I Only Choked on Noodles, Why Am I Here?! [BL]-Chapter 32 – A Child’s Confession

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"It’s alright now" Han Yan said, his voice firm yet calm.

The moment his words fell, the noisy chaos faltered. The children froze as if a switch had been flipped. One boy who had been mid-shove stopped with his arm still raised, eyes widening before he awkwardly pulled his hand back.

Another scuffed the dirt with his foot, lowering his head while stealing nervous glances at Han Yan’s broad shoulders and the heavy basket resting there. A few of the braver ones tried to glare back, but their bravado wavered under his steady gaze, their expressions stiff and uncertain.

Han Yan stepped forward, placing himself squarely between them and Dong Hai. The shift was subtle but unmistakable a silent line drawn that none of the children dared cross. Murmurs rippled through the group, whispers of hesitation and unease replacing the earlier shouting.

He lowered himself slightly and looked down at Dong Hai. The boy’s face was red and smudged with dirt, one sleeve torn, his eyes glossy yet stubbornly bright. Though his body trembled, his jaw was clenched tight, refusing to show weakness.

"What happened?" Han Yan asked, his voice softening. "Why were you fighting?"

Dong Hai hesitated, glancing at the other children before looking away, fingers curling into his sleeve. Han Yan’s brows drew together.

"And where is Xin’er?" he continued, concern creeping into his tone. "Why weren’t you at home with him? You shouldn’t be wandering around like this."

At the mention of Lin Xin, Dong Hai’s shoulders slackened, the last traces of resistance quietly ebbing away. His lips moved slightly, as though words hovered on the verge of spilling out, yet in the end, he said nothing.

He lowered his head, remaining stubbornly silent, but the rims of his eyes had already reddened, moisture gathering despite his effort to hold it back.

Only then did Han Yan straighten and turn back to the group.

Several children flinched under his gaze. One took an unconscious step backward, another bit his lip, eyes darting as if searching for an escape. The earlier arrogance had vanished, replaced by guilt, fear, and unease.

"Now," Han Yan said evenly, his calm carrying a quiet pressure, "someone explain what happened."

One of the older boys finally spoke, emboldened by the heavy silence. He lifted his chin as if to appear brave, yet his fingers twitched nervously at his sides, and his eyes kept flicking toward Han Yan.

"He started it first" the boy said quickly, pointing straight at Dong Hai. "He took something that wasn’t his."

Han Yan’s gaze shifted and there stood Han Bo, puffing out his cheeks with a mix of stubborn pride and worry, his small hands fidgeting at his sides. While the boy speaking was called Lei Jun a little friend of Han Bo he shifted from foot to foot, trying to seem bold but the fear in his eyes betrayed him.

"What did he take?" Han Yan asked again, his voice calm but cold enough to make the boys flinch in fear.

Lei Jun swallowed hard, then blurted out, "It was Han Bo’s tuoluo, it’s a wooden spinning top! Dong Hai picked it up and wouldn’t give it back, no matter what we said."

"He just kept hiding it" another child added quickly, nodding along. "We told him to return it, but he ignored us."

"So we were just... just teaching him a lesson," Lei Jun finished it off, though his earlier bravado had completely drained.

Around them, the other children nodded one after another, some avoiding Han Yan’s gaze, others shifting uneasily on their feet. The playful mischief in the group had vanished, replaced by restless guilt and a nervous fear of what Han Yan might do next.

"Yeah, he’s always like that."

"He hit us!"

"We didn’t even hit him that hard!"

Dong Hai stiffened, his fingers tightening around his torn sleeve. He opened his mouth to protest but then hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground. Han Yan’s eyes darkened as he noticed this.

He took one slow step forward. The lively chatter died instantly.

"Teaching him a lesson... and how can you be sure it was him?"

Han Yan asked quietly, his tone even but edged with an unspoken chill. He swept his gaze across the children, calm yet unyielding, making them feel as though there was no place to hide.

"By ganging up on someone half your size?" he continued, the words soft but cutting, each one pressing down on the group like a weight.

The boy who had spoken swallowed and took a step back. Another child fidgeted, shoulders hunching as if trying to shrink away.

Han Yan glanced down at Dong Hai again, noting the dirt on his cheek and the faint swelling near his lip. His jaw tightened.

"If he truly did something wrong," Han Yan said, lifting his gaze back to the group, "then you should have told an adult. Not surrounded him."

No one answered.

The wind rustled through the trees, carrying away what little courage the children had left. One girl stared at her feet, face burning red. Another boy rubbed his arm, suddenly fascinated by the ground. Han Yan straightened fully, his presence imposing without effort.

Han Yan’s gaze softened slightly as he looked down at Dong Hai. The boy’s small frame trembled, fingers still clutching his torn sleeve.

"Dong Hai," Han Yan said quietly, his voice calm yet it carried a weight that made everywhere calm, "is what they said... true? Did you take Han Bo’s tuoluo?"

Dong Hai’s eyes widened, and he shook his head vigorously. "N-no! I didn’t take it!" His voice was small but firm, a mix of fear and stubbornness. "I only touched it... I didn’t hide it or keep it."

Han Yan nodded slowly, scanning the group of children. "Then who took it?" His tone remained calm, but the weight behind it made the children shuffle nervously.

Bao Rui, a slight and delicate-looking boy with soft features, shifted uncomfortably, hugging himself lightly. Cheeks flushed, he stammered, "I... I took it. I... I wanted to play with it because... Han Bo wouldn’t let me."

Han Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly at the confession. "I see. So you took it because you were upset he wouldn’t share?"

Bao Rui nodded, looking down, unable to meet Han Yan’s gaze. "Y-yes..."

Han Yan crouched slightly to meet Dong Hai’s level, giving the boy a reassuring nod. "Dong Hai did nothing wrong. He didn’t take it. He didn’t hide it. You see that now?"

Dong Hai’s tense shoulders relaxed slightly, a faint smile breaking through the dirt and tears on his cheeks. "Yes," he whispered.

Han Yan straightened and turned back to the group of children, his voice calm but carrying quiet authority.

"And the rest of you?" He looked at Bao Lin and the others. "Do you see why this was wrong? You cannot take what isn’t yours, and you cannot gang up on someone who hasn’t done anything to you. Do you understand?"

The children nodded, their earlier bravado gone, replaced by shame and unease.

"Yes..." Bao Rui whispered.

Han Yan gave a small, firm nod. "Good. Now, return the tuoluo, apologize, and let this be the last time something like this happens understand."

Bao Rui hesitated for a moment, then held out the tuoluo with both hands. "I... I’m sorry, Han Bo," he murmured.

His friends snorted derisively. "Hah! We wouldn’t have played with you anyway," one said, brushing off the apology.

Bao Rui’s shoulders slumped, and his lips trembled slightly. He stayed back, staring down at the ground, hurt clear in his delicate features, while the other children shuffled awkwardly.

"Go home," he said simply. The words landed like a verdict.

The children didn’t argue. One by one, they began to scatter, some breaking into awkward half-runs, others glancing back with lingering fear and shame. As they moved, several muttered hurried apologies.

"We’re... sorry too, Dong Hai," they said, voices low and eyes downcast.

Han Bo lingered a moment, cheeks puffed and brows furrowed in reluctance. After a brief pause, he finally muttered, "I... I’m sorry," his little friends echoed after him, mumbling their own apologies before hurrying off together.

Bao Rui stayed behind, shoulders slumped and lips trembling, clearly hurt by the friends’ earlier snorts. He watched the group vanish down the dusty lane, the clatter of their feet mingling with the distant crow of a rooster and the occasional clink of pots from nearby houses.

Only when they were gone did Han Yan exhale softly. He turned back to Dong Hai and crouched slightly, his voice gentler now.

"Are you hurt?"

Dong Hai shook his head, though his eyes were still wet.

"I—I’m fine," he muttered stubbornly.

Han Yan reached out and brushed some dirt from the boy’s sleeve.

"Next time," he said quietly, "you don’t fight alone. Understand?"

Dong Hai nodded, biting his lip.

Han Yan glanced toward the village path, concern returning to his eyes. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Come. Let’s find Lin Xin."

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