Chapter 53

Usually, the two of them take Xinxin wherever they go. Even on occasions where it’s truly impossible to bring a child along, they try their best to have one of them stay home to look after her. But today was the parent interview, and neither of them could be absent.

Chu Jiayun had lived and worked in Ancheng a few years ago, but there weren’t many people she could truly trust. Compared to Auntie Qian in Licheng, she hadn’t found anyone in the more developed and prosperous Ancheng to whom they could temporarily entrust the child.

Fortunately, Dr. Chen’s wife stepped forward in time, expressing her willingness to help look after Xinxin.

Yu Sui and Chu Jiayun were preparing to pick up Xinxin from Dr. Chen’s house. As they were nearing, Yu Sui suddenly said she wanted to take a detour elsewhere.

Chu Jiayun checked her watch; it was almost time for their appointment with Dr. Chen. “If it’s not particularly urgent, we can go together after we pick up Xinxin.”

“We should have enough time. If we’re a little late, I’ll just apologize to Dr. Chen.”

Chu Jiayun didn’t quite approve of this.

“They sacrificed their weekend to look after Xinxin. It’s not very polite for us to be late at our own discretion.”

“I’ve calculated the time; the probability of being late is very low.”

“How about I go pick up Xinxin first and meet you later?”

Yu Sui wouldn’t let Chu Jiayun act separately. “If you go pick her up empty-handed like that, she probably won’t be happy.”

Chu Jiayun smiled. “I always keep her favorite candies and snacks in my bag.”

While they were talking, the two arrived at the place Yu Sui was looking for. Chu Jiayun saw that it was a bakery.

Yu Sui went in and quickly bought several signature items. Chu Jiayun took a serious look at the shop’s introduction; it focused on healthy eating, with cakes specifically for people on diets or for children. Of course, the prices were not cheap.

This shop must have opened after she left Ancheng; she had no memory of it.

Yu Sui didn’t dally in the shop—selecting products, paying—she was quick and decisive.

“Xinxin performed exceptionally well today, so her reward should be upgraded accordingly.”

Chu Jiayun naturally wanted her daughter to be happy, but she was afraid Yu Sui would spoil Xinxin this way.

“If she develops a habit and expects a return for everything she does in the future, it might not be a good thing.”

“So that’s our homework as parents—to teach children how to reward themselves to find satisfaction, but also to teach them how to control desire and greed. Everything has two sides; the results produced by different people will be diametrically opposed.”

She looked with satisfaction at the beautifully packaged pastries in her hand. “To be honest, I really don’t want Xinxin to turn into a pushover later, only thinking about sacrifice and not considering herself at all.”

Chu Jiayun thought to herself: just a moment ago Yu Sui was confidently saying they were complementary, but now the differences in their parenting [bailiantales.com]styles were already becoming apparent.

It was Xinxin’s first time staying at a stranger’s house for so long, and both Mom and Auntie Yu were absent. No matter how much Chu Jiayun had explained or promised beforehand, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Everything around her was unfamiliar, even though the auntie, uncle, and the little older brother all seemed to like her very much. Xinxin didn’t bridge the distance with Dr. Chen’s family; aside from symbolically eating a bit of the food Chu Jiayun had left, Xinxin barely touched anything else.

Dr. Chen had two children: the older daughter was already in high school, and the younger son was in elementary school. This weekend, aside from the eldest daughter who was away at extra classes, the whole Chen family was home accompanying Xinxin.

For Chen Congda, who didn’t have a little sister, this Xinxin, who was even cuter than a doll, was truly adorable. But his parents told him strictly: no bullying Xinxin, no touching Xinxin casually, and especially no feeding Xinxin things behind their backs.

The two adults were very dedicated, staying by Xinxin’s side almost every step of the way. Unfortunately, this child hadn’t spoken much since Chu Jiayun left, focusing only on playing with the toys she had brought.

Chen Congda’s attention had shifted from Xinxin’s cute face to the airship in her hand that she wouldn’t let go of for a second. It looked so cool that drool was practically leaking from his eyes and nose.

Dr. Chen was usually busy with work and had no time for the kids. Having a full weekend at home was rare. Seeing Chen Congda’s undignified look, he couldn’t help but lightly rap his head.

Chen Congda covered his head and said aggrievedly, “Dad, what was that for?”

“How many times have I told you? Don’t stare at people like that. it’s impolite. Especially staring at a girl—it’s even more rude!”

“I was looking at the airship in her hand!”

Dr. Chen was even angrier. “Are the Legos in your room not enough? Is there any model you wanted that your mom and I haven’t gotten for you?”

His son’s lack of ambition really depressed him. A toy belonging to a three-year-old could make him so envious.

Chen Congda used to hope to spend more time with his father, but now he wished Dr. Chen would work overtime every week; his dad simply didn’t understand what he was talking about.

When Chu Jiayun and the others arrived, Xinxin snapped her head up, her eyes instantly lighting up. Before she could stand, the two who had missed their daughter dearly both strode toward her.

Mrs. Chen proactively stepped aside and smiled. “Xinxin is very sensible and well-behaved. This child is truly adorable.”

Chu Jiayun picked up Xinxin and thanked her. “Thank you for the hard work of looking after her today. Fortunately, she didn’t cause you more trouble.”

Xinxin put her arms around her mother’s neck, her little face pressed against her mother’s, needing to feel her mother’s warmth and scent to ease the tension and fear of this brief separation.

Dr. Chen was very gratified. Looking at the scene of the mother and daughter leaning on each other, he sighed softly, “It’s a good thing you changed your mind back then. Xinxin is a worthy child.”

Dr. Chen’s voice was very soft, almost only she could hear it, but Chu Jiayun still felt inexplicably guilty and subconsciously glanced at Yu Sui.

At this moment, Yu Sui was handing the cake she bought to Mrs. Chen. From the moment she asked the shop assistant to pack it separately, Chu Jiayun knew her intention.

Chen Congda found a chance and finally approached Chu Jiayun. “Auntie Chu, can you tell me where Xinxin’s airship toy was bought?”

With her mother backing her up, Xinxin was finally ​stolen content​not as introverted and silent as before; she was much more energetic in her mother’s arms.

“This is the Xinxin Airship. You can’t buy it.”

Children always like to name toys after themselves to emphasize ownership; Chen Congda didn’t take it seriously.

Dr. Chen was a bit embarrassed. “He’s liked playing with models since he was little. He has a pile in his room. I don’t know what kind of spell he’s under today, fixating on a small child’s things.”

He wasn’t satisfied with his son’s performance, but if the child really liked it, he would just buy it. He intended to find out from Chu Jiayun where it was bought so he could get one for Chen Congda.

Chu Jiayun said apologetically, “This was specifically designed and customized for Xinxin by Yu Sui. It probably can’t be bought.”

Chen Congda’s eyes went straight; he didn’t know whether to let his tears of envy flow from his eyes or nose.

He so envied Xinxin—being so cute, having an exclusive toy at such a young age, and having such a gentle mother.

Xinxin held the Xinxin Airship tightly, while also feeling a little proud.

Yu Sui walked over then, wanting to pick up Xinxin, but the item in her hand first caught the little one’s attention.

“Auntie Yu.” Xinxin didn’t say much, but her eyes made it impossible to refuse.

Yu Sui steeled her heart. “You can’t eat it until tonight.”

Xinxin pouted, her eyebrows drooping halfway. “Auntie Yu is bad.”

Coming out of Dr. Chen’s house, Xinxin’s long-tense nerves finally relaxed. She had already fallen asleep on Yu Sui before they reached home.

Yu Sui gently placed Xinxin on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and watched her for a while before leaving the room.

Chu Jiayun was looking at the other materials she brought back from the kindergarten today. Seeing Yu Sui’s look as she turned back three times for every step she took, she empathized but still asked knowingly, “It’s not your first time seeing Xinxin. No need to be so exaggerated, right?”

Yu Sui made no secret of her love for her daughter. “I haven’t seen her for a few hours today; it really felt like every day was a year.”

“Then why were you so heartless earlier not letting her eat the cake?”

“This will be of great use tonight.”

Chu Jiayun couldn’t guess what she wanted to do. She found she had tricks for dealing with a small child like Xinxin, but for a “big child” like Yu Sui, she still needed more experience.

When Xinxin finally reached the moment she could eat the cake, Yu Sui suddenly started talking to her earnestly about the “kindergarten life” she would soon face.

Xinxin had already had a hard time staying at a stranger’s house for a few hours today, so the so-called group life didn’t appeal to her. But Auntie Yu was speaking so vividly and working so hard at it that it would be rude not to give her some face. Besides, she really wanted to eat the cake.

So Xinxin nodded hard. “I understand.”

Yu Sui doubted Xinxin understood the meaning of kindergarten and emphasized again: “Kindergarten means Xinxin has to leave Mom and Auntie Yu, stay with other children, eat together, nap together, play games together, and also listen to the teacher.”

Xinxin kept looking at the cake, her tongue sticking out from time to time. “I understand.”

“Then Xinxin can’t cry when she goes to kindergarten. You have to be happy with the other children, okay?”

Xinxin pursed her lips, trying hard to control herself from grabbing the cake. “Okay.”

The admission notice arrived as scheduled. Chu Jiayun and Yu Sui were busy again—busy picking up school uniforms, buying school bags, and choosing many meeting gifts for the other children.

But Xinxin was still frightened by the scene on the first day of school. After all, there was crying all around, making her originally calm state of mind gradually collapse. Other children were forced from their parents’ arms, watching as their parents walked further and further away while they had to stay in this strange place. Who could stay calm?

Xinxin’s little face scrunched up as she clung tightly to Chu Jiayun’s neck, refusing to even look up. “Mom, I want to go home.”

Yu Sui was holding her little school bag, with the pink water bottle hanging from her wrist, and her other hand was holding the little hat they bought yesterday.

“Xinxin, didn’t we agree? You ate the cake, so you’d go to kindergarten obediently.”

Xinxin still wanted to go home, but remembering the agreement with Auntie Yu, she had to stop her sobbing.

Compared to the other students who were already wailing, Xinxin’s restraint was quite striking.

The teacher in charge of reception walked over with a smile, first taking the school bag and water bottle from Yu Sui, then walking to Chu Jiayun’s side, saying softly, “Little Xinxin, welcome to Detian Kindergarten.”

The teacher’s voice was very pleasant, but Xinxin didn’t care.

Chu Jiayun was a bit reluctant and couldn’t bear to forcefully set her daughter down, so she had to apologize to the teacher.

The teacher was used to this kind of scene. Every time new students entered the school, these scenes, comparable to “life and death partings,” were a common occurrence.

“It’s normal for children to be nervous. If parents aren’t at ease, they can observe for a bit longer.”