Chapter 4: Fighting to Be Qi Wang’s Wife
The next day, at kindergarten.
During free play time, the children were playing games in the yard as usual. The space beneath the pear blossom tree was still their favorite spot.
Wang Xiaohu looked around and said in confusion, “Why isn’t Xixi here?”
A child beside him said in a soft baby voice, “Xixi hasn’t been playing with us for several days now!”
Wang Xiaohu stood on tiptoe and looked around, then volunteered bravely, “Then I’ll go call him over.”
Lin Huaixi had just gone to get himself a cup of water. Before he could even screw the lid back onto his little yellow duck water bottle, Wang Xiaohu came running over in a rush and grabbed his wrist. “Xixi, let’s go play together!”
Wang Xiaohu was very sturdy and strong, and Lin Huaixi could not break free. He was dragged straight beneath the pear blossom tree.
Children had their own sense of beauty too. Lin Huaixi had delicate, pretty features, and everyone liked him very much, so they all crowded warmly around him.
“Xixi, your water bottle is so pretty!”
“Xixi likes your water bottle too. Can you let me look at it?”
“Xixi, what game do you want to play?”
“…”
Lin Huaixi casually handed his little yellow duck bottle to one of the children. Just as he was about to speak, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he suggested excitedly, “Let’s ask Qi Wang to join us too!”
The moment they heard Qi Wang’s name, everyone fell silent, and the atmosphere turned a little strange.
“It’s only fun when there are lots of people playing,” Lin Huaixi said in a cheerful tone, doing his best to stir everyone’s interest.
Several timid little girls pressed their lips together tightly, twisting their fingers around each other. The other children did not dare speak either. Wang Xiaohu, who was usually fearless and lawless, suddenly became obedient at this moment. He was the only one who spoke, but his voice had gone much quieter. “Qi Wang… it feels like he doesn’t want to play with us.”
Gu Youyou tugged on Lin Huaixi’s sleeve, her eyes watery. “I gave him milk candy, but he was so fierce, so fierce. He hates me.”
“No one would ever hate Youyou.” Lin Huaixi pressed his lips together and thought for a moment, then came up with a good idea. “Then you all wait here. I’ll go ask him. If he comes over, that means he wants to be good friends with everyone.”
Wang Xiaohu, very loyal by nature, grabbed Lin Huaixi and looked worried for him. “Don’t go. He’ll be mean to you!”
Lin Huaixi’s smile was completely free of gloom. He still repeated, “He won’t. Qi Wang is very nice.”
This time, Wang Xiaohu failed to hold Lin Huaixi back. He stomped his feet twice unwillingly. He wanted to go with Lin Huaixi, but he did not have the courage to take that step.
…
After spending so much time together, Lin Huaixi had already figured out the pattern. During free activity time, there was a high chance Qi Wang would be in the reading room.
As soon as Lin Huaixi reached the entrance of the reading room, he saw Qi Wang sitting quietly inside. His eyes brightened at once, and he wanted to run over to him, but he was afraid of disturbing him, so he stood at the door and shuffled around in little circles, looking at him pitifully.
In that state, Lin Huaixi looked just like a poor little puppy that could not find its way home. Qi Wang had no way to pretend he did not see him. He set his book aside and asked helplessly, “Are you looking for me?”
Lin Huaixi nodded again and again, then stretched out a hand toward Qi Wang, giving him a formal invitation. “Let’s go play together!”
Qi Wang’s gaze slowly moved from Lin Huaixi’s face to his chubby little hand, and his brows drew tightly together.
Lin Huaixi had already washed his hands before going to get water, and his skin was fair and tender, but he did not know where he had rubbed against something. There was a smear of dirt on the round pads of his fingers, and mud under his nails too.
Qi Wang was especially fond of cleanliness. Just looking at it made him feel uncomfortable. But unlike last time, he did not hide far away. Instead, with a solemn little face, he said, “Come with me.”
Lin Huaixi was full of confusion, but he obediently nodded his little head.
Qi Wang did not want to touch Lin Huaixi’s dirty hand, so he walked ahead and led the way, turning back every two steps to check whether Lin Huaixi was following him.
The two of them stopped at the restroom entrance. Qi Wang pointed at the tap. “Go wash your hands.”
Lin Huaixi nodded obediently. He stretched out his arms and shook them twice, letting his sleeves fall down on their own and revealing his round, lotus-root-like wrists.
Seeing this, Qi Wang’s brows furrowed even more tightly.
Lin Huaixi was still wearing his favorite little bunny coat. It was a clean milky white color, and if water splashed onto it, it would leave darkened wet marks that were especially obvious.
Qi Wang did not want to keep looking at something so uncomfortable. Thoroughly defeated, he walked over unwillingly. “Don’t move. I’ll fix it for you.”
Lin Huaixi blinked his watery big eyes and stretched his hands out in front of Qi Wang, even giving them two playful little shakes.
Qi Wang’s face remained cool, but his movements were very gentle. He rolled the sleeves up to Lin Huaixi’s elbows. No matter how much Lin Huaixi moved, the water would not splash onto the cuffs.
Lin Huaixi stared for a while at Qi Wang’s hands, then tilted his head to look at Qi Wang’s face. Out of nowhere, he blurted out, “You’re kind of like my mom.”
Qi Wang: “…”
At the age of only four, being told he looked like someone’s mother definitely could not count as praise. Qi Wang stood there in disarray for several seconds, then said irritably, “What nonsense are you talking about? I’m not your mom!”
Lin Huaixi puffed out his little mouth and refuted him quietly, “I was only saying you’re like a mom. You’re not my mom at all.”
“…” The way Qi Wang showed emotion was for his cheeks to “puff up.”
White and soft, making people want to poke them, but even at such a young age, Lin Huaixi already understood the instinct for survival. He restrained his eager little hand and said sweetly, “Qi Wang, you’re so amazing. Thank you.”
Looking at those curved brows and smiling eyes, Qi Wang could not stay angry anymore. He only let out a huff through his nose.
Lin Huaixi put his hands under the running water and washed them very carefully before letting Qi Wang inspect them.
Only then was Qi Wang satisfied. He even took the initiative to pull Lin Huaixi’s sleeves back down for him.
Lin Huaixi said nothing. He only pressed his lips together and looked at Qi Wang expectantly. His wet, shining eyes were full of anticipation.
This move worked very well on adults, and it worked on children too. Qi Wang did not want to play such a childish game with him, but for some reason, he just could not refuse Lin Huaixi. After struggling for a full half minute, he finally gave in and said, “Fine.”
Lin Huaixi beamed with joy. Tugging on Qi Wang’s sleeve, he half-dragged and half-pulled him over to the pear tree.
The other children had not abandoned Lin Huaixi and started the game without him. Instead, each of them had been craning their necks, looking in the direction where he had gone.
Now that they saw Lin Huaixi return—and with Qi Wang in tow—every one of them widened their eyes in shock.
“Xixi really brought Qi Wang here!”
“Xixi, you were right! So Qi Wang doesn’t hate us after all!”
“Xixi, how did you do it? You’re amazing!”
Lin Huaixi was instantly surrounded by all kinds of praise. An invisible tail behind him seemed to stick straight up, and he let out two silly little giggles.
Children were all innocent and lovely, and they did not hold grudges. Although Qi Wang had been fierce before, this time he had come over on his own, so the other children no longer minded what had happened before and warmly accepted him.
Once that matter passed, the children gathered together and chirped noisily about what game they should play. In the end, everyone unanimously decided to play house.
In the eyes of children, the image of a father was the biggest and most impressive. Wang Xiaohu naturally would not let such an opportunity go. He immediately stepped forward and said, “Then I’ll be the dad.”
“No way. You’ve already been the dad several times. It’s my turn now,” the little boy beside him immediately protested.
The four little boys present all crowded together, fighting over the role, while Lin Huaixi stood quietly to one side.
Gu Youyou tugged on his sleeve and asked softly, “Xixi, don’t you want to be the dad?”
Lin Huaixi shook his head. “I don’t know how to be a dad.”
“A dad is… I don’t know how to describe it…” Gu Youyou’s gaze swept across the four boys, then she shook her head in denial. “Not like them.”
Lin Huaixi said in distress, “Then what should we do? Does this family not have a dad either?”
Without realizing it, the children split into two groups. One group was fighting over the role of father, while the other was worrying over what to do if this family had no father. After wasting more than ten minutes, Gu Youyou’s gaze suddenly landed on Qi Wang.
“He looks like a dad!”
Those words were immediately supported by the other little girls, who all looked at Qi Wang with bright shining eyes.
The four boys had not even finished arguing, only to discover the whole matter had been settled out from under them. All of them were stunned. Wang Xiaohu was especially unconvinced and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Why should he be the dad?”
Gu Youyou’s voice was soft and fluffy, but utterly ruthless. “Because none of you are as good as him.”
Wang Xiaohu: “…”
For a moment, he choked up. Unwilling to accept it, he looked at Qi Wang. So did the other children.
Qi Wang did not want to take part in such a childish game. Standing at the very edge of the group, he was still dressed in his crisp and exquisite little suit. The baby fat had already faded from his face, revealing clearer lines and contours, and there was something about him that felt different from ordinary children.
Wang Xiaohu instantly fell silent. The other three boys gave up as well. With no dispute at all, the role of father landed on Qi Wang.
Next, it was the girls’ turn to discuss who would be the mother.
Lin Huaixi was the cutest child in the kindergarten, while Qi Wang was the most handsome. He matched the image of a prince on a white horse perfectly. Several little girls all had princess dreams, and none of them wanted to miss this chance, so they began arguing.
Wang Xiaohu could not get a word in. He stood dejectedly beside Lin Huaixi. “When I’m the dad, they never want to be the mom. But when Qi Wang is the dad, why are they all fighting like this?”
Seeing Wang Xiaohu with his shoulders drooping and his head looking a bit pointy too, like a giant sweet potato, Lin Huaixi comforted him. “It’s okay, you…”
But as he said that, a sudden thought sprang into his head.
Those three big bad guys liked Qi Wang. If they liked him, they would want to be together with him. So if Qi Wang became the dad, then they would definitely want to be the mom!
The little cowlick on top of Lin Huaixi’s head instantly stood up straight. Even his expression changed. He looked around warily from side to side, afraid the bad guys would suddenly charge out from some corner.
He had to protect Qi Wang properly!
Wang Xiaohu was still waiting to be comforted, but instead he saw Lin Huaixi dash straight over to Qi Wang and loudly, earnestly declare, “I want to be the mom!”
Wang Xiaohu was practically on the verge of tears.
Wuwuwu, Xixi, how come even you… choking up.jpg
Only then did Wang Xiaohu finally recognize that Qi Wang was more popular than he was. He silently went off to one side to draw circles and sulk in self-isolation.
Meanwhile, Lin Huaixi was competing with the other little girls.
Gu Youyou stared blankly at Lin Huaixi. “Xixi, how can you… y-you can’t be the mom either.”
“Why can’t I?” Lin Huaixi’s attitude was extremely firm.
“You just can’t!” Usually soft and gentle, Gu Youyou had been pushed until she got anxious. Stammering, she said, “Only girls can be moms.”
Once Lin Huaixi had set his mind on something, he would not give up. He argued stubbornly, “Boys can be moms too.”
“…”
This had gone far beyond the children’s range of understanding. None of them knew how to refute him anymore. They looked at each other blankly, all with dazed expressions. Gu Youyou held it in for a long time before finally saying, with a red face, “A mom is the dad’s wife, so she has to be a girl.”
Lin Huaixi stepped forward, puffing out his chest with a heroic air, as though he were about to do something truly great.
“Then I’ll be Qi Wang’s husband-wife!”
