"Madam, friendships between children rarely last forever. Besides, you live far apart. Once they leave, you should guide little Leon to make new friends and help him gradually integrate into school."

Jasmine's words were based on the normal needs of a child's growth, but Celine did not agree.

"Little Leon is special; he gets hurt at school. He already has no parents, and I can't let him suffer any more."

Yu Lian and Jasmine exchanged a glance, both understanding that this family had left a deep scar on more than just little Leon.

"Madam, please speak frankly."

Yu Lian was unwilling to continue feigning compliance.

Celine wiped away her tears and hesitated before making her request: "Could we move to live near your house? I promise I won't bother you; I just want little Leon to have a playmate. Of course, if the children don't accept him, I'll take him back to our country immediately."

This was different from what Yu Lian had expected, and also different from what He Ning'an had heard before.

So at first, Yu Lian didn't completely believe it.

After all, even Ms. Samuel had warned her.

"Ms. Celine, I find it hard to believe what you're saying. After all, where you live is your choice, and being far from your own country isn't an easy decision for your business as a couple."

Celine agreed with her statement and explained, "My husband doesn't need to go; I'll stay with little Leon. Of course, the collaboration we discussed a couple of days ago still stands, as a small token of our gratitude. I know it's far from enough, but it's just our initial expression of sincerity."

Yu Lian understood Celine's feelings, but she was not in a position to offer any advice on this matter.

Leaving one's homeland just for the sake of a child's playmate is almost impossible, especially for this couple.

"Madam, we don't mind this in itself, provided that only the purest friendship between the children is preserved, without any other interference. We have no right to interfere with where you choose to live, much less with the children's friendship. But please reconsider this matter."

Jasmine spoke before Yu Lian could, then pulled Yu Lian away to let her calm down by herself.

"No, we can't get that close. What if we fall?"

He Ningchuan pulled little Leon over. Although little Leon didn't understand, he still obediently did as he was told.

He Ningxi stepped forward: "Brother, Leon is sick. Please be gentler next time. Mom said we should take care of children."

He Ningze, clutching his stomach, laughed, "Hahaha, this little foreigner is older than you; it's more like he's taking care of you."

He Ningxi looked incredulous, thinking her brother was lying. She ran to little Leon's side and compared their heights.

"No, that's not true! Look, I'm taller than him."

Little Leon couldn't understand what the other children were saying, but he understood He Ningxi's actions.

Because of his frail body, no one dared to play freely with him; they all treated him like a porcelain doll.

A wave of despondency instantly enveloped him; he stood to the side with his head drooping, unable to smile anymore.

"Why are you saying that? Little Leon is angry."

"I don't think he's angry, he's sad."

"They're all pretty much the same. Anyway, you're not allowed to say that again."

He Ningxi didn't know how to comfort him, so she pulled her brother and gestured, making a big eating motion, and then gestured back and forth between him and her brother.

"Eat more, and you'll be as tall as your brother when you grow up."

Little Leon nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Fearing he wouldn't understand, He Ningxi went to ask her older brother to come and act as a translator.

"Big brother, tell him that if he eats well from now on, he'll be as tall as you. Next time we come, we'll play with him again."

He Ning'an squatted down and whispered her sister's words to Leon.

To everyone's surprise, as soon as he finished speaking, little Leon became extremely agitated, stomping his feet restlessly on the spot.

It wasn't until Celine came over that she guessed what her grandson was thinking.

"Little Leon doesn't want you to leave."

He Ning'an was startled, but his face remained calm: "Ms. Celine, school is about to start, and if we don't go back soon, we'll fall behind in our studies."

"I know. Could you ask your younger siblings if they'd like to play with little Leon?"

"Of course I would. My younger siblings have many friends at school, and they get along well with any friendly children."

"Okay, thank you. Have a safe journey. Little Leon needs to take his medicine; we'll head down the mountain now."

Little Leon was extremely reluctant, but Celine squatted down and said a few words to him, and he simply waved and left with his grandmother.

The crisis was resolved so easily by the departure of the family of three, much simpler than they had anticipated.

This trip, though not perfect, ended successfully in the afternoon.

Jasmine had other things to do, so she didn't stay any longer and left with her boyfriend.

However, before leaving, Li An whispered something to Yu Lian.

Yu Lian's expression changed slightly.

He Lin naturally noticed this and cared about it a lot.

After returning home, he asked about it several times, both openly and subtly.

But Yu Lian kept it to herself until she returned to China, without saying a word.

He Lin became increasingly curious, so much so that even a week after returning to China, the matter was still on his mind.

These past few days, he's been coming home earlier and earlier.

"Didn't Mom pick you up today?"

The children stared intently at the television, then shook their heads in unison.

"Strange..." Even when she was told to send the driver before, she was always worried and insisted on going herself.

Why didn't you pick me up from school today? There shouldn't be anything urgent at the company.

"Where's my older brother?"

"I went out with my mom."

"When?"

"They didn't tell us this morning."

He Lin was about to ask another question when there was a commotion at the door. He turned around and was surprised to see his mother-in-law and mother appear at the same time.

Li Ying extended her hand: "Come lend a hand, put the groceries in the kitchen. I forgot to tell you, Lianlian suddenly said this morning she wanted to take An'an to Singapore, to see... what was it again, Meixia?"

Wang Meixia squinted, trying hard to recall: "What was she looking at... the botanical garden or... I'm too old to remember. She should have arrived by now; she said it would be a four-hour flight."

He Lin paused for half a second as he took the food.

He put his things away and went straight upstairs to his bedroom.

Sure enough, I found a white sticky note on the bedside table:

I took An'an to the Singapore Botanical Garden. Didn't you ask me what Lian told me? He said An'an likes plants, and I wanted to make An'an happy.

The New Zealand Botanic Gardens is the most prestigious botanical garden in the world today; there is no other professional botanical garden that can rival it.

He Lin sighed deeply, finally relieved.

He also made a phone call, asking a friend to secretly keep an eye on things.

Upon landing, because she hadn't booked a hotel in advance, Yu Lian spent extra money to stay in the best hotel in Singapore.

She never skimps on money in this regard, especially since safety and comfort are always her top priorities when she's with a child.

"An'an, let's explore the local area today. We'll have plenty of time tomorrow, and Mommy will go with you both in the morning and afternoon, okay?"

He Ning'an nodded heavily. Even now, he still felt somewhat dazed and unreal.

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