[I'm going to start calling the younger Yan Xiaoran as Little Yan Xiaoran so you could distinguish who's who in the scene.]

Yan Xiaoran glanced at the young boy sitting on a thick branch of the tree with surprise. She was too focused on her younger self that she didn't even notice that there was another person in that space.

Just like her, the younger Little Yan Xiaoran jump in fright and looked up at the tree with pale face. Her face was already pale from hunger and pain, but it went paler when she saw a boy, the same age as her, looking down at her from the tree.

"Y...you! Since when did you..." Little Yan Xiaoran stammered.

A blush crept on her cheeks as she was embarrassed by her actions and words earlier. Had he heard her? Little Yan Xiaoran glared at the boy who was smiling at her as if nothing was wrong and he hadn't seen her in her worst.

Suddenly, the boy jumped down from the tree and put his hands inside his pocket as he got closer to Little Yan Xiaoran.

"Why do you think of yourself so pathetically?" The boy said and looked confused as if he was wondering what made her think that she was unworthy to be alive.

Surprise crossed her face, but it was soon replaced by anger. Little Yan Xiaoran glared at the boy as she gritted her teeth. She wanted to keep her mouth shut and not say anything so that she wouldn't have to reveal anything more than she revealed earlier.

But she couldn't.

"Don't speak as if you know me and what I've been through. You might think of me pathetic but that is because you will never feel what I am feeling right now!" She finally exploded and her nose started to feel sour and her eyes stung as fresh tears started to gather around her eyes, blurring her sight.

It hurts so much.

When she was lamenting and mourning for herself, it didn't hurt as much because she could cope with the pain and hide them beneath the mask she masterfully attached to her face so that no one would be able to see the hurt.

But when she finally blasted and said these words, she could hear her heart breaking and shattering beneath her feet with a loud sound. It was too much. The shame, the pain, and the feeling of hopelessness started to mix and hurt her even more.

Little Yan Xiaoran blinked and a tear dripped down her cheeks. "What?"

"I said tell me. I want to know your story and I want to know how you're feeling." The boy asked again.

Little Yan Xiaoran rolled her eyes at him and scoffed, "You'll never understand even if I tell you."

"Then, make me."

Little Yan Xiaoran was stumped by his persistence. What was wrong with him? He could hear her, right? Then, why else was he trying to push her to tell everything to him even though he knew he wouldn't understand and might never understand?

The boy stood before her, patiently waiting for her to speak. He wore a blue-black shirt and a black pants that definitely costed a lot. His white shoes was impeccable and even though he looked playful, there was no mark of dirt on it and it looked like he was careful enough to make it home clean.

Not only that, now that she faced him and was staring at him clearer, Little Yan Xiaoran was shocked to see the boy's face.

Tall nose, double eyelid eyes and dark chocolate pupils, and small pink lips. His skin was also very creamy and unblemished. His eyebrows straight like a sword with the right curve in the right place.

Everything about him screamed at her that he was a wealthy family's son. There was no way that a boy like him would come from a small family like hers.

Usually, they would try to fawn at him, try to befriend him while having crush on him, and then, try to be closer to him. But Little Yan Xiaoran was a little bit annoyed.

How could someone be prettier than her?

Argh... Little Yan Xiaoran glared at him again and started to turn around.

The boy was confused about her action and said, "Where you going?"

"None of your business!"

"But you haven't told me anything yet! You can't just leave me hanging here!" The boy chased after her.

"I don't care! No, better yet, just hang on a tree branch and act like a monkey!" Little Yan Xiaoran quickened her steps in an attempt to escape from him.

But who knew that her actions and words that was completely different from what the boy expected made him even more persistent that he wanted to follow her around and know more about her.

"Leave me alone!" Little Yan Xiaoran could sense him from behind her, still following her wherever she goes. "Can't you just go home and be gone? I don't want you for a tail!"

Little Yan Xiaoran was losing her patience and almost had the urge to beat this boy up. The key word was 'Almost'.

Stopping in her tracks, Little Yan Xiaoran turned around to face him. Because she stopped so abruptly after walking quickly, the moment she turned around, she almost bump with him.

Thankfully, the two of them stopped in time. However, the closeness of their faces was invading their personal spaces.

Little Yan Xiaoran didn't seem to notice this and started to speak. "Are you still going to follow me?"

The boy didn't respond and only stared at her.

Taking it as a confirmation, Little Yan Xiaoran narrowed her eyes and said, "Alright. Since you want to follow me around, don't tell me I didn't warn you."

The boy still didn't get what she was saying until she suddenly reached out to hold his hand and then, pulled her into the public restroom.

...

Author has something to say: Oh My Little Yan Xiaoran is soo...