A Bigger Appetite and a Bigger Nerve

Assistant Lu listened to the man's shameless words without saying anything, watching him with the hint of a smile.

Gu Ruize said nothing either. He sat down in a nearby empty chair and watched the man, who had been so arrogant moments ago, fall silent.

"Dad! It was their fault! I just wanted to play on the slide, and they got someone to gang up on me!" Chen Ming was a little afraid of the adults, but he didn't want to let Shen Xinde and the others off so easily.

"You're lying! You cut in line! And you pushed me!" Now that Jiang Nan had someone backing him up, he ran to Assistant Lu and grabbed the hem of his clothes, raising his voice.

Hearing that, Assistant Lu glanced at Chen Ming, who had hidden behind his father again. His words took on a pointed tone. "Looks like this isn't the first time."

"Since your son likes playing on the slide so much, Mr. Chen, how about letting him play to his heart's content at home?" Gu Ruize straightened his slightly rumpled suit trousers as he spoke casually.

"Uncle Gu is so cool."

Shen Xinde was still excitedly tugging at Gu Zhuoling's clothes as he spoke. When he turned and saw Gu Zhuoling's expressionless face, he couldn't help shrinking back.

Why does Dolly look so angry?

Gu Ruize's words confirmed the man's earlier suspicion that Gu Ruize was someone important. His knees buckled, and he fell to the floor with a thud. "Mr. Gu... Mr. Gu! I failed to raise my son properly. I let him become so unreasonable, and he even hurt Young Master Gu, uh, and Young Master Jiang too. Chen Ming really is spoiled and unreasonable!"

Actually, he didn't particularly care whether Chen Ming could attend school. The main thing was that the kindergarten was close to a wealthy neighborhood, and any child there might have parents who were very rich or well connected.

With Chen Ming attending the school, the man could meet people and expand his connections. He should have realized as soon as he came in: which of these children was especially poor?

Full of regret, the man tried to pull Chen Ming down to his knees to apologize too.

Chen Ming had never expected his father, who had always spoiled him, to act like this. His face turned bright red.

In the past, his family's overbearing behavior had gotten them benefits from plenty of people who wanted to keep the peace. This time, they had really kicked an iron plate.

Shen Xinde didn't have much to say about suddenly becoming a young master of the Gu family. What had him distraught now was that Gu Zhuoling was angry and was completely ignoring him!

Seeing how one-sided the situation was, the teacher didn't want things to escalate, so she stepped forward to make peace. "Um, Mr. Gu, Mr. Lu, this really was just a little scuffle between children. How about we have Chen Ming apologize to Xinde and Jiang Nan today? If that's not enough, I can bring Chen Ming out to make another formal apology in front of everyone tomorrow. Would that be all right?"

"Yes, yes, we should apologize, we should apologize." Chen Ming's father rubbed his hands together obsequiously.

"What do you think, Xinde?"

Gu Ruize had no interest in going all out against a child, of course, but whatever the punishment, it should be up to the victims.

Jiang Nan and Shen Xinde weren't the kind of children who would ruthlessly trample on someone beneath them just because they had the upper hand. Besides, once the apology was made, given what his father was like and the situation at home, Chen Ming would have plenty of hardships to endure in the future.

After they talked it over, Chen Ming's father made him apologize to Shen Xinde and Jiang Nan, and that was the end of the matter.

"Mr. Chen, you should pay more attention to the matters right in front of you," Assistant Lu said pointedly. "We'll see each other again in a couple of days."

Chen Ming and his father fled the office.

Shen Xinde and Jiang Nan prepared to leave as well.

Jiang Nan rubbed his bottom, only now realizing that it hurt a little. He whimpered as he headed out first, only to find a woman with delicate features standing at the door.

"Mom!" Jiang Nan immediately dropped his grimace and greeted her with a composed expression.

"What are you pretending for? Let me see if your butt's been split into four cheeks." Mrs. Jiang curled her lips mockingly and gave Jiang Nan's bottom a light kick.

Jiang Nan immediately yelped, then remembered his friends were still behind him and turned red. "Mom! There are people here!"

"What are you afraid of? You weren't embarrassed to get into a fight at kindergarten, and you weren't afraid of losing face when you landed on your butt hard enough to split it into four cheeks. Now you're shy?" Mrs. Jiang's playful expression vanished as she grabbed Jiang Nan's ear.

Jiang Nan, of course, tried to dodge. He pumped his short little legs and ran outside.

"Mom! I felt it! My butt still only has two cheeks!"

"Ow, ow, ow!"

"I won the fight, so I didn't lose face—ow, ow, ow!"

"Sorry to make you witness that, Mr. Gu. We'll be going first." Assistant Lu stayed behind to wrap things up. He elegantly pushed up his glasses, smiled at Shen Xinde, then turned and followed Jiang Nan.

Wow.

Is Nan Nan's mom a big star?

Shen Xinde thought back to that delicate face and marveled. He had seen that face on TV several times. She was a major best actress award winner! Nan Nan had really kept that well hidden.

"We're going home." Gu Zhuoling tossed out the words coldly and walked ahead.

"Dolly, wait for me!" Only then did Shen Xinde remember that he hadn't coaxed Gu Zhuoling out of his anger yet, so he hurried after him.

Once they got in the car, Gu Zhuoling stared out the window without a word. Shen Xinde put his backpack away neatly, then edged over and clung to him with a little whine.

"It hurts. Dolly, blow on it." Shen Xinde held up his arm to show him the red marks, hoping to soften Gu Zhuoling's heart by playing up his injury.

"You knew it would hurt, and you still fought him?" Gu Zhuoling snorted, clearly not buying it, though he didn't dare use much force as he pulled his hand free. "Looks like getting fat has made you bolder too."

Shen Xinde: *... ?*

Wow, that mouth of his can give Uncle Gu's a run for its money.

"I was wrong." Shen Xinde naturally didn't give up. Practically lying on top of Gu Zhuoling, he wrapped his arms around his neck and rubbed their cheeks together, pleading softly for mercy.

"Let me see your back." Gu Zhuoling didn't say he forgave him. He reached behind Shen Xinde and gently lifted his shirt.

Fortunately, his back was only a little bruised and didn't look too bad.

"Don't be mad, Dolly." Seeing Gu Zhuoling's attitude soften, Shen Xinde seized the chance and wrapped both arms tightly around one of his.

"How did the fight start?" Gu Zhuoling's face was still sour.

Shen Xinde thought for a moment. "He came right up and pushed Nan Nan, so I tried to stop him."

"So you got hit because you were protecting Jiang Nan?" Gu Zhuoling's expression grew even sourer.

No, I was also protecting the drawing I made for you.

"I hit him too, okay..." When Shen Xinde met Gu Zhuoling's eyes, he felt increasingly guilty.

Gu Zhuoling said nothing more and pulled his arm out of Shen Xinde's embrace. "Remember to have Auntie Xia put medicine on your back when you get home."

"Dolly, aren't you coming to Haohao's house today?"

Shen Xinde felt a little aggrieved. He had almost finished coaxing Gu Zhuoling, so why was he suddenly a little angry again?

Shouldn't you stay with me and show me a little concern?

"We'll see."

Gu Zhuoling gave no definite answer, and a rare silence fell between them.

In the end, Xia Wanqing, who had been waiting at the door, carried Shen Xinde away without another word between the two boys.