For a mont, laughter and joy filled this little world, and the oppressive gloom overhead dissipated considerably in the cheerful atmosphere.
From afar, Ince captured this scene, looking at the snot-nosed little boy Berick beside him, "Why aren’t you joining in?"
"It’s too childish, Berick doesn’t care for it."
Ince snorted with laughter and gave Berick a kick on the backside.
"Go on, just go."
Berick glared at him before gleefully joining the throng of children, seemingly having more fun than anyone else.
Good tis are always fleeting. Before long, an unnatural blush crept onto Tang Xin’s cheeks. Her body hadn’t fully recovered, and the injuries began to ache faintly.
Xu Xiaoyou noticed this and inadvertently tripped and fell onto Tang Xin during another forward dash, embracing the girl. Together, they tumbled onto the grass.
"The ga’s over, we’ve caught the mother duck, you guys lost," Xu Xiaoyou said.
"Huh? How can you do that?"
"The rules didn’t say you couldn’t catch the mother duck."
"Themia can’t handle losing, she clearly couldn’t tag anyone!"
The children pulled long faces and soon dispersed.
anwhile, Tang Xin in Xu Xiaoyou’s arms was breathing lightly and rapidly, leaning her head slightly against Xu Xiaoyou’s shoulder. The two were so close they could feel each other’s warmth and racing hearts.
The girl sweated during the exercise, her hair clinging to her face, with waves of warmth emanating from her embrace.
After a brief mont of tenderness, Tang Xin shook her head and sat up. Xu Xiaoyou wiped the dust off her face, also glimpsing the burn on her arm.
"Thank you," Tang Xin said, brushing her hair aside.
"I feel a lot better now."
"Mm."
After a short rest, Tang Xin stood up, clapping her hands, "Alright, everyone get moving, tidy up the garden, and after we’re done, let’s have dinner together."
"Okay——" The children responded in unison.
This age is when they’re most active; the children imitated each other, following the preschool teachers to pull weeds, trim the low bushes, and carefully preserve the delicate little flowers.
In no ti, the once-neglected garden looked new, much tidier and brighter.
Xu Xiaoyou accompanied Tang Xin on a stroll in the garden. It was as if they’d agreed beforehand, neither spoke to break the serene solitude.
The tranquility allowed Xu Xiaoyou to let her thoughts wander until a fragrant flower was held out before her eyes. She blinked, "What is this?"
Xu Xiaoyou took the flower.
"It’s an iris. The garden at the foster ho used to have plenty of these. As the climate cooled and the garden was neglected, I didn’t expect to see them here today," Tang Xin said.
She bent down, carefully reaching out her hand to gather the soil around a small cluster of irises.
"You know, I really like irises. They’re the flowers that bring peace and announce spring. When irises bloom, it signifies the arrival of a warm, vibrant season with singing birds."
"They aren’t as resilient as the plum blossoms, with delicate and fragile petals that wither in cold weather. But I don’t think they’re fragile."
"Even in this harsh winter, they still rely on their own strength to fight against the harsh weather. This strength in fragility is admirable, isn’t it?"
"The heavens didn’t grant them tough bodies, making it hard for them to endure storms, yet their flower language symbolizes happiness, peace, and the beauty of life.
"I think when an iris blooms unyieldingly in a storm, what a beautiful picture it would be."
"I love the unyielding courage and kindness hidden beneath their delicate petals," Tang Xin said. "They will bloom. I believe they’ll bloom in the storm, more enchanting than plum blossoms."
"Irises also symbolize enduring friendship. This flower is for you," Tang Xin smiled, "Don’t forget it."
The words the girl hid in her delicate heart went unspoken.
Iris flowers also represent passionate, unwavering love.
At this mont, the children’s exclamations caught their attention.
"Look, Little Leo’s clothes have color!"
"Really, they have color. Huh, what color is that?"
"It’s... it’s..."
In the center of the circle, the little boy lifted his head confidently, enjoying the attention focused on him. He wore a wool sweater, the bright red distinctly setting him apart from the other children.
All the other children wore thin, colorless clothes, lifelessly gray, and this starkly bright red imdiately captured everyone’s attention.
Yet no one could articulate what this color was.
Because they had never truly seen red. All color concepts existed only as shades of light and dark in black and white.
Tang Xin and Xu Xiaoyou naturally took note of this scene. They exchanged a glance and saw... solemnity reflected in each other’s eyes.
The bright crimson hue was too intense, like it was heavily applied with a broad brush, or perhaps... blood.
Tang Xin walked up to Leo, bent down, placed her hand on the boy’s shoulder, and earnestly stared into his eyes, "Little Leo, where did you get this sweater?"
The previously proud boy, now questioned so seriously, wore a small face filled with guilt and unease, and only truthfully said, "Dean Elia knitted it for ."
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