CHAPTER 36: MEETING

Her tiny hand clasped tightly in her father’s, she had darted from one ride to another with a glee that came from pure, unburdened freedom.

She had eaten sticky cotton candy, ridden roller coasters that made her scream with joy, and even braved the haunted house with Daddy by her side.

Her father, Chi Yuanfeng, had been the perfect companion. He was always attentive, always ready to shield her from discomfort, and even indulged her in silly games she invented along the way.

From holding her hands while she skipped across bridges to letting her pull him along for the bumper cars, every minute had been filled with warmth and laughter.

She had thought, naively, that this was the pinnacle of the day, that nothing could possibly ruin their peace.

But the universe, as it often did, had other plans.

As Huaijin skipped along the paved pathway toward a brightly lit Ferris wheel, she heard voices, lively, shrill, and far too familiar.

Her heart sank as she recognized the first voice: Chi Yuanying.

Immediately, her shoulders stiffened, and her tiny brows furrowed.

The memory of earlier humiliations, the broken vases, the countless schemes Yunyin had concocted, it all came flooding back. Huaijin’s small fists clenched instinctively at her sides.

And then, almost as if fate were testing her patience, Liang Lingxi appeared, laughing with a group of children, her bright hair bouncing with every step.

Huaijin’s teeth gritted; Lingxi had always been bubbly, cheerful, and charming to adults, but she had a notorious streak for annoying Huaijin with constant pranks and subtle manipulations, making her childhood unbearably complicated in her past life.

Finally, the last voice rang out like the toll of an ominous bell: Song Jue.

Huaijin froze mid-step, her hand tightening around her father’s. Song Jue, the boy who would one day be her grumpy, stoic, and endlessly mysterious male lead, was now standing there in the crowd of children.

He looked displeased, his small frame rigid, his dark eyes scanning the park with a calculating seriousness that contrasted sharply with the cheerful chaos surrounding him. And somehow, despite his young age, he already exuded an aura that demanded attention.

Her tiny body felt as though it had been weighed down by lead. This was exactly what she had feared.

"I just came to spend time with Daddy!" Huaijin thought bitterly, her inner voice shrieking in despair. "Not to deal with those snotty little brats! Why is the universe doing this to me?"

Her soul felt like it was being yanked in multiple directions.

She wanted to laugh, to scream, to hide behind her father’s coat, and to somehow teleport away from this nightmare all at once.

But there was no escaping it. Fate had decided she would confront all three families at once, here in the amusement park, under the glaring lights, with the scent of popcorn mocking her misery.

Yuanfeng, perceptive as always, noticed the sudden shift in her expression. His hand squeezed hers lightly, a silent question: ’Are you okay, princess?’

Huaijin forced a small, unconvincing smile. "I’m fine, Daddy," she whispered. But inside, her heart was pounding like a drum. She was not fine.

The three families were approaching, and she could feel their gazes already sizing her up.

Chi Yunyin skipped forward first, her hair in two perfect buns bouncing like pompoms. She had that same sweet, angelic smile that hid the calculating mind underneath. "Huaijin!" she called out, voice deceptively cheerful. "What a coincidence! Fancy meeting you here!"

Huaijin’s stomach churned.

She had to remain calm because she couldn’t scream or couldn’t run.

That would only show weakness. But oh, how she wanted to throw herself into her father’s arms and vanish from the scene forever.

"Hi, Yuanying," Huaijin replied cautiously, forcing a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"Are you here with your daddy?" Yuanying asked, tilting her head innocently. "How... cute!" Her tone was dripping with mock sweetness, like honey laced with poison.

Huaijin suppressed a shudder.

Yes. Now it’s perfect.

That was the exact tone that had caused so much trouble in the past life.

Before Huaijin could respond, Liang Lingxi appeared at Yunyin’s side, waving cheerfully. "Huaijin! It’s so nice to see you again!" she chirped, sounding as harmless as a songbird. But Huaijin could see the glint of mischief in her eyes.

The little girl had always been a troublemaker, and she had that look, the one that promised she would make Huaijin’s life miserable in the next five minutes.

Finally, Song Jue arrived quietly behind the two girls. His dark eyes immediately fell on Huaijin, and he scowled lightly.

"You’re sitting with me today," he muttered, not bothering to disguise his displeasure. "So move over."

Huaijin’s small jaw dropped. ’This was her destiny,’ she realized. Her tiny hands curled into fists at her sides, and she whispered under her breath, "Oh no, this can’t be happening."

But she couldn’t back down, not if she wanted to protect her father’s peace.

She straightened her back, puffed her little chest, and walked forward. "Fine," she said softly, but with conviction. "I’ll sit with you... But don’t expect me to be scared of you!"

Song Jue blinked at her, clearly unaccustomed to someone speaking to him in such a bold, fearless manner.

The corner of his mouth twitched, the faintest trace of amusement flickering across his face.

Meanwhile, Yuanying and Liang Lingxi exchanged a glance, silently plotting their next move. Yuanying’s eyebrows knitted together as she whispered something to Lingxi, both girls moving closer in what Huaijin immediately recognized as a pincer maneuver.

Huaijin’s heart sank. ’Of course. It’s the two against one, that classic trope.’

But she wasn’t about to crumble.

Not this time. Because she had learned from her past life. Every slight, every insult, every scheme, she would counter them all with her wits.

She straightened her little shoulders and whispered to herself, "Alright, Huaijin. You’re not hiding behind Daddy anymore. You can do this. Step up."