Nanny Zhang, who was holding Shen Mengqi’s hand, suddenly paused.
The smile on her face stiffened for a moment before quickly returning to its original expression.
“That’s right. Mr. Shen was born to Huihui, and I’ve watched him grow up. Naturally, I see the young lady as my own granddaughter.”
Zhang Huihui was Mr. Shen’s biological mother.
She was also Nanny Zhang’s eldest niece.
After speaking, Nanny Zhang glanced at Xiao Tuanzi.
She saw the child was busy tugging at the beef beside the little white cat’s feet.
She looked completely unaware.
Of what she had just said.
This child probably didn’t know anything and was just speaking carelessly.
Children of this age love to talk nonsense the most.
Mother Shen was also taken aback for a moment before realizing.
Xiao Tuanzi had mistaken Nanny Zhang for Mengqi’s grandmother.
She didn’t think much of it.
“Indeed, Nanny Zhang watched your sister grow up and treats her like a granddaughter.”
But when she looked at Nanny Zhang again.
Her words carried a hint of warning.
“But no matter how close you are, you can’t disregard rules. Mengqi is already so grown up; you can’t always indulge her whims.”
Nanny Zhang smiled awkwardly and patted Shen Mengqi’s back.
“You’re right, Madam. I was being foolish.”
But in her hand, she secretly slipped something to Shen Mengqi.
When Shen Mengqi saw the object.
Her crying actually quieted down a bit, though she still glared at Xiao Tuanzi while sniffling.
Xiao Tuanzi was focused on snatching the meat.
After stuffing the last piece of beef into her mouth.
She wiped her lips and said, “But you two have a Kinsmanship Line.”
Although Xiao Tuanzi’s face-reading skills weren’t as good as her Fourth Senior Sister’s.
She could still see clearly.
Nanny Zhang and Zhang Mengqi had a faint Kinsmanship Line.
Either they were biologically related, or Nanny Zhang was her acknowledged godmother.
But Shen Mengqi suddenly struggled out of Nanny Zhang’s arms.
Pointing at Xiao Tuanzi, she said.
“Grandma Zhang is originally Grandma’s relative.”
Hearing this, Nanny Zhang also calmed down.
Yes, no matter what.
I am originally a relative, so what if there’s a Kinsmanship Line?
Seeing Xiao Tuanzi not refute her.
Shen Mengqi said triumphantly.
“Grandma and Grandma Zhang both love me. Do you think I’m like you, a little beggar?”
“Shen Mengqi!”
Mother Shen felt her blood pressure was about to spiral out of control.
“If you dare say another word, you won’t go to kindergarten today.”
Today was the kindergarten’s parent-child sports day, which Shen Mengqi had been looking forward to for a long time.
Hearing this, tears welled up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to back down.
Nanny Zhang hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
“The young lady is just angry, Madam. Don’t take it to heart with a child. It’s getting late; we should head to kindergarten now.”
Mother Shen pressed her hand to her temple, took a deep breath, and suppressed the rising anger.
She glanced at the wall clock; it was almost eight o’clock.
Only an hour remained before the kindergarten sports day began.
If they delayed any longer, they would truly be late.
“Go change your clothes quickly. If you dawdle any longer, you won’t be going to the sports day.”
Shen Mengqi glared at Mother Shen and Xiao Tuanzi, unmoving.
Nanny Zhang quickly carried her upstairs.
Muttering as she went, “Don’t cry, young lady. I’ll find you the prettiest princess dress and make sure you’re the most beautiful little princess today.”
Once on the second floor, Nanny Zhang helped her change into the dress.
While whispering into Shen Mengqi’s ear.
“Don’t be angry, Qiqi. That wild girl won’t be able to cause trouble for much longer.”
Shen Mengqi sniffled.
Clutching the object Nanny Zhang had given her, which was covered in twisted, crooked symbols.
“What is it this time?”
“It’s a good luck charm. My dear Qiqi will have a smooth and happy day today.”
Shen Mengqi smiled.
Nanny Zhang sometimes gave her little picture cards.
Telling her to keep them with her.
And every time, something good would happen.
Either her mother would buy her a princess dress she liked.
Or her father would suddenly have time to take her to the amusement park.
And last time, when her brother almost got kidnapped, she had left him early because she was holding the little picture card.
Shen Mengqi stopped crying and stuffed the little picture card into the pocket of her princess dress.
Downstairs.
Xiao Qingxuan was still puzzled.
Could she have been mistaken?
Mother Shen had already found clothes for her.
A while ago, she had bought new clothes for Mengqi.
They had just been washed and hadn’t been worn yet.
So she picked one out for Xiao Qingxuan to change into.
“Sweetie, how about going to kindergarten with Mommy today?”
Xiao Tuanzi blinked: “What for?”
“To enroll you, and also to participate in the sports day.”
What Mother Shen found for Xiao Qingxuan was a sky-blue overalls.
The hem was embroidered with a small sunflower, making her skin look even fairer.
Xiao Tuanzi twirled in front of the mirror: “What’s sports day?”
Mother Shen patted Xiao Tuanzi’s head: “It’s running, jumping through hoops, and playing games with other kids your age.”
Xiao Tuanzi thought about it. It seemed similar to what she did on the mountain.
She wasn’t very keen on going. After all, her task of coming down the mountain wasn’t finished yet.
“I don’t want to go.”
Mother Shen was well-prepared for this situation.
After all, she had already sent two children to kindergarten.
Separation anxiety—she understood.
At first, children never want to go to kindergarten.
They cry and make a fuss at the gate, refusing to enter.
It’s fine. Just steel your heart and send them a few times.
Later, they’ll happily ask to go to kindergarten themselves.
Saying they don’t want to go is just a way to negotiate.
Shen Mengqi had been like that.
Mother Shen was very familiar with this step.
“Sweetie, if you go to kindergarten and participate in sports day, Mommy will give you a reward.”
Xiao Tuanzi was curious: “What reward?”
Mother Shen smiled: “I’ll buy you candy.”
Unexpectedly, Xiao Tuanzi pouted.
When she was three, Eldest Senior Brother used to coax her like that.
Xiao Tuanzi held up one hand, showing a big five.
Her chubby face was very serious.
But it was so cute it lacked any intimidation.
“Mommy, I’m already five years old, not a three-year-old kid!”
Mother Shen quickly suppressed the corners of her mouth that couldn’t help but curl upward.
“Alright, alright. Then what reward does the big five-year-old sister want?”
“Meat! At the very least, it has to be meat!”
Whenever Eldest Senior Brother coaxed her into doing something, he would treat Xiao Tuanzi to meat.
Eldest Senior Brother always looked pained about it.
Xiao Tuanzi was clever.
If even Eldest Senior Brother was reluctant, it must be something really good!
But Mother Shen laughed even more happily and immediately agreed.
Afraid she might change her mind.
She quickly went to find a small backpack for Xiao Tuanzi.
The smile on her lips was impossible to suppress.
So cute, too cute.
Indeed, this was her own biological child.
Mother Shen found a few handkerchiefs and put them in the backpack.
Then she turned to look for spare clothes.
When she turned back, she saw Xiao Tuanzi holding Xiaobai, trying to stuff him into the backpack.
Mother Shen stepped forward and stopped her.
“Sweetie, Xiaobai can’t go to school with you.”
Xiao Tuanzi held onto Xiaobai tightly.
“Why not? Xiaobai has always been with me.”
Mother Shen gently coaxed her: “Because none of the other children bring pets to school.”
School… Xiaobai didn’t seem to attend morning classes either.
It was slacking off in the back mountain.
Seeing Xiao Tuanzi put down Xiaobai, Mother Shen finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Then she saw Xiao Tuanzi turn around and stuff the little fox into his backpack.
“Wait, wait, this isn’t allowed either.”
Xiao Tuanzi refused to listen.
“Lingfeng often attends morning classes with me!”
Mother Shen felt utterly overwhelmed.
What morning classes or not!
Pets aren’t allowed in kindergarten, not even toys!
Just as she was trying to take the fox from Xiao Tuanzi.
“Mom, look!”
Upstairs, Shen Mengqi had also changed her clothes.
She came bouncing down the stairs.
She was wearing a pink and blue Elsa dress.
With a small crown on her head and a long blue veil trailing behind.
Mother Shen felt her headache growing worse.
“Shen Mengqi, today is the sports day. How are you going to run in that outfit?”
Shen Mengqi hid behind Nanny Zhang.
“I want to wear this. I’m Princess Elsa. I’ll freeze everyone, and then I’ll be the winner.”