Qiang Zhi looked up, startled.
Su Jiyai bent down a bit, speaking in a low voice. "It's okay. They're nice. No one's going to hurt you here."
Qiang Zhi hesitated, then peeked at the crowd properly for the first time. A girl around his age gave him a shy wave.
He blinked.
Then, just as a smile began to twitch at the edge of his lips—
"Wait a second!" a sharp voice rang out. "Are we sure he's really her biological brother?"
The entire crowd froze.
All heads turned toward the speaker: a man in glasses standing near the back. He crossed his arms.
"I mean, we don't know for sure, right? What if he's not? Shouldn't we do a DNA test before assuming things?"
Gasps and murmurs broke out.
"Whoa, that's harsh."
"Kind of sudden, don't you think?"
"But... he has been through a lot. Maybe we shouldn't jump to conclusions either?"
Su Jiyai's smile faded, but her tone stayed cool.
"He doesn't need to be my blood to be my brother."
"But," the man with glasses pushed,
