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

Wenli's first homework assignment was a drawing titled "My Home".

Nai Tuanzi is no stranger to drawing family portraits. The one she drew when she first came to the Duan family is still hanging in her grandfather's study.

However, this painting needs to be handed in to the teacher, so I need to think about it carefully.

She lay on the table, her little hands holding a colored pencil, drawing each stroke with great care.

After drawing Mommy, Daddy, Grandpa, Gugu, and Uncle in turn, Wenli listened to Grandpa this time and didn't draw herself in the corner. Instead, she stood between Mommy and Daddy.

Pear is a loved child now, so it doesn't matter if she's small.

However, this is not complete.

She drew another person next to her uncle.

Curly hair, holding a cup in her hand—it's Grandma!

She tilted her head to look at the drawing paper and added a few more strokes.

Now, Grandma and Uncle are holding hands, their faces beaming with smiles, looking very happy.

The milk ball was very satisfied with this.

Qin Zhiyuan was originally going to say goodbye to the little girl, but when she saw this painting, she stopped in her tracks.

When Chenchen was little, he also drew a family portrait. He drew her in the very center, making her the biggest one, holding his hand in the same way, smiling.

A painting is a window, the best way to express a child's wishes.

"Lili's drawing is really good," she praised softly.

Wen Li looked up at her, her little voice soft and sweet: "Grandma, are you staying at home tonight?"

Qin Zhiyuan did not answer immediately.

Duan Hetong, who was standing next to her, said casually, "She woke up once last night but couldn't find you."

He stopped short of saying more, and even if he didn't elaborate, any parent could guess how uneasy the child would react.

Qin Zhiyuan looked at Wen Li's expectant eyes and tidied the stray hairs on her forehead.

"If our Lili wants to."

Wen Li jumped off the small chair and cheered, "Okay!"

Then she ran towards the door, shouting as she ran, "Grandpa Butler—Grandpa Butler—Grandma wants to stay tonight!"

The butler, who was passing by in the corridor, almost thought he had misheard and looked at Qin Zhiyuan in surprise: "Madam? Is this true?"

Wen Li turned to look at Qin Zhiyuan and answered for her, her eyes crinkling, "Grandma said it's okay!"

Qin Zhiyuan smiled and nodded.

The butler finally realized what was happening and unconsciously quickened his pace: "Quickly, quickly tidy up the second floor, make sure the aromatherapy is the Madam's favorite scent, and check the air purifier!"

After giving his instructions here, he instructed there, "Also, the new bedding that was just delivered yesterday—Madam likes purple, go and prepare it!"

The servants all sprang into action, their footsteps echoing as they went upstairs, their voices tinged with barely suppressed excitement.

"Will Madam be staying at the old house tonight?"

"I haven't been back for so many years..."

"I wonder if she still has the curtains she used to like..."

Little Wenli is also a little magician connecting her family today.

-

into the night.

The ground lights in the courtyard were turned on, spreading out warm yellow light and dispelling the chill of the daytime.

Wenli's little shoes made a soft clattering sound on the stone pavement: "Grandma! Here! Here! This swing is so much fun!"

She then pointed to the topic next to her: "This one's good too!"

Qin Zhiyuan, with Duan Shimi holding her arm, slowed her pace as she looked at the backyard illuminated by the lights.

It has been a long time since I stood here at this time.

Duan Hetong walked a little behind them: "Li Bao, are you going to assign tasks to everyone tonight?"

"Yes, yes!" Wen Li said earnestly, "Grandma sits here, pushes us around, and goes down the slide!"

Duan Hetong asked, "And what about you?"

The little bundle of joy put her hands on her hips and exclaimed, "Pear Baby—take a picture of everyone!"

It's always someone else taking pictures of her, now it's her turn!

The adults were amused by her serious little face.

Qin Zhiyuan sat on the swing as she was "ordered" and beckoned to Wen Li: "Lili, come and keep Grandma company. It's not fun to be alone."

Wen Li ran over and was put on her grandmother's lap. Still not giving up her dream of becoming a little photographer, she flipped her phone into selfie mode: "Grandma, call me Li Bao."

Qin Zhiyuan didn't react immediately: "Huh?"

The milk dumpling, looking quite serious, pointed to itself and said, "Call me by Li Bao's name."

Although she still didn't understand her meaning, Qin Zhiyuan listened to her and tentatively called out, "Lili...?"

The milk dumpling grinned: "Hey!"

With a click, the camera captured a smiling baby and an adult.

Qin Zhiyuan exclaimed in surprise, "The shape of the mouth for 'pear'... it has this function?"

Duan Hetong couldn't help but chuckle: "She's never asked us to do that before; it's only because you're the only one who calls her that."

The little dumpling kicked its little feet proudly.

She remembers very clearly everyone's love for her!

The swing began to sway gently.

Duan Shimi asked with a smile, "Xiao Bao, would you like it to go a little higher?"

"want--!"

The clear, crisp laughter drifted far, far away under the moonlight.

On the other side, some people were looking out of the study window, pretending they weren't looking at the others.

"Did you win an award when you were in fifth grade?" Duan Yuanzhou suddenly asked.

Duan Xianchen was taken aback: "Why did you suddenly bring this up?"

"Where's the certificate? Do you remember it?"

"I should have put it away back then," he thought for a moment. "It's been so long, I don't remember."

Duan Yuanzhou slowly shook his head: "Your mother took it."

Duan Xianchen was stunned.

Duan Yuanzhou said meaningfully, "For a long time afterward, she kept it with her. Every time she met someone, she would show it off..."

Seeing his youngest son standing there blankly, the old man sighed: "You two, mother and son, neither of you is willing to communicate. One of you has grievances in your heart, but you keep them bottled up and don't ask, and the other never takes the initiative to speak up either. That's how you've been stuck like this for so many years, in this cold war."

Duan Xianchen lowered his eyes.

Why?

Why is no one willing to take the first step?

Is saving face really more important than family ties?

After a long pause, he pursed his lips, pretending his voice wasn't hoarse: "Aren't you the same?"

Duan Yuanzhou: "..."

Then he raised his cane to strike him: "You brat, you've gone too far! How dare you try to tell your old man what to do!"

Duan Xianchen covered his head and ran away like a rat.

After "escaping" from the study, he slowed his pace and couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile.

There's really nothing to be happy about.

but.

This is all because of Li Bao.

-

【Tan City Bilingual Kindergarten - Cotton Candy Class (30)】

[Shen Yaya's mother: Is Qiu Xin's parent home?]

No one answered in the group.

[Shen Yaya's mother: If you don't have money, don't force yourself into other people's circles. Even a pheasant that flies up a branch won't become a phoenix!]

[Shen Yaya's mother: My daughter is usually our precious darling, but today she came home crying! When we asked, she said some other children called her a bad child that nobody wanted!]

[Shen Yaya's mother: Listen to this! Is this something a kindergarten child should be saying?]

[Shen Yaya's mother: Some parents, control your children!]

Before the other parents could speak, she launched into a barrage of questions:

[Shen Yaya's mother: Are Wen Li's parents here? Your child has just transferred to this school, so please teach them the rules!]

[Shen Yaya's mother: My daughter said that it was your child who instigated Qiu Xin!]

[Shen Yaya's mother: Adults need to improve their manners! Don't teach your children to use foul language!]

Finally, someone else spoke up:

[Li Xiang's mother: You can't believe everything children say; you still need to find out what really happened.]

[Wang Ke's father: It's normal for kids to throw little tantrums before.]

[Grandpa Wu Shuo: This is the 21st century! What pheasant or phoenix? Are you still living in the old society?]

However, there were also parents who were used to currying favor with the powerful and influential, and they fawned over the Shen family:

[Grandma Chen Hao: Ya Ya is a good child; she wouldn't say something like that without reason.]

[Zhao Ning's mother: Ya Ya's mother is right. Nowadays, some people will go to any lengths to get into a good school.]

[Wu Tong's father: @Shen Yaya's mother, Yaya's mother, don't be angry. Getting angry is bad for your health. Some parents come from different social classes, so it's best not to let your children bring their street habits to school.]

Some people were unwilling to get involved and just wanted to avoid trouble:

We're all in the same class, and we'll be spending more time together, so let's all keep to ourselves.

Stop arguing in the group chat, let's wait for the school to handle it.

The parents of the two children at the center of the incident, Qiu Xin and Wen Li, have not yet appeared.

The group chat was in complete chaos, with many people frantically tagging Teacher Zhang.

After a while, she arrived late:

[Teacher Zhang: Dear parents, I have reported the minor altercation between the children today to the leadership. The kindergarten will handle the matter appropriately after understanding the situation.]

[Teacher Zhang: Please refrain from speculation and arguments in the group chat to avoid affecting other parents.]

Although no names were mentioned directly, Mrs. Shen understood that this was a form of implicit favoritism.

The more the school hesitates to publicly refute her, the more it shows that they are unwilling to offend the Shen family for the sake of a few ordinary families.

She's seen it all.

The discussion in the group gradually subsided, and Teacher Zhang sent out another notification:

[Teacher Zhang: Also, a reminder to all parents that the schedule for the kindergarten open day the day after tomorrow has been finalized. Parents who have received invitations to the special event, please arrive at the time specified in your notification.]

Mrs. Shen read the string of "Received" and "Thank you, teacher" below, opened her private chat window with Teacher Zhang, and found the electronic invitation.

The so-called special events are actually a way for the kindergarten to win over powerful and influential parents.

Only those with backgrounds like theirs are qualified to enter.

What good are those country bumpkins like Qiu Xin and Wen Li if they sell everything they own to get into school?

They will never be able to break into high society circles.

However, on the day of the event, she wanted to see what the two children's impoverished families looked like.

Mrs. Shen dialed the number: "Honey, when are you coming back? Are you still going to Ya Ya's event the day after tomorrow?"

Just from his voice, one could imagine Boss Shen's radiant face: "Wife, you go ahead, I have more important things to do! Do you know who I'm having dinner with tonight?"

Mrs. Shen looked at her newly done manicure and scoffed, "You look so unsophisticated. Are you sitting at the same table as Duan Hetong?"

Boss Shen slapped his thigh: "Hey, it's actually getting closer!"

Mrs. Shen sat bolt upright, her voice rising: "Really? You've made contact with the Duan Group?"

"More or less!" Boss Shen beamed. "He's the cousin of Duan Hetong's secretary's wife! He said he even had tea with Duan Hetong before!"

Mrs. Shen was a little disappointed, but she still cheered herself up: "Then husband, you should treat them well. Maybe one day we'll really get in touch with the Duan family, and then we'll never have to worry about anything again..."