Chapter 5, Innocence

Little Smoke

Um, Xiaotian, that, is that, yesterday, ... ... '' Han Yan had a look of hesitation, her demeanor was charming and delicate, as pure as the bright moon in the night sky

"Um, thank you, Xiao Tian," Han Yan raised her head, her face flushed. "It was just yesterday that I... ah!" Suddenly, Han Yan covered her eyes with her hands and turned around.

Xiao Bai saw the gentle little master again and recalled his recent miserable experience, suddenly feeling overjoyed as he rushed towards Han Yan, clinging to her leg and refusing to let go

Hmm? Who would come to find me so early? Could it be Er Gou from the outer courtyard's kitchen? Has he learned some new techniques from his senior's secret manual again?" The child thought this and jumped out of bed with a "whoosh," quickly ran to the door, opened it, and exclaimed excitedly, "Er Gou, it's been a long time since you... Hey?"

Xiao Tian, I am leaving now. My brother will wake up soon, and I came here secretly. " After saying this, Han Yan ran towards the door.

Then I will take care of you forever

Even the optimistic Xiaotian felt a tinge of sadness upon hearing this, and comforted, "Xiaoyan, don't be upset. You are just temporarily away from home, away from your parents. But I have never known what home is like, nor what it feels like to have parents."

"Xiao Tian, may I ask you, are you a good person or a bad person?" Han Yan gazed at Xiao Tian with a serious expression.

At the door, there is a boy named Er Gou, who is indeed feeling the chill of the smoke. With his rosy cheeks lowered, he gazes at his own little feet

Xiao Tian walked up to Han Yan and said: "Alright, why are you looking for me so early? Aren't you afraid your brother will scold you?"

With an unchanging warm smile, Xiao Tian raised his hand, clenched it into a fist, slowly released his little finger, and said loudly: "I will take care of you until your parents come to pick you up!"

Good! Han Yan leaned against the wooden door, smoothing her hair that had just been tousled by the wind, and smiled sweetly at the boy who still had a hint of childishness in his demeanor

Xiao Tian casually picked up a small green apple from the table and handed it to Han Yan, beaming with a sunny smile: "Here you go, Xiao Yan! Don’t be fooled by its green color; it’s really sweet. Ever since Xiao Bai moved into my room, he has been eyeing this apple. I specifically placed it on the table so that Xiao Bai couldn’t reach it." After saying this, he stuck out his tongue at Xiao Bai, who was staring at the apple and swallowing his saliva, making a funny face.

Han Yan, in a hurry, stamped her feet and exclaimed: "You, you, you, why aren't you wearing pants?"

Looking at the cold smoke, Xiao Tian ruffled his tousled hair and casually said: "If there's something to discuss, come inside and sit on my bed. I have some apples I stole from the kitchen, they are very sweet."

Wang! Upon seeing Xiao Tian pointing at himself, Xiao Bai cheered proudly.

Hmm? Han Yan turned around in surprise to look at Xiao Tian

After thinking for a long time, Han Yan hesitantly replied: "My brother told me that a good person is someone who... um, is someone who likes Xiao Yan and will not hurt Xiao Yan; a bad person is someone who..."

Xiao Tian was taken aback by her seemingly nonsensical question: "What is a good person? What is a bad person?"

Xiao Tian had a nonchalant expression: "It doesn't matter, I would have forgotten even if you hadn't mentioned it"

"Hmm, good." Han Yan obediently followed Xiao Tian into the room

Hmm, good! Xiao Tian, let's make a deal! Han Yan smiled, her beauty like a flower.

Lagoo! Little Tian happily extended his small hand

Han Yan looked at Xiao Tian's rare blushing and embarrassing expression, and despite breaking into a smile, she secretly thought: "Silly Xiao Tian, how could there be pebbles in the room? Even lying wouldn't be this ridiculous!"

Han Yan, upon hearing Xiao Tian's nonsensical response, was unsure whether he was intentionally trying to provoke her or if he was genuinely oblivious. She was so anxious that tears were almost welling up in her eyes: "You are not like Xiao Bai! I don't care, put on your pants quickly!"

What if they don't come to pick me up?

Xiao Tian squinted his eyes, placed both hands behind his head, and raised a warm smile at the corners of his mouth: "Hmm, because I won't hurt you!"

Xiao Tian was still chattering to himself, and upon seeing Han Yan across from him, already in tears like a pear blossom, he became flustered: "Xiao Yan, did I say something wrong? Why are you crying? How about I take you to the back mountain to play now? Please stop crying, please stop crying."

Xiao Tian replied: "Well, Liang Bo said that I was found on a snowy day, in a vast expanse of snow, and that I am a child of snow, a blessing brought to me by snow, hence the name Xueze. Xiao Tian is my nickname, which seems to have no special significance."

Xiao Tian was even more confused: "So what if I’m not wearing pants? Look at Xiao Bai, not only is he not wearing pants, he isn’t even wearing clothes!"

"By the way, why are you called Xiao Tian and also Xue Ze?" Han Yan asked.

Han Yan opened her eyes wide: "Really? Are you really a good person, Xiao Tian?"

"Xiao Tian, we have made a pact, we are now friends," Han Yan smiled sweetly, her pearly teeth slightly visible. "Liang Bo said we are both three years old. I was born in March, how about you? Perhaps you might even have to call me sister."

Hearing the knocking sound, the child was puzzled

Xiao Tian asked in confusion: "What is wrong with you again?"

Little Tian, a three-year-old child, does not understand the subtleties of social cues. While munching on an apple, he speaks with a slurred tongue: "It must be nice to have parents; I don't know what that feels like. By the way, you mentioned last time that your parents went to a faraway place. When will they come to pick you up? Xiaoyan, if you leave, you must remember me as your friend! Don't underestimate me; I am quite capable. I know this temple very well. Next time, I will take you to play in the back mountain. There are many beautiful flowers, butterflies, and big trees there. The wild fruits on the big trees are even tastier than apples! And there are so many more things..."

Han Yan was momentarily taken aback by Xiao Tian's retort, and the two three-year-old children in the room exchanged glances with each other

Upon hearing the words "parents," Han Yan's gaze dimmed somewhat, and tears seemed ready to roll down from her beautiful eyes at any moment

"How could it not be sad? You were born here, without parents, without a home! How could you understand..." Han Yan suddenly shouted at Xiao Tian. When she saw that the always smiling Xiao Tian was unknowingly in tears, she immediately realized that she had inadvertently hurt him and became flustered: "Xiao Tian, I'm sorry, I..."

Xiao Tian lifted his head, wiped his tears vigorously, and grinned: "Where did a stone come from, making it so I can't see? Haha!"

Really? Han Yan was taken aback, still in a state of shock

The two little fingers intertwined, as the morning breeze blew in from outside, gently caressing them. ... These few simple words, yet they far surpass the so-called vows of eternal love and promises of unwavering devotion in the secular world.

Oh, I understand now," Xiao Tian interrupted Han Yan, scratching his nose and said, "Then I am a good person

"Xiao Tian, I miss home, I miss father, I miss mother," Han Yan choked back her tears.

"Hey, you can have the apple, I have more for myself. If you like it, I can come and steal some for you every day in the future, along with pears and other fruits," Xiao Tian said as he picked up an apple, took a bite, and continued, "However, Uncle Liang told me that he had a serious illness when he was young and almost died, but somehow he got better afterward."

Oh, just a moment. "Xiao Tian leisurely picked up the small shorts on the bed and put them on: "Xiao Yan, I am ready now.

The cold smoke slowly parted, obscuring her eyes with delicate fingers. She stole a glance at Xiao Tian and saw that he had indeed put on his pants, before finally lowering her hand. Her rosy little face had turned somewhat pale, evidently still frightened by Xiao Tian just now: "Yesterday my brother was harsh with you; he didn't mean it. Please don't hold it against him. He is actually very gentle, and you two will surely become good friends."

Wang! Little White bit the pant leg of Han Yan Yi, shaking its head as it pulled her into the room, as if it were the master of this little house

Little Tian touched his little head and said: "I don't even know what month I was born in, nor have I ever seen my parents. Since I can remember, I have been in this temple. Elder Liang said I was picked up. I have never left this temple, always staying in this courtyard. Occasionally, I sneak into the kitchen to play with the kitchen monk, Er Gou. He is my only friend, but now I have you as well, haha. Elder Liang often comes over to teach me to read and write, and I have gained some knowledge." Elder Liang often comes over to teach me to read and write, and I have gained some knowledge.