Madam, Please Behave

In the community park of the residential neighborhood.

On a blue-and-yellow stepper machine meant for elderly fitness, Liu Xiazhi gripped the blue handle in front of her while rhythmically switching her legs back and forth.

Her eyes gazed forward, deep in thought.

Next to the stepper stood a cute little boy, slightly younger than Liu Xiazhi. He was sucking on a lollipop, his cheeks red from the cold, and every so often, he sniffled from a runny nose.

He looked at Liu Xiazhi, who had already been on the stepper for more than twenty minutes. Tilting his head, he pulled the lollipop from his mouth.

After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke up.

“Is it my turn to play yet?”

“Nope!”

Without any hesitation, Liu Xiazhi flatly rejected him. Her legs kept moving in rhythm on the stepper even as she spoke.

Facing the boy again, she repeated herself.

“Nope!”

“But you just said each person gets ten minutes... I’ve already eaten three lollipops, and you’re still not getting off. You’re breaking your word.”

Hearing the boy’s rebuttal, Liu Xiazhi paused for a moment. Her eyes flicked toward the half-eaten lollipop in his hand.

She lifted her chin slightly, then looked away.

Her voice sounded a little guilty.

“I... I don’t remember saying anything like that.”

The boy stared at her in silence, locking eyes for nearly ten full seconds before letting out a helpless sigh.

A puff of white breath escaped his lips.

“Fine, you can have it. I don’t wanna play anymore.”

He turned around, ready to leave.

Startled, Liu Xiazhi snapped out of it, quickly got off the stepper, and jogged after him, grabbing the back of his puffy jacket hood.

The boy came to a halt.

“W–Why are you giving up?! Didn’t you really want to try it?”

Held back by Liu Xiazhi, the boy slowly turned around and looked at her.

“Even the most fun things get boring when you’re just watching someone else play…”

“I’ll let you play—but you have to promise me one thing!”

Before he could finish, Liu Xiazhi blurted out, her cheeks suddenly turning a bit red for some reason.

She looked away, staring at the ground beside them, and stammered,

“J–Just give me… one piece of candy, and… and I’ll let you have it…”

Her voice was tiny, but the boy heard her clearly.

He glanced at the lollipop in his hand, then at Liu Xiazhi, all bundled up.

In that moment, he seemed to understand something.

He reached into the large pocket of his coat and pulled out another lollipop, handing it to her.

“So you hogged the machine this whole time because you wanted candy?”

“That’s not true!”

Liu Xiazhi snapped back, snatching the lollipop from him. With some effort, she tore off the wrapper.

Then, grinning happily, she popped the candy into her mouth.

Now that her mission was accomplished, Liu Xiazhi generously declared,

“Alright, it’s yours now. I won’t fight you for it anymore!”

“……”

The boy didn’t respond. He just turned around and walked back to the stepper, stepped onto it, and started alternating his legs.

With the lollipop in his mouth, he looked over at Liu Xiazhi.

“Did you just move here? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

“I moved here a while ago!”

“Really…”

He replied softly, then asked,

“What school do you go to?”

“You’re asking me?”

Liu Xiazhi paused, then thought for a moment before answering.

“Xin Xin Elementary!”

“Never heard of it. Doesn’t sound like a very famous school.”

“It is famous!”

Liu Xiazhi shot back.

Then she patted her chest and added proudly,

“A bunch of our students got perfect scores in math on the finals!”

“Did you get a perfect score too?”

“Uh... just... missed it by a little!”

“Then you probably aren’t very good at studying.”

“Lies! You’re the one who’s bad at studying!”

“But I got a perfect score this time.”

“……”

Liu Xiazhi stared at the boy on the stepper. After hearing that, she froze. Then, her expression started to shift.

The candy in her mouth crunched loudly.

“You—!”

Just as she was about to retort, hurried footsteps came from behind. Before she could finish, she suddenly felt herself being lifted into the air.

A warm breath brushed against her face as someone panted by her ear.

Staring up at the person carrying her, Liu Xiazhi was momentarily dazed.

“Brother?!”

“No time to explain. We have to leave now!”

Liu Zhiyue said hurriedly. He glanced behind him—seeing no one in sight, he turned back and picked up his pace, carrying Liu Xiazhi and breaking into another run.

The little boy was left standing there, watching the brother and sister disappear around a corner, vanishing from sight.

He couldn't help thinking this was all a bit strange.

There sure are some weird people moving into this neighborhood...

But being young, he didn’t think too deeply about it. He just kept happily alternating his legs on the stepper—one of the most popular pieces of equipment in the senior fitness area.

Not long after, a gasping Zhang Yunjing finally arrived at the park.

Hands on her knees, bent over, she panted heavily. Her appearance caught the attention of the boy on the stepper.

He stared at her openly, and she noticed.

Turning around to look at him, she asked,

“Did... did you see a boy run past just now?!”

“……”

The boy didn’t answer and kept playing on the stepper.

But since she had a younger brother of her own, Zhang Yunjing knew how to deal with kids like him.

After catching her breath, she stood up straight, plastered on what she thought was a gentle smile, and leaned toward him, speaking in a sweet voice:

“Excuse me~ little brother, did you see a boy run by just now?”

“……”

The boy stared at her for a few seconds, clearly unamused. Then, with a helpless sigh, he pointed in the direction where Liu Zhiyue and his sister had run off.

Zhang Yunjing gritted her teeth and muttered under her breath,

“Let’s see how long you can keep running!”

With that, she ran off in the direction the boy had pointed.

As her figure disappeared from view, the boy stood alone with a lollipop in his mouth, still moving steadily on the stepper.

Another weirdo has moved in.