In the garden.
Just as Qin Fujia had said, the sun at this moment was just right, warm and comfortable, without being glaring or dazzling.
Qin Sui’an and Qin Qianyi were crouched in front of a patch of grass, earnestly observing two grasshoppers hopping around in the midst of the foliage.
Qin Qianyi, noticing Ann’s interest in these tiny creatures, suggested, "Ann, shall I catch them for you to play with?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Sui’an vigorously shook her little head, "No! Eldest Brother, you mustn’t catch them!"
She simply found watching them hop around to be entertaining enough.
Qin Qianyi’s eager hands immediately retreated obediently, and he nodded in compliance, "All right then, I won’t catch them."
The grasshoppers continued to hop around, disappearing into the grass from time to time, making them impossible to spot with the naked eye.
Finally, Qin Sui’an had seen enough.
She looked up at her Sixth Brother, who was yawning out of boredom, and smiled sweetly, inviting him in a childish voice, "Sixth Brother, shall we play hide-and-seek? What do you think?"
Qin Qianyi’s drowsiness dissipated, "Yes! We didn’t play much last time!"
Qin Fujia glanced helplessly at his Sixth Brother, unsure if Ann was accompanying him or if he was accompanying Ann.
Shao Xinxin walked into the garden and happened to overhear their conversation.
She quickly approached them.
After briefly glancing at Qin Fujia and Qin Qianyi, Shao Xinxin decisively turned to Qin Sui’an and asked, "Little sister Ann, may I play hide-and-seek with you?"
She understood that as long as Qin Sui’an agreed, the two brothers would not object.
Qin Sui’an looked at her Eldest Brother and then her Sixth Brother, and then nodded her little head, "Sure! Let’s all play together!"
"Great, thank you, little sister, Ann."
Shao Xinxin received her positive response and then politely asked for the opinions of the others, "Brother Fujia, Brother Qianyi, may I play hide-and-seek with you as well?"
Shao Xinxin’s calculations were accurate, as Qin Fujia and Qin Qianyi only slightly furrowed their brows but did not refuse.
The garden was spacious, with many flower bushes to hide in, providing more than enough space for the four of them to play.
In terms of age, Qin Fujia took the lead and walked towards the entrance of the flower bushes, facing away from them, and began counting down from one minute.
Qin Qianyi immediately took Ann’s hand and walked a little further away before separating from her and finding their own hiding spots.
Qin Sui’an, with her short legs, searched for a place to hide in the garden, crouching down and carefully concealing herself.
Just as she settled her little bottom on the grass, in the next instant, another figure squeezed into her hiding spot.
Taking advantage of Qin Qianyi’s separating from Qin Sui’an, Shao Xinxin secretly followed her and waited until she found a spot and was certain she wouldn’t change her hiding place before joining her.
Shao Xinxin revealed a surprised expression and said, "Little sister Ann, you’re hiding here too? Oh dear, I wanted to hide here as well."
"Well..."
Qin Sui’an opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted.
Shao Xinxin held her little hand and happily exclaimed, "Little sister Ann, let’s hide together here! If we change our hiding place now, we might be discovered by Brother Fujia!"
Qin Sui’an raised her round eyes and looked outside, indeed seeing her Eldest Brother turning around, ready to find them.
"Little sister Ann, this is my first time playing hide-and-seek, and I’m hiding with someone else!"
Shao Xinxin seemed reluctant to let go of her hand, holding it tightly, and spoke cheerfully, "Little sister Ann, I really enjoy playing with you!"
This was also Qin Sui’an’s first time playing hide-and-seek with someone else, and it was the first time she heard someone say they enjoyed playing with her.
This feeling was special, completely different from her brothers enjoying playing with her as if she had gained a new friend.
Qin Sui’an pursed her lips slightly, her round eyes shining brightly, and her sweet voice couldn’t hide her joy, "Then, Sister Xinxin, let’s hide together and not let Eldest Brother find us."
"Yes, let’s not let your Eldest Brother find us!"
Shao Xinxin sat down beside her, still holding their hands tightly, refusing to let go.
Shao Xinxin turned to look at Qin Sui’an, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes.
Ha! Qin Sui’an was truly foolish and easily deceived!
Shao Xinxin took out a candy from her pocket and handed it to her, saying, "Little Ann, this candy is for you. It’s a very precious candy."
"Thank you, Sister Xinxin."
Qin Sui’an didn’t rush to take the candy.
She gently shook her little head and said, "Sister Xinxin, you can have it. Ann doesn’t want to eat it."
"Why?" Shao Xinxin was about to bring the candy to her mouth as if she wanted to force her to accept it.
"This candy is really delicious, you know!" Qin Sui’an touched her own pocket, empty.
She whispered, "Ann doesn’t have any candy to give to Sister Xinxin."
"You can give me something else!" Shao Xinxin pointed to the small apple necklace around her neck.
"I’ll give you the candy, and you can give me this little apple."
Qin Sui’an frowned instantly, her little hand covering the small apple necklace on her neck.
"No, Sister Xinxin, this was given to Ann by my grandparents."
Of course, Shao Xinxin knew that, and she also knew that this seemingly inconspicuous small apple was worth 140 million RMB.
She had originally thought Qin Sui’an was foolish, but it seemed she wasn’t completely beyond redemption.
The smile on Shao Xinxin’s face faded slightly, and she confidently said, "It’s okay, I’ll exchange the candy with you.
You can hang the candy on the necklace, it will be the same."
"Not the same."
Qin Sui’an protected her small apple tightly, earnestly refuting her, "This is the small apple my grandparents gave to Ann. It’s completely different from Sister Xinxin’s candy."
"Ah, why are you so mean!" Shao Xinxin frowned.
"An eye for an eye, how is it different? Besides, your grandparents aren’t home, they won’t know if we exchange."
Qin Sui’an hesitated for a moment.
"Ann is not mean..."
This was the first time she had heard someone call her mean.
"You’re just a bad kid!" Shao Xinxin pointed to her small apple and then compared it to the candy in her hand.
"It’s because I like you and want to be friends with you that I’m willing to exchange.
My candy is so much bigger than your small apple!" Qin Sui’an pursed her little lips into a straight line and firmly said, "Ann doesn’t want Sister Xinxin’s candy."
She didn’t know how much the small apple was worth, but she knew it was the first gift her grandparents had given her, and she liked it very much and treasured it.
Seeing that her plan didn’t work, Shao Xinxin threw the candy aside.
She let go of Qin Sui’an’s hand, taking the opportunity to forcefully shake her off.
She gritted her teeth and glared at Qin Sui’an.
"I won’t be friends with you anymore!"
Suddenly, Qin Sui’an’s hand was shaken off, and the branches growing haphazardly in the flower bushes scraped her little hand.
The silver bracelet seemed prepared, its inconspicuous glow enveloping the little owner’s hand, protecting her from harm.
Qin Sui’an didn’t feel any pain, but she felt deeply wronged in her heart.
She curled up her small body and silently hugged herself, not saying a word.
Shao Xinxin secretly glanced at Qin Sui’an.
Damn it!
She had just appeared so happy to be friends, but as soon as the small apple necklace was mentioned, she instantly changed and couldn’t be easily fooled! 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
It seemed she had to come up with a new plan...
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