Is the Best Childhood Friend in the World Serious

During lunch break, the playground fell quiet.

Shen Nian and Xia Yanchun decided to eat off-campus. Since Xia Yanchun needed to change her sanitary pad, she grabbed a shared e-bike to ride home and ended up napping there at noon.

Shen Nian wasn’t sleepy. While Xia Yanchun dozed, he took the e-bike to a nearby vehicle shop to browse options. In a few days, he’d own his first-ever car.

Taking it step by step wasn’t bad—starting with an e-bike meant he could chauffeur Chunbao to and from school every day in the future.

Xia Yanchun hadn’t fully fallen asleep yet. She lay sideways on the bed, face buried in her pillow, her teddy bear clamped between her legs. Since she was home alone, her little skirt had already been tossed onto the desk.

A rare, private moment where no one could see her, comfortably napping in her room.

The curtains were open. Through the window, the sunlight made her squint. Hmm…

What kind of eyeshadow is "sun-colored"? Wouldn’t that just blind you?

Wait—no!

Xia Yanchun tightened her grip on the teddy bear, which now seemed a little lifeless. Should’ve just let it rot in the factory.

When did Shen Nian become so smooth?

It wasn’t until her phone alarm buzzed that she realized she hadn’t slept much after lying down.

Her mind was full of thoughts about Shen Nian. All his fault, suddenly bringing up that nonsense about "sunlight eyeshadow."

Her heartbeat quickened. Xia Yanchun grumbled as she struggled to get up.

Later, she’d use her period mood swings as an excuse to pinch him—fair and square.

In the afternoon, Xia Yanchun tied her usual little ponytail, only for Shen Nian to play with it the entire way, until her irritation melted away.

"Stop it, I’ll go bald…"

"How bold! If I can’t play with your hair, should I play with you instead?"

"…" Xia Yanchun huffed, "I’ll pluck your hair out and use it for a voodoo doll."

"What a vicious woman."

Xia Yanchun stayed silent. She was used to it.

Just as she pulled a parasol from her bag, Shen Nian shamelessly squeezed under it, one hand resting on her shoulder—borderline inappropriate.

"What, Mr. Tough Guy needs to hide from the sun like some delicate flower?"

Xia Yanchun pursed her lips. If her shoulder strap started slipping, she’d pinch his waist hard.

Shen Nian glanced at her. "What’s with the stereotypes? Since when can’t guys use parasols?"

"You’re the one who said it," Xia Yanchun shot back. "Somebody loved showing off as a kid, claiming only ‘sissies’ used parasols, then deliberately walked in the sun instead of the shade."

"Whoever said that must’ve been a total hunk."

"A total dumbass, you mean."

"Chunbao, let’s get along. No need for such aggressive gender attacks."

"Then can you stop kneading my shoulder?"

"This isn’t an attack."

"……?"

You’ve got an answer for everything, huh? What’s left for me to say?

Annoyed, Xia Yanchun swatted his hand away, scowling. "You’re giving me period cramps."

Shen Nian grinned. Mission accomplished—warmed her right up.

"Here, just bought this." He pulled a plain white mini fan from his backpack, pressed the button, and warm air blew through Xia Yanchun’s hair.

"For you," he said.

"Did you break Shi Yan’s?"

"Nope, it’s in my bag. I’ll return it later. Bought one for myself too—can’t have you borrowing the loli girl’s all the time."

"…At least you’ve got some conscience."

Little flowers bloomed in her heart. Xia Yanchun felt the cramps ease, her lips curling slightly. A small cloud drifted over the sun, as if the sky itself was looking out for her.

They walked mostly in silence. At some point, Shen Nian’s hand was back on her shoulder, occasionally twirling her hair. His other hand held the parasol steady—maybe out of consideration for her period. For once, the shade didn’t tilt; she stayed perfectly centered under it.

Dummy Shen Nian, it’s just my period, not cancer. I’m not that fragile!

This time, she noticed: his arm around her shoulder really did make her strap slip. Even without him moving, she could feel it sliding toward her arm.

My bad, Shen Nian. Misjudged you.

A rare, conflict-free moment. If there really was such a thing as the world’s best childhood friends, this might be it.

At school, they arrived early. The playground was nearly empty; only the two of them were at their class’s spot.

Xia Yanchun stretched her legs out on her chair, drowsy. All Shen Nian’s fault, bouncing around in my head at noon.

Bored, Shen Nian kept himself busy—comparing skin tones with her, then finger lengths, then who could last longer without blinking. Every contest was wordless. Between rivals, a single glance was enough to spark competition, as if not settling the score would be fatal.

Shen Nian propped his chin up, shamelessly eyeing Chunbao’s calves. Slurp slurp. Then he stretched his own leg beside hers and smirked. "Mine’s longer."

"Wow, what an achievement, Shen Nian."

She yawned, eyelids drooping. "Sleepy."

"Sleepy? More like a sneaky ‘Kun’ fan, huh?"

"?"

Found the glitch in Shen Nian’s programming.

Life was hard. Chunbao sighed.

After a pause, Xia Yanchun spoke again, feigning nonchalance.

"That thing you texted—about us being the best childhood friends ever—was that real? Or just an excuse to mooch off my AC?"

Shen Nian froze, then bared his teeth. "You worried about it?"

"Not really. Just occurred to me. You’ve been acting weird lately."

"Weird how?"

She thought. "Dunno."

"Then why bring it up?"

"It’s just… weird."

They used to be real rivals, always at each other’s throats. Even now, things weren’t much different, but the edge was gone.

At the very least, they weren’t true enemies anymore.

And he’d started calling her "Chunbao." Unthinkable before. Who’s your ‘baby’? I’m your elder sister!

Plus, Shen Nian had been weirdly diligent lately—studying, working out, even taking her hair tie for some mysterious reason. Hard not to find it suspicious.

"You’ve been trying so hard lately. Doesn’t feel like you."

"Maybe my second personality woke up. Let me see those legs."

"Ah, there’s the real you."

Shen Nian: "…"

So I’ve gotta be a creep or it’s not me? Can’t win. Effort’s a crime now? Gonna develop a corn allergy at this rate.

Xia Yanchun pulled her legs back, leaning forward to pluck at the grass like a delicate cat.

"You do care. I see right through you," Shen Nian teased, scooting closer from whoever’s chair he’d stolen. "Tsundere, huh? Heh."

"You belong on The Rap of China, not in school. Wasting your talent."

A group of chatting girls arrived at the class spot, cutting the conversation short.

The mini fan whirred softly. An autumn breeze scattered leaves, tangling them into messy clumps.

Yan Xi reminds you: Due to Tomato Novel’s request for 3M+ daily updates straining servers, we now recommend switching to other sources.