At first, everyone thought it was just children playing house.
Until one time, Xia Qingqing pulled a young female teacher in the garden.
After hesitating, she said, "Teacher, can you not ride your bike home today?"
The young female teacher asked curiously, "Why?"
Xia Qingqing glanced at the electric bike parked outside.
On it, a disheveled, pitch-black woman was clinging to the seat.
Her expression was terrifying.
She paused and said, "Because the fortune teller on the street said it's not advisable to ride today."
The young female teacher covered her mouth and chuckled, taking it as childish prattle.
She replied, "Okay, teacher understands."
The next day, the young female teacher did not come to work.
It was heard that she had been in a car accident on her way home from work yesterday.
She had almost lost her life.
After that, the young female teacher specifically went to wander around Xia Qingqing's house.
She found no fortune teller.
Was it a coincidence?
Or had the fortune teller moved away?
She did not know.
But as she observed day by day, Xia Qingqing's actions, which were once dismissed as playing house or childish talk,
Became increasingly peculiar in her eyes.
And a terrifying guess gradually formed in her mind:
—This child might be able to see things that they cannot!
From then on, whenever this female teacher saw Xia Qingqing, she appeared both respectful and fearful.
Extremely reserved.
Xia Qingqing, already more intelligent than her peers, noticed this after a few encounters.
But at that time, she didn't understand why.
She only gradually began to realize that the differences between herself and others could be frightening, unacceptable,
And even cause people to distance themselves from her.
Why?
Xia Qingqing's mind was always filled with a hundred thousand whys.
She had vaguely realized the difference between herself and others a long time ago.
However, she didn't think it mattered, and even found it fun.
When playing with Jelly Ghost, asking it to help get things, or asking it to act as an air conditioner to blow cold air...
It was all very interesting.
"Is this wrong? But I didn't do anything wrong?"
When she got home, Little Qingqing told Jelly Ghost about it.
Jelly Ghost sneered, "There's no such thing as right or wrong. They're afraid of you simply because they're too weak."
"Must the strong accommodate the weak just because the weak are too weak? What kind of idiotic logic is that?"
"The strong have their own world, why bother trying to blend into the world of the weak."
"Wow,"
Little Qingqing looked at it in surprise and said in a milky voice,
"So all those novels and TV shows you watched weren't for nothing!"
Jelly Ghost raised its chin, about to show off, when Little Qingqing continued,
"So you're afraid of me too, because you're too weak?"
Jelly Ghost stiffened its neck, "I am not! Who's afraid of you!?"
It said so, but its demeanor grew weaker and weaker under Xia Qingqing's gaze.
However,
After watching it for a while, Xia Qingqing did not raise her fist.
Instead, she nodded seriously and mused,
"Since what you said was interesting, I won't hit you."
Jelly Ghost: "..."
So you finally admit you're a bully, not someone who 'convinces with reason'?
...
Later, Xia Qingqing started elementary school.
In her new school, facing new teachers and new classmates.
She stood on the podium and introduced herself:
"My name is Xia Qingqing, I'm six years old, I like many things, and my motto is..."
"I am me, a firework unlike any other."
What's wrong with being different?
When fireworks burst, people only marvel at their brilliance.
Praise their uniqueness.
So, just be yourself.
...
...
What is the world of the strong like?
Ever since Jelly Ghost said that, Xia Qingqing sometimes pondered this question.
She always felt like she should know.
But upon closer thought, there were no such memories.
Until one time, while waiting for a bus by the roadside, she saw a live stream on a passerby's phone.
The live stream had a high viewership, and the streamer was a Bai Wuchang.
He had guided ordinary souls, helped ghosts with their dreams,
Visited the Four Underworlds, completed ghost realm missions, and seen off gods returning to heaven...
As she learned more about the live stream's past, a corner of the strong world began to reveal itself to Xia Qingqing.
Along with it, the red mole on her forehead grew increasingly vibrant.
As if a power was stirring within.
............
"Qingqing, are you ready?"
"Coming, coming."
Inside the house, Xia Qingqing slung her small bag over her shoulder and hurried out.
With a bang, the door closed.
On a rare Saturday, Xia Qingqing's family set out early.
Even rarer than Saturday was that both Xia Dad and Xia Mom could take a day off.
Both of them were workaholics to some extent, usually sticking to a three-point routine:
Home, workplace, business trips.
Even on holidays, their days off rarely overlapped.
However, despite being busy, the family of three would cook together whenever they had time.
Simple breakfasts, hearty lunches, or exquisite candlelit dinners.
They would try each one.
Striving to create some warm family moments amidst their busy lives.
And so, today, the family of three went out for a drive.
Destination: Amusement Park.
"Waaaaah—"
On the weekend, the amusement park was crowded.
Even before entering, one could hear the thrilling and joyful screams.
Xia Qingqing looked at the exciting rides with anticipation.
However, upon entering, she discovered that due to age and height restrictions, she couldn't go on any of them.
Even if there were no restrictions, Xia Dad and Xia Mom wouldn't allow it.
They came out to have fun, not to create accidents.
Xia Qingqing felt a moment of regret about this but quickly immersed herself in the joy of being with her family.
The merry-go-round, the carousel, the caterpillar train, the self-controlled airplanes...
By the end of the morning, they had basically tried everything.
As they passed the haunted house, Xia Qingqing sensed something unusual.
She thought about sneaking in to take a look later.
But when they passed by again after lunch,
Xia Qingqing found that the strange feeling was gone.
It was as if it had vanished into thin air.
"Did it leave? Or was it taken away by someone?"
Xia Qingqing looked around. Although it was strange, she was finally relieved.
If that ghost had caused trouble in the amusement park, their family might have been implicated.
It was good that it was gone.
As she was thinking, Xia Qingqing's peripheral vision caught sight of the giant Ferris wheel nearby.
Her heart stirred.
She looked left and right, her gaze falling on the candied hawthorn stall next to them.
She said with a smile, "Mom and Dad, you guys go queue up, I'll go buy a candied hawthorn and wait for you."
Xia Mom naturally saw through her little plan and disagreed,
"It's not too many with you. If you want a candied hawthorn, hurry and buy it, we'll wait for you."
"Oh, I'm eight years old now, I won't get lost," Xia Qingqing mumbled.
"You think you're very big?"
Xia Mom playfully gestured to her daughter's height, "Look at you, are you even a meter tall? Aren't you still a child?"
Xia Qingqing puffed out her cheeks, "I'm not waiting for you anymore, I'm going to buy candied hawthorns."
She had great strength, after all.
Before, a child in the neighborhood was almost taken away by a human trafficker, and it was she who used her strength to hold them back.
Hmph~ ╭(╯^╰)╮.
"Hahaha, that's so much fun over there. The haunted house can be like that!"
Shen Jie's laughter came from nearby.
A group of people brushed past Xia Qingqing.
Xia Qingqing walked a couple more steps and suddenly stopped in her tracks.
That aura just now...
She looked at Shen Jie's group.
That aura just now seemed somewhat familiar.
That inexplicable feeling was exactly the same as when she first saw Sister Xiao Yan.
...Who was that person?
...
"Qingqing, are you done?"
Xia Mom's voice came from not far away.
"Coming—"
Xia Qingqing quickly responded, bought the candied hawthorns, and ran back.
Holding up the candied hawthorns, she smiled, "Mom, do you want some candied hawthorns?"
...