The morning class was shortened due to the registration matters and comforting the crying children. Teacher Mu had the kids do a round of self-introductions, took a break for them to drink water and milk, and then played a small game, which brought them nearly to lunchtime.
The kids' packed lunches needed to be heated up. Teacher Mu and Teacher Shen went to the kitchen to help, leaving Teacher Cai to watch over the children. Of course, during this time, everyone was free to do as they pleased.
Xixi felt a bit uneasy. She sat on her little stool, watching the other kids chase and play with envy. She actually wanted to join them—this little girl was never a quiet or introverted type; at home, she was the wildest player! But now, faced with this unfamiliar scene, she didn’t know how to strike up a conversation with her peers. The way she hesitated, stood up, and sat back down was enough to make anyone anxious!
In contrast, the little girl next to her, Yang Luoqi, was more "calm." She seemed genuinely introverted, not very sociable, sitting blankly on her little stool with no intention of speaking.
Just then, Chen Shiyun, surrounded by a few kids, swaggered over. She was nothing like her elegant name suggested—tall and sturdy, she cast a shadow like a dark cloud over Xixi’s view.
"I’m Chen Shiyun. Are you Xixi?" Chen Shiyun asked in a loud voice.
Xixi? The pronunciation made Yang Luoqi instinctively look up, dazed, at Chen Shiyun.
Mom said it’s rude to talk while sitting!
Xixi quickly stood up. The little girl nodded happily, then said with a hint of nervousness, "Yes, I’m Xixi. Are you here to be friends with me?"
Earlier, it seemed Xixi and Chen Shiyun were about the same height, but standing side by side, a slight difference appeared—Xixi was a bit taller, not by much, maybe the length of an adult’s finger segment. Still, without standing together, Chen Shiyun’s broad-shouldered, sturdy build made her look as tall as Xixi.
Chen Shiyun was a bit annoyed to see Xixi taller than her, but being a child, she focused on talking to Xixi: "Fine, I’ll be friends with you, but from now on, you have to listen to me!"
"Why?" Xixi asked, puzzled. "My daddy says I have to listen to the teacher."
"You don’t have to listen to the teacher, but you must listen to me!" Chen Shiyun said, displeased, hands on her hips. "They all listen to me, so why won’t you?"
"No, my daddy says I have to listen to the teacher!" Xixi pouted, disliking the bossy tone.
"Then I don’t want to be friends with you!" Chen Shiyun snorted proudly.
Xixi froze. She hadn’t expected to be threatened like that. It felt like something precious was being taken away, and the little girl grew very upset. Her lips quivered, and tears seemed ready to fall.
"Chen Shiyun, don’t bully people!" Just then, a champion of justice burst in—none other than our loud-voiced little girl, Lan Xin. Slightly chubby, she ran over angrily, grabbed Xixi’s hand, and said, "If you make her cry, I’ll tell Teacher Mu!"
Teacher Mu was Chen Shiyun’s weakness. The tall, sturdy girl immediately deflated, muttering, "Who said I’m bullying her? I’m just messing around! Forget it, let’s go play somewhere else!"
Chen Shiyun’s influence was strong; in no time, three or four kids followed her, strutting away with their heads held high.
Lan Xin turned to Xixi and said, "Don’t be scared! Chen Shiyun likes to bully people, but if we tell Teacher Mu, she won’t dare to mess with us!"
Xixi still pouted, tears streaming down her face. "But, but they won’t be friends with me anymore."
Lan Xin scratched her head anxiously. "Oh, don’t cry! If you cry, I’ll cry too!"
True enough, her eyes reddened a bit, but this time, Lan Xin had a bright idea. "I can be your friend!"
Xixi instantly stopped crying. Her delicate face, still tear-streaked, lit up with surprise. She grabbed Lan Xin’s hand and asked, "Really?"
"Really!" Lan Xin giggled. "But you have to tell me your name—I don’t even know it yet!"
Oh dear, the little chubby girl hadn’t even known who Xixi was before jumping in to defend her...
Xixi beamed a radiant smile and said sweetly, "You’re so nice. My name is Yang Xi, but you can call me Xixi. My daddy calls me Xixi! What’s your name?"
Lan Xin happily took Xixi’s hand and bounced, saying, "My name is Lan Xin. My mom calls me Xin’er, so you can call me Xin’er too!"
"Giggle, okay, Xin’er, you can call me Xixi!" The little girl added hesitantly, "So, are we best friends now?"
"Mm-hmm, we’re best friends!" Lan Xin nodded.
The two little girls joyfully held hands and hopped around.
After making a friend, Xixi was in high spirits. Though tear tracks still lingered on her face, her eyes sparkled with laughter, and her smile was unstoppable.
But she wasn’t satisfied yet. This time, she took the initiative to drag Lan Xin over to the little girl sitting by her stool and asked, "Do you want to be friends with us too?"
Yang Luoqi stood up nervously, fidgeting as she looked at Xixi and the others.
"Xixi, that’s not how you ask!" Lan Xin said. "That’s rude! Teacher Mu says you should greet someone first, say hello!"
"Okay, sorry, I should say hello!" Xixi turned to Yang Luoqi.
"Hello," Yang Luoqi timidly waved her right hand. She was genuinely introverted, her mind going blank when talking to strangers.
Xixi had learned her lesson. She asked first, "Hi, I’m Xixi, and she’s Xin’er. What’s your name?"
"I, I, I’m Yang Luoqi, but my dad calls me Qiqi," Yang Luoqi said nervously.
"Qiqi, Xixi, giggle, your names sound so alike!" Lan Xin laughed, her voice so loud it could probably be heard through a wall. "You’re both surnamed Yang! I thought you were sisters."
"Hehe, Qiqi, we really do seem like sisters! But if we were, I’d be the older sister," Xixi said happily. "Because I’m bigger."
Yang Luoqi smiled shyly, not quite knowing how to respond, but she wasn’t annoyed by their enthusiasm.
"So, Qiqi, can we be friends? All three of us, best friends, okay?" Xixi asked.
Yang Luoqi’s pretty eyes showed a glimmer of hope. She whispered, "Is that okay?"
"Of course! From now on, we’re all best friends!" Lan Xin pulled her over, grinning.
Xixi was the happiest—she had gained two best friends at once!