Ruan Tang didn't say a word, nor did she refuse. She simply closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling gently.

Xu Lai leaned in for the kiss.

Just as their lips were about to touch, a window on the second floor of Haitang Court opened, and a sweet, high-pitched voice called out, "Daddy, Mommy, Auntie is calling you home for dinner."

Ruan Tang quickly pushed Xu Lai away, her face as red as a beet. "I… I know," she stammered.

Xu Lai's expression darkened. "It's fine," he said. "We can continue, then go back."

Ruan Lan froze, caught in a dilemma. When she turned her head, she saw three little heads peeking through the second-floor window. Besides Ruan Lan and Yiyi, Qian Xiao was there too. Oh, right. Beibei was also there, making a total of four heads.

The number one swordsman sat on her shell, saying expectantly, "Kiss, come on, kiss!"

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ruan Tang was mortified. "What are you all looking at!"

"Sis, it's fine, you two continue. The kids don't know any better." Even from a distance, Ruan Tang could see the gleam of profound satisfaction in her sister's eyes.

She felt like an old father watching his son finally come of age, ready to poach another family's prized cabbage… Ruan Tang covered her face.

With such a commotion, Xu Lai lost his mood. "Honey," he said listlessly, "can we please kill your sister? The atmosphere was just right…"

"Next time."

"There can be a next time for this?" Xu Lai raised an eyebrow.

"…What else do you want?"

"My room, tonight. Be there or be square."

"Get lost!"

Ruan Tang stormed back to Haitang Court and gave Ruan Lan a thorough scolding. However, Ruan Lan, ever the aunt, immediately shifted the blame onto Yiyi. "It was Yiyi and Qian Xiao who saw you first," Ruan Lan insisted. "It has nothing to do with me. I don't know anything."

Yiyi was speechless. That line sounds vaguely familiar… But Auntie was the one who told me to call Daddy and Mommy home for dinner!

Before she could speak, Ruan Lan continued, "Brother-in-law, what's for dinner tonight? I'm exhausted from watching the kids all day."

"Aunt Ruan Lan, you clearly played games all morning and then lay on the couch reading comics all afternoon. You didn't look after me and the Big Boss at all…" Qian Xiao muttered softly, "And you didn't give us any potato chips."

"Are potato chips good for you? Not giving you any is my way of being responsible!" Ruan Lan said righteously. "After all, at your age, you should be eating proper meals. I, as your elder, will reluctantly handle the junk food."

"…That's just sophistry!"

"Hehe." Ruan Lan pinched Qian Xiao's cheek, smiling sweetly. "Kid Qian, you're sleeping with your auntie tonight. I'll teach you a good lesson about respecting your elders."

Qian Xiao panicked. Worried he might be sunk to the bottom of the sea in the middle of the night, he quickly raised his hand in protest. "I want to sleep with Sister Yiyi!"

"Get lost." With a dark expression, Xu Lai kicked Qian Xiao into the backyard hot spring pool. Who gave this kid the audacity to say something so outrageous?

"Mommy, I want to go home…" Qian Xiao sobbed.

However, when the Rainbow Noodles were served that evening, Qian Xiao became an instant convert and couldn't be shooed away. If he weren't worried about being a bad influence, he would have wished to stay at Haitang Court forever. Uncle Xu's cooking was just too delicious!

"By the way, Aunt Ruan Tang, my mom said she wants you to act as my parent tomorrow. She's too busy to come," Qian Xiao whispered.

"Okay." Ruan Tang gently patted Qian Xiao's head, not quite sure what to think of her best friend. Her own child's school event, and she can't even be bothered to come. She must be incredibly busy with work.

「The next morning.」

Xu Lai drove his wife, daughter, and Qian Xiao to Galaxy Kindergarten. The nearby streets were already packed with cars. You could clearly feel that the atmosphere today was much more relaxed and cheerful than usual. The children, free from classes, were hopping and jumping with excitement.

"Brother Xu, you're here."

"Mr. Xu, President Ruan, good morning."

Many parents greeted Xu Lai's family respectfully. After the last trip to the Jiang Family's hot spring resort, many of them were left with a deep impression of Xu Lai.

However, aside from Mao Gaoshan, who had come from the North to the East Sea to run a beverage business, and a few other parents, Xu Lai ignored most of them.

"What's your daughter performing?" Mao Gaoshan asked curiously.

Xu Lai looked at his daughter and smiled. "Sweetie, can you tell him?"

"Uncle Gaoshan, I can't tell you," Xu Yiyi said mischievously. "But I know Mao Dou is going to perform ballet."

Mao Dou chuckled. "Yiyi, let's go inside!"

"Mhm, mhm!"

The little ones hurried to their classroom, as many children needed to prepare props or get into their costumes.

Qian Xiao, meanwhile, snuck a glance at Beibei, who was hidden inside a large puppet. "Sister Beibei," he said nervously, "when the time comes, you have to stick to the script. By the way, have you memorized your lines yet?"

"Water." The Sea-Snail Girl lay inside the puppet and lifted her chin. "I'm a bit thirsty."

Qian Xiao quickly brought her some water, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and anxiety. Only after she had a drink did Beibei lazily announce, "I'll make time to look at the script. Dismissed."

Qian Xiao choked, carefully pleading, "Then… Sister Beibei, you have to look at it!"

The performance had already been registered. At this point, all he could do was placate Beibei and hope he'd get his moment in the spotlight.

That way, he would become the coolest kid in kindergarten! No longer a second-generation rich kid who relied on his family, but an artist who earned applause through his own talent. He might even get the Big Boss's approval… Just the thought of it made Qian Xiao feel like his life was about to reach its peak!

It had to be said that Galaxy Kindergarten was quite luxurious. It even had its own small auditorium that could easily seat two hundred people. Even with thirty students, their parents, and the teachers all seated, there were still empty seats.

The homeroom teacher, Miao Momo, took the stage. She encouraged each student, talked about their strengths and weaknesses, and commented on their recent performance in school.

Afterward, she smiled gently and said, "That concludes my report for today's parent-teacher meeting. Additionally, I know all you parents have your own jobs and careers, but if possible, I hope you can find more time to show interest in your children and understand their hobbies."

Some parents in the audience fell into deep thought. So this was supposed to be a children's talent show, but it was really a cleverly disguised lesson for us parents.

"First up, student number one, Qian Xiao, with a ventriloquism act!"

As Miao Momo made the announcement, Qian Xiao walked onto the stage. On his right hand was a Grey Wolf puppet, inside which Beibei was hiding. Gazing at the nearly one hundred pairs of eyes in the audience, Qian Xiao felt a wave of panic.

Before he could speak, Beibei's voice emerged from the puppet. "Quite a crowd."

Qian Xiao was flustered. "Sister Beibei, it's not time for the performance yet! Don't talk."

"Didn't you say the show starts as soon as we get on stage?" Beibei retorted.

"Oh, that's true." Qian Xiao scratched his head, saying awkwardly, "I guess we've started then."

"Tch, idiot."

With an innocent look, Qian Xiao said, "But you still have to follow the script. I'm supposed to speak first, then you…"

"Shut up, or I'm not performing!"

Qian Xiao obediently clamped his mouth shut.

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