The little girl with the mushroom-shaped haircut rested her cheek on her mother's shoulder.
Tears streaked her cheek.
A few droplets still clung to her eyelashes.
The girl's father slowly drew his hand back.
He looked at the girl's mother and asked softly, "Is that okay?"
"Would you like me to carry her instead?"
The girl's mother shook her head and replied just as softly, "No need."
"I can do it."
The girl's mother lowered her head and gazed at her daughter's face, full of tenderness.
"Okay."
The girl's father nodded.
He looked at the teacher. "Teacher, we'll head off now."
"Ah."
The teacher nodded. "All right."
"Be careful on your way home."
The girl's mother carried her while the girl's father watched over them beside her. The two of them headed toward the kindergarten gate.
Only after the family had disappeared from view did the teacher seem to come back to herself and blink.
She sighed softly.
Hearing the sigh, she realized she had sighed.
She smiled wryly.
The teacher returned to the office.
Another teacher, older than her, was still there.
She was a little surprised.
"Teacher Li, you haven't left yet?"
Usually, she was the last one to leave. Teacher Li went home as soon as she had seen the children off.
She still had to check on the kindergarten.
She would leave once she was sure everything was in order.
Teacher Li smiled. "My husband's away on a business trip today, and my child went out to play with friends."
"So it doesn't matter if I'm by myself."
Oh.
The young teacher nodded.
So that was it.
"Xiao Lin, do you have plans tonight?"
Teacher Li asked with a smile.
Huh?
Teacher Lin paused in