Chapter 1: Trouble in the Yu Family Garden

"Xin Xin! Go pick the apples from the Yu family—we need them for the pie!” Grandma Xin shouted.

Still half-asleep from her afternoon nap, Xin Yue dragged her tiny body toward the Yu family’s backyard. Her stomach growled. She whispered to herself, “Maybe Mister Yu will give me snacks… Grandma only lets me eat two buns.”

“Mister Yu, I’m here to pick the apples,” she said with her sweetest smile.

“Come here, Xin Xin. Eat something first before you leave. My son brought meat buns.”

Xin Xin’s eyes sparkled. “Can I really eat all of these?”

Mister Yu chuckled softly, wiping a crumb off her cheek like she was his own grandchild. “Eat as much as you want.”

Xin Xin happily stuffed her cheeks like a tiny squirrel. Mid-bite, she felt someone watching her. She turned and saw a small boy peeking from behind the door frame, holding a wooden toy dragon.

Startled, she choked on her bun. The boy panicked, grabbed a cup of water, and rushed over with wide, frantic eyes.

“T-thank you…” Xin Xin croaked, tears forming.

“Why are you in Mister Yu’s kitchen?” she whispered quickly. “He’ll be angry! He hates it when people enter without permission. Go now! If you're hungry, I’ll give you buns—just run for your life!”

The boy stared at her, confused but amused. He smiled.

“Don’t smile! Come, come! Before the kitchen ghosts see us!” Xin Xin grabbed his arm dramatically and pulled him outside. He didn’t resist at all, still holding his wooden dragon.

They hid behind the bushes in the backyard. The boy blinked slowly, unsure why he was crouching there.

“Hey! What are you two doing—wait… Yu Han???”

A girl on the balcony screamed. Yu Mei’s eyes went wide. Seeing her younger brother with a stranger, she bolted down the stairs.

“Mom! Dad! Yu Han is being dragged away by strangers!!”

The entire household panicked. Even Mister Yu hurried outside. They found Xin Xin pushing Yu Han into an empty apple crate, desperately whispering, “Hide before Mister Yu sees you!”

“Yu Han!” his mother cried.

“What are you doing to our son?!” Father Yu shouted.

It was the first time anyone had ever yelled at Xin Xin. She froze, trembling. Tears poured down her little face.

Yu Han panicked and rushed to her side. Mister Yu stepped forward immediately. “Stop shouting at her! Can’t you see she’s terrified?”

Yu Han gently placed his wooden dragon in Xin Xin’s hands. “It’s okay… I wasn’t kidnapped.”

Mother and Father Yu exchanged guilty looks. Yu Mei quietly tiptoed away, pretending she had nothing to do with the chaos.

The Yu family helped carry the apples and walked Xin Xin home. Grandma Xin scolded Mister Yu the moment she saw Xin Xin’s red eyes, but softened when she learned the whole story.

As they left, Yu Han called out, “Come back tomorrow! Show me around the village!”

“I’ll go too!” Yu Mei shouted from behind him.

Xin Xin hugged the wooden dragon to her chest and smiled. “Okay… I’ll sleep early tonight.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***