Chapter 1167: Thanks
Because of Stella, Kiki completely forgot that no other children played with her that afternoon. Distracted, she followed everyone to line up at the snack table in front of the glasshouse plants to collect that day's fruit puree. Then, filled with anticipation—as if she were saving the best part of a dish for last—she ran to a corner, opened her workbook alone, and read Stella's comments.
There was nothing particularly unusual in the comments. Stella had not only corrected her grammar mistakes with great care, but also offered many more elegant ways to phrase things.
Turning the page, Kiki saw that Stella had drawn a smiley face at the end and written "EXCELLENT" in capital letters, followed by five exclamation marks.
When Santa came out of the kitchen, she saw Kiki sitting alone on the steps with her head lowered, doing something she could not make out. Worried, she walked over and called her name—only for Kiki to look up with a beaming smile. Santa was the one left stunned. "What are you doing here by yourself?"
"Today's classes are over," Kiki answered. "I'm eating here."
"Why aren't you with the other children?" Santa walked over and reached out to take Kiki's hand. "Where's Eleven? Aren't you two together?"
Kiki immediately pulled back her hand. She did not know how to answer Santa's question, so she simply did not. Hugging her workbook tightly to her chest, she grabbed her unopened fruit puree and spoon with her other hand and backed away a few steps. "I'm going back to my room first! Bye, Auntie Santa!"
At the other end of the glasshouse.
Eleven was alone too, but she was in a terrible mood. She could not tell what exactly she was feeling; she only felt that everything had