----
"It's alright now" Han Yan said, his voice firm yet calm.
The moment his words fell, the noisy chaos faltered. The children froze as if a switch had been flipped. One boy who had been mid-shove stopped with his arm still raised, eyes widening before he awkwardly pulled his hand back.
Another scuffed the dirt with his foot, lowering his head while stealing nervous glances at Han Yan's broad shoulders and the heavy basket resting there. A few of the braver ones tried to glare back, but their bravado wavered under his steady gaze, their expressions stiff and uncertain.
Han Yan stepped forward, placing himself squarely between them and Dong Hai. The shift was subtle but unmistakable a silent line drawn that none of the children dared cross. Murmurs rippled through the group, whispers of hesitation and unease replacing the earlier shouting.
