Su Wanqing shook her head. “It’s fine. Thank you for taking care of Shimu.”
The teacher looked a little flattered and quickly waved her hands. “You’re too polite. This is what we’re supposed to do.”
“May I come in?” Su Wanqing asked.
The teacher stepped aside slightly. “Of course.”
The children who attended this school were either rich or powerful. Most wealthy madams acted as if they were above everyone else—some would arrive to pick up their children without even greeting the teachers, instructing bodyguards to pack up and leave immediately. Women without airs like this were extremely rare.
“Thank you. Sorry for the trouble.”
Su Wanqing walked into the classroom, crouched in front of little Shimu, and patted his head.
“Mu Mu, it’s time to pack up and go home.”
“Auntie, you’re so beautiful!”
Beside him was a cute little girl with twin pigtails, staring at Su Wanqing starry-eyed.
Su Wanqing smiled softly at her.
“Thank you. You’re very pretty too. I’m Shimu’s mother—you should call me Auntie.”
“Auntie, are you really Gu Shimu’s mom?” the little boy frowned slightly.
The boys in class often said he didn’t have a father or mother. He never argued back and rarely spoke. At first, everyone thought he might even be mute. Who would have thought his mother was so beautiful—more beautiful than all the other mothers.
“Yes,” Su Wanqing replied gently, patting his soft little head.
“It’s just that Auntie has been very busy, so I couldn’t come pick up Shimu.”
She picked up his puzzle pieces and helped him pack his schoolbag.
“Alright, Auntie is taking Shimu home now. Bye-bye.”
“Bye-bye, beautiful auntie!”
After saying goodbye to the teacher, Su Wanqing led the child out of the classroom.
In the car
Su Wanqing opened the back door, and the little boy climbed inside.
“Are you hungry? I bought a cherry cake. Want to try some? It might be a bit of traffic at this time, so we’ll get home a little late.”
She opened the cake and handed it to him.
Shimu silently took it.
Actually, when Su Wanqing was outside the classroom, Shimu had already seen her. He had thought he no longer looked forward to anything—but seeing her still made him feel a small burst of joy.
Especially when she said she was his mother.
It felt like a dream.
She had never gently patted his head before.
She had never told anyone that she was his mother.
In the past, it was always Grandpa Zhang who picked him up. He remembered once, at a traffic light, he saw children his age on the street. One of them was acting spoiled in his mother’s arms for candied hawthorn. .
He had been so envious.
But his own mother treated him like a thorn in her flesh. Her gaze toward him was filled with more and more hatred and disgust.
He was too scared. So scared of that kind of look.
He only dared to hide in his small room, no longer allowing himself even a trace of hope.
Yet something that only existed in dreams was happening now—but he still didn’t dare to take a bite.
The car drove smoothly.
Su Wanqing felt a little nervous. “Shimu… do you not like cherry cake? I can bring you something else next time, okay?”
Next time?
Would there really be a next time?
Shimu stared at the cake in his hands, then slowly took a bite.
It was very sweet.
So sweet he had never tasted anything like it before.
It felt like the sky itself had suddenly been pulled open like a curtain.
The door opened.
A tall woman and a small child walked in.
A servant was just placing the last dish on the table.
“Madam, Young Master, dinner is ready.”
Su Wanqing nodded, handed the schoolbag to the servant, and took Shimu’s small hand.
“Shimu, go wash your hands before eating.”