But...
If it weren't for the mark, Ji Meng wouldn't have paid any attention to her, right?
The girl's lips curled upward.
The girl hoped the seal would be broken.
She hoped Ji Meng would gain the freedom he had longed for.
She... didn't regret it.
"Yu Xinxin."
Xiao Xiao called the girl by name with quiet confidence. "You'll make real friends."
"You'll chat with them after class, go to gym class together, eat lunch together in the cafeteria, and leave the classroom together after school."
"You'll even go out and have fun together during the holidays."
The girl slowly lowered the hands covering her face.
"R-really?"
Could she really make friends like that?
"I... will have friends?"
"Of course."
Xiao Xiao smiled. "And it's not just that you'll have friends."
"You'll have lots of friends."
"I'm your friend."
"Right?"
Friends...
Big Brother was her friend...
The girl pressed her lips together.
The straight line gradually curved upward.
The curve grew wider and wider.
Xiao Xiao was slightly taken aback.
Then a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.
So this child had dimples?
This was the first time he'd seen them.
After all...
This was the first time she'd smiled so happily in front of him.
And the first time she'd looked at him so directly.
A shy yet radiant smile appeared on the girl's face.
Big Brother was her friend.
She... was so happy.
"So, if you ever run into any trouble, you can come to me."
Xiao Xiao's lips curled up.
"As your friend, I'll do my best to help."
The girl's eyes widened.
"...Mm!"
"Thank you, Big Brother..."
Big Brother really was such a kind person.
The girl's eyes crinkled with her smile.
Xiao Xiao walked the