November 23, 2025 18:01:32 | Author: Bu Jin Chun
Out of the corner of her eye, Qiao Jiangyue noticed Pei Yanshen’s dark expression as he seemed to be arguing with Zhong Qing. A trace of smugness flickered in her eyes.
It seemed her strategy of starting with Pei Le’an had been the right move.
If Zhong Qing hadn’t suddenly come back out of nowhere, perhaps she would have been the one attending the parent-teacher meeting today.
Feeling better, she bent down gently and coaxed,
“It’s okay, Xiao An. You can tell me anything. We’re good friends, aren’t we?”
Only then did Pei Le’an muster his courage. Blushing, he said shyly,
“It’s just… when my mom was looking for me, she hurt her foot. I wanted to ask if there’s any medicine she can use. I can pay for it!”
Pei Yanshen usually gave him and Xiaoyu pocket money. Xiao An had always saved his.
Qiao Jiangyue’s smile froze instantly.
But Xiao An didn’t notice. He hurriedly explained, eyes darting away,
“I’m not forgiving her or anything! It’s just because she got hurt looking for me. That’s all!”
Qiao Jiangyue had spent enough time with him to understand a child’s heart.
Of course he cared about Zhong Qing.
For a split second, she nearly lost control and wanted to scold him outright—
After everything Zhong Qing did to you, you forgive her just like that? Are all the Pei family members missing a screw?!
But she swallowed it down and forced a stiff smile.
“You’re so thoughtful, Xiao An. It’s just… Sister Zhong Qing is from Shanghai. She has high standards. I’m afraid she might not even look at medicine from a small place like ours.”
Then she added gently, “But since you’re so sincere, of course I’ll help you.”
The light in Xiao An’s eyes dimmed.
Auntie Qiao was right. Zhong Qing didn’t like this place. She probably wouldn’t want medicine he bought.
“Forget it!” he said stubbornly.
Since the meeting was about to begin and her goal had been achieved, Qiao Jiangyue didn’t linger.
When Xiao An returned alone, looking dejected, Zhong Qing said nothing. She simply took a handful of candy from her space and stuffed it into his hands.
“Go share it with your friends.”
As soon as she arrived at school, she had noticed many curious little eyes glancing at her.
While Xiao An had been talking to Qiao Jiangyue, she’d chatted with some of the other children and learned about Xiao An’s situation at kindergarten.
Without giving him a chance to refuse, she followed the other parents into the classroom.
While the parents were inside for the meeting, they could clearly see rows of little heads pressed against the windows outside, munching on candy and whispering excitedly.
“Pei Le’an’s mom is so nice! She’s pretty and even gave us candy!”
“I’m so jealous. I wish my mom was like yours.”
“Does your mom pick you up every day now?”
If that were true, wouldn’t that mean candy every time?
For the first time, Xiao An was surrounded by admiration. Of course he felt happy.
In contrast, Liu Yaozu sat alone in a corner, playing with grass, ignored by everyone.
After a moment’s thought, Xiao An walked over and held out a candy.
“Here. Yours.”
Liu Yaozu instinctively thought Xiao An had come to mock him. After all, he had falsely accused him of stealing before, and their parents had even argued in the office.
But before he could retort, his eyes were drawn to the candy resting in Xiao An’s palm.
The wrapper shimmered under the sunlight. Just looking at it made his mouth water.
“I get one too?” he asked in disbelief.
Xiao An nodded and pressed it into his hand.
He knew too well how it felt to be isolated and ignored.
If he turned a blind eye—or worse—wouldn’t he become the same kind of person Liu Yaozu had been?
“I already gave it to you. Whether you eat it is up to you.”
He turned to leave when a shout came from behind.
“I’m sorry!”
Liu Yaozu squatted on the ground, teary-eyed. “Before, my mom always said your mom was bad and told me to stay away from you, or I’d be led astray. That’s why I misunderstood you.”
This apology was far more sincere than the one forced in the office.
“Pei Le’an, can we still be good friends?”
Xiao An pressed his lips together. “That depends on how you behave.”
When the meeting ended, Zhao Xiulan stepped out and saw her precious Yaozu trailing behind the Pei family’s boy, grinning foolishly.
Her chest tightened with anger. She stormed over and yanked Liu Yaozu by the ear.
“Are you starving to death at home? Do we not feed you enough?!”
If it had been anyone else, she wouldn’t have been so furious.
But it was Pei Le’an. Zhong Qing.
Their family was still arguing over having to apologize to them.
Was her silly son deliberately trying to embarrass her?
But children didn’t understand such twists and turns.
Liu Yaozu only knew he’d been playing happily and suddenly got scolded again.
He burst into loud sobs.
“I’ll eat it, I’ll eat it, I’ll eat it! Auntie Zhong Qing’s candy tastes better than the ones at home!”
“It’s all your fault! If not for you, I’d have been best friends with Pei Le’an long ago! Auntie Zhong Qing would’ve liked me too!”
He hadn’t meant to provoke Zhao Xiulan.
The candy Zhong Qing gave was brought back from Hong Kong—varieties these children had never seen before. Of course they found them delicious.
And Zhong Qing, remembering how the neighbors had often helped her family, was never stingy about small treats like this.
But to Zhao Xiulan’s ears, it sounded completely different.
Liu Yaozu had a loud voice. His wailing drew the attention of all the parents present.
It hadn’t even been that long—and he was already calling her “Auntie”?
Like mother, like son. A vixen giving birth to a little fox.
What kind of bewitching potion had Pei Le’an fed him?
Furious, Zhao Xiulan pointed at her son’s forehead and scolded,
“Turn my back for one second and you’re already going astray! Enough nonsense—home!”
She dragged the howling boy away.
The commotion was loud enough that Zhong Qing, who had been called aside by the teacher, heard it clearly.
Teacher Fang frowned slightly but looked relieved when speaking to Zhong Qing.
“Then we’ll do as you suggested. The extra tuition will remain deposited with the school. We’ll keep detailed records of the income and expenses.”
Zhong Qing nodded.
Last time, in her urgency, she hadn’t even counted the money—she’d just grabbed a handful and stuffed it into Teacher Fang’s arms.
Since it was a kindergarten affiliated with the residential compound, she trusted them.
When she stepped out of the office, though Zhao Xiulan disliked her, the other parents had taken note of her generosity.