The Xie family was a marriage of business convenience. Xie Changyan’s mother passed away when he was very young.
After her death, Father Xie, who had finally gained complete control of the family, brought home the childhood sweetheart he had cherished in his heart, along with a stepbrother who was only nine months younger than Xie Changyan.
From then on, Xie Changyan’s status at home plummeted.
That childhood sweetheart was also a woman of considerable cunning. Within just half a year, Father Xie had grown utterly disgusted with Xie Changyan.
Over the past few years, Xie Siran and his mother had employed endless schemes to frame him.
All those who had initially believed in Xie Changyan now unanimously thought that after losing his mother and suffering such a blow, his character had grown increasingly depraved in his attempts to drive away his stepmother and stepbrother.
As a result, Xie Changyan’s heart had turned to ashes. Since everyone would come to despise him sooner or later, what difference did it make whether it was early or late?
Hearing Xie Changyan’s calm and detached tone, Shen Lishu’s eyes instantly reddened.
Her voice choked with emotion: “That’s not true. You shouldn’t let those people bully you so easily anymore.”
“Your mother, watching from heaven, must have been anxiously pacing around long ago.”
Hearing words no one had ever spoken to him before, Xie Changyan became somewhat flustered. He glanced up at the sky, then at Shen Lishu, before suddenly quickening his pace and walking away.
When Shen Lishu returned to the classroom and looked around, she couldn’t see Xie Changyan anywhere.
“Shen Lishu, what are you looking for?” Lu Huaichuan asked, noticing her search.
Shen Lishu: “Have you seen Xie Changyan?”
“Haven’t seen him come back.” Lu Huaichuan really couldn’t bring himself to like this new classmate, Xie Changyan.
Until kindergarten ended, Shen Lishu never saw Xie Changyan again.
But since the teachers didn’t mention anything, she assumed he must have gone home.
Around 4:30 in the afternoon.
The bright yellow school bus slowly pulled over to the curb. Shen Lishu, carrying a large pile of things, hopped off and politely bid farewell to the bus driver auntie.
The driver auntie smiled and replied, “Goodbye, Lili. I’ll come pick you up for kindergarten again tomorrow morning.”
After the school bus drove away, Pei Yu, who had been hiding in the shadows, emerged and silently watched Shen Lishu.
Turning her head, Shen Lishu spotted him, her eyes instantly lighting up as she happily called out, “Pei Yu!”
Pei Yu walked over to Shen Lishu, his expression slightly dark. “Who were you talking to just now?”
Though the question was odd, Shen Lishu answered earnestly.
After listening, Pei Yu pressed his lips together and fell silent again.
“Pei Yu, I brought you a gift,” Shen Lishu said, showing Pei Yu the things she was holding.
Pei Yu wasn’t particularly interested in these items, but he still took them and then naturally grasped Shen Lishu’s hand.
Hand in hand, the two walked toward the Pei residence.
As soon as they entered the main gate, a servant took their small backpacks and water bottles.
Shen Lishu then led Pei Yu to a flower bed: “Shall we plant them here?”
Pei Yu: “Okay.”
The servant who closely attended to Pei Yu quickly fetched the necessary tools.
Weeding, loosening the soil, planting, watering…
By the time all the strawberry seedlings were planted, dusk had begun to fall.
Shen Lishu had worked up a sweat and, to prevent catching a cold, the servant first took her inside to change clothes.
As soon as Father Pei returned home, he saw Pei Yu squatting in front of the flower bed, staring at something.
Upon approaching, he saw several newly planted strawberry seedlings.
Father Pei raised an eyebrow. “These must have been brought back by Lili.”
Apart from Shen Lishu, Father Pei couldn’t think of anyone else whose belongings could capture Pei Yu’s attention so intensely.
Long accustomed to receiving no response from Pei Yu, Father Pei continued on his own. “The stems are severely damaged. They might not survive.”
Pei Yu abruptly turned to look at his father. “Then how can we make them survive?”
Father Pei lowered his voice. “Take good care of them.”
If these plants died, Shen Lishu would be very sad, wouldn’t she?
Pei Yu recalled Shen Lishu’s tearful face from that day, and his heart clenched.
After dinner.
Shen Lishu and Pei Yu sat side by side reading a picture book.
Shen Lishu was completely absorbed, while Pei Yu’s mind was elsewhere.
Looking at their hands, which were almost constantly intertwined, he suddenly asked, “Is there anyone at kindergarten who holds your hand like I do?”
Shen Lishu nodded.
Pei Yu’s expression instantly darkened. “Do they hold your hand often?”
Sensing that Pei Yu might be in a bad mood, Shen Lishu paused for a few seconds before nodding again.
Pei Yu pressed further. “A lot of people?”
Shen Lishu hesitated, then nodded.
Great!
Pei Yu took a deep breath and spoke again. “Can you tell me what happened at kindergarten today?”
As soon as he said this, Shen Lishu immediately understood why Pei Yu was upset.
So Pei Yu wanted to go to kindergarten too.
Shen Lishu smiled and began recounting everything that had happened at kindergarten that day.
She even went into great detail, hoping Pei Yu would develop a fondness for kindergarten.
Unbeknownst to her, after hearing it all, Pei Yu was practically fuming with anger.
Over the next several days, Shen Lishu developed the habit of proactively reporting everything that happened at kindergarten to Pei Yu.
Without even realizing it, Shen Lishu herself hadn’t noticed that she had started looking forward to coming home.
Previously, afraid of being late for kindergarten, Shen Lishu would set multiple alarms.
Now, she didn’t need to.
Because every morning, Pei Yu would come to wake her up and then hold her hand as they went to have breakfast.
After breakfast, Pei Yu would personally see Shen Lishu onto the school bus.
And in the afternoon when school ended.
As the school bus stopped at the gate and the doors opened, Shen Lishu would see Pei Yu at first glance.
After picking her up, Pei Yu would immediately take Shen Lishu’s backpack and water bottle, holding her hand as they walked home together.
“Lili, is your dad and brother seeing you off to school today?” the teacher asked with a light laugh.
Hearing the word “dad,” Shen Lishu suddenly froze, feeling a sudden sting in her nose.
Today was one of Father Pei’s rare free days. Since it had rained all night and was still drizzling in the morning, he was worried and decided to come along.
Considering Shen Lishu’s deep attachment to her own parents, Father Pei didn’t claim the title and instead smiled, saying, “I’m Lili’s uncle.”
The teacher quickly apologized.
Watching Shen Lishu safely board the bus, Father Pei looked at her warmly and smiled. “Lili, Xiao Yu and I will be waiting for you at home.”
Home?
Did she have a home again?
Shen Lishu sniffled and nodded firmly. “Okay, goodbye Uncle, goodbye Pei Yu.”
In the afternoon, it was Pei Yu and Father Pei waiting by the roadside to pick her up.
It had rained all day, and the roadside drainage system was somewhat clogged, leaving a shallow layer of accumulated water on the ground.
Father Pei didn’t let Shen Lishu walk on her own. Instead, as she stood on the school bus steps, he lifted her into his arms.
“There’s water on the road. If your shoes get wet, you might catch a cold. How about Uncle carries Lili home?”
Leaning against Father Pei’s chest, Shen Lishu’s entire body stiffened.
In Shen Lishu’s memory, that person’s embrace was just like this—broad, dependable, and warm.
A faint mist gathered in Shen Lishu’s eyes, the tip of her nose slightly reddened, and she suddenly spoke up, “My daddy’s embrace was just as warm as yours, Uncle.”
It’s just a shame she could never feel it again.
Father Pei set her down under the eaves and, without saying a word, crouched halfway to gently pat her head.
But he only dared to do it once.
Because someone nearby was glaring at him with a dark expression.