Passing by the playground, Li Dan asked cheerfully, "Xiaonian, which sports activity are you planning to participate in during the physical education class?"

On the green grass, there were senior sisters playing soccer, running freely under the blue sky and white clouds, with laughter and joy.

My heart moved: "I'll go with soccer."

"Ah! But you'll get dark under the sun on the playground, badminton and table tennis are much better, they are all played in the gym."

I pointed to myself with a smile: "I'm already quite dark."

"No way, clearly a beautiful wheat color." She pouted and pinched my cheek, unable to hold back her laughter.

In the past, I was mocked for my dark skin, feeling dejected, the auntie barber on the roadside comforted me, "Don't worry, women blossom at eighteen, you will become more beautiful."

Several years later, my skin tone indeed became more even, and my features gradually became clearer.

After entering Qixiang High School, I was no longer mocked for my appearance.

This famous school in northern Jiangsu has a clean school atmosphere, and the undergraduate enrollment rate has been above 95% for many years.

Everyone was busy studying, not interested in bullying.

After initial screening, I successfully joined the freshman girls' soccer team as I wished.

The coach said that although I was impulsive, my innate conditions were good—long legs, fast runner, and quick reflexes.

All of this was developed from wandering the streets since I was young.

We practiced on the playground every Sunday afternoon, and at dusk, there was always an old man standing under the shade of a tree, smiling while watching us.

For some reason, his loving eyes made me feel warm inside.

During breaks, I often gazed towards the direction of the camphor tree from afar.

One day, I finally managed to get the ball, my head heated up, and I kicked it high, the ball flew straight towards the old man's face.

I was so scared that my heart stopped.

A white figure flashed by, and the next second, Senior Su Hao had kicked the ball back to my feet.

The ball stopped steadily at my feet, I felt ashamed and regretful, I actually cried.

If I had hit the old man for real, what would I do?

The coach yelled at me, "Lin Xiaonian, what's wrong with you, did you leave your eyes at home?"

He rolled up his sleeves, as if he was going to come over and scold me.

The old man walked over, stopped him with his hand, "Don't, it's not intentional."

He took out a blue checkered handkerchief from his pocket, "Child, don't feel guilty for something that didn't happen."

I took the handkerchief, it had the scent of camphor tree.

He made an evasive posture, "Grandpa here used to be a soccer player, my body is still agile, you won't hit me."

Senior Su Hao looked at me with a smile, "Not bad, that kick was quite powerful."

Grandpa glared at him.

The coach bent down and rubbed his hands, apologizing, "Principal Su, I'm really sorry, I will educate this child well and make her be more careful in the future."

Turning his back to everyone, the coach winked at me.

I understood immediately, he was afraid that I would cause trouble, so he took the initiative to give me a scolding.

Raised high, put down gently, it was all his hard work.

A few days later, I saw the old man again.

It turned out that he was the former principal, well-loved by all, after retiring, he became a gardener in the Qixiang High School campus.

At this moment, he was wearing a baseball cap, holding a bamboo pole, picking fruits, and when he saw me passing by, he waved at me, "Here, take it, these are loquats, very delicious."

I put the two golden loquats in my pocket, and kept touching them from time to time.

There was a light layer of fuzz on the loquats, feeling smooth to the touch, as if a small pet was sleeping in my pocket.

I recalled the scene on the playground.

Almost hit a big basket, scared to death, but Senior came to the rescue from the sky, the coach went to great lengths to protect me, and the principal advised me not to feel guilty for things that didn't happen.

This is what it feels like to be cared for.

It's a feeling I've never experienced from my family.