Chapter 71
Warm, golden sunlight filtered through the trees, dappling the ground.
Little golden spots of light danced on Xing Nuo’s face as he scratched his cheek, looking up at his dad and teacher discussing his lunchtime antics.
“Mr. Shen, Xing Nuo is generally well-behaved in class, but mealtimes are a bit of a challenge. If we’re not careful, he’ll sneak his meat into other children’s bowls.”
The kindergarten teacher sighed.
Looking at the handsome Mr. Shen, she added:
“You should pay more attention to this at home. Eating habits are important, and parents need to be involved.”
Shen Wen nodded, his expression as warm and gentle as the autumn sun.
“Yes, I’ll keep an eye on it.”
Xing Nuo, shrinking his neck, trying to become invisible, didn’t dare speak as he walked home, his small hand in his dad’s.
Shen Wen was also exasperated by Xing Nuo’s eating habits.
The little one simply didn’t like fatty meat, especially large chunks of it. Having it in his bowl was torture for him.
“No wonder you’ve grown taller, but not gained any weight.”
His arms and legs were still thin and didn’t look as sturdy as his classmate, Little Fatty.
Little Fatty’s mom had said he almost weighed fifty pounds!
“Who are you giving your meat to?”
As expected, Xing Nuo replied, “Little Fatty ate it.”
So, Little Fatty’s weight gain was partly thanks to Xing Nuo.
Xing Nuo looked up at his dad, a sweet, innocent smile on his face, and tugged on his hand.
“Daddy, Zaizai join sports day!” He expertly changed the subject, his eyes crinkling into a smile.
This was the kindergarten’s first sports day, filled with fun activities for all the children.
Shen Wen, intrigued, ruffled Xing Nuo’s hair.
“What events are you participating in?”
The teacher had listed the events in the class group chat earlier. They were all fun activities, like carrying balloons, spinning blindfolded, riding hobby horses, and so on, about ten events in total.
But Shen Wen hadn’t seen Xing Nuo’s name on the list.
He had assumed it was because of Xing Nuo’s frail constitution and that the teacher had decided not to let him participate.
Xing Nuo’s eyes, sparkling in the sunlight, lit up.
“I be…emcee!”
Shen Wen was surprised. He looked down at the little one, puzzled.
“How did you become the emcee?”
Xing Nuo shrugged, rubbing his face, his golden curls bouncing.
“I don’t know~”
Back home, Shen Wen chatted with the teacher and learned that they had been looking for an emcee, but hadn’t found a suitable child in any of the kindergarten classes.
Xing Nuo, cute and well-behaved, at least looked presentable on stage, so the teacher had chosen him.
The emcee didn’t have to participate in the sports events, but he had to announce the beginning and end of the sports day on stage.
Xing Nuo, thrilled about becoming the emcee, ran around the apartment like a puppy, sharing the good news with his brother.
Shen Baizhou picked him up and ruffled his hair.
“So impressive! You’re the emcee!”
Xing Nuo, who had gotten the role solely because of his looks, nodded, his eyes curving into happy crescents.
“Yes! Zaizai wear little shirt…and hold microphone!”
He had rehearsed that morning, holding the small microphone, standing beside another little girl emcee, announcing the opening remarks with the teachers.
Shen Baizhou, intrigued, put Xing Nuo down and asked:
“When is the sports day? Can I go?”
Shen Wen smacked Shen Baizhou’s head, clicking his tongue.
“How old are you? Do you think it’s glorious to participate in a children’s sports day?”
Shen Baizhou, used to being hit, didn’t react.
“Can’t I go as a family member?”
He didn’t want to miss his little brother’s first sports day and wanted to take pictures.
Xing Nuo nodded and ran to his bedroom, taking out the invitation from his backpack.
“Can go! Teacher said…parents can come too~”
The kindergarten had prepared invitations for the parents, hoping they could attend.
And after the sports events, there would be a parent-child relay race.
Shen Wen opened the invitation, and before he could read it, Shen Baizhou emerged from his bedroom, holding a set of clothes.
“How about I wear my school uniform to the sports day?”
Xing Nuo, circling Shen Baizhou like a little top, nodded vigorously, his eyes wide with admiration.
“Looks good! Big Brother looks pwetty!”
His vocabulary was still limited, his compliments repetitive.
Shen Wen rubbed his forehead, his tone filled with exasperation.
“Is that all you have to wear?”
Shen Baizhou seemed to only own two or three sets of school uniforms, rotating them daily.
“No,” Shen Baizhou said, sitting down and picking up Xing Nuo, pinching his cheek.
“Xing Nuo said I look smart in my uniform.”
Shen Wen: “…”
“People who lack something tend to overcompensate.”
Shen Yan, who had arrived unnoticed, his expression cold, his words sharp, joined the conversation.
Shen Baizhou, for example, having failed all his exams last semester, had been demoted to the first year of high school.
His classmate, the PE representative, had cried, wailing dramatically:
“Shen Baizhou, if you leave, I’ll be the last in the class!”
Shen Baizhou had never failed to be last in any exam, big or small.
He was remarkably consistent.
Shen Baizhou, hearing Shen Yan’s mockery, snorted and went to change into his clean school uniform.
“You’ve never been to high school. You don’t understand.”
He ignored Shen Yan and, carrying Xing Nuo, went downstairs to practice for the relay race.
Shen Yan, placing the food he had brought on the table, turned to Shen Wen.
“Are you letting Shen Baizhou go to the sports day?”
Shen Wen, leaning back on the sofa, flipping through a gardening book, dog-eared a page, and smiled.
“He can’t go. He has a placement test that day.”
Even if he was destined to be last, he still had to take the test.
Downstairs.
The setting sun cast a warm glow on Xing Nuo’s fair skin, making his dark eyes sparkle, his curls shimmering.
Shen Baizhou took Xing Nuo to the small garden downstairs, crouched down, and said patiently:
“When the relay race starts, just hold the baton and run straight ahead. Don’t look back.”
Xing Nuo’s face was serious as he nodded vigorously, patting his chest.
“Zaizai wun fast!”
Shen Baizhou ruffled his hair, picked up a twig, and handed it to him.
“Here, pretend this is the baton. Let’s practice.”
Xing Nuo nodded, took the twig, took a few deep breaths, and, at his brother’s signal, yelled “Hiya!” and ran.
He ran as fast as he could, feeling the wind in his hair, his curls bouncing.
He stopped, panting, wiping his sweat, and looked back, realizing he had only run about ten meters.
“Wow, Zaizai so fast!”
Even running ten meters deserved praise. He held up the twig and ran back to his brother.
“Big Brother, little stick.”
Shen Baizhou took the twig and corrected him.
“It’s called a baton.”
He crouched down, gently wiped Xing Nuo’s sweat, picked him up, and massaged his little legs.
“Xing Nuo runs very fast. Just run like that on sports day, and you’ll definitely win.”
Xing Nuo, encouraged, his confidence soaring, felt like he could fly.
“Okay! Zaizai be first!”
As Shen Baizhou and Xing Nuo eagerly anticipated the sports day, Shen Baizhou’s placement test arrived first.
Before nine o’clock, the sun beat down mercilessly.
The kindergarten children, wearing their little round hats, lined up neatly on the rubber track and artificial turf.
There were nine classes in total, including the younger and middle groups. The older group, with ten classes, wasn’t participating in the sports day.
Xing Nuo, the little emcee, had just arrived with his backpack when he was pulled aside by the anxious teacher and changed into a small suit.
He had used the comb prop this morning, and his light golden hair was smooth and silky, making his bright eyes even more prominent, giving him the appearance of a well-behaved little animal.
The little girl emcee, his partner from the rehearsal, walked over, gasped at the sight of him, and reached out to touch his hair.
“Xing Nuo, your hair is so smooth!”
Like silk, shiny and flowing, just reaching his shoulders, transforming his cuteness into something almost elegant.
The fluffy golden retriever puppy had become a sleek and elegant kitten.
