Chapter 9

Evening fell over the Summer Camp Grounds.

Wen Chaosheng stood at the sink outside the bathroom, carefully washing his hands.

The afternoon’s fish-catching activity had wrapped up. Though he and Xi Zhui’s team hadn’t won through sheer numbers, he’d still managed to snag a few pretty little fish on his own.

For Wen Chaosheng, the experience itself meant far more than any prize.

That thought brought a secret little smile to his face, but the moment he turned around, he locked eyes with Zheng Jiaxing.

Right then, the other boy’s eyebrows were furrowed like wriggling caterpillars, his mouth pouted almost to the sky, his whole sullen face blatantly screaming “I’m not happy.”

And all because he hadn’t snagged first place like he’d hoped. Instead, Xia Fengyi and Shen Zhaoye’s team had walked off with the prize!

Zheng Jiaxing had all this pent-up anger with nowhere to vent, so he irrationally zeroed in on the lone Wen Chaosheng. “Wen Chaosheng, are you laughing at me? I’m telling you, smile again and I’ll beat you up!”

With that, he raised his fist in a mock swing and charged forward two steps.

“…”

Wen Chaosheng flashed back to being bullied in kindergarten, his face draining of color. “I-I didn’t!”

He darted around the much taller Zheng Jiaxing in a panic and bolted straight for the Small Cafeteria.

Dinner in the cafeteria came pre-packed and ready for distribution.

At a table for four in the corner, Xia Fengyi chattered away nonstop to his two buddies. Xi Zhui had zero interest, his eyes flicking toward the cafeteria door every few seconds until that familiar figure dashed inside—

Wen Chaosheng couldn’t spot them at first and stood there, lost and scanning the room.

Xi Zhui saw him but stayed quiet, nudging Xia Fengyi under the table with his foot instead.

“Why’d you kick me?”

Xia Fengyi griped, then followed Xi Zhui’s line of sight and waved him over. “Chaosheng! Over here!”

Wen Chaosheng finally noticed the trio tucked in the corner and hurried their way.

It wasn’t until he’d settled beside Xi Zhui that he felt anchored again, his racing heart calming just a touch.

Xia Fengyi tossed out casually, “Chaosheng, what took you so long in the bathroom?”

Wen Chaosheng started to speak but held back, his voice turning aggrieved once he gathered himself. “I…”

Xi Zhui picked up on his unease. “What’s wrong?”

Wen Chaosheng spilled the story of Zheng Jiaxing’s antics to the three of them, his heart still pounding. “H-He wouldn’t really hit me, would he?”

“He dares? Who does he think he is?” Xia Fengyi popped up like a coiled spring. “Don’t worry, I’ll go clock him a couple times for you right now!”

In the next instant, Shen Zhaoye shoved him back down. “Sit tight. With all these teachers around camp, starting a fight means getting your parents called.”

“…”

Those three words—”call your parents”—snuffed out Xia Fengyi’s fire like water on a match.

His dad was a top neurosurgeon; his mom, a decorated police officer. Strict didn’t even cover it.

Xia Fengyi turned to Xi Zhui and rattled off his take. “That Zheng Jiaxing figures Chaosheng’s a pushover! He wouldn’t dare throw a punch with us around!”

Xi Zhui said nothing, merely glancing over at Zheng Jiaxing nearby.

Day two of camp. Way too early for scraps.

Shen Zhaoye kept his cool, laying out facts. “Don’t sweat it. Stick with us going forward, and with all these teachers on site…”

“Right! Spot on! I’ve got your back!”

Xia Fengyi chimed in helpfully. “Chaosheng, we’ll hit the bathroom together from now on! Even poop together!”

Wen Chaosheng blinked, letting out a troubled “Huh?”

Th-That wasn’t necessary, was it?

Xi Zhui pulled his gaze away in disgust. “Gross.”

Xia Fengyi felt hard done by and huffed righteously, like a pint-sized cop. “I’m looking out for our friend! Mom calls it loyalty. You get that?”

Wen Chaosheng felt a swell of warmth; Shen Zhaoye just shrugged it off.

Xi Zhui threw him a half-hearted, “Wow, how noble.”

“…”

Xia Fengyi caught the sarcasm from his buddy and vengefully chomped down on a hunk of meat.

Xi Zhui tuned him out, prodding Wen Chaosheng instead. “Quit stalling and eat.”

A pang of disappointment tugged at Wen Chaosheng’s heart. “Okay.”

Truth was, he’d hoped for some kind words from Xi Zhui. After all, he saw the boy as his best friend.

Sadly, not another peep about it all through dinner.

…

Lights-out came right on schedule.

The camp’s floodlights winked out, darkness settling in soft and sleepy.

Wen Chaosheng couldn’t drift off. The second he closed his eyes, Zheng Jiaxing loomed, fist raised—nightmare fuel!

He cracked his eyes open and whispered into the gloom. “Xi Zhui? Xi Zhui? You asleep?”

Xi Zhui lay under the unfamiliar blanket, wide awake, and rolled toward him. “Nah. What’s up?”

Wen Chaosheng hemmed and hawed, too sheepish to admit raw fear was keeping him up.

“…”

Their beds sat a short gap apart, blankets pulled tight. Xi Zhui caught no whiff of last night’s faint sweet scent.

“Wen Chaosheng,” he asked, “did you skip the Baby Cream tonight?”

Wen Chaosheng latched on. “I put it on! Mom says every night.”

“Yeah?” Xi Zhui pressed, fully aware. “No smell whatsoever. You skimped. I’m telling Aunt Song when we get home.”

“…”

Come on!

He’d slathered it good!

Missing the ploy, Wen Chaosheng scooted his bedding closer and peeled back a blanket corner.

“Smell it now?” he asked dead serious. “I swear I did.”

Nursing his scheme, Xi Zhui leaned in to play along. “Mm. Faint now.”

Validated, Wen Chaosheng started shifting back—only to find Xi Zhui pinning most of his blanket edge.

He tugged once, twice. No dice. “Xi Zhui? Xi…”

“Quiet.” Xi Zhui clutched his Abebe stand-in and feigned shut-eye. “Sleep time.”

Still jittery, Wen Chaosheng fished for chat. “Xi Zhui, bedtime story?”

“Pass.”

“You conked out to mine last night.”

Xi Zhui backpedaled. “Yours drag. Wasn’t even paying attention.”

Wen Chaosheng muttered, “Not boring. Smart Beans make you smart!”

His all-time fave bedtime tale—packed with fun!

Eyes shut, Xi Zhui shot back, “Only dummies need Smart Beans.”

“…”

Whatever.

Wen Chaosheng clammed up.

Tent silence stretched a few beats. Just as he figured Xi Zhui was nodding off, the boy piped up. “Wen Chaosheng.”

“Yeah?”

“No sweat over Zheng Jiaxing. Won’t let him touch you.” Xi Zhui locked eyes with him. “Friends protect friends.”

Emotion welled in Wen Chaosheng’s eyes, stinging. Words failed for thanks—but then—

Xi Zhui stretched an arm, looping him through the blankets like a body pillow. “Now sleep.”

Warmed through, Wen Chaosheng leaned in without a fight.

“Goodnight, Xi Zhui?”

“Mm. Night.”

…

Blanketed by his friends’ watch, Zheng Jiaxing steered clear the next five days.

Graduation day blinked in. The head teacher laid out one last optional task.

Before camp wrapped for good, anyone could drop by the counselor’s tent and share their favorite camp highlights with her.

The liveliest storyteller stood a shot at a genuine Race Car Model set or Barbie Doll set. Everyone else scored a small parting gift.

Just one piece of the camp’s big evaluation puzzle.

Xia Fengyi lit up at the Race Car Model. “Xi Zhui! Race cars!”

Xi Zhui nodded. “Got it. Still sitting this out.”

These touchy-feely bits bored him silly.

Xia Fengyi wheedled. “Why skip? Teacher might love yours and hand over the car. You’re obsessed with race cars!”

Xi Zhui shut it down. “Nope. Your funeral.”

Right then, Wen Chaosheng piped up beside them, hand raised all proper. “I-I’ll give it a shot.”

Xi Zhui eyed him, surprised. “You?”

Wen Chaosheng bobbed his head. “I tell Mom stories at home all the time.”

A crowd? Terrifying. One-on-one with the teacher in a tent? Doable.

Plus, a Race Car win? Perfect gift for Xi Zhui!

Clueless to the plot, Xi Zhui gave the nod. “Go for it. We’ll hold the fort. Knock ’em dead.”

“Mm!”

Home’s creative air and sneaky story vibes gave Wen Chaosheng real spark for this.

Thirty minutes later, Race Car Model in hand from the teacher. Stepping out, pure glee danced in his eyes and across his brows.

Xi Zhui’s face when he unwrapped it—he sped up, daydreaming.

But steps from freedom, a grating shout cut in. “Hey! Wen Chaosheng!”

He halted. No time to turn—Zheng Jiaxing barreled up front, flanked by two sidekicks, a proper pack.

Wen Chaosheng edged back wary. “What?”

Zheng Jiaxing zeroed on the clutched model, brass as hell. “Hand it over! Trade you other stuff!”

He craved it fierce, but his tale earned just stationery.

“No way,” Wen Chaosheng said.

Zheng Jiaxing countered, “Cash then! Parents pulling up any sec. Name it—one hundred? Two? Five hundred?”

Wen Chaosheng scowled, clutching tighter. “No money. No trade.”

He sidestepped.

“No you don’t!” Zheng Jiaxing yanked him hard. “Agree now—or eat fist!”

No toy ever slipped his grasp!

Wen Chaosheng toppled, butt-planting hard, tears pricking from pain.

Mid-reel, Zheng’s crew snatched the model clean.

Arms empty, Wen Chaosheng’s voice cracked desperate. “Give back my race car!”

Zheng Jiaxing pulled a face, tongue out. “Nyah nyah, nope!”

No sooner had the words fallen than a voice brimming with righteous fury rang out. “Hey! What are you doing? Don’t bully Chaosheng!”

Xia Fengyi was sprinting at the front. He was the first to reach Wen Chaosheng, helping the fallen boy to his feet. Xi Zhui and Shen Zhaoye followed right behind.

Xi Zhui spotted the dirt smeared on Wen Chaosheng’s pants. “Did they hit you?”

Wen Chaosheng felt both aggrieved and heartbroken. “Xi Zhui, that race car is mine. They won’t give it back to me.”

“You’re lying!”

Zheng Jiaxing realized at once that they were outnumbered. He started quibbling desperately. “I just borrowed it to play with! It’s not like I wasn’t going to give it back! Why are you being so petty?”

…

Xi Zhui eyed the stubborn Zheng Jiaxing and strode forward without a word. He grabbed the boy and threw him neatly over his shoulder.

“Ah!”

Zheng Jiaxing hit the ground so hard that stars burst before his eyes. He scrambled up, yelling furiously, “How dare you hit me? I’ll kill you!”

Xi Zhui seized the advantage of his first strike and pinned the other boy firmly to the dirt. “You deserve a beating!”

Xia Fengyi watched the two of them rolling around on the ground, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “Whoa!”

He didn’t hesitate for a second. He lunged straight for the race car model, all the while shouting taunts. “Give back Chaosheng’s race car right now! You guys dare to bully my friend?”

“You thieves! You bad guys! Do you know who my mom is? I’ll get her to arrest you all and throw you in jail!”

In just half a minute, the scene descended into utter chaos.

Shen Zhaoye didn’t even have time to try breaking it up. “Hey, you two—”

He yanked off his smart watch, which he’d already started recording with, and shoved it into Wen Chaosheng’s hands. “Here, keep recording.”

The shouts and scuffles blended into a deafening cacophony. Shen Zhaoye had no worries about Xi Zhui, who had trained in taekwondo. Instead, he dashed over to help Xia Fengyi.

…

Wen Chaosheng stared at the brawling group, scarcely daring to breathe. His initial fear had given way to pure shock.

What was he supposed to do now?

This time, they really were going to have to call the parents.