Mommy, don't be afraid, I'll bring you blind boxes and scam you out of a wealthy family to

Duan Xianchen and Qin Zhiyuan were both taken aback.

They probably know, and the little guy wants them to make up.

But a mirror? ...What's that for?

Wen Li held up the funhouse mirror high, pointing it at the two people, her little face full of anticipation.

As long as they can see the "past," the uncle and grandmother can make up.

It definitely can!

However, Duan Xianchen's figure in the mirror appeared shorter and stout, while Qin Zhiyuan's figure appeared longer and thinner. Apart from that, there were no other obvious changes.

"Huh?" Wen Li held the funhouse mirror up to her eyes in confusion, muttering to herself, "Is it broken?"

Undeterred, she took another picture of herself and her uncle and grandmother, this time including herself in the photo.

Aside from the fact that Pear Baby was squeezed into an hourglass shape, there was no difference.

The little dumpling couldn't understand, so she stretched out her little hand and gently patted the frame of her glasses: "Work."

[Chirp! Little Pear, the funhouse mirror isn't broken.] The system couldn't help but explain, [It's something that someone secretly modified, so it can show your original appearance. But some people have always looked the same, so they haven't changed.]

The little dumpling racked its brains, and after a while, nodded, saying in its childish voice, "Pear Baby understands!"

If the wheels of a toy car are installed crookedly, a funhouse mirror can reveal it.

However, if no one repairs it and it remains in place, there's nothing that can be done about the funhouse mirror.

The little dumpling hugged the mirror, looking somewhat disappointed: "Uncle and Grandma, this isn't something a funhouse mirror can fix."

Although Duan Xianchen didn't know what Wen Li wanted to do, he patted her head and said, "Let's go home."

Wen Li hesitated, glancing at Qin Zhiyuan. Isn't Grandma coming home with us today...?

Qin Zhiyuan called out to her, "Lili."

Wen Li thought she had changed her mind and ran over expectantly: "Grandma?"

Qin Zhiyuan squatted down and straightened her slightly crooked braid: "I'd like to ask you for help to pass on a message to your uncle."

Wen Li blinked.

"Tell him that everything he has today is the result of his own hard work. Not because of me, and not because of his father. We've all seen it all these years."

After she finished speaking, she pinched Wen Li's little cheek: "Can you remember?"

The milk ball nodded: "I'll remember!"

Qin Zhiyuan smiled and said, "See you next time."

After saying that, without waiting for Wen Li's reply or looking at Duan Xianchen, he turned and left.

Wen Li returned to Duan Xianchen's side with regret. The latter looked at her, hesitant to speak.

Wen Li guessed what he wanted to ask and took the initiative to admit, "Grandma told Li Bao to talk to Uncle."

"Um... everything Uncle has now, he... he got it all himself." The little dumpling stammered, trying hard to repeat, "It wasn't Grandma who gave it to him, and it wasn't... it wasn't Grandpa who gave it to him."

She added her own interpretation: "Grandma and Grandpa were secretly 'seeing' Uncle!"

Duan Xianchen's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't speak.

As a child, he, like all children, longed for affirmation from his parents, especially his mother who was away from home most of the time.

When he was ten years old, he won first place in the school's oral competition. The champion went on stage to receive the award and had his picture taken.

He ran home with the certificate in his arms, so excited that he didn't even change his shoes.

The servant told him that the lady had gone to attend an international conference.

He placed the certificate in the most conspicuous spot in the living room.

Day 1. Day 2. Day 3...

More than a week passed, and she still hadn't returned.

So he locked the certificate in the cabinet.

At the age of twelve, he had a fever of 40 degrees Celsius. His older brother peeled an apple for him, his older sister let him watch cartoons, and even his busy father came to stay with him.

But he kept asking, half-asleep, "When is Mom coming back?"

The answer was always the same: they were abroad, coordinating the transfer of refugee children, and couldn't come back.

—In her eyes, all the children in the world are more important than herself, right?

In the dead of night, he looked at one of the few, no, the only, photos of his mother and him together when she attended his parent-teacher conference.

I zoomed in and out, and then suddenly realized that the photo was so unfamiliar, so unfamiliar, like someone else's mother.

He deleted the photo and never expected her to come home again.

In the years that followed, he studied hard, worked hard, and kept moving forward.

He just wanted to prove that he could stand tall even without her or anyone else.

But today, she told him that she had been watching every step he took.

Duan Xianchen held Wen Li's small hand, recalling his mother's firm gaze and her unwavering trust and support during the hearing today.

The wall around my heart is still very high.

It also seems that a crack has appeared.

Wen Li, clutching the funhouse mirror, followed her uncle to the parking lot, secretly observing him.

I felt that after Grandma said those things, my uncle seemed less angry.

But they still didn't speak.

[Chirp! Congratulations, host, you have completed the side quest: Help Duan Xianchen prove himself. Reward: 20000 points.]

Current points: 240000.

[Little Pear, you're doing great! You're one step closer to saving Mommy!]

Wen Li looked at her points, but she wasn't that happy.

She puffed out her little face.

Grandma and Uncle haven't made up, so Pear Baby still has a long way to go!

-

The kindergarten that had been arranged long ago was delayed due to various issues, and today, Wen Li finally ushered in the official start of school.

Early in the morning, she changed into her brand-new uniform, carried her little schoolbag, and waited at the door.

She had been to kindergarten; there were lots of toys, lots of children, and slides, swings, and tunnels.

Although I have these things at home, playing with others is definitely a different experience.

However, along with anticipation, there was also a bit of nervousness.

Will other children like Pear?

What if they don't want to play with me?

Thinking of this, the little dumpling secretly took a breath and encouraged herself:

It's okay, Pear can take the initiative to play with others!

The person in charge of Wen Li's class happens to be the same Teacher Zhang who had helped her before.

She saw the little bundle of milk and her eyes crinkled into a smile: "Welcome, Pear Baby."

The little girl was a bit shy, but still sweetly called out, "Teacher Zhang!"

Teacher Zhang knelt down, took the little schoolbag from her, and said gently, "You still remember your teacher?"

"I remember!" The little dumpling nodded.

Teacher Zhang is a very good teacher, but she was wronged by bad people, and Li Bao certainly remembers that.

Teacher Zhang patted her head, took her little hand, and led her into the classroom.

There were about a dozen children sitting in the classroom, all looking over at the same time.

Despite having been in such close contact with the "audience" in public several times before, Wen Li still couldn't help but feel nervous, clutching her skirt.

Teacher Zhang put her hand on her shoulder: "Come and say hello to everyone."

Wen Li pursed her lips, gathering her courage: "Hello everyone... My name is Wen Li, I'm three and a half years old... I want to... to... with everyone..."

Oops, I forgot my lines.

Teacher Zhang smiled and said to the children, "How about we all give Wen Li a round of applause and cheer her on?"

A unified round of applause erupted from below.

Wen Li blinked, then slowly added the second half of her sentence, which she had finally remembered: "—Make friends with everyone!"

After speaking, he bowed politely.

The applause rang out again, this time much more enthusiastic.

Wen Li is as cute as a doll, and all the students in the Cotton Candy Class like her very much.

When snacks were being distributed, the little girl next to her shared half of a bear-shaped cookie with her.

When Wen Li was learning to sing nursery rhymes, she couldn't keep up with the tune, but no one laughed at her.

When it was time for outdoor activities, the two little boys offered to let her play on the swings first.

It was the first time Wen Li had ever realized that milk could be packaged in such a small cardboard box.

It was the first time I realized that cake could be shared with so many children—the feeling of sharing is so wonderful.

Teacher Zhang stood to the side, looking at the new little ones, her heart softening terribly.

On her first day of school, she not only didn't cry or make a fuss, but also got along very well with her classmates.

When playing on the slide, she will obediently stand at the back row; if someone bumps into her, she will say "It's okay" first.

She's so sensible it breaks my heart.

-

Nap time is the biggest challenge for children in the youngest class.

These are all babies who have only recently been separated from their parents. Some are tossing and turning in bed, some insist on using their own pillows, some want the teacher to pat them, and many more are whimpering and missing their mothers and fathers.

The teachers were initially worried that Wen Li would have trouble adjusting on her first day of school, but to their surprise, she turned out to be the most worry-free student in the entire class.

Milk Dumpling took off her shoes, climbed onto her crib, folded her coat neatly, and placed it on the bedside table.

Then I covered myself with the blanket, closed my eyes, and remained quiet and still.

With her curled eyelashes, rosy cheeks, and steady, sweet breathing, she looked like a kitten basking in the sun.

The teachers couldn't help but take a few more glances:

How can there be such a well-behaved and adorable child?

Half an hour later, only the sound of even breathing remained in the classroom.

To test whether the children were truly asleep, the teacher deliberately lowered her voice and whispered, as if playing a game, "Children who are asleep, please raise your hands—"

The children were already familiar with the teacher's "tricks," and they all smiled with upturned corners but kept their eyes closed, pretending to be little wooden figures.

But Wen Li took it seriously.

She was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open, but upon hearing the instruction, she still groggily stretched her little arm out from under the covers.

"Pear...sleep..."

Before she could finish speaking, her little hand fell limp again because she was too sleepy.

Now she's completely asleep.

Teacher Zhang was so charmed that she took a picture and sent it to the parents:

[Pear Baby's afternoon nap was perfect!]

Meanwhile, in the conference room of the Duan Group.

A dozen senior executives were reporting on their quarterly plans in a tense and solemn atmosphere, much like a court session.

Duan Hetong sat in the main seat, his hands clasped together, his expression cold and stern.

Until the phone vibrated slightly.

He didn't intend to pay attention to it, but after glancing at the note out of the corner of his eye, he picked it up anyway.

When I saw the photo, the corners of my lips unconsciously curved upwards.

The smile was very faint, yet it was genuine.

The already quiet conference room was now completely silent, down to the sound of breathing.

The senior executives exchanged glances.

The boss...

You laughed?

—The stock price hit the daily limit?

—Vulgar. Are you in a relationship?

—How could that be? The boss only has eyes for the little princess right now.

—Nothing tastes as good as raising a daughter when it comes to finding a partner.

Duan Hetong saved the photo and set it as his wallpaper.

Then he put down his phone, looked up, and became the icy tyrant again: "Continue."

No one noticed what happened for the next two hours.

He looked down at the lock screen nine times in total.