My wife is a witch princess.

"When I went last time..."

The last time I went there was a lifetime ago.

Does this count as bullying the elderly?

"I forgot." Song Che pulled down the visor of his helmet. "You lead the way, but take it easy."

Song Che suddenly remembered himself back then, wanting to challenge everything. He wasn't a good boy; he was quite naughty back then. He enjoyed the scared complaints of the passenger on the back while riding a bike, and he enjoyed the thrill of courting death. But now, he just wants to ride slowly. If his former self knew, he would definitely say, "You've become a coward, you old man."

Jiang Shuo didn't say much and rode ahead to lead the way. Jiang Xiaoxiao put her hands in his arms to warm them, but Jiang Shuo kept braking and accelerating. He didn't stop even after being punched by Jiang Xiaoxiao several times. Instead, he became even more excited and smug.

Xia Li tilted her head to look at Jiang Xiaoxiao, then looked at her own fingers. Her fingertips were red and painfully cold, but after several attempts, she couldn't bring herself to put her hand into Song Che's arms.

Song Che rode very steadily, and Xia Li didn't feel any bumps at all, unlike Jiang Xiaoxiao who was shaken so much that she covered her head, cursing and swearing, with an expression that said, "I'll kill you as soon as I get off the bike."

Why is Song Che riding so steadily?

She felt a vague sense of loss... but couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

The cold wind was still slapping everyone equally. Even though they were riding slowly, the slaps were real. Xia Li shrank back, her fingers landing on Song Che's shoulder blade, her body hidden behind him. Her smooth silver hair danced in the air, outlining the shape of the wind.

...Riding steadily is also quite good.

The world was bitterly cold, and the crowds were fleeting. Only Song Che's back remained warm. Feeling the warmth under her fingertips, Xia Li relaxed her hands completely on his back. Her blue eyes were filled with laughter, carrying a hint of liveliness and a touch of sunflower-like silliness.

The cold wind gradually subsided, silver hair fell back onto her shoulders, her hands left her back, and her smile ended in her blue eyes.

Jiang Shuo stopped the car, took off his helmet, and looked back at the two of them.

"We've arrived. This is a place where people live in all four seasons, and it's like spring all year round."

Chapter 23 His Highness stood protectively in front of the crowd and shouted: Let me do it!

Four Seasons Restaurant lives up to its name, offering four distinct styles throughout the year. While the prices are slightly higher, the portions are generous and the food is delicious. All the chicken, duck, fish, and meat are made with the freshest ingredients. Customers who have dined there consistently praise it, and the business thrives year-round.

But this time, it will welcome a special guest.

"...We booked in a bit of a rush, and there were no private rooms available, only a single table on the second floor." Jiang Shuo led the group upstairs. "Look, we're in the corner. The birthday cake just arrived."

The second floor is spacious and simply decorated, with a total of eight tables. Each table is separated by openwork wooden railings. Next to the corner table hangs a sign that reads, "Eat only three-tenths full when eating meat, and leave the remaining seven-tenths for barbecue." The other seven tables are scattered with some students playing around and adults chatting and laughing.

There's no overly greasy smell of food or smoke in the air; the environment is pleasant, making it the most famous restaurant near No. 1 Middle School.

The four sat down. Jiang Shuo sat on one side, Song Che sat on the other side, and Jiang Xiaoxiao and Xia Li sat to Song Che's left and right. Jiang Shuo looked around alone, his gaze falling on the three people opposite him.

Song Che was caught in a dilemma, because there were women on either side of him, and if he moved his arm, he might accidentally touch some strange parts.

"Xiaoxiao, come here and sit with your brother."

Jiang Shuo patted the seat next to him, "Don't disturb your brother Song Che's meal, or you'll end up fighting over arms."

Jiang Xiaoxiao shook her head, "I don't want to sit there, it's disgusting."

Jiang Shuo looked up at him dejectedly, "You...do you hate your brother?"

"No, I don't want to sit there anyway."

Jiang Xiaoxiao's gaze fell on the students behind Jiang Shuo. The corners of her mouth turned down, she muttered a few words, her cheeks puffed out like a sulking Pallas's cat. She lowered her head and began to fiddle with her nails.

But it was too crowded for three people to sit on one bench, so Song Che got up and sat down next to Jiang Shuo.

Seeing Song Che leave, Xia Li hesitated for half a second under the table before getting up and trying to squeeze over, but Song Che pressed her head back down, saying, "You and Xiao Xiao sit down. Remember to be polite and mindful of your eating habits... Try to control your appetite. Earning money isn't easy."

As soon as Song Che sat down, Jiang Shuo put his arm around his neck. He said like he was drunk, "Brother Che is the best. Xiao Xiao doesn't like me anymore. I'm so sad. Shall we have some wine today?"

"Alright, alright, if you dare to cry, I'll... I'll cry too, okay?" Song Che had no choice. With his sister around, he had to be careful what he said. Besides, he hadn't seen his friend for many years, and Song Che was quite willing to chat with Jiang Shuo and refresh his memories.

"I'd rather not drink, it'll make me drunk."

Jiang Shuo rubbed his chin.

"Dude, I feel like you've become quieter, hmm... no, I feel like you've matured a lot overnight. Why is that? It's hard to guess."

Song Che pushed his arm away, "Guess what? You're choking me so badly I can't speak. Is this murder?"

Jiang Shuo smiled and punched him lightly. "Brother Che, have you decided which university you want to go to? I'll go with you."

Song Che smiled bitterly. There were still seven months left until the college entrance examination. Could he still get into university?

"I haven't decided yet, but I should stay in Nanhui."

“Then I’ll stay at Nanjing University too, but our scores are more than ten points lower than Nanjing University’s, so it’s a bit risky.”

It's not just a little risky, Song Che is practically hanging himself from a beam.

Is there any chance of saving a team that has been preparing for seven months?

Song Che shook his head, "You'd better not come with me anymore. I think I'm finished. My grades have dropped a lot recently."

"Just kidding, Brother Che is just kidding again." Jiang Shuo didn't take it too seriously, and made up a few words here and there, "Brother, how are you going to spend the New Year holiday? How about coming to my house this time? Are Auntie and Uncle coming back?"

"When you come back, you should also take care of me during my college entrance exam."

"That's fine. Are you going back to your hometown for the Chinese New Year?"

"uncertain."

“Don’t you go back and tell me? I’m coming to visit you.” Jiang Shuo patted his chest. “Recently, my mother and father have strictly changed the family rules. Those who get good grades will receive a bonus. Xiao Xiao and I are confident that we can get two thousand yuan in the last few monthly exams! Then we two brothers can go have some fun.”

“I got 1800,” Jiang Xiaoxiao reminded him, “but my brother can only get 200.”

"Alright, let's not be so formal between siblings. You're good at your studies, you're capable, okay? Being number one in the grade makes all the difference, everyone will back you up."

Jiang Xiaoxiao made a face and stuck out her tongue, then said, "Let's eat cake. There's no need to be too formal among friends. But it's a pity that another good friend of mine couldn't come."

After saying that, she cut a piece of cake for Xia Li and asked, "Sister, where are you going for the New Year? In Nanhui?"

"I……"

"She went back to her hometown for the Chinese New Year."

"Oh, going back to my hometown for the Spring Festival is so festive! I can eat lots of delicious food and see many relatives and childhood friends. It's even happier than my birthday."

Xia Li nodded slightly, successfully extracting the words 'delicious' and 'happy'. She took a small bite of cake, cream sticking to the corner of her mouth. Xia Li's blue eyes widened slightly. In her past understanding, this kind of cream was a scarce resource, requiring complex processes to extract.

Looking forward to the Chinese New Year, looking forward to my birthday!!

She silently memorized these two words, planning to ask Song Che after dinner when the Lunar New Year was and what birthdays were.

She had never experienced any of these things before.

After chatting for a while, Jiang Xiaoxiao divided the remaining cake into portions for each person. As soon as she sat down, she noticed the silver-haired woman looking at her.

To be precise, it's like secretly swallowing your saliva while looking at the cake in front of you, like a little dragon coveting a treasure.

My older sister is eating...so cute!

Jiang Xiaoxiao handed over a tissue and pushed her cake towards Xia Li, saying, "Sister, there's cream on your lips."

"Xiaoxiao, you're too kind." Song Che stopped Jiang Xiaoxiao from handing over the cake and pushed his own portion to her. "Let her have mine. How can Xiaoxiao not eat cake on her birthday?"

Song Che was relieved that there was only one 'Xia Li' creature; otherwise, he would have had to hunt 'Xia Li' at the halfway point or introduce a large number of 'Xia Li's' natural enemies.

That's how it's written in the biology textbook, right?

Song Che sat back down, pulled up his chair. Whether or not he ate cake didn't matter; his friend's happiness was the most important thing. Jiang Shuo was choosing dishes, and since he had nothing to do, he looked around and rested his head on his hand, admiring the few money trees the shop had placed there.

Last night, today... I still feel a bit dazed.

This isn't some otherworldly tavern; it's a real, modern place. Everyone around is human. There are no short, muscular dwarves or ugly kobolds, nor are there any dilapidated, drafty junkyards or shady inns.

...It's so good to be back; I don't have to worry anymore.

...It's so good to be back, with family and friends again.

That's what Song Che was thinking.

But soon, a look of doubt appeared between Song Che's brows. The whispers around him were mixed with discordant noises. He immediately realized what was happening and raised his hand to cover Jiang Shuo, who was about to burst out with a lot of 'motherly' content.

The whispers of several first-year high school students at the next table reached Song Che and Jiang Shuo's ears in a murmur.

"Jiang Xiaoxiao is still pretending to be innocent. She just likes to hang out with older boys. Last time, she even asked a senior high school student to carry her schoolbag."

"Tch, so what if she gets good grades? Just because she's good-looking doesn't mean she's arrogant." One boy said. "You're better off. She's so unruly. She's not even willing to talk to me."

"She doesn't even say hello to us when she walks by, acting like she's a big shot. Anyway, not many people in your class like her, so just ignore her."

Five first-year high school boys next door burst into laughter, while two girls in the middle echoed them, their voices subtly rising. This was no longer a whisper, but an open provocation.

Jiang Shuo's neck turned red with anger, but Song Che grabbed his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "There are five boys next door. Do you think a senior can take on five freshmen?"

"Even if I can't beat them, I'll still kill one."

"Trading their lives for your future... is too much of a loss. If the assault is serious, it'll be recorded in your file. Besides, if we fight, it'll be considered mutual fighting, and if it's not handled cleanly, there will be repercussions..."

A terrifying, ingrained thought suddenly flashed through Song Che's mind, but he immediately shook his head. This wasn't another world; there was no need to just grab a knife and hack the other person into a bloody mist.

Song Che pressed down on Jiang Shuo's arm, "Don't let anger cloud your judgment. Think it through. If you really want to fight, I'll help you. If you really want to kill someone, I'll stand by you."

Song Che leaned closer and said, "Tell me when you've thought it through."

Jiang Shuo let out a heavy sigh, "Damn it, I really want to fight, this is so disgusting."

But his voice weakened. Fighting could vent anger and save face, but after Song Che's reminder, Jiang Shuo was unsure about a possibility: if he beat them up this time, Xiao Xiao would be more likely to be bullied in class.

We can't possibly type them all out.

If we test them all, the problem will be even bigger.

Damn it, then let's beat them all up again. How dare they make fun of my sister? They must have a death wish.

Jiang Xiaoxiao's lips curled down, and the liveliness in her eyes disappeared. "Brother, forget it. Hitting someone will land you in jail. There's no need to get angry with these people. I stopped talking to them a long time ago."

Xia Li felt a surge of anger in her heart for no reason. Why should you make fun of someone just because they have good grades? Why should you pay attention to someone just because they are good-looking?

envy?

The word suddenly popped into Xia Li's mind.

She recited a forbidden incantation, but nothing happened. Xia Li looked dejected and got up to go to Song Che's side. The magic that could once blow up a mountain was now not even producing a spark. It was like a dragon preparing to breathe fire but instead spewing out a dandelion, and only one at that.

Xia Li clenched her fists and silently recited the incantation again.

If I could cast a spell, I would definitely turn these people into mud pigs and throw them into the goblin's lair.

Even if the witch loses her magic, she will not give up her belief in equality for all, and she will not bully others unreasonably... No!