The morning class ended slowly under the warm sunlight that filled the kindergarten classroom, and as the teacher finished explaining simple letters and numbers, the children were finally allowed to move freely and play in the open activity area, turning the previously quiet room into a lively space filled with laughter and excited voices.
Gu Wen calmly closed his small book and stood up from his seat, his movements steady and composed as usual, while several children nearby instinctively looked at him with curiosity and admiration, as if they naturally felt that he was different from the others even though he spoke little and behaved quietly.
Lin Xinyi quickly stood up as well and walked beside him without hesitation.
"Gu Wen, do you want to go play outside?" she asked with a bright and friendly smile, her tone confident and cheerful like someone who was already used to making friends easily.
Gu Wen looked at her calmly and nodded slightly.
"Okay."
It was a simple response, polite and natural, without any special emotion, yet to Lin Xinyi it felt like approval, and her smile became even brighter as she happily walked beside him toward the playground.
Behind them, Liu Ruyan remained seated in her chair.
Her small hands rested quietly on the edge of the table, and her clear eyes slowly followed the two figures walking away together.
She did not move.
She did not speak.
She only watched.
Inside her mind, the familiar captions quietly appeared again.
[Favorite Person: Gu Wen][Current Location: Moving Away]
Her fingers tightened slightly.
The classroom suddenly felt empty.
The warm sunlight felt less warm.
The cheerful voices of other children felt distant and unclear.
Another caption appeared slowly.
[Unknown Girl: Lin Xinyi][Distance to Gu Wen: Close]
Her chest felt tight again.
That strange uncomfortable feeling slowly spread through her small heart, like something important was being taken away without her permission.
She slowly stood up.
Her legs felt slightly stiff, but she still walked forward step by step.
The captions flickered gently.
[Current Emotion: Jealousy][Current Thought: Go to Gu Wen]
Outside on the playground, Gu Wen stood calmly near the swings while Lin Xinyi happily talked beside him, pointing at different toys and play areas while occasionally laughing, clearly enjoying the chance to speak with him.
"Gu Wen, do you like swings?" she asked.
"They are fine," he replied calmly.
Lin Xinyi tilted her head and smiled.
"You talk very little."
Gu Wen did not answer.
He simply looked at the playground quietly.
Then he noticed a familiar presence approaching from behind.
Soft footsteps.
Slow breathing.
Careful movement.
He turned his head slightly.
Liu Ruyan was walking toward them.
Her steps were slower than usual, and her small face looked quiet and serious, but her eyes were fixed firmly on him.
The captions in her mind glowed softly.
[Target found: Gu Wen][Moving closer]
When she finally reached him, she did not speak.
She simply walked directly to his side and gently held his hand.
Her small fingers wrapped around his naturally, as if claiming a place that had always belonged to her.
Lin Xinyi blinked in surprise.
"Oh… she came too."
Liu Ruyan looked at her quietly.
Her clear eyes were calm, but there was a faint seriousness hidden inside them.
The captions slowly appeared.
[Unknown Girl close to Gu Wen][Warning: Uncomfortable feeling]
She moved slightly closer to Gu Wen and stood beside him.
This position felt safer.
This position felt right.
Lin Xinyi tilted her head and smiled.
"Hello, my name is Lin Xinyi. What's your name?"
Liu Ruyan hesitated for a moment before speaking softly.
"Liu Ruyan."
Her voice was gentle and quiet, but her hand still held Gu Wen's tightly.
Lin Xinyi looked at their hands and laughed lightly.
"You two are very close."
Liu Ruyan did not answer.
Because in her small mind, this closeness was natural.
It had always been like this.
The captions slowly appeared again.
[Gu Wen belongs nearby]
Lin Xinyi suddenly stepped closer and reached out to hold Gu Wen's other hand playfully.
"Let's go to the swings together!"
The moment her hand touched Gu Wen, Liu Ruyan froze.
Her fingers tightened instantly.
Her chest felt tight again.
The captions flashed rapidly.
[Warning][Someone touching Gu Wen][Uncomfortable feeling increasing]
Without thinking, Liu Ruyan pulled Gu Wen slightly toward her.
The movement was small but obvious.
Lin Xinyi blinked in confusion.
"Hmm?"
Liu Ruyan lowered her head slightly, her voice soft but firm.
"He is coming with me."
The playground suddenly felt quiet around them.
Gu Wen looked at Liu Ruyan calmly.
This was the first time she had shown such clear possessiveness.
Her small hand was trembling slightly, but she still held him tightly.
The system inside Gu Wen's mind quietly activated.
[Liu Ruyan Emotional State: Jealousy][Dependence Level: High][Recommendation: Stabilize Emotion]
Gu Wen gently squeezed Liu Ruyan's hand.
"I will play with both of you," he said calmly.
His voice was steady and gentle.
Liu Ruyan slowly looked up at him.
Her eyes softened slightly.
The captions flickered again.
[Gu Wen spoke gently][Emotion: Calming down]
Lin Xinyi smiled again and nodded.
"Okay! Let's play together!"
The tension slowly faded.
But Liu Ruyan still stayed close to Gu Wen, refusing to move too far away.
As they walked toward the swings, she remained beside him, quietly holding his hand as if protecting something precious.
Inside her mind, the captions slowly settled.
[Important Position: Beside Gu Wen][Must protect]
The warm sunlight continued to shine over the playground, and the children's laughter filled the air once again.
But in Liu Ruyan's small heart, something had already changed.
She had learned a new feeling.
And she had learned something even more important.
Gu Wen was not only her warm place.
He was also a place that she did not want anyone else to take away.