Su Yue glanced at Jiang Haoyan, who was engrossed in conversation with Leek and Coriander nearby, but chose to ignore Jiang Ci. His audacity was growing day by day, and even with a child present, he showed no restraint whatsoever.
Arriving at the school, the kindergarten entrance was bustling with cars, and parents ushered their children in and out. Many children were already in costume and makeup, transformed into an array of characters: tiny zombies, miniature pumpkins, Supermen—all endearingly cute.
Stepping out of the car, Su Yue held Jiang Haoyan’s small hand, while Jiang Ci held hers on the other side. The classroom was already filled with parents and children, its walls and ceiling adorned with pumpkin patterns and festive hangings. Desks were laden with juice and candy, and every child brimmed with lively happiness.
“Haohao, you’re Batman, I’m Spider-Man!” From across the room, Da Zhuang, a robust, dark-skinned boy, rushed over, striking a Spider-Man pose for Xiao Haohao.
Xiao Haohao’s dark eyes sparkled as he looked at Da Zhuang in surprise. “Da Zhuang, let’s fight the bad guys together…”
As more parents arrived, Lu Xiang and another kindergarten teacher prepared to announce the rules for the Halloween event. After Jiang Haoyan’s recent accident, Lu Xiang hadn’t been dismissed but had received a stern reprimand. Her future at the school, including whether she’d be offered a permanent position, now hinged on her performance today. Aware of her precarious situation, Lu Xiang had been exceptionally diligent, her sweet demeanor and pleasant words charming every teacher in the kindergarten. For a while, she had thrived.
Her gaze drifted to the two most prominent parents in the crowd. Lu Xiang immediately recognized them as Jiang Haoyan’s parents, Su Yue and Jiang Ci. On the day of the accident, she hadn’t been in the right frame of mind to observe them closely, but now, Lu Xiang realized just how astonishingly beautiful Mrs. Jiang was.
Snow-white skin and ink-dark hair, bright eyes and dazzling white teeth.
Su Yue wore a soft, elegant pink dress. Despite the slightly chilly weather, she had layered an off-white knitted cardigan embroidered with delicate fresh flowers, creating an elegant and gentle ensemble. Her slender calves were visible beneath the dress. She exuded a vibrant, lively aura, not at all like a mother, but rather a girl still in the bloom of youth. Lu Xiang couldn’t help but feel a pang of secret envy. Everyone in this kindergarten came from affluent and influential families. Mrs. Jiang’s beauty and remarkable demeanor, she mused, were surely cultivated by wealth. If only she were that rich, or could marry into a wealthy family, she wouldn’t be any less stunning than Mrs. Jiang.
“Lu Xiang?” The other female kindergarten teacher nudged her. “Why are you daydreaming? I’ve called you several times.”
“I’m sorry, I lost in my train of thought,” Lu Xiang quickly apologized.
“You hand out the game rules to every parent first, and I’ll read them aloud,” the other teacher instructed.
“Okay, no problem, I’ll distribute them.” Lu Xiang took the neatly printed papers and handed them to each parent. When she reached Jiang Haoyan’s parents, she offered a gentle, apologetic smile, a stark contrast to her previous urgency at the hospital. “I’m truly sorry about the incident with the child last time. I hope you both have a wonderful time with Haoyan today.”
Su Yue took the flyer detailing the game rules and nodded.
Before Lu Xiang walked away, her eyes involuntarily fell on Jiang Ci, who stood silently beside Su Yue. Mr. Jiang was cold and disfigured a stark contrast to SuYue’s beauty . She covertly glanced at Su Yue again. It seemed that marrying into a wealthy family also came with a price.
Today, the school had organized numerous activities for both parents and children . Parents brought their children to participate, and after clearing each game, they earned a badge. The number of badges accumulated would determine the first, second, and third prizes after the event .
Jiang Haoyan, who had been chasing Da Zhuang, was gently pulled in front of Su Yue. Hearing about the competition, his big eyes lit up. “Mom, Haohao wants to win the prize!” he declared to Su Yue.
“Okay, our Haohao will win the first prize,” Su Yue affirmed.
Games were set up across the playground, in the school’s corridors, and in various classrooms. Parents, guided by the distributed rule sheets, led their children to the designated game locations. Many parents were already on the playground, playing enthusiastically with their adorable children.
Su Yue guided Jiang Haoyan and Jiang Ci, who still looked rather sullen, to the first game station. For this challenge, parents had to hold their children and eat pumpkin biscuits hanging from a tree within a specified time limit. Despite his injured hand, Jiang Ci effortlessly lifted Jiang Haoyan, allowing the little boy’s mouth to connect directly with the dangling pumpkin pie.
Xiao Haohao absolutely loved this game. The pumpkin cookies were sweet and crunchy, and the little boy’s soft, tender cheeks puffed out as he quickly devoured all of them.
“Here, this is your badge,” the teacher overseeing the game said, handing Jiang Haoyan a small blue badge.
“Thank you, teacher,” Jiang Haoyan mumbled, his mouth still smeared with biscuit crumbs, his tiny white teeth peeking out—a truly amusing sight.
Su Yue wiped his mouth and unscrewed a bottle of juice, offering it to him. “After eating so many biscuits, your throat must be dry. Drink some juice first.”
Jiang Ci lowered his eyes, watching Su Yue squat in front of Jiang Haoyan, gently wiping the little boy’s mouth. Her lips seemed glazed with orange honey. Tsk, he wanted to taste it, but unfortunately, Su Yue hadn’t given him the chance today.
The next game involved parents holding their children’s hands and throwing beanbags into the mouths, eyes, or noses of cardboard ghosts. Hitting at least eight beanbags would earn a badge. Su Yue held Jiang Haoyan’s chubby hand and threw it hard at the large ghost in front of her, but missed.
“It’s okay, let’s try again,” Su Yue encouraged, holding Xiao Haohao’s hand and throwing forward once more. Still, they missed. Su Yue admitted that she was terrible at games and sports.
“Dad,” Xiao Haohao called, his big round eyes turning away from Su Yue to look at Jiang Ci, who stood expressionless behind them, his hands casually tucked into his pant pockets.
Jiang Ci showed no inclination to help. He stood there glumly, his straight black suit utterly out of place amidst the lively, colorful surroundings.
“Aao, Aao,” Su Yue coaxed, turning her head, her dark, wet eyes blinking imploringly, begging for his assistance.
Looking at the two immature faces, one large and one small, with their dark, pleading eyes, Jiang Ci’s lips twitched. He stepped forward with his long legs, leaned over behind Jiang Haoyan, and held the little boy’s chubby hand. With a casual flick, the beanbag soared, landing precisely in the goblin’s gaping mouth.
“Dad is awesome! Daddy is awesome!” Jiang Haoyan clapped his tiny hands, instantly transforming into Jiang Ci’s devoted fan.
Undoubtedly, Jiang Haoyan received the badge for that game, and the little boy excitedly grabbed Su Yue and Jiang Ci’s hands, rushing them to the next game station. Su Yue’s appearance, needless to say, was strikingly beautiful. Among the many people, she stood out instantly. Jiang Ci, by her side, with his cold demeanor and the distinct scar on the left side of his face, coupled with his tall stature, also commanded attention. Wherever the family of three went, they drew numerous gazes.
Lu Xiang, also helping out at a game station, watched the family of three pass by, a little dazed. For some reason, the more she looked at Jiang Haoyan, the more familiar he seemed.
“Lu Xiang,” the other kindergarten teacher nearby nudged her again. “Give the badge to this child.”
“Sorry, here’s your badge,” Lu Xiang quickly snapped back to attention, handing the badge to the child in front of her. After the parent left with the child, the female kindergarten teacher asked suspiciously, “Lu Xiang, what’s wrong with you today? You’ve been distracted several times. Are you not feeling well?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t sleep well last night, and my head feels a little dizzy,” Lu Xiang explained apologetically.
“Then after work, hurry back and get some good rest.” The female kindergarten teacher also noticed the eye-catching family of three not far away. She couldn’t help but sigh. “That Mrs. Jiang is so beautiful. I saw her for the first time when she brought her child to complete the admission procedures.”
Lu Xiang glanced at Su Yue, who was smiling radiantly, and nodded in agreement.
“However, you probably don’t know that this Mrs. Jiang isn’t Jiang Haoyan’s biological mother,” the female kindergarten teacher whispered to Lu Xiang.
Lu Xiang was startled. “Mr. Jiang married a second time?”
“No,” the teacher replied. Kindergarten teachers here often had either exceptional talent or good family backgrounds. This particular teacher had connections. “There are many rumors that Jiang Haoyan is an illegitimate child, and that Mrs. Jiang became a stepmother as soon as she married. I don’t know what she’s thinking.”
Lu Xiang was stunned. So the boy was said to resemble his mother, but Mrs. Jiang was just his stepmother. No wonder Jiang Haoyan didn’t look like her. “Then do you know who the child’s biological mother is?” she asked, a sudden curiosity in her voice.
The female kindergarten teacher shook her head. “No one knows. No one has ever heard anything.”
Lu Xiang felt a pang of disappointment. She glanced at Jiang Haoyan again, still feeling an indescribable sense of familiarity with the child.
Su Yue and Jiang Ci helped Jiang Haoyan win many badges. When they reached the last game station, many parents had gathered around. For this challenge, parents were asked to perform a short show for their children, and if successful, they would receive three badges.
One grandmother, wearing a mask, took to the stage and sang a traditional opera for her grandson, astonishing the teachers and parents in the audience, who applauded thunderously. Inspired by the grandmother, many parents also took the stage to perform. The activities were not restricted, and the children were clearly delighted.
Su Yue tugged at the hem of Jiang Ci’s clothes. “Are you going to go on stage?”
Jiang Ci glanced at her, raising his eyebrows without a word. The meaning was clear: there was no way he would perform on stage.
“Then you and Haohao wait for me backstage, and I’ll go up and perform for Haohao.” Other parents were competing for their children’s happiness; as Haohao’s mother, she couldn’t back down.
“Mom’s performance will be great!” Xiao Haohao’s hands were full of badges, and even the pockets of his Batman costume were overflowing.
Su Yue asked the staff to play some music, and she began to move, dancing gracefully to the melody. She was a classical dancer. The music was short, only a few eight-beat movements. Su Yue danced casually, but her inherent beauty and exquisite figure were undeniable. Even standing still, she was captivating; to see her bend, sway her hands, tap her feet, and turn—every movement was mesmerizing, impossible to look away from.
Jiang Ci stood below the stage, watching Su Yue. It was the first time he had seen her dance, and he only then learned that she possessed this talent, just as she possessed acting skills—both surprising revelations.
Geez, what else is there about her that he doesn’t know?
The music stopped. Su Yue turned her back to the crowd, then slowly looked back, and the thunderous applause from the audience erupted. Su Yue stepped off the stage, returned to Jiang Haoyan’s side, and teased the little boy, “Haohao, how was your mother’s dancing?”
“Mom dances so well! Mom is the most beautiful! Both Haohao and Dad like to watch Mom dance!”
Su Yue stroked his little head and placed the five new badges she had received into the large, already full pocket on the front of his costume.
“Aren’t you going to ask me?” Jiang Ci asked, his lips curving into a smile, his dark eyes fixed on her.
“No need to ask. Haohao already told me that his father likes to watch his mother dance,” Su Yue replied with a smile. She wasn’t being arrogant. When she filmed historical dramas, she had hired a highly skilled dance teacher for the role. She learned quickly, possessed natural grace, and her lithe figure made her perfectly suited for dance. Her teacher had been both pleasantly surprised and regretful, lamenting that if Su Yue had been trained from an early age, she would undoubtedly have achieved extraordinary success in the dance world.
Su Yue smiled, her beautiful apricot eyes sparkling. She continued, speaking sweet words to Jiang Ci, “I just danced casually. If I get the chance later, I’ll change into a dance costume and show you another dance, just for you.”
Jiang Ci’s handsome brows, usually cold, softened, and a smile touched his dark eyes.
The weather was growing colder. Due to Jiang Ci’s injury, Su Yue had requested half a month’s leave from the film crew. Now, the scars on Jiang Haoyan’s feet had scabbed over, the wounds on Jiang Ci’s hands had healed and scabbed without pus or blood, and the wounds on his waist were also mending. Su Yue felt relieved. She needed to rush back to the crew to finish the remaining shots. Fortunately, recent scenes could be filmed in the studio, allowing her to return home at night, which was much more convenient.
In the dressing room, Jiang Xuan, who had arrived today, learned that Director Guan’s crew was in the studio next door, meaning Su Yue was also there. Recently, many popular online influencers had shared behind-the-scenes videos and stills from Director Guan’s drama, praising Su Yue’s acting skills. However, Jiang Xuan dismissed these as mere marketing tactics. She was currently contemplating whether she should take the time to greet Su Yue. After all, they were family, and it would be impolite to ignore her when they were in the same place. It wouldn’t do to appear indifferent. Besides, she had more acting experience than Su Yue; perhaps she could offer guidance if Su Yue needed it.
Meanwhile, as soon as Su Yue finished her makeup, she received a call from Jiang Ci. She assumed he was calling to urge her to return home quickly, but to her surprise, she heard Jiang Ci say that Jiang Haoyan’s biological mother’s relatives had been found.