The next day.
Considering it was Pei Yu’s first day at kindergarten yesterday, Father Pei, who had worked overtime at the Pei Group all night, made a special effort to return home for breakfast.
In the first-floor dining room.
Shen Lishu sat beside Pei Yu, her head lowered as she furtively peeled a boiled egg.
The egg had just been taken out of the pot. Although it had been rinsed in cold water, it was still slightly hot to the touch.
Pei Yu thought Shen Lishu was peeling it just for fun, so he didn’t offer to help. Instead, he occasionally fed her small bites of food.
“Xiao Yu,” Father Pei spoke up, asking, “How was kindergarten yesterday?”
Without looking up, Pei Yu fed Shen Lishu another spoonful of golden egg custard. “It was fine.”
Father Pei rubbed his temples and asked again, “What did you learn at kindergarten yesterday?”
Pei Yu: “I don’t know.”
Father Pei: “…”
Shen Lishu had finished peeling the egg. She handed it to Pei Yu and whispered into his ear, “Can you give this to Uncle Pei? Tell him you peeled it for him.”
Pei Yu remained silent for a moment before replying stiffly, “No.”
“Why not?” Shen Lishu asked softly.
Pei Yu glanced at Father Pei and said seriously, “He’s allergic to eggs. He can’t eat them.”
With that, he stuffed the egg Shen Lishu had just handed him into his mouth in one go.
Shen Lishu’s eyes widened in surprise.
Father Pei was speechless: “…”
Why didn’t he know he was allergic to boiled eggs?
Not long after breakfast, the school bus slowly made its way down the road.
Pei Yu, carrying his backpack and two water bottles, held Shen Lishu’s hand as they boarded the school bus one after the other.
“Uncle Pei, see you tonight!”
Father Pei’s eyes softened as he gently waved. “See you tonight, Lili.”
The warmth he hadn’t experienced with Pei Yu, he found in Shen Lishu.
Watching the school bus drive away, Father Pei couldn’t help but sigh. No wonder people say having a daughter is better—she’s sweet, warm, and thoughtful.
Half an hour later.
The school bus stopped at the kindergarten entrance. Shen Lishu and Pei Yu, hand in hand, stepped off the bus.
Most of the students in the Sakura Class had already arrived.
After safely escorting Shen Lishu to her seat, Pei Yu whispered, “I’m going to get water. I’ll be right back. Don’t wander off.”
All potentially dangerous items for the children were kept in the teacher’s office next door, including the water dispenser for hot water.
Shen Lishu blinked. “Let’s go together.”
“No need. I’ll be back quickly,” Pei Yu replied, his expression serious.
After Pei Yu left, Xie Changyan, who had been pretending to sleep at his desk, sat up and took a large, bright red apple from his backpack.
“Lili, this is for you.”
The apple was truly enormous. When Xie Changyan forcefully placed it in Shen Lishu’s hands, she had to use both hands to hold it.
Shen Lishu always felt that if someone gave her something, she should have something of equal value to give in return before accepting it.
This was why she rarely accepted gifts from the other children in the Sakura Class.
She couldn’t reciprocate.
But today was different.
Shen Lishu smiled with her eyes curved into crescents, sweetly saying thank you. After placing the apple on the desk, she fished out a few candies from her backpack and handed them to Xie Changyan.
Those candies were fruit-flavored soft sweets coated with sour sugar powder.
They were given to Shen Lishu yesterday after she helped a maid from the Pei family.
When Pei Yu returned with hot water and entered the room, he saw Shen Lishu and Xie Changyan huddled together talking.
He didn’t know what Xie Changyan had said, but it made Shen Lishu giggle with laughter.
Pei Yu found the sight extremely grating. Returning expressionlessly to Shen Lishu’s side, he then noticed the apple placed on her desk.
Just as he was about to ask Shen Lishu where the apple came from, Xie Changyan spoke first: “Lili, the candies you gave me are the best I’ve ever tasted since I was little.”
Shen Lishu tilted her head, surprised. “You like them that much?”
After all, Xie Changyan usually acted as if he didn’t care for anything.
“Then I have a few more here. I’ll give them all to you.”
With that, Shen Lishu took out the remaining candies from her backpack and handed them to Xie Changyan.
“Thank you.” After accepting them, Xie Changyan pretended to glance casually at Pei Yu.
Pei Yu’s expression was dark and brooding, his gaze toward Xie Changyan icy and intimidating.
An invisible tension spread through the small Cherry Blossom Class classroom.
He knew the origin of these candies.
As a reward for her helpfulness, Shen Lishu treasured these candies dearly, reluctant to eat even one.
But after receiving them, Shen Lishu had also shared them with Pei Yu first.
Yet, since she couldn’t bear to eat them, how could Pei Yu bring himself to consume them?
Unexpectedly, Xie Changyan had ended up benefiting.
A hint of irritation flickered in Pei Yu’s eyes. He took a deep breath and called out loudly, “Sweetie.”
Pei Yu had already told Shen Lishu about this nickname when they met this morning.
No one had ever called Shen Lishu that before, so every time Pei Yu used it, she needed a moment to react.
Shen Lishu turned her head, puzzled. “Pei Yu, what’s wrong?”
Upon hearing the nickname Pei Yu used for Shen Lishu, Xie Changyan’s expression shifted slightly.
Pei Yu sneered inwardly, the irritation in his eyes fading somewhat. “Drink some water.”
The hot water poured into the thermos lid was just the right temperature. Shen Lishu obediently drank it all.
It was nearing the end of the semester now, with winter break just a week away. The weather had grown much colder, and many children who had caught colds were absent.
With so many absent, the teachers had mostly suspended classes.
After finishing one lesson in the morning, other children invited Shen Lishu to go play.
Shen Lishu really wanted to go, but remembering she had to stay with Pei Yu, she hesitated.
“Go play,” Pei Yu said gently, noticing her hesitation.
Shen Lishu was somewhat surprised.
After all, the old Pei Yu would never have been so generous.
Pei Yu waved the red paper cutout in his hand. “I didn’t quite understand what the teacher taught earlier. I want to ask Xie Changyan for help.”
The previous lesson had been on how to cut window flowers.
And so, Shen Lishu happily left with the other children.
Only after Shen Lishu’s figure had completely disappeared did Pei Yu reluctantly withdraw his gaze and turn it toward Xie Changyan.
And now, it was time to settle the score.
When Shen Lishu returned after playing, both Pei Yu and Xie Changyan were sitting at their desks, busy with their own tasks.
Without giving it much thought, Shen Lishu curled her lips into a soft smile and asked, “Pei Yu, have you learned how to do it yet?”
Pei Yu immediately showed Shen Lishu the paper-cut window decorations he had already finished and placed on the desk.
Shen Lishu’s eyes sparkled, and she didn’t hesitate to praise Pei Yu: “You did an amazing job!”
After praising Pei Yu thoroughly and drinking most of the hot water from her thermos lid, Shen Lishu finally noticed something was off.
The apple she had left on her desk was gone.