Chapter 3: If it doesn't spread its feathers, I'll pluck them and make you a quill pen!

When you have good friends, you should share good things together. Qi Mu pulled Yin Xiuzhu’s hand and said, “Come, I’ll take you to see the peacocks.”

Despite being a premature baby, Qi Mu’s strength couldn’t be estimated. Thanks to his parents’ good care, he grew up strong and sturdy. When he ran, he was undoubtedly outstanding among his peers, which made him the king of the kindergarten.

Yin Xiuzhu had never run like this before, nor had anyone held his hand like this. He was somewhat nervous at first, but after running freely, he felt an indescribable joy, as if even the scent of the air had changed—it was clearly sunset, yet he could smell the morning dew.

The two children soon arrived at the peacock garden. The peacocks were kept in a huge white birdcage, beautifully decorated, and the peacocks inside seemed content and relaxed.

Qi Mu asked Yin Xiuzhu, “Have you ever seen a peacock spread its feathers?”

Yin Xiuzhu was panting heavily from the run, his voice softer as he replied, “No.”

Qi Mu was surprised, “Are you also a transfer student?”

Yin Xiuzhu paused for a moment, struggling to catch up with his thoughts, and said, “I’ve been here all along.”

Qi Mu couldn’t understand, “Then you’ve never seen a peacock spread its feathers all this time?”

Yin Xiuzhu bit his lip and whispered, “They don’t let me see.”

Qi Mu blinked, “Why not?”

Yin Xiuzhu replied softly, “I… I’m not good; I might scare the peacocks.”

Qi Mu understood now, and said indignantly, “Nonsense! You’re so cute, the peacocks will definitely like you!”

It was the first time Yin Xiuzhu had heard such words and felt a bit awkward, unsure of how to respond.

“Come over here,” Qi Mu pulled him over to stand in front of the birdcage.

The cage was large enough to cover a small hill, and conveniently, a white peacock approached. It held its head high, moving gracefully with a natural beauty and pride that was dazzling.

Yin Xiuzhu wanted to step back, but Qi Mu gently held his shoulder and said, “Look at it.”

Yin Xiuzhu hesitated, “I…”
Qi Mu urged, “Just smile. I promise it will spread its feathers!”

“It’s impossible,” Yin Xiuzhu nervously replied, “I might scare it away.”

Qi Mu grinned, “Come on, smile! If it doesn’t spread its feathers, I’ll pluck its feathers and make you a quill!”

Plucking the peacock’s feathers…
Yin Xiuzhu quietly turned his head and saw Qi Mu’s bright eyes, shining like a miniature sun.

He’s truly formidable. So there are people in this world who are both formidable and good.

An indescribable sensation surged in his heart, like cool, sweet spring water seeping into the cracks of dry earth, giving Yin Xiuzhu the initial confidence and courage in his life.

Clumsily, he lifted the corners of his mouth, revealing an uneasy yet heartfelt smile.

Perhaps the white peacock sensed the killing intent emanating from Qi Xiaoba, deep down in fear. It actually trembled its tail feathers and spread them out.

The pure white tail feathers, like enormous snowflakes, blossomed with unparalleled beauty in the summer evening.

Yin Xiuzhu watched in astonishment, almost forgetting to breathe.
This was destined to be a day he would never forget, destined to split open his tightly closed soul.

Qi Mu’s triumphant voice sounded in his ear, “See, it has spread its feathers.”

It took Yin Xiuzhu a while to speak, “Yes, it spread its feathers.”

Qi Mu held his hand, delightedly saying, “See, I told you you’re cute.” Tilting his head, he looked at the other children nearby for a moment before continuing, “You look even cuter when you smile.”

Yin Xiuzhu turned to him and whispered softly, “Thank you.”
Qi Mu asked, “Hmm?”

Yin Xiuzhu spoke louder, “Qi Mu, thank you!”

Qi Mu chuckled, revealing a pair of small tiger teeth, “Of course. You should speak louder.” Then he added, “Thank me for what? I should be thanking you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have seen the peacock spread its feathers.”

Yin Xiuzhu’s eyes curved with gratitude as he gathered the courage to ask, “Can I see you again?”

Qi Mu replied, “Of course! From now on, we’re good friends… Although we’re not in the same class. By the way, which class are you in?”

Yin Xiuzhu felt a bit disappointed and answered, “Class 2.”

“Well, that’s okay!” Qi Mu said cheerfully, “I’m in Class 3, very close. I’ve got you covered.”

Yin Xiuzhu didn’t quite understand what “covering” meant, but he felt that everything Qi Mu said was right, and his voice sounded nicer than any he had ever heard.

Thinking about the cage that covered the peacocks, he replied seriously, “I never run around. You can definitely cover me.”

Qi Mu was amused by this pretty and obedient little sister. Taking a cue from TV dramas, he said, “I’m very capable. I can cover you for a lifetime.”

Yin Xiuzhu enthusiastically chimed in, “You’re very capable. I’m sure you can.”

Qi Mu grinned mischievously, “Then let’s pinky swear.”

Yin Xiuzhu solemnly extended his pinky, “Okay, let’s pinky swear!”

“Pinky promise, no changes for a hundred years…” Two little toddlers, barely over a meter tall, under the gentle twilight of the setting sun, made a lifelong promise.

At half past six, Qi Dashan finally arrived, and when Qi Mu left, Yin Xiuzhu still had no one to pick him up. He wasn’t worried though; it seemed like something he was used to.

Qi Mu waved to him, “See you tomorrow.”
Yin Xiuzhu smiled brightly, “See you tomorrow.”

Qi Dashan held his son’s hand and asked, “Made a new friend again?”

It seems like a playful and innocent interaction between the children:
Qi Mu said, “Yeah, she and I pinky swore to be best friends for a hundred years.”

“Pinky swear?” Qi Dashan chuckled. “You’re so small, already learning how to charm girls?”

Qi Mu asked innocently, “Charm? What?”

Qi Dashan, straightforward as ever, said, “Pinky swears aren’t reliable. If you really want it to last a lifetime, you should seal it with a kiss.”

Qi Mu, always one to act decisively, took him seriously, “Really?”

Qi Dashan was teasing him, but he kept a straight face and said, “Of course.”

“Wait for me, Dad,” Qi Mu dashed off and quickly returned.

Qi Dashan, worried he might upset the little girl, shouted, “Only if she agrees!”

Qi Mu ran back to Yin Xiuzhu. Seeing his unexpected return, Yin Xiuzhu smiled again.

Qi Mu asked him, “Can I kiss you?”

Yin Xiuzhu widened his eyes, not quite understanding.

Qi Mu explained, “If I kiss you, we’ll be best friends forever.”

The closest… the closest…

Yin Xiuzhu had never heard such pleasant words before. He nodded vigorously. “Okay!”

Qi Mu leaned over and pecked him on the left cheek.

Yin Xiuzhu felt his cheek stung a bit, not at all repelled but rather warmed inside. He asked, “Is this enough?”

Qi Mu grinned and said, “It’s enough!”

Yin Xiuzhu asked back, “Do I need to kiss you back?”

Qi Mu hesitated, “Um… are you thinking about it?”

Yin Xiuzhu nodded earnestly, “I am.”

Qi Mu leaned his face closer, generously saying, “Sure, kiss me. Besides my mom, you’re the first person to kiss me.” Qi Dashan’s mouth was full of beard stubble. He just didn’t want his child to be poked by them.

Yin Xiuzhu suddenly felt a bit nervous, “Can I really do this?”

“Hurry up,” Qi Mu urged him, “Don’t you want to be good with me for a hundred years?”

“I do!” Yin Xiuzhu answered too quickly, like the girl holding matches, afraid they might go out.

He carefully, very lightly, as if afraid Qi Mu would dislike it, quickly kissed him on the cheek.

Qi Mu said, “Done!”

Yin Xiuzhu’s happy face blushed beautifully. “Hmm.”

“Then I’ll go.”
“Okay!”

Qi Mu really left this time. Qi Dashan in the distance tapped him on the back of his head. “You kid, not bad, you’ve earned your old man’s true teachings.”

Qi Mu was used to his dad’s strength. He grinned and said, “Dad, you don’t know, that little girl is so pretty, even the peacock would spread its feathers when it sees her.”

“Is she that pretty?”

“Extremely beautiful.”

“As beautiful as your mom?”

“Well…”

Father and son walked further and further away. Standing in front of the enormous birdcage, Yin Xiuzhu appeared so thin and small, yet no longer seemed so helpless.

His home was dark and cold. He had grown up amidst cruel emotional abuse, too humble to face the world.

But today, he saw a ray of light, grasped onto a lifeline, filling him with the courage to continue despite the mud around him.

Qi Mu had always loved kindergarten, and after meeting the pretty little girl, he woke up even earlier than usual.

Qiao Jin called back and asked about his situation.

Qi Dashan handed the phone to Qi Mu, who immediately reported his own achievements to his mother.

Qiao Jin was at a loss for words, “What’s her name?”

Qi Mu: “Yin Xiuzhu!”

Qiao Jin was taken aback, “That sounds like a boy’s name.”

Qi Mu said, “How could a boy be so pretty?” The boys he knew were like Xu Xiaoming and Fang Junqi, who were always itching for a fight.

Qiao Jin smiled and said, “Alright, don’t scare her.”

“No, she likes me a lot,” Qi Mu said confidently.

A few days later, Qi Mu was already scared by his little sister.

They weren’t in the same class, but Qi Mu perfectly fulfilled his promise. He took some time to visit the neighboring class and declared his “dominance.”

Forget about the kids in Class 3, even the teachers were stunned by him.

They had heard of class bullies before, but this was the first time they had seen a kindergarten bully…

Are all the kids nowadays this arrogant? Only four years old and already so impressive?

Qi Mu did everything so naturally that he didn’t even treat Class 3 as a different class. The teachers didn’t catch on, let alone the kids, who all stared in disbelief, looking like they had seen a fairy.

By the time the teachers recovered their senses, Qi Mu had already left, leaving Class 3 bewildered.

Yin Xiuzhu smiled, watching him come and go, feeling warm in his heart, not even feeling hungry despite missing breakfast.

Qi Mu was scared in the boys’ restroom.

Both of their classes were close and shared the same restroom. In kindergarten, the teacher would lead them to the restroom together. After moving up to the preschool class, most could manage on their own, just raising their hand to go to the restroom.

Qi Mu hadn’t started elementary school yet but already understood the art of “urine evasion.” He slipped into the restroom to play with water, thoroughly enjoying himself, when he suddenly saw his beautiful little sister coming in.

Qi Mu exclaimed in surprise, “How did you get in here?”

Yin Xiuzhu nervously replied, “Can’t I come in?”

Qi Mu explained, “Didn’t the teacher teach you? Boys go to the boys’ restroom, girls go to the girls’ restroom.”

He took Yin Xiuzhu’s hand and pointed out the blue for boys and red for girls signs.

Yin Xiuzhu said, “That’s right, I’m a boy.”

Qi Mu was stunned for a moment.

Yin Xiuzhu felt a bit embarrassed and asked, “I really can’t hold it anymore. Can I go to the restroom first?”

Qi Mu quickly let go of his hand. After a dumbfounded moment, he dashed inside, refusing to believe, and saw the little brother of his beautiful sister, who he thought was as good-looking as his mom.