told her it would rot her teeth, and from then on, she avoided it completely, even walking past cotton candy stands without a second glance.
Thinking about it now, it felt quite silly.
"Brother Ye Chen, aren't you going to have some?" Gu Nianxi asked, her small face full of curiosity.
Ye Chen shook his head. "This is a snack for girls. Boys don't eat cotton candy."
"Really?" Boys aren't allowed to eat cotton candy?
Ye Chen was about to ruffle her little head when a voice called out from a distance—
"Ye Chen, stop right there!"
He turned to see a group of boys running toward them. Leading the group was Meng Fei, a notorious bully from Class 3-1. The boys following him were from other classes.
Seeing them, Gu Nianxi instinctively stepped in front of Ye Chen. "Meng Fei, don't you dare bully my Brother Ye Chen!"
She glared at them with her big, watery eyes, looking adorably fierce.
"Ye Chen, hiding behind a girl? What kind of man are you?" Meng Fei sneered, hands on his hips. But with his chubby body, it was hard to tell where his waist even was.
Ye Chen thought for a moment and remembered. Yesterday, he had beaten Meng Fei in a game at the arcade. Unwilling to accept defeat, Meng Fei had come to settle the score after school.
"Nianxi, this is a matter between boys. Wait on the side, okay?" Ye Chen gently patted her head and smiled.
Still worried, Gu Nianxi protested, "But Brother Ye Chen, they'll bully you."
She didn't realize that, as a little girl, she couldn't possibly shield him from a group of boys.
"What's wrong? You won yesterday, but you're too scared to face me again? Ye Chen, you're such a coward!" Meng Fei taunted.
"I won't let you insult my Brother Ye Chen!" Gu Nianxi shouted angrily, stepping forward to confront Meng Fei.
Ye Chen couldn't help but smile. In the past, every time someone picked on him, Nianxi would always stand up for him, even though she had no chance of winning. That was just how silly and brave she was.
"Another match? Are you sure?" Ye Chen looked at them with a gaze that no longer held the innocence of a child.
After all, these were just a bunch of elementary school kids.
"Afraid of you? Yesterday was just luck. This time, I won't hold back," Meng Fei boasted confidently.
"Alright then. Nianxi, do you want to come with me, or will you head home first?" Ye Chen asked, turning to Gu Nianxi.
Without hesitation, she glared at Meng Fei and said, "Brother Ye Chen, I'll go with you."
---
The arcade near the school was an old-fashioned place, still familiar from Ye Chen's memories. A few years later, it would shut down and be demolished.
"Let's have another match today. This time, I'll definitely win!"
"Alright, let's begin."
They played the same game as before—**Super Speed Racer**. It was immensely popular at the time, and almost every elementary school student loved it.
As soon as the game started, Ye Chen showcased his extraordinary skills.
He deftly controlled the steering wheel, overtaking other cars one after another and pulling off smooth drifts. He left Meng Fei far behind.
As the finish line approached, Meng Fei desperately pushed forward, managing to overtake Ye Chen for a moment.
Gu Nianxi looked worried. Was Brother Ye Chen going to lose?
Meng Fei wore a smug expression. "Ha! See? You're no match for me."
But his confidence quickly crumbled.
Ye Chen had merely been catching his breath. With a press of the accelerator, his car shot forward like an arrow.
Before Meng Fei could react, the game was over.
"You lost," Ye Chen said calmly as he stood up.
Still in shock, Meng Fei stammered, "How is that possible? I overtook you!"
"Kid, I was just slowing down on purpose," Ye Chen replied nonchalantly.
He grabbed his backpack and took Gu Nianxi's hand, leaving the arcade.
Meng Fei stood there, dumbfounded. "Kid? Aren't you a kid too?"
---
"Brother Ye Chen, you were amazing! So cool," Gu Nianxi exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration as they walked out.
- "Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've earned Gu Nianxi's admiration. Admiration Points +3!"
Ye Chen pinched her cheek. "You know what 'cool' means, huh?"
"Stop pinching me! You'll make me ugly," she complained, pouting.
"Ugly? Where? You're such a pretty little girl," Ye Chen teased.
Although her face was still youthful and childlike, it was clear she would grow up to be a stunning beauty.
In his previous life, how had he been so blind? Such a lovely "little white rabbit" had always been by his side, admiring him all this time, and he hadn't noticed.
---
Playfully bantering, the two returned home as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Their families lived across the hall from each other. As Gu Nianxi entered her home, she waved at Ye Chen. "Brother Ye Chen, see you tomorrow!"
Ye Chen nodded and opened his own door.
As he stepped inside, the familiar aroma of home-cooked food greeted him.
His parents were busy preparing dinner in the kitchen.
"Xiao Chen, you're back? Wash your hands and get ready to eat!" called a woman in her thirties with a graceful figure and pleasant features—Ye Chen's mother, Shen Yuhua.
Thanks to her self-care routine, she still looked youthful, like a young girl, despite being in her thirties. However, after Ye Chen was diagnosed with leukemia and faced life-threatening situations multiple times, she had aged rapidly. Wrinkles appeared at the corners of her eyes, and she spent her days worrying about him.
As for his father, Ye Yuanfeng, he was as composed as ever, rarely showing emotion. But even he had grayed significantly due to the stress of Ye Chen's illness.
Seeing his parents so young and vibrant again, Ye Chen was overwhelmed with emotion. He suppressed his feelings and smiled. "Okay."
At this moment, Shen Yuhua scolded her husband, "What's wrong with you? Hurry up and serve the dishes! Didn't you see our son is back? At his age, he's growing and gets hungry easily."
Ye Yuanfeng sighed helplessly. "It's no big deal for a boy to go hungry for a little while."
Shen Yuhua frowned. "Do you even hear yourself?"
"Hehe, I was just joking," Ye Yuanfeng quickly backtracked.
Ye Yuanfeng was always terrified of upsetting Shen Yuhua. Whenever his wife got upset, he would surrender instantly!
"Hurry up and stop wasting time," Shen Yuhua said impatiently.
Ye Chen wiped his hands and walked into the kitchen. "Dad, Mom, let me help instead."
Both Shen Yuhua and Ye Yuanfeng froze, looking surprised. Since when had their son become so thoughtful?