The First Day of Kindergarten
Less than two days after Shen Xinde had fully recovered his energy, September arrived, and the new school term officially began.
That meant one thing.
Shen Xinde's countdown to the college entrance exam was about to begin.
Clearly, even a lively, cheerful little boy like Shen Xinde could still fall apart when faced with studying.
Xia Wanqing asked Zhou Jingyi for her opinion and looked into the nearby kindergartens. In the end, she decided to send Shen Xinde to the same one as Gu Zhuoling, so they would have each other for company.
It was a private school called Orchid Pavilion Kindergarten. Its teaching methods and philosophy were relatively open-minded, and its facilities, curriculum, and extracurricular activities were all excellent.
On the first day of school, Xia Wanqing dressed Shen Xinde in his kindergarten uniform: a white short-sleeved shirt with a little burgundy tie neatly knotted at his neck, and black shorts that came down past his knees.
"Oh my, whose baby is this handsome?" Xia Wanqing couldn't resist kissing Shen Xinde's chubby cheek, then smiled and rubbed it with her hand.
"Mommy's." Shen Xinde grinned, his cheek squished against Xia Wanqing's palm.
On the first day of school, Xia Wanqing took the morning off work so she could personally take the little boy to kindergarten.
Since it was his first day, Xia Wanqing was quite worried that Shen Xinde wouldn't adjust. She had also discussed some of his special circumstances with the principal when she enrolled him.
Shen Xinde put on the little burgundy backpack he had chosen. The cat charm Gu Zhuoling had given him last time was hanging from it.
"Dolly!" As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Gu Zhuoling waiting for him at the courtyard gate with Zhou Jingyi. Gu Zhuoling was wearing the same uniform, carrying a matching little black backpack, and had a matching kitten charm hanging from it.
Gu Zhuoling ran over as soon as he saw him. Shen Xinde happily twirled in front of him and asked if he looked good.
Gu Zhuoling nodded, his eyes shining. Seeing the matching charm on Shen Xinde's backpack put him in a very good mood.
"Let's go." Zhou Jingyi was driving today. She glanced at her son's silly grin and found herself growing more accustomed to the sight.
By the time they arrived at the kindergarten gates, it was peak drop-off time. All sorts of luxury cars lined the entrance, and those stepping out were either people who looked like parents or well-trained nannies and housekeepers.
Shen Xinde was amazed by the sight, forgetting that he was sitting in a luxury car himself, and that the boy beside him pouring him water was even more distinguished than the people outside.
"Have some water." Gu Zhuoling blew on the water he had poured before bringing it to Shen Xinde's lips.
The two boys got themselves ready and followed their mothers out of the car. Still worried, Xia Wanqing crouched beside Shen Xinde and reminded him, "If you feel unwell, you have to tell the teacher, okay?"
Shen Xinde had never experienced being dropped off at school by a parent. He didn't find his mother's reminders tiresome; on the contrary, they made him feel warm inside. "Okay, Haohao understands."
Shen Xinde walked through the school gates holding Gu Zhuoling's hand, while Xia Wanqing and Zhou Jingyi watched the two little figures from the entrance.
Other children were also attending their first day of school, and their wails rang out loud and clear. Xia Wanqing couldn't help saying, "Good thing Zhuoling is with him. Otherwise, Haohao might be crying too."
Zhou Jingyi touched her chin and remarked, "Good thing Xinde is with him. Otherwise, A-Ling might have refused to go to school again because everyone else was too noisy."
"Did Zhuoling cry on his first day of school?" Xia Wanqing was a little curious now.
Gu Zhuoling, cry?
He was more likely to break down and cry because Shen Xinde ignored him than because he had to go to kindergarten.
Zhou Jingyi imagined something and smiled. She reached out and pressed her car key. "All right, the kids have been dropped off. Now we can enjoy some easy, happy time first!"
Meanwhile, Gu Zhuoling held Shen Xinde's hand, indeed a little annoyed by the crying and commotion from the children around them.
Honestly, what if they're so loud they scare Haohao?
Shen Xinde, on the other hand, didn't mind. He looked this way and that, finding everything new and fascinating.
"I can come find you during my lunch break," Gu Zhuoling said quietly as he brought Shen Xinde to the door of junior class one.
"Okay! Then Haohao will wait for you, big brother."
Because of his agreement with Gu Zhuoling at Z University, Shen Xinde didn't call him Dolly outside, calling him big brother instead.
"Don't be scared." Gu Zhuoling thought for a moment, then comforted him. "We only have to stay for a few hours, and then we can go home."
Shen Xinde smiled in understanding. Gu Zhuoling was afraid he would miss home like the other children.
He did miss home.
The air conditioner, the sofa, his little bed, boo-hoo.
"I won't be scared. Big brother is with me." Shen Xinde hooked his finger around Gu Zhuoling's. "If Haohao misses home, I'll come find you."
Gu Zhuoling had already told Shen Xinde that his classroom was on the floor above Shen Xinde's.
If anything happened, Shen Xinde could come find him anytime.
The teacher of intermediate class one, who in the future would find Gu Zhuoling missing at the drop of a hat: Who's the one feeling insecure here? Speak! Are you trying to get my pay docked?
"Haohao will behave, so don't worry, big brother." Afraid Gu Zhuoling would worry too much, Shen Xinde reached out and squeezed his finger.
"Go on in." Looking at the well-behaved little boy in front of him, Gu Zhuoling couldn't help smiling.
Shen Xinde nodded, turned around, and was promptly led inside by a teacher who had been waiting for some time.
The teacher in charge of junior class one was called Moon Teacher. She was a very young and pretty woman.
"What's your name, sweetie?"
Moon Teacher helped the excessively delicate-looking little doll pick a seat, then reached out and took the backpack off Shen Xinde's shoulders.
"My name is Shen Xinde, and I'm four years old," Shen Xinde introduced himself with perfect seriousness.
"Hahaha, I see. Xinde, sweetie, sit here and be good for now. Once everyone in the class is here, we'll start our lesson, okay?"
Shen Xinde murmured in acknowledgment and nodded obediently.
"The boy at the door just now was your big brother, right?" Moon Teacher actually knew who Gu Zhuoling was. When he had arrived on the first day of school the previous year, he had been so good-looking that every teacher in the office had mentioned him.
He was good-looking and smart, and he never caused the teachers any trouble. Aside from being quiet and not liking to socialize, what kindergarten teacher wouldn't like him?
"Yes." Shen Xinde smiled, his eyes curving, and readily acknowledged it.
Moon Teacher thought about it. She hadn't heard that the Gu couple had a second child, had she? Hadn't he been registered as an only child last year?
After giving it some thought, she didn't look into it further. Maybe they were distant relatives.
Oh my, those were some good genes. All the children in the family were so good-looking.
Just looking at them put her in a good mood.
Things were bound to get out of hand on the first day of school.
Junior class one had only ten children, but eight of them were bawling. It took Moon Teacher quite a while to finish soothing them all.
Once everyone had quieted down, she went over the things they needed to know about the class, then had each child stand up and introduce themselves.
When it was Shen Xinde's turn, he introduced himself confidently and politely.
As he sat down, a little boy beside him stood up. He was a little taller than Shen Xinde, with particularly delicate features and fair skin, and a somewhat mischievous air. He had been the only child in the class besides Shen Xinde who hadn't cried.
"Hello, everyone! My name is Jiang Nan, and I'm four years old. I like pretty people the most! I hope the pretty kids will be friends with me!"