The sound of cardboard boxes scraping against the floor filled the quiet street, as movers helped carry things into the house.
A six-year-old girl held her mother's hand tightly as they walked along the path toward the door of their new home. Her twin pigtails bounced with every step, her eyes filled with curiosity and bright light.
Mother: "Ruyuan, stay close to Mama, okay? Don't run too far."
Ruyuan: "Mm! Mama, this place smells like rain."
Not far away, a boy stood at the gate holding a basketball. His clothes were still slightly damp from the drizzle that had just stopped.
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, reflecting off the wet pavement like scattered grains of gold.
The little girl turned and caught his gaze.
For a moment, time seemed to slow down.
She smiled — small, innocent, full of warmth — then waved her hand.
Ruyuan: "Hi!"
The boy blinked, startled. He hesitated for a moment before awkwardly lifting his hand to wave back.
Mother: "Come on, Ruyuan."
Ruyuan: "Okay! Bye!"
As she walked away, the boy couldn't help but keep watching until the small figure disappeared beyond the doorway of the house next door.
That afternoon, he sat by the window, holding his basketball, staring at the soft glow from the neighboring house.
The sound of the girl's laughter drifted faintly through the open air — bright, gentle, and somehow comforting.
He didn't yet know her name.
But somehow, that smile had already quietly settled in his heart without him realizing it.
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At Ruyuan's House
Ruyuan: "Mama, I met a boy earlier!"
Their family was preparing for dinner.
Haoxuan: "What? You found a boyfriend already, and it hasn't even been a day?" he teased his little sister.
Mother: "Yes, I saw him too. Didn't that boy wave at you earlier?" she said with a smile.
Father: "Isn't that a good thing? At least our Ruyuan can socialize quickly in a new neighborhood, right, Haoxuan?"
Haoxuan: "What's that supposed to mean? Are you all picking on me? I can socialize too!"
Mother: "Alright, alright, it's time for dinner. A-Yuan, maybe that boy who waved at you earlier is our neighbor — his house isn't far."
Father: "A-Yuan, there's a playground nearby. Go there tomorrow… and take your brother with you. Maybe he'll finally find a friend who actually wants to play with him."
Haoxuan: "Wait a second—"
Ruyuan squinted her eyes and smiled.
Ruyuan: "Alright, Daddy! Don't be naughty tomorrow, okay? Be humble."
Haoxuan: "Aren't I supposed to be the one saying that to you?"
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The Next Morning at the Park
The park was lively that morning, filled with children running and laughing.
Ruyuan noticed an empty swing and chose to sit there, watching the others play.
A boy saw her and decided to walk over, taking a seat beside her.
Mysterious Boy: "Why are you sitting alone?"
Ruyuan: "Because I want to. And why did you decide to sit here?"
Mysterious Boy: "You looked kind of pitiful, so I came over out of kindness."
Ruyuan: "That's unnecessary... You're the one from yesterday, right? I'm Ruyuan."
She reached out her hand for a handshake.
The boy looked at her hand for a moment, then finally shook it.
Ruyuan: "What's your name?"
Mysterious Boy: "Yichen."
Ruyuan: "Alright then! Yichen, let's be good friends from now on."
She released his hand.
Yichen: "I don't want to."
Ruyuan: "Hmm... oh right, my mom said you're our neighbor. You have no other choice, Yichen."
At that moment, the sunlight grew warmer—like the warmth of their very first meeting.
Ruyuan: "How old are you?"
Yichen: "nine. And you?"
Ruyuan: "Wow, you're old! I'm eight."
Yichen frowned slightly.
Yichen: "It's only one year difference! I'm your gege (older brother)!"
They both laughed together.
Not long after, Haoxuan arrived.
Haoxuan: "Hello, are you the boy from yesterday?"
Yichen looked at Ruyuan in confusion, then back at Haoxuan.
Yichen: "Who...?"
Ruyuan: "My older brother."
Haoxuan: "Haoxuan- or you can call me Haoshuai."
Yichen: "Huh?... okay. I'm Yichen."
Ruyuan: "Ge, didn't Mom and Dad tell you to socialize? Why are you coming to me instead?"
Haoxuan: "I've already socialized. Besides, I came here to look after my little sister."
Ruyuan: "Just admit it—no one wanted to hang out with you."
Haoxuan: "What's that supposed to mean? How rude, saying that to your older brother. For your information, I've already made friends. If I hadn't, don't you think I would've come to you much earlier?"
Ruyuan: "You have a point. Hmm... at least you're really trying to make friends."
Haoxuan: "What do you mean by that?"
Ruyuan: "Nothing. It's getting late, let's go home, brother! Yichen, see you again! Let's play again tomorrow!"
Ruyuan walked ahead, followed by Haoxuan. As she waved her hand, she turned to glance back at Yichen.
Haoxuan: "What did you just say? Repeat it so I can hear clearly."
Ruyuan: "What? I didn't say anything."
Yichen watched the two of them walk away until they were out of sight. Not long after, his parents came over.
Mother: "Yichen, let's go home. It's getting late." She took his hand gently.
Mother: "Were those the kids who just moved in next door yesterday?"
Yichen: "Yeah."
Mother: "Be good friends with them, alright?"
Yichen nodded.
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The Next Morning — At the Xu Family's New Home
The moving day atmosphere still lingered. People bustled about, carrying boxes filled with belongings into the house.
Ruyuan and Haoxuan were also helping to move the boxes into their new home.
Ruyuan: "Xuan ge, can you help me carry this box?" she asked her brother, struggling with one that was a bit too big for her.
Haoxuan grinned, teasing his little sister: "Call me Hao Shuai gege (it means 'handsome big brother) Sounds fitting, doesn't it? Then I'll help you."
Ruyuan rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed, giving him that seriously? kind of look.
Ruyuan: "Forget it, ge. What does Hao Shuai even mean? Handsome in the lazy way?"
She lifted the box herself and headed upstairs, leaving her brother still grumbling behind her.
Haoxuan: "Hey! That's Hao Shuai the Great to you!"
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Around noon, in the living room, Ruyuan and her mother were watching TV together while enjoying some snacks. Haoxuan had gone out with their father to explore the new neighborhood.
Mother: "A-Yuan, are you going to the park again later to play?"
Ruyuan: "Yes, why?"
Mother: "Nothing, it's just that everything's been moved already — we only need to arrange the furniture now. Oh, by the way, your father and I have already enrolled you in school."
Ruyuan: "Really? Am I in the same school as Xuan ge?"
Mother: "Of course, sweetheart."
Ruyuan, slightly annoyed: "I was hoping I wouldn't be in the same school as him."
Mother: "Why? Wouldn't it be more fun to have your brother around?"
Ruyuan: "Hm! As if."
Her mother chuckled softly at her daughter's response.
Mother: "But that boy from yesterday also goes to the same school. It's the closest one around here."
Ruyuan: "Huh?! Yichen too?"
Mother: "Yichen? Oh, so that's his name. Yes, you can go to school together with your brother tomorrow."
Ruyuan: "Alright, Ma! I'm going to the park now, okay? Bye-bye, Mom!"
Mother: "Have fun, dear." She waved her hand with a smile.
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At the Playground
Ruyuan arrived and looked around, as if searching for someone. Indeed, the person she was looking for was there, and that alone made her happy. She walked over but chose to play in the sand area with the other children.
Other kid: "I've never seen you around here before. Who are you?"
Ruyuan: "I'm Ruyuan, I just moved here… want to be friends?"
"Sure!"
Not long after, Yichen came over to join them.
Ruyuan smiled: "Wow! Good afternoon, Yichen!"
Yichen: "Afternoon."
Ruyuan: "Hmm… I thought you'd be taking a nap, but it turns out you still wanted to play."
Yichen: "Doesn't your mom ever tell you to take a nap?"
Ruyuan: "Of course she does."
Another kid: "Oh yeah, Ruyuan school starts again tomorrow. Will you be going to the same school as us?"
Ruyuan nodded: "Yes! …Yichen, my mom said we'll be going to the same school, so that's nice, isn't it?"
Yichen: "Mm."
Yichen doesn't really know what to answer her well, as long as he can play.
Ruyuan beamed brightly at his answer.
Not long after, Her dad and his brother arrive approaching Ruyuan and others
"A-Yuan"
Ruyuan feels like someone calling her name, she looked up and see her dad and her brother.
"Dad! i thought you will be going straight home"
Haoxuan:" we just take some walk and see you here, whats my little sister doing here alone?"
Ruyuan:"I'm not alone. i'm with Yichen and Others"
Yichen and the other kid decided to greet them "hello"
and continue to play, Ruyuan dad smiling warmly at them as an answer.
"So A-Yuan, are you gonna continue playing? or come back to home with us?"
Ruyuan think for a moment:"I think i will go home now, bye bye guys see you later!"She waving her hand and the others kid waved back.
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That Night in Ruyuan's Room
The room carried a faint scent of fresh paint mixed with lavender from the unpacked boxes still scattered around.
Ruyuan sat on her bed, swinging her badminton racket back and forth, while her mother hummed softly in the next room.
Her brother's teasing still echoed in her head, but what lingered even more was the face of a certain boy.
the way he frowned when she called him old,
and the way he tried to hide his smile.
Ruyuan: "Yichen…"
She whispered softly, as if the name were a secret she wasn't supposed to keep.
Suddenly, her brother burst into the room, opening the door without knocking.
Haoxuan: "Come downstairs, dinner's ready. Mom made your favorite."
Before she could even reply, he continued,
Haoxuan: "If you don't come down soon, I'll eat it all myself!" he teased, already heading down the stairs.
Ruyuan: "Wait for meee!" she called, quickly chasing after him.
The night wind slipped through the half-open window, carrying the scent of rain and grass.
Outside, stars began to appear one by one,
and somewhere beyond the window, the faint, steady sound of a bouncing basketball echoed.