Shen Mengqi hid behind Nanny Zhang, gesturing to her mother.
She even shouted “biubiu” with her mouth.
Mother Shen glanced at the adopted daughter stubbornly wearing a princess dress to participate in the sports day.
Then she glanced again.
At her biological daughter, earnestly trying to stuff a fox into her backpack, unable to zip it up no matter what.
She closed her eyes.
Just let it all end.
When she opened her eyes again.
She saw the wall clock pointing to 8:15.
If they didn’t leave now, they would really be late.
“Let’s go.”
She picked up the two children’s backpacks.
“I’ll settle accounts with both of you when we get to kindergarten!”
At the kindergarten, each class had already begun lining up on the playground.
Sure enough.
Shen Mengqi’s Elsa dress stood out glaringly among the sea of sportswear.
Attracting all the children to gather around and look.
She even received praise from many little girls.
Shen Mengqi grew even more pleased with herself, deliberately walking over to her class teacher.
“Teacher Wu, do you like my new dress?”
Teacher Wu lowered her head, feeling a bit of a headache.
This little princess, wearing such a dress to the sports day.
Whether she gets bumped or scratched.
It would be hard for Teacher Wu to explain to the parents.
Fortunately, today was a parent-child sports day.
If she gets bumped or scratched, her mother would be right there.
She quickly looked up to find Mengqi’s mother.
But Mother Shen was holding another child’s hand, talking to the principal.
“Principal Yang, this is my child. She’s five years old and hasn’t attended kindergarten before. Please take good care of her.”
Principal Yang took out some forms for Mother Shen to fill out.
While also talking to Xiao Tuanzi to see which grade and class would be suitable for her.
After asking a few questions, Xiao Tuanzi answered fluently.
Principal Yang was even more satisfied.
She had initially worried that this child from the Shen Family might be another spoiled young lady.
But now, she seemed quite well-behaved.
“Qingqing, would you like to be in the same class as your sister?”
Xiao Tuanzi shook her head: “Qingqing doesn’t have a sister. She has a brother, senior brothers, and senior sisters.”
The principal was confused.
Mother Shen quickly explained: “This child was raised by the elders and was only recently brought back. She’s not familiar with her sister yet.”
“I see. Then let her be in the same class as her sister to help them bond.”
Mother Shen had no intention of sending the adopted daughter away, so it would be better for the two daughters to bond early.
“Then I’ll trouble you, Principal. It’s just that Mengqi has been a bit spoiled by us. Please make sure Qingqing isn’t bullied by her.”
The principal also knew what Shen Mengqi was like.
But it wasn’t appropriate to say so in front of her mother.
She quickly replied: “Of course, of course. Children fight and make up quickly.”
Just as the paperwork was completed, the sports day began.
The principal handed Shen Qingxuan over to Teacher Wu.
“Teacher Wu, this is Mengqi’s younger sister. She’ll be in your class from now on.”
Before Teacher Wu could ask more questions.
The host’s voice came through the speakers.
“Please get ready, children from the senior class. The three-legged race is about to begin!”
Another problem arose.
“It seems their family has two children but only one adult came.”
Mother Shen had already walked over to Shen Qingxuan.
Shen Mengqi hurried forward and hugged her leg.
“Mom, aren’t you going to be my partner?”
Mother Shen smiled: “Be good, Mengqi. It’s your sister’s first day at school. Mom will stay with her.”
“No!”
Nanny Zhang quickly stepped forward: “Mengqi, be with Grandma today.”
Teacher Wu recognized her.
The Shen parents both worked.
It was almost always her who picked Mengqi up after school.
She was a distant relative of the family.
Having watched Mengqi grow up since she was little, she sometimes called her “Grandma Zhang.”
Upon hearing Nanny Zhang’s words, Shen Mengqi’s face immediately fell.
She clung to Mother Shen’s leg, refusing to let go.
“I don’t want to! I want Mommy! Grandma Zhang can’t run fast, she’ll hold me back.”
The smile on Nanny Zhang’s face stiffened.
But she quickly forced another smile.
“Silly child, how could Grandma hold you back? Didn’t we practice together just yesterday?”
As she spoke, she discreetly slipped something into Shen Mengqi’s hand.
Seeing what was in her hand, Shen Mengqi stopped fussing.
Earlier the day before.
Nanny Zhang had taught her.
To stick these stickers on the classmates she was competing against.
That way, she was sure to win first place.
Teacher Wu also crouched down and straightened Shen Mengqi’s skirt.
“Mengqi looks so pretty today. Did Grandma Zhang pick this out for you? How about letting Grandma Zhang accompany you?”
Shen Mengqi pouted and reluctantly let go.
She joined the three-legged race with Grandma Zhang.
“Are you ready?” the referee teacher asked, holding the starting pistol.
Nanny Zhang smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “Ready, ready. We’re sure to win first place.”
Xiao Tuanzi stood in the next lane, holding Mother Shen’s hand.
This Nanny Zhang seemed to have quite a few tricks up her sleeve.
Shen Mengqi had even given stickers to several children in the class.
Hidden inside were “Trip-Up Talismans.”
They could make the people around them feel heavy on their feet, making it look like they had lost their balance when they were actually being tripped up by the talismans.
Xiao Tuanzi sighed.
If all the children fell during the race, Xiao Tuanzi would also be implicated in the karma.
She could only close her eyes and chant softly.
“Qian Yuan begins, Kun Yuan arises, the four seasons follow their course… Tranquil and without fault, let the wind rise!”
When she opened her eyes again, a fierce wind began to blow.
“Why is it suddenly so windy? Is it going to rain?”
Fortunately, the wind didn’t last long and soon subsided.
But a few children had their hats blown off by the wind.
After a brief adjustment, the sports meet continued.
No one noticed anything unusual.
Nor did anyone notice.
That the stickers the children had just put on had all been blown away.
Even Shen Mengqi didn’t notice.
That the protective talisman in her pocket had disappeared.
The race began.
Grandma Zhang’s legs moved with surprising agility for an elderly person, and she coordinated perfectly with Shen Mengqi.
They quickly surged to the front.
Shen Mengqi lifted her chin triumphantly.
But she didn’t watch her step.
She stepped on the hem of her long skirt.
“Ouch!”
Shen Mengqi stumbled.
Nanny Zhang couldn’t stop in time.
The two of them fell hard onto the track.
Xiao Tuanzi, beside them, overtook them in just a few steps.
All Shen Mengqi could hear was the laughter of the children watching from the sidelines.
Shen Mengqi froze for a moment.
Then suddenly burst into loud sobs.
The teachers quickly rushed over, untied the rope, and picked Shen Mengqi up to comfort her.
“It’s okay, it’s okay, it doesn’t hurt to fall…”
In the end, she listened to the teacher.
Shen Mengqi didn’t throw a tantrum like she did at home.
She just buried her face in Teacher Wu’s shoulder and cried pitifully.
After finishing the race, Mother Shen also hurried over.
“Mengqi, don’t cry. Did it hurt? Let Mommy see if you’re injured.”
Shen Mengqi cried even harder.
“It’s all Mommy’s fault for not joining the race with me. Nanny Zhang’s legs aren’t good, that’s why I fell.”
Hearing this, Nanny Zhang’s expression darkened.
She had spent a fortune on that talisman for Mengqi—why hadn’t it worked?