Chapter 13
Half an hour later, Li Huan arrived at Yingzhuo Kindergarten together with He Heng, Old Master He’s assistant, and the two went to the principal’s office to understand what had happened.
He Heng was a child Old Master He had adopted from an orphanage. From a young age, he had followed Old Master He around and helped with business matters. Ever since He Zhen’s father left, He Heng had taken charge of everything related to He Zhen. In the future, once He Zhen inherited the group, He Heng would also become his chief assistant.
Li Huan and He Heng could be considered friends. After receiving the call from Yingzhuo Kindergarten, Li Huan felt it necessary to inform He Heng. After all, He Zhen had been wronged at kindergarten, and the He family had to send someone to step in.
When the principal saw the two of them appear together, he looked slightly nervous. He took the initiative to greet them and then carefully explained the full cause and course of today’s incident.
As he spoke, he quietly observed their reactions.
By the end, he chuckled and said, “But fortunately, the matter has already been resolved perfectly. Xiao Zhen is so happy to be in the same class as his little brother. A child’s happiness is what matters most, right?”
From beginning to end, Li Huan did not say a single word.
But when He Heng lowered his eyes, he noticed Li Huan’s slightly trembling fist.
After a brief moment of thought, He Heng spoke in a tone that was polite yet distant. “You are right. Our young master’s happiness is what matters most. But you should understand that this kind of incident can only happen once—this must be the last time.”
The principal maintained his smile. “You’re absolutely right.”
He Heng glanced at Li Huan again, then addressed all the teachers present. “That child named Yu Chen—strictly speaking, by blood, he is not our young master’s biological younger brother. But in another sense, if our young master says he is, then he is.”
“Principal, do you understand?”
The principal nodded repeatedly, agreeing at once.
He Heng gave a formal smile. “Since you have already reviewed the surveillance footage, I assume you know exactly what happened. Yingzhuo Kindergarten has a teaching staff that is diligent and dedicated. It would be a real pity if one rotten apple ruined the kindergarten’s reputation.”
The principal nodded. “Please rest assured, I will handle it properly.”
He Heng stopped there and merely signaled to the assistant behind him. The assistant immediately went to Senior Class One and brought the two little boys out.
In the car, Yu Chen held a chocolate bun in both hands and devoured it hungrily, leaving plenty of bread crumbs all over his little round face.
Li Huan held Yu Chen silently in his arms, his hand stroking down the child’s back again and again. His dark, exhausted eyes remained lowered the entire time.
He Heng sat in the front passenger seat and glanced back from time to time.
He noticed that whether it was Li Huan or He Zhen, all their attention was focused on the little one, who had cried himself into a tear-soaked mess. The usually willful and mischievous young master was actually sitting there obediently holding a cup of milk, feeding him from time to time.
He Heng found it rather amusing. He had only been away for a month, yet the household had changed so much.
Still, the child Li Huan had picked up truly was exceptionally good-looking—red lips, white teeth, a face as soft and delicate as if carved from pink jade, and a fair, round little face so sweet and lovable that he looked exactly like a lucky child from a fairy tale. The kind of child that made people want to pinch him and scoop him up into their arms.
By the time they got back to the He family estate, Yu Chen had already fallen asleep curled up in Li Huan’s arms. Even through the layers of clothing, Li Huan could still feel the unusual heat radiating from his body. When the doctor was called and used a mercury thermometer, it turned out Yu Chen really did have a fever.
The moment He Zhen heard that Yu Chen was sick, he hated that Teacher Zhao even more. Folding his little arms and puffing out his cheeks, he fumed, “If you ask me, we should call the police!”
After helping Yu Chen put on a child’s cooling patch, Li Huan glanced at the clock on the wall. “Young Master, it’s already very late. Let me take you to rest.”
He Zhen obviously did not want to go and knitted his brows in displeasure. But there was only one bed in Li Huan’s room, and if he stayed, there would be nowhere for him to sleep. In the end, he could only clasp his hands behind his back and say reluctantly, “Take good care of him.”
Li Huan let out a hoarse little laugh. “Please don’t worry.”
He Zhen took one more look at Yu Chen and then followed the maid out, preparing to leave.
Just then, half-delirious with fever, Yu Chen mumbled vaguely, “Boss… brother…”
He Zhen made a show of disliking it. “What boss-brother? Call people properly.”
Li Huan only smiled tiredly and said nothing.
Soon, Li Huan was the only one left in the bedroom.
With bloodshot eyes from staying awake so long, he held Yu Chen close in aching concern. Yu Chen’s entire body was burning hot, and even his little arms and legs were flushed with alarming redness.
Suppressing his guilt, Li Huan followed the doctor’s instructions and gave Yu Chen physical cooling treatment once every hour, using cotton swabs dipped in alcohol to wipe down his whole body.
It was not until the second half of the night that Yu Chen’s temperature finally dropped to 38 degrees.
As time passed, Li Huan cared for Yu Chen this way for two full days. At last, Yu Chen’s fever was brought under control, though every morning he still needed an IV drip.
As for kindergarten, Li Huan had already taken leave for Yu Chen. He had originally planned to let He Zhen continue attending school as usual, but to his surprise, He Zhen was impossible to persuade. No matter what, he insisted on staying with Yu Chen, and every morning he personally told Yu Chen fairy tales.
Because of this, Young Master He—who had only managed to love kindergarten for one short day—took another little break. He planned to go back to school together with Yu Chen on the day of the kindergarten’s Hanfu Joy Festival. By then, Yu Chen’s illness should have mostly recovered.
“Snow White bit into the poisoned apple and immediately fell unconscious.”
Worried that Yu Chen might feel lonely, Young Master He took it upon himself to assume the great responsibility of broadening his horizons. On the very first day Yu Chen fell sick, He Zhen had carried over a thick stack of fairy tale books and began reading them to Yu Chen one by one during his IV treatments to help pass the time.
“The seven dwarfs were heartbroken, so they placed the princess in a beautiful coffin.”
By the bedside stood a tall IV stand. Cool medicine dripped down through the clear tube and flowed into those fine little veins. In just a few short days, the back of Yu Chen’s plump white hand had already become mottled with patches of bruising.
Even so, cheerful baby Yu Chen remained grinning as ever. He never cried when the needle was inserted for the IV. Instead, he kicked his little feet happily, ate potato chips, and enjoyed He Zhen’s “performance.” He truly could not have been more content.
“Boss.”
“Mm?”
Halfway through the story, Yu Chen leaned against his yellow duck pillow and ate little bear biscuits one by one. “Does the poisoned apple taste good?”
Seizing the chance, He Zhen began teaching four-year-old Yu Chenchen basic safety knowledge. “It’s a poisoned apple. Whether it tastes good or not, you still can’t eat it.”
Yu Chen’s little head tilted as he thought about it, and he pouted curiously. “Then… does it taste good or not?”
Annoyed by the question, He Zhen immediately rolled up the book and gently poked Yu Chen’s soft little tummy. “All you know is eating.”
“It looks really tasty.” Yu Chen pointed at the cover of the fairy tale book. “Red, round, big.”
He Zhen shot him a look of disdain. “It doesn’t taste good! How could a poisoned apple possibly taste good?”
“Boss, have you eaten poisoned apples before?” Yu Chen’s glassy eyes suddenly lit up, his gaze full of pure admiration.
He Zhen touched his nose and answered vaguely, “Mm.”
Yu Chen blinked. “Boss…”
He Zhen: “What?”
Yu Chen asked in all sincerity, “Then how come you didn’t die?”
He Zhen nearly exploded on the spot. Putting on a stern face, he said, “If I died, then no one would read you stories anymore. Do you want me to die?”
Startled, Yu Chen immediately shook his little head in panic and cried out in his soft baby voice, “Boss, I don’t want you to die.”
He Zhen’s brows lifted in satisfaction. Taking advantage of the moment, he climbed onto the bed, pulled Yu Chen—who had been kicking his chubby legs—into his arms, and took the opportunity to rub his hair to his heart’s content.
Recently, Yu Chen had gotten used to always being hugged by He Zhen. Not only did he cooperate completely, he could even squint his big eyes comfortably and fall asleep in He Zhen’s arms.
“Boss.”
Seeking out warmth, Yu Chen leaned against He Zhen like a well-fed little tabby cat basking in the sun, feeling wonderfully cozy.
He Zhen: “What now?”
Yu Chen: “You’re amazing.”
Although He Zhen liked being praised, he still thought this compliment had come completely out of nowhere.
He frowned slightly. “Why do you think I’m amazing?”
Yu Chen’s eyes curved into a smile. “Because you ate a poisoned apple and still didn’t die.”
The corner of He Zhen’s mouth twitched faintly. Holding back the urge to throw the thirty-jin chubby baby out of his arms, he fiercely pinched Yu Chen’s smooth, fair little belly.
“Yu Chenchen!”
“Once you’re better, you’re going on a diet!”
In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the kindergarten’s Hanfu Joy Festival.
Remembering the lion-shaped pastries He Zhi’an had mentioned, Yu Chen deliberately got up extra early, afraid that if he arrived late, the lion pastries would all be gone.
Li Huan scraped a finger lightly across Yu Chen’s nose and teased him with a smile while helping him into his hanfu. “Little greedy cat.”
The Hanfu Joy Festival had already been held five times at Yingzhuo Kindergarten. Its original purpose was to promote traditional culture and encourage the children to value manners and ritual. On this day, the kindergarten not only prepared all kinds of traditional pastries, but also required all the children to wear hanfu.
For that reason, when Li Huan was choosing one for He Zhen, he had also specially chosen for Yu Chen the smallest-sized outfit in a light green shade—cute and lively. Worried that Yu Chen’s feet might get cold, he even carefully tucked warming pads inside his white boots.
Of course, he had originally wanted to prepare the same for He Zhen, but the cool young master had refused outright, claiming he was not afraid of the cold.
Once they were all dressed, the two little ones got into the car hand in hand.
Tilting his head, Yu Chen noticed how beautiful He Zhen looked in his hanfu. He Zhen’s skin was naturally fair, and with that ice-blue robe in ancient style, he looked like a cold and refined young master from a noble family—so radiant that he drew the eye like the prettiest luminous pearl.
He Zhen kept being stared at and felt slightly uncomfortable, so with a mischievous streak he pinched Yu Chen’s chubby little face. “Why are you looking at me?”
Yu Chen obediently reached out a little hand and lovingly touched He Zhen’s clothes. “Boss, you’re really pretty.”
Pride instantly lit up He Zhen’s face. He ruffled Yu Chen’s hair again before finally settling down in his seat.
The children of Yingzhuo Kindergarten were arriving one after another.
When the principal learned that He Zhen and Yu Chen would both be coming today, he specially came out to the entrance to greet them.
The moment he saw He Zhen walking in while holding Yu Chen’s hand, he bent down with a smile. “Where did these two little immortals come from?”
He Zhen had always been cool and disliked talking to people. Out of politeness, he unwillingly offered a good morning. But the Yu Chen beside him was obviously much brighter and more outgoing.
Awkwardly waving his short little arm, he sweetly called out, “Hello, Principal Uncle!”
The principal’s heart instantly warmed. Taking advantage of the moment before He Zhen noticed, he swiftly reached out and touched Yu Chen’s chubby little face.
When he had called them little immortals just now, he had truly meant it.
This child Yu Chen was simply too lively and adorable, like a little sun that glowed on its own. Just one glance at him was enough to lift a person’s mood. No wonder He Zhen treasured him so much.
Along the way, the teachers assigned to greet the children all greeted Yu Chen the moment they saw the unfamiliar little darling holding He Zhen’s hand. Some of them even openly reached out under He Zhen’s nose to touch Yu Chen’s soft little hair, causing He Zhen to bare his claws and teeth protectively around Yu Chen.
Inside Senior Class One, the classroom was lively and bustling.
Teacher Lin had specially prepared a welcome party for Yu Chen, and all the children were craning their necks in anticipation, waiting to meet this mysterious new friend.
When He Zhen walked in holding Yu Chen’s little hand, the noisy classroom suddenly fell silent. The children, all dressed in beautiful ancient-style hanfu, widened their eyes, and some even started clapping.
The child by He Zhen’s side was simply too beautiful.
The little darling was short and round and adorable. The pale green silk outfit he wore fit him perfectly, falling neatly down to his little white boots. The flowing hem swayed gently in the warm air from the classroom heater. His bright, lively eyes were as clear and precious as gemstones, and every inch of him seemed to radiate spirit and charm.
What drew the eye most of all was the little dot of red cinnabar at the center of Yu Chen’s brow. Like a red plum blossom fallen onto snow, it added a hint of playfulness and quiet sweetness.
“What’s your name?”
“He’s so pretty!”
“Why is he so tiny?”
At that moment, He Zhen’s vanity reached its absolute peak. Gripping Yu Chen’s plump little hand tightly, he walked step by step up to the front of all the children.
“He Zhen, is he your younger brother?”
“Probably, right? The two of them kind of look alike.”
“I want a cute little brother too!”
Usually, the children who did not dare speak to He Zhen before now all chattered around him like a flock of sparrows, surrounding him and bombarding him with questions.
He Zhen proudly lifted his little chin. Like a tiny grown-up, he announced in a solemn tone, “His name is Yu Chen. He’s mine! The two of us, every single day, we—”
Before he could finish, the chubby little hand in his palm suddenly disappeared. He quickly turned his head to look at Yu Chen—only to find that Li Ye, the mixed-blood little boy he hated most in class, was elegantly holding Yu Chen’s hand and giving a slight bow.
“Can we be friends?”
Yu Chen broke into a sweet grin. “Sure!”
The smile on He Zhen’s face collapsed instantly.
