Autumn's chill had returned to Jade Capital.
The school bell had yet to ring, but Flying Cars already crowded the sky above the gate, nearly blotting out the sun. More parents had chosen more convenient transportation and waited in line on the ground, leaving the whole street somewhat congested.
"Ring, ring, ring~~"
Led by their teachers, groups of children filed out through the school gate and headed to the waiting areas for their respective classes.
Among them was a little girl just over a meter tall. She wore gorgeous traditional clothes, her sleeves floating around her like a little fairy's, with a small schoolbag on her back. Her fair, delicate face was utterly adorable.
As soon as she left the gate, the little girl turned right. Rather than wait for a parent, she slipped away from the crowd and set off alone with her schoolbag.
The teacher saw her and paid no attention.
She strolled along the little river.
The dawn redwoods by the bank had turned red. Reflected in the water alongside the dusk sky, they painted half the river in shimmering green and half in crimson.
The little girl wore little expression, but she could not hide her lively nature—
Her steps were light, as though she rose onto her toes with every stride. Whenever she came across a fallen leaf or pebble, she would often kick it without thinking.
Her eyes never watched the path. They darted everywhere else.
At times she gazed at the sunset, as if trying to judge how late it was. At others she stopped to stare at steaming roadside stalls. She never passed up a construction site or the scene of a vehicle scrape, squeezing in for a look even when it was crowded. If a bird flew overhead, she had to