Secret Chocolate

Jiang Nan's introduction was so novel that Shen Xinde found it very amusing and glanced at him several times during class.

Once everyone had introduced themselves, the teacher told the children to get to know one another and play with toys for a while.

Perhaps because Jiang Nan's introduction had been so unusual, several children who had already settled in immediately went over to ask him to play.

Of course, because of Shen Xinde's delicate little face, two little girls gathered around his desk as well.

"You're so pretty! Can I be your friend?" A little girl in a pink princess dress leaned over Shen Xinde's desk and watched him cautiously.

"Sure! My name is Shen Xinde." Shen Xinde gave her a friendly smile.

"I'm Jiaojiao."

Dazzled by his smile, Jiaojiao felt a blush rise to her cheeks.

Shen Xinde nodded to show he understood, then took out the chocolate Xia Wanqing had prepared for him that morning and gave Jiaojiao a piece. Another little girl called Jiaojiao away, and she left with the chocolate.

"Can I have one too?"

A voice came from beside him. Shen Xinde turned to find Jiang Nan, who had just said he liked pretty people. He had finished dealing with the other children and was staring longingly at the chocolate in Shen Xinde's hand.

Shen Xinde agreed, reached into his little backpack, and handed Jiang Nan a piece of chocolate.

"Thank you." Jiang Nan accepted it without ceremony and sat down beside Shen Xinde.

Shen Xinde didn't pay it much mind. He unwrapped a piece for himself, popped it into his mouth, and began eating.

There was one piece of chocolate left. He would give it to Dolly at noon.

With that thought, Shen Xinde tucked the chocolate safely into his little backpack.

Jiang Nan quickly finished his chocolate and turned to Shen Xinde. "Your name is Shen Xinde, right?"

Shen Xinde nodded.

"Can I call you Xinde?"

"Sure."

"You're so pretty. Can I be your friend?"

"Sure."

Jiang Nan paused and pursed his lips. "Why do you keep saying 'sure'?"

Shen Xinde blinked innocently. "Because the chocolate is sticking to my teeth."

As he spoke, he bared his teeth to show Jiang Nan.

"Oh, right." Understanding dawned on Jiang Nan, and he immediately perked up. He wrapped his arms around Shen Xinde's arm and shook it. "Xinde, let's play with blocks!"

Shen Xinde wasn't particularly opposed to making friends with Jiang Nan. Jiang Nan had an interesting personality and was the sort to express himself openly, too.

After spending the morning playing with toys with Jiang Nan, the two of them had grown a little closer.

Before long, Moon Teacher came in and clapped her hands, announcing that it was time for lunch and telling everyone to go to the washroom and wash their hands.

Lunch was quite lavish and nutritionally balanced.

Shen Xinde wasn't picky and ate with relish.

After lunch, it was free time. Everyone could choose to play in the classroom or at the indoor playground outside.

Shen Xinde knew Gu Zhuoling would probably come downstairs to find him, so he stood up and prepared to leave.

"Xinde! Where are you going? I want to go too." Jiang Nan really liked Shen Xinde.

It was because Shen Xinde was good-looking and had a sweet, adorable personality.

"I'm going outside to find my big brother," Shen Xinde answered honestly.

"Is your big brother at this kindergarten too?" Jiang Nan asked, holding on to Shen Xinde's arm.

"Yep." Shen Xinde thought about it. If Gu Zhuoling came down, Zhuang Xingye might come with him. Then he could introduce Jiang Nan to Zhuang Xingye and let them play together for a while, so the two of them wouldn't be bored while he talked to Dolly.

The two slowly stepped out of the classroom. Gu Zhuoling was already waiting at the door, and sure enough, little fatty Zhuang Xingye was with him.

As soon as Gu Zhuoling saw Shen Xinde come out, he walked over, only to notice someone beside Shen Xinde holding tightly onto his arm. They seemed very close, and Gu Zhuoling's heart skipped a beat.

Shen Xinde didn't notice the searching look on Gu Zhuoling's face. Just then, Zhuang Xingye spoke up. "Xinde, did you have fun today? Did you cry?"

"I had lots of fun. I didn't cry." Shen Xinde shook his head, tugged Jiang Nan over, and smiled. "Brother, Brother Xingye, this is Jiang Nan. Jiang Nan, this is my brother, Gu Zhuoling, and this is Zhuang Xingye."

Gu Zhuoling listened to Shen Xinde's introduction without speaking or saying hello. He merely cast a fleeting glance at their linked arms.

Zhuang Xingye, on the other hand, greeted Jiang Nan happily.

"Xinde, you made a good friend already!" Zhuang Xingye scratched his head with a goofy grin, completely oblivious to how Gu Zhuoling's face fell a little further at the words "good friend."

"Xinde gave me some delicious chocolate today. I thought he was really nice, so I asked to be his friend," Jiang Nan volunteered.

Chocolate?

Gu Zhuoling glanced at Shen Xinde.

Why hadn't he known that Shen Xinde had brought chocolate today? Whenever Shen Xinde had something tasty, he usually gave some to Gu Zhuoling first, but he hadn't said anything on their way into kindergarten that morning.

At the thought, Gu Zhuoling felt a little upset. He pressed his lips together and stood silently to the side.

"Jiang Nan, could you go play with Brother Xingye for a while? I want to say a couple of things to my brother." Shen Xinde leaned close to Jiang Nan's ear and whispered the question.

Jiang Nan looked at Zhuang Xingye, then at the handsome Gu Zhuoling beside him, and finally turned to look at the adorable Shen Xinde. After hesitating for two seconds, he nodded and agreed.

Although Zhuang Xingye wasn't as cute as Xinde or as handsome as Xinde's brother, he had a very blessed look.

Zhuang Xingye didn't think much of it either. He accepted Jiang Nan's invitation, and the two of them went off to play in the ball pit.

"Brother."

Shen Xinde grinned and hopped a step closer, bringing his face up to Gu Zhuoling's. "Did you get enough to eat at lunch?"

"Mm. Did you eat properly?" Seeing the beaming smile on the face in front of him, Gu Zhuoling hid his gloomy mood and reached out to pat Shen Xinde's head.

"Yep! Haohao finished all his food today, and Moon Teacher even praised Haohao for being good." Shen Xinde nodded obediently and took a piece of chocolate out of his pocket.

"Did you really get enough to eat? Haohao saved a piece of chocolate especially for you. Are you too full to eat it?" Shen Xinde looked a little regretfully at the chocolate in his hand, then glanced at Gu Zhuoling's little belly.

Chocolate he had saved especially for him?

Gu Zhuoling's eyes shifted, and he held out his hand. "Give it to me. I'll eat it this afternoon."

"Okay!" Shen Xinde had planned to give it to Gu Zhuoling first anyway, so eating it in the afternoon was fine too.

Gu Zhuoling fiddled with the chocolate wrapper and asked, pretending not to care, "Did Auntie Xia give you this morning?"

Shen Xinde didn't catch the meaning behind Gu Zhuoling's question and answered without hesitation, "Yep. Mommy gave it to me to help me make friends. It was at the very bottom of my backpack, and Haohao spent ages looking for it while sitting over there today."

As he spoke, Shen Xinde leaned a little closer. "Don't tell Brother Xingye. Haohao only saved one piece, so there isn't one for Brother Xingye."

Sorry, Zhuang Xingye.

Gu Zhuoling didn't answer Shen Xinde.

So it had been inconvenient to take out, and Shen Xinde had waited until he had time to find it. He had even saved a piece especially for him.

Gu Zhuoling played along. "Then I'll eat it in secret this afternoon."

"Mm-hmm!"