Shen Lishu sat dazedly in Father Pei’s arms, her dark eyes moist, clutching an English picture book tightly in her hands. She looked impossibly well-behaved.
“Pei Yu, you can’t just kiss Lili whenever you want,” Father Pei said with an extremely stern expression.
Pei Yu’s face was full of defiance as he asked gloomily, “Why?”
Father Pei replied, “Men and women should maintain proper boundaries.”
The elderly scholar and Yu Qingqing, who had been discussing a problem nearby, walked over upon hearing the commotion and asked, “What happened?”
Father Pei recounted what he had just witnessed.
“Then why can he kiss her?” Pei Yu pointed at Ye Changshu and stubbornly demanded.
If he could do it, why couldn’t he? What kind of nonsense rule was this!
Ye Changshu smiled slightly, looking as proud as a victorious champion, and said with a smug curl of his lips, “Because she’s my child bride.”
Young Pei Yu didn’t understand what a child bride meant.
Pei Yu looked at Father Pei and declared word by word, “I want Sweetie to be my child bride too.”
Father Pei’s eyelid twitched, and he forced a smile. “No.”
In front of others, he felt too embarrassed to explain to Pei Yu that this was a backward custom from feudal times.
Moreover, it was an extremely unfair practice toward women.
Pei Yu’s face fell, and he stared darkly at Father Pei with his deep blue eyes, not uttering a word.
When it came to matters concerning Shen Lishu, Pei Yu always displayed a stubbornness that no one could sway.
Finally understanding what had happened, Yu Qingqing laughed so hard her stomach hurt.
She decided to stir the pot and suggested to Pei Yu, “Although we won’t agree to let Lili be your child bride, we can agree to let you be Lili’s child groom.”
Pei Yu agreed without hesitation, his face tense. “Fine, I agree. I want to be Sweetie’s child groom!”
Then he quickly added, “So can I kiss Sweetie now?”
Yu Qingqing curled her lips slightly. “No, you can’t.”
Pei Yu widened his eyes and asked irritably, “Why not?”
“Since you’re Lili’s child groom, you must listen to her in everything. You can’t kiss her unless she agrees.”
Pei Yu eagerly leaned over, clinging to Father Pei’s arm as he held Shen Lishu, and asked softly, “Sweetie, can I kiss you?”
His eyes were bright, tinged with a hint of pleading.
But Shen Lishu still shook her head gently, her voice soft and obedient. “No, you can’t.”
Over the past few years, Teacher Zhang at kindergarten had emphasized to her countless times that she shouldn’t let others touch her casually or kiss her without permission.
Especially Uncle Pei.
And of course, Pei Yu too.
If anyone tried anything like that, she had to tell Teacher Zhang immediately.
Although Shen Lishu didn’t fully understand why, she knew she had to obey.
Pei Yu’s face darkened, and he fell silent.
Yu Qingqing and the elderly scholar continued their discussion, while Father Pei listened nearby.
After comforting the girl beside him for a moment, Ye Changshu turned his gaze toward the dejected Pei Yu.
Still unwilling to give up, Pei Yu asked Shen Lishu again.
But he was met with another refusal.
After finishing the English picture book, Shen Lishu neatly placed it back on the small bookshelf.
Just as she was about to pick up another book, she became captivated by the conversation between Yu Qingqing and the elderly scholar.
Shen Lishu listened in a daze, not even noticing when Ye Changshu walked over to her.
“What is this…”
He briefly explained the issue that Yu Qingqing and the old man were discussing.
The more she listened, the more Shen Lishu felt a sudden realization, quickly developing a sense of admiration for Ye Changshu.
“Brother, you’re amazing.”
Ye Changshu chuckled softly.
Nearby, Pei Yu was practically glaring holes into Ye Changshu.
When it came to monopolizing Shen Lishu, this was the first time Pei Yu had suffered such a major setback.
But seeing how happy Shen Lishu was while listening, Pei Yu couldn’t bring himself to interrupt.
Noticing Shen Lishu’s keen interest, Ye Changshu simply pulled the girl beside him to sit down nearby.
After obtaining Shen Lishu’s consent, he took out an English picture book and handed it to the girl, softly instructing, “If there are any words you don’t understand, just ask me.”
The girl’s eyes sparkled as she carefully held the picture book, nodding timidly.
In the following moments, Shen Lishu listened attentively to Ye Changshu’s explanations, the girl focused on reading the picture book, and Ye Changshu kept an eye on the girl’s progress while continuing his explanations.
Pei Yu wore a sour expression the entire time but could only sulk silently, afraid of disturbing Shen Lishu.
Ye Changshu found the situation highly amusing, and a mischievous impulse took over. He asked Shen Lishu a question: “Who do you think is more impressive, me or him?”
He deliberately paused at a crucial point in his explanation, leaving Shen Lishu itching to hear more.
Pei Yu, instantly grasping Ye Changshu’s intention, glared at him fiercely.
How despicable!
Shen Lishu, who had also caught on, looked at Ye Changshu with wariness and caution in her dark eyes. “Pei Yu is more impressive.”
One sentence wasn’t enough.
Shen Lishu added another: “Pei Yu is the most amazing kid in the whole world.”
Hearing this answer, Pei Yu immediately puffed up with pride and shot a triumphant look at Ye Changshu.
His grin stretched from ear to ear.
After that, Shen Lishu deliberately avoided listening to Ye Changshu’s explanations.
Not long after, the old man stood up and left with Ye Changshu and the others.
Before leaving, Ye Changshu made a point of mentioning to Yu Qingqing that he had been explaining things to Shen Lishu earlier.
Seeing that Yu Qingqing wasn’t the least bit surprised, Ye Changshu understood.
It seemed the Pei family had already made arrangements for Shen Lishu.
Not far away.
Pei Yu leaned over, blocking Shen Lishu’s view of the English picture book, and asked for what felt like the umpteenth time that day, “Am I really the most impressive person in your heart?”
Shen Lishu smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. “Yes.”
“What about in the future? Will I still be the most impressive then?”
“You’ll still be the most impressive in the future.”
“And… when you’re old, will you still think I’m the most impressive?”
“Even when I’m old, I’ll still think Pei Yu is the most impressive.”
“Can you say it again, that Pei Yu is the most amazing kid in the whole world?”
Shen Lishu obediently repeated it.
Pei Yu grinned happily like a fool.
A few minutes later, unable to resist, Pei Yu leaned over and asked again.
Each time, Shen Lishu would repeat it without the slightest hint of annoyance.
Pei Yu was about to ask again.
But Shen Lishu spoke first: “Pei Yu, I’m thirsty.”
Pei Yu immediately cheerfully went to fetch a water cup.
Yu Qingqing, who had been secretly watching the two children, sighed and said to Father Pei, “It’s a good thing Lili has such a gentle temper.”
“If it were anyone else, they’d never be able to endure this kind of repetitive ‘torture.'”
Father Pei raised an eyebrow. “If I… were to ask repeatedly like Pei Yu, would you also answer me patiently?”
Before he could finish his question, Yu Qingqing, who knew exactly what he was thinking, interrupted him. “I would punch you, and then the world would be quiet.”
Father Pei: “”