Chapter 6

A Gift from the Heart

When the bell signaling the end of the last class rang, Ning Xuechu’s phone vibrated with a new message.

It was from An Jianqing.

“Xuechu, I’m already at the school gate. You should be done with class by now, right?”

Ning Xuechu’s fingers flew across the screen.

“Sister, wait for me a moment. I’ll be right there.”

“It’s okay. No need to rush,” came An Jianqing’s instant reply, warm and cheerful.

Even so, Ning Xuechu still hurried to pack up her books and dashed out of the classroom.

As she passed by a fruit shop, something caught her eye, and she came to an abrupt stop.

Adjusting the strap of her backpack, she stepped inside and looked around before asking,
“Boss, do you have cherries that are a bit sweet and sour?”

“Our cherries are all sweet—none of that sour stuff. Here, try one if you don’t believe me,” the owner said with a confident grin.

“I want ones with a bit of tartness,” Ning Xuechu insisted firmly. “If they’re sour, I’ll buy them.”

Her tone was clear and unwavering, her delicate face calm but serious. She didn’t look like someone easy to fool.

The owner’s eyes flickered as he quickly changed his tune.
“Ah, then take a look at these ones. To be honest, they’ve got a little tang to them—just a hint—but they’re still mostly sweet.”

Seeing the sincerity on his face, Ning Xuechu reached out, picked up a cherry, wiped it lightly on her sleeve, and took a small bite.

A sharp tang burst across her tongue, cold and biting like a shard of winter ice melting in her mouth. She shuddered involuntarily.

Her mouth flooded with saliva, the taste glands jolted awake by the tartness. She chewed several times before she could finally swallow.

Frowning, she coughed softly, covering her lips to suppress the sting in her throat.
“I’ll take two jin,” she said decisively.

“Alright!” The owner beamed, swiftly bagging the order.

After paying, Ning Xuechu stepped out of the shop and stuck out her tongue slightly, wincing.

The sourness seemed etched into her taste buds; even just remembering it sent a faint twinge of acidity through her mind.

Yet beneath that sharpness lingered a subtle sweetness.

The mix of sweet and sour left her strangely conflicted.

She hated the sourness—yet couldn’t help but crave the sweetness that followed.

Her rosy tongue brushed the corner of her lips, but she forced down the small flicker of longing in her chest.

Then her eyes drifted to a nearby accessory shop. After a few seconds of hesitation, she walked in.

Five minutes later, she came out holding a small, heart-shaped box.

Finding a stone bench nearby, she sat down, placed the box on the stone table, and began carefully arranging the cherries inside.

Two jin was the perfect amount—it filled the heart box completely.

The reddish-orange cherries glowed with a delicate translucence, and placed in the scarlet box, they looked romantic and vibrant.

If she added a single rose, it could almost pass as a lover’s gift.

A faint smile tugged at her lips—but it froze halfway and slowly faded into cool indifference.

Girlfriend? That word was nothing but a lie.

How could she let herself indulge in such a fantasy?

Even if she wanted to please An Jianqing, it was only for one reason—to reclaim the Ning family’s fortune.

She would never fall for this lofty, wealthy Alpha.
She refused to become someone else’s plaything.

Clutching the heart-shaped box, Ning Xuechu quickened her pace toward the school gate.

At a glance, she immediately spotted An Jianqing’s car — understated but luxurious.

Even parked in a quiet corner, it drew every eye.

Nearby, a small group of girls stood chatting animatedly.

They wore stylish clothes and light makeup, their smiles coy as their eyes kept darting toward the car.

Ning Xuechu immediately understood — they weren’t there to chat. They were hoping to catch the attention of whoever sat inside.

Scenes like this weren’t new to her. She’d seen similar ones more than once at the gate.

A faint scorn stirred in her heart… mixed with a trace of envy.

Envy of their confidence — and their beauty.

But this time, something inside her chest twisted uncomfortably.

She frowned and tapped her chest lightly with her fingertips, trying to chase away the tightness there.

The girls were still chatting, some deliberately tucking hair behind their ears, others subtly pulling at their collars to reveal more skin.

Ning Xuechu’s eyes chilled.

Hugging the box tightly, she strode toward the car.

Stopping by the passenger-side window, she turned slightly and knocked gently on the glass.

Through the reflection, she saw the astonished, envious looks of the girls nearby — as though they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

A small surge of satisfaction rippled through her chest. She tilted her head toward them, her upturned eyes carrying a hint of smugness.

Instantly, the girls’ pretty faces darkened with jealousy.

The car window slowly slid down, cutting through their frozen expressions.

“Xuechu, get in,” An Jianqing said softly from inside, her lips curved in a smile.

Ning Xuechu’s face lit up.

She stepped quickly between the car and the other girls, blocking their view of the breathtaking Alpha within.

Carefully holding the heart-shaped box with both hands, her eyes sparkled nervously.
“Sister, it’s just a small gift. I hope you’ll like it.”

The moment she spoke, her pale cheeks flushed a vivid pink — like a plum blossom blooming in the snow, cold yet brilliant.

An Jianqing’s nose twitched faintly; she caught a delicate cherry scent in the air.

That familiar tang — the sweet-and-sour fragrance she loved.

Her heart warmed instantly, eyes softening with gentle delight.

From the girl’s initial resistance and guardedness to now — taking the initiative to get close — the change was significant.

All her patience, all her care, hadn’t been in vain.

It might only be a simple box of cherries, but to An Jianqing, it made every effort worth it.

“Thank you, Xuechu. I really like this gift.”
An Jianqing smiled warmly, her gentle eyes full of affection.

“Don’t mention it, sister. I can’t do much right now, so this is just a little something from me,” Ning Xuechu replied with a docile smile, though her voice carried a faint trace of guilt.

Hearing that, An Jianqing’s heart softened even more. She reached out to stroke the girl’s soft hair, speaking tenderly like an elder, “It’s the thought that counts.”

At those words, Ning Xuechu lowered her head. Her long lashes cast shadows that hid the coldness in her eyes.

She could tell—An Jianqing saw her only as a child.
Innocent. Harmless.
No threat at all.

Adults always thought children didn’t understand anything, that they could be easily controlled and have their lives decided for them.

But she was no longer that foolish little girl from ten years ago who blindly believed whatever others said.

“I’m glad you liked it, sister. I was worried I’d mess up and ruin everything,” Ning Xuechu said, her small face flashing a moment of nervousness before she smiled in relief.

Catching that fleeting expression, An Jianqing was momentarily taken aback. “No matter what you give me, I’ll always like it,” she said seriously.

This gift had been given so carefully—Xuechu had been so afraid she wouldn’t like it.

Children really were sensitive, carrying quiet fears deep inside, always worrying that one wrong move might make people hate them.

If it weren’t for the selfish cruelty of those people, her little sister wouldn’t have become so cautious and anxious, even over something as simple as giving a gift.

“Thank you, sister,” Ning Xuechu said softly, her eyes lighting up with surprise and joy.

Even though An Jianqing had seen that look many times before, it still pierced her heart. She let out a light laugh and said, “Let’s go home, Xuechu.”

“Okay, sister.” Ning Xuechu nodded eagerly, her face bright with a dazzling smile.

As the car started moving, she turned to look out the window, pretending to admire the scenery. Her dark eyes reflected a sorrow she couldn’t put into words.

The word “home.”
She’d heard it countless times, but she still didn’t know—where was her true home?

How long would she have to live like this, under someone else’s roof, always on edge, never feeling safe?

In this world, who could really give her a warm home?

Ning Xuechu closed her eyes, hiding the loneliness and melancholy rising in her chest.

Later that night, back at the villa…

After dinner, Ning Xuechu lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ornate chandelier above her.

In her mind, she kept replaying the image of An Jianqing’s smile when she received the gift.

She thought it over carefully but couldn’t find anything wrong with how she’d acted.

This step—was a success. She had earned An Jianqing’s favor.

A woman born into wealth and luxury, surrounded by fine things, had actually been touched by a simple box of cheap cherries.

How laughable.

Ning Xuechu’s lips curved upward, her gloomy eyes glinting with disdain.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. A soft female voice followed:
“Xuechu, are you asleep?”

“Not yet.” Ning Xuechu immediately got up from bed, her voice turning small and careful.

As she walked toward the door, she caught her reflection in the mirror—her cold face, emotionless. She quickly adjusted, curling her lips into a sweet, obedient smile.

“Sister, what is it?” she asked, opening the door, her dark eyes flickering nervously.

“I washed the cherries. I thought we could eat them together,” An Jianqing said, lifting the fruit plate in her hand. Her beautiful eyes carried warmth and a hint of inquiry.

At the mention of “cherries,” Ning Xuechu instantly remembered the sharp sourness that had burned down her throat earlier. She swallowed slightly, forcing a cheerful tone.
“Sure! I was just hoping to… talk with you more.”

As she said the last part, her cheeks turned faintly red, and she lowered her head shyly.

An Jianqing smiled softly, walking in with the plate. Her eyes swept the room subtly—it looked almost untouched.

Even the stuffed toy on the bed was still propped against the headboard, as if it had never been held.

“Xuechu, don’t you like the doll?” An Jianqing asked gently, handing her a cherry as she spoke.

Ning Xuechu froze, quickly analyzing what she might mean.

She accepted the cherry, bit into it lightly, and used the chewing time to think. Then she replied sweetly, “Of course I like it. I hug it every night when I sleep.”

In truth, she had no interest in dolls and had never touched it.

She used to like them—until the day she touched her cousin’s doll at her aunt’s house and got slapped for it.

From then on, she’d never liked dolls again.

“That’s good. I was worried you didn’t,” An Jianqing said with a soft laugh, eating a cherry herself. Her lovely face glowed with genuine joy.

Seeing that expression, Ning Xuechu couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, why do you like sour cherries? Wouldn’t sweet ones taste better?”

At that, An Jianqing’s eyes softened with a trace of melancholy. “When I was little, in the orphanage, getting to eat sour cherries was the happiest thing in the world.”

“I’m sorry… I reminded you of something sad,” Ning Xuechu murmured, lowering her eyes, her fingers rolling a cherry between them.

“It’s alright. Those days were bitter, but also happy in their own way,” An Jianqing said with a faint smile. “Just like these cherries—beneath the sourness, there’s always a bit of sweetness.”

Ning Xuechu stared blankly at her, unable to understand those words—or that wistful look in her eyes.

For her, those bitter days were something she never wanted to relive.