Chen Wei’s eyes widened: “You’re really Little Pitiful!”

Chen Wei was the daughter of a barbershop owner and a senior at North High.
She was a refined, generous girl, maybe a seven out of ten.
I’d sold my hair to her family’s shop before and shamelessly begged for water there for a while.
She remembered me, giving me the nickname “Little Pitiful.”

Truth be told, I’d had a crush on her for a bit.
I wanted to talk to her, but my inferiority complex kept me from going back for water.

“Come on, let’s go.”
Chen Wei ditched her meal, pulling me along with Zeng Xin.

At the flowerbed outside, Chen Wei sat me down: “Where’ve you been? You haven’t shown up at my doorstep in ages.”

Her slender fingers held my hand, making my face flush.
I took a deep breath, exhaling heavily: “I was adopted.”

She smiled: “That’s great! No more wandering.”

Zeng Xin showed no surprise.
The class group chat had been buzzing all morning—everyone knew I used to be a scavenger.

Zeng Xin grinned: “Senior, you don’t know—Zhixia’s real parents are loaded. They put 100,000 yuan on her meal card, enough to last past graduation, and got her a maid to handle her daily needs.”

Chen Wei’s eyelashes fluttered: “No way! Your parents had a change of heart and came back for you?”

My heart ached.
They knew nothing about me, and I didn’t want to admit I was forcibly taken.
I just went along with their assumptions.

Both were happy for me, but Chen Wei was still puzzled: “You told me yourself you were a boy. I actually believed you.”

Zeng Xin smirked: “Gotta pretend to be a guy to stay safe.”
She reached out, touching my chest: “Pretty wasteful on the fabric, huh?”

By the time I reacted, she’d pulled her hand back.
Chen Wei, curious, reached out: “Let me feel too.”

I grabbed her hand, flustered: “Stop messing around!”

Chen Wei puffed out her chest: “Wanna feel mine?”

I choked, tempted but knowing I couldn’t.

She teased: “Your face is so red—are you shy around me?”

I didn’t know how to deflect, and my silence made them think I’d admitted it.

Chen Wei gently pinched my cheeks: “You’re so adorable, makes people want to protect you. I wanna take you home.”

My face burned to my ears, then my stomach growled—I wasn’t full.

I stood: “Let’s hit the school store.”

They agreed.
I grabbed snacks I’d once only dreamed of.
The cashier, as expected, was shocked by my card’s balance.
Chen Wei’s jaw dropped: “Your parents are unreal.”

We sat under a tree’s shade, sharing favorite foods.
Sipping soda, I looked up, searching for the chirping sparrows I couldn’t see.

As we sat, two groups approached: my classmates and Gao Yang’s crew.

Chen Wei’s eyes sparkled with envy: “Impressive. First day and you’ve got a whole squad of protectors.”

Zeng Xin munched on chips: “Like a heroine straight out of a manga.”

I blushed, bowing slightly toward them.

Gao Yang jogged over: “Little fairy, you okay now?”

I looked up: “I’m fine. Thanks, Gao Yang.”

He scratched his head, sheepish: “Haha, no problem.”

I pulled out my meal card, grabbing his hand and pressing it into his palm: “Take your friends to get some food. Use this.”

He Zhi stepped forward: “We did it to ease our guilt. We don’t want to feel that helplessness again, watching you get taken.”

Yu Hao pointed at them: “Class 2’s got our back. Class 5 alone can’t handle that guy.”

Gao Yang raised the card: “Little fairy says we can grab some food.”

He seemed to check with the others.
I pushed him: “Go buy.”

Liu Yu took the card from Gao Yang: “It’s hot. Let’s get ice pops.”

They went to buy them, returning with weird looks.
Liu Yu, empty-handed, couldn’t hold it in: “Zhixia, what kind of nouveau riche is your family? A meal card with over 99,900 yuan? Who spends money like that?”

Zeng Xin burst out laughing: “Another crowd gone wild.”

Chen Wei nodded: “Yup.”

I took the card back, expressionless.
He Zhi and the others knew it wasn’t simple—the wolf had nearly killed them, then took me without explanation.

Gao Yang had warned them not to pry.
Class 2’s students were brimming with curiosity, guessing at the situation.

As they finished their ice pops, Yu Hao looked worried: “Chen Ming’s with the Greedy Wolf Gang. Our days might get rough.”

I blinked: “What’s the Greedy Wolf Gang?”