Chapter 7
When He Zhi’an was taken away by He Jinglin, his big eyes were full of reluctance. He even wanted to come back tomorrow to play with Yu Chen and He Zhen again, but tomorrow was Monday, and he had to go to kindergarten.
“Boss, when are you going to kindergarten?”
It had already been ten days since the last time He Zhen went to kindergarten. That time, after arguing with the other children, he refused to go back no matter who tried to persuade him.
Hearing her precious son call someone “Boss” nearly gave He Jinglin heart palpitations. She looked at He Zhen. “Xiao Zhen, how about going to kindergarten tomorrow with An’an?”
He Zhen turned his head away. “No. I want to stay home and play.”
Yu Chen was currently lying on the soft carpet piecing together a puzzle. Hearing that, he lifted his little head. “Is kindergarten fun?”
He Zhi’an immediately nodded like a chick pecking rice. “Super fun! There’s a big slide, a play castle, little wooden horses, spinning chairs…”
He Jinglin asked Yu Chen gently, “Little treasure, do you go to kindergarten?”
Holding a puzzle piece, Yu Chen obediently shook his head.
“Nope.”
There was no kindergarten in their village. If he wanted to go, he would have to go to the town.
He Jinglin winked at him. “Then how about you go to kindergarten with An’an and Xiao Zhen?”
He Zhi’an immediately nodded in delight. “Yes, yes!”
Being ignored like that suddenly made He Zhen a little unhappy. He reached out and grabbed Yu Chen’s chubby little leg, pulling him closer to his side.
“I’m his boss! He has to listen to me!”
Suppressing a laugh, He Jinglin then asked He Zhen solemnly, “What if little treasure goes to kindergarten with you?”
He Zhen frowned. “You have to ask his dad!”
At that, He Jinglin finally laughed and countered, “Aren’t you his boss?”
A trace of disdain appeared in He Zhen’s eyes. “Auntie, you need a parent’s signature to go to kindergarten. Don’t you know that?”
He Zhen remembered that when he went to kindergarten, the housekeeper had taken him through all sorts of procedures, and it seemed like there were endless papers to sign.
Being looked at like an idiot by a five-year-old child made He Jinglin instantly feel a little awkward.
If He Zhen were not her own nephew, she would have smacked him already.
And yet He Zhi’an, who was a bit slow on the uptake, failed to notice his mother’s mood at all and blankly asked, “Mom, you didn’t know?”
He Jinglin choked on her breath, then dragged He Zhi’an away in disappointment.
“Have a safe trip,” Yu Chen waved to them, then went right back to lying on the carpet, kicking his feet happily as he played to his heart’s content.
A little earlier, He Zhen had talked to Li Huan on the phone. When Li Huan came back, he would take Yu Chen straight home.
Which meant the rest of the time, the two of them would rarely get to be alone together.
Seeing how focused Yu Chen was on playing, He Zhen curiously leaned forward and pinched Yu Chen’s cheek.
He remembered that He Zhi’an had touched Yu Chen’s face just now.
Since he was Yu Chen’s boss, he should get to touch him too.
Yu Chen’s skin was very soft and smooth, like a delicate cheesecake. It looked so pinchable it almost made one want to take a bite.
He Zhen’s playful mood surged, and he simply stretched out both hands and pinched Yu Chen’s chubby little face at once.
Yu Chen was a child who did things seriously. In order to avoid being disturbed by He Zhen, he directly turned around to cooperate, so his round little face was now completely facing He Zhen.
He Zhen was extremely satisfied, rubbing and kneading Yu Chen’s cheeks to his heart’s content as though petting a cat.
“Yu Chenchen, I have English class tomorrow afternoon. You’re coming with me.”
Yu Chen was fiddling with the blocks, his long and lovely eyelashes trembling lightly. He agreed almost without hesitation, “Okay.”
He Zhen was very pleased. He hated English class most of all. With Yu Chen keeping him company, it definitely would not be so boring.
“It’s a deal!”
That night, Li Huan hurried back to take Yu Chen home. To be honest, when he heard that Yu Chen had spent the entire day playing with He Zhen, he was extremely anxious.
But the moment he arrived at He Zhen’s bedroom and saw the little one fast asleep on the soft sofa, he instantly relaxed.
He Zhen sat in front of Yu Chen like a little soldier. After all, the sofa was not as wide as a bed. If Yu Chen rolled over and fell off, then he would lose his little underling.
Li Huan first prepared He Zhen’s pajamas and nutritional supplements for bedtime. After supervising him and making sure he took them on time, he gathered the chubby little child into his arms.
He Zhen stared fixedly at Yu Chen, who was softly snoring in his sleep, and haughtily folded his arms. “He’s kind of fat. He needs exercise.”
Li Huan smiled gently and lightly supported Yu Chen’s little head with one hand. “Chenchen—”
He hesitated for a moment, but in the end still told He Zhen about Yu Chen’s illness.
After hearing it, He Zhen became very serious. His little face tightened, and only after a long while did he ask stiffly, “Will he die?”
Li Huan was very surprised. In just one short day, the two little ones had already become this close. It was rare to see the young master worry so much about someone.
“No. It’s just a bit troublesome to treat.”
He Zhen said nothing more. Coolly, he turned around and went into the bathroom. “See you tomorrow.”
Li Huan gave a slight nod. “See you tomorrow, Young Master.”
Back in his room, Li Huan carefully laid Yu Chen on the big bed. Yu Chen was sleeping deeply. He smacked his lips once, then mumbled “meat, meat” in his sleep.
Li Huan was amused. He turned the soft-as-marshmallow child over, and while helping him undress, he discovered a figurine hidden in Yu Chen’s bulging pocket.
There was no need to guess. He Zhen must have given it to the little one.
Li Huan gently rubbed the figurine with his thumb, and his gaze suddenly stopped on the little deer’s right eye. Although that right eye was trying its best to imitate the left one, the material was still visibly different.
After following Old Master He through thick and thin for so many years, Li Huan still had some counter-surveillance instincts. After thinking for a moment, he placed the little deer figurine on the cabinet, turning that “eye” lightly toward the wall.
This was something he needed to tell Old Master He about.
The next day, after waking up, He Zhen came early to wander around the servants’ quarters. During that time, he ran into many children on their way to school. Whenever they saw him, their gazes turned timid, and they stuck close to the adults around them. Although the parents all treated him politely and respectfully, he was still not very happy.
His little underling would never look at him like that.
Whenever Yu Chenchen spoke to him, there was always admiration in his eyes.
At least, that was what He Zhen believed.
He waited all the way until after eight o’clock, but still did not see that plump little figure appear by the window. Unable to wait any longer, He Zhen simply went upstairs and knocked on the door himself. He thought the little fatty was definitely sleeping in.
The crisp knocking continued for a long time, yet no one came to answer. At that moment, Aunt Liu from next door curiously opened her door. “Young Master?”
She quickly put on a smile. “Are you looking for Housekeeper Li?”
He Zhen nodded. “Mm.”
Aunt Liu said, “The little dumpling from their family wanted to go to the amusement park, so Housekeeper Li took him there first thing this morning.”
The moment He Zhen heard that, the anticipation on his face instantly cooled. They were going to the amusement park today, and the little fatty had not even told him.
He Zhen exploded on the spot, like a little hedgehog with all its quills standing up, and stalked off quickly with his hands behind his back.
Watching He Zhen’s angry little back, Aunt Liu hesitated again and again, but in the end still told Li Huan about it.
At the same time, Yu Chen was wearing a white fluffy lamb coat and looked like a cheerful little lamb, holding popcorn in one hand and a balloon in the other.
The amusement park really was beautiful. Everywhere smelled sweet, and the children inside were all super adorable too.
Because Li Huan kept Yu Chen’s heart condition in mind, he did not dare let him play on any thrilling rides. Instead, they spent a long time in the children’s area for kids under three.
As he rode the merry-go-round, Yu Chen wrapped his chubby little hands tightly around the pole in front of him, smiling brilliantly.
“I’m riding a big horse!”
Yu Chen was delighted beyond measure. Even the gap in his teeth showed when he smiled.
The adults nearby also noticed this round and lovely little child. His fair, plump little face was wrapped in the thick lamb coat, and his bright, watery eyes were full of life. Especially when he smiled and revealed his dimples, he looked even more delicate and lovable than a child star on television. Quite a few parents even took out their phones to snap pictures of him.
Seeing how happy Yu Chen was, Li Huan felt very comforted too.
When the two of them were preparing to leave after playing the whole morning, Yu Chen suddenly stopped in front of a candy shop.
He craned his little head upward for a long time. The soft little one looked eager and hopeful, but did not open his mouth to ask Li Huan for anything.
Li Huan crouched down and asked, “How about Uncle buys you some candy?”
Yu Chen happily revealed his gap-toothed smile, then solemnly raised one finger. “Just one is enough.”
Yu Chen had always been very sensible and never asked for things on his own. Li Huan rubbed his head and took his hand as they walked inside. “Uncle can buy you a whole box.”
The candy store was decorated beautifully and was very eye-catching to passing children. When they passed by the first time, it was not that Li Huan had not considered buying some for Yu Chen. He had simply been worried about cavities, so he had not taken him in then.
Walking through that dazzling world of sweets, Yu Chen trotted along with quick little steps until he reached the counter filled with chocolate hazelnut candies.
“Hewwo! I want one!”
The salesgirl had rarely seen such an adorable child and deliberately teased him. “Just one?”
To get a better look at the candy, Yu Chen stood on tiptoe like a wobbling little penguin.
“Mm-hmm, just one is enough.”
The salesgirl was instantly melted by how cute he was and teased, “I can give it to you, but you have to call me pretty big sister, okay?”
Yu Chen did not even hesitate. Sweetly, he said, “Thank you, prettiest big sister!”
The salesgirl was overjoyed. If there had not been a counter between them, she would have wanted nothing more than to pinch him and hug him.
Li Huan thanked her. Before leaving, though, he still bought Yu Chen a big jar. The chocolate could be eaten slowly. Later, when the little one left with Yu Youshan, maybe eating chocolate would make him think of him.
…
By the time they returned to White Rose Manor, it was already afternoon.
Yu Chen had not forgotten that he had promised to accompany He Zhen to class, so he begged Li Huan to take him to see He Zhen. Only then did Li Huan realize that the chocolate Yu Chen wanted was actually meant as a souvenir specifically for He Zhen.
The moment they stepped into the study, they immediately noticed how angry He Zhen looked. And when he saw Yu Chen, he got even angrier, lowering his eyes coldly and refusing to acknowledge him.
Li Huan glanced at Yu Chen and was just about to speak when the little one suddenly jumped down from his arms, wobbling as he ran to He Zhen. The way he dug into his pocket made him look just like a rich little landlord.
“Boss! A present for you!”
“Hm?” He Zhen lifted his eyes. The grievance radiating off him was heavier than three straight days of kindergarten.
Afraid that a four-year-old might not be able to explain clearly, Li Huan added, “Chenchen specially bought you a souvenir at the amusement park.”
“Mm-hmm!” Yu Chen nodded along eagerly, and the two little sheep horns on his padded hood bobbed as he did. “Chenchen has you in his heart!”
He showed a sincere smile, and in his jewel-like eyes was reflected He Zhen’s surprise.
Almost instantly, the sharp little hedgehog gradually drew in all of his spikes. He Zhen lowered his eyes, awkwardly clenched the chocolate in his palm, then turned his head away, leaving only his back to Yu Chen.
After a long while, the corner of He Zhen’s lips quietly curled into a proud smile. Standing nearby and taking it all in, Li Huan looked at Yu Chen in disbelief.
It seemed he really had worried too much.
This little one had more emotional intelligence than he did.
That mouth of his was sweet as honey.
