What Fang Lele had understood by being looked after was that Ji Fengyao would no longer leave him entirely to his own devices and would occasionally ask about his life.
The result was easy enough to imagine.
The next day, the same scene played out. The assistant waited downstairs early and respectfully informed him that, starting that day, he no longer needed to go to school.
A tutor would come later to give him one-on-one lessons, and the curriculum would start at primary-school level.
It sounded a little embarrassing, but it greatly eased Fang Lele's stress.
He no longer had to face unfamiliar people or force himself to quickly fit into an unfamiliar environment.
All these thoughtful arrangements actually let Fang Lele breathe a sigh of relief.
A few days later, he had even returned to the state he had been in back home.
The comfortable learning environment, coupled with his teacher's gentle encouragement, made Fang Lele feel increasingly at ease.
Sometimes he could even joke around with Ms. Chen.
"That's more like it. Children should be happy."
After dinner that day, Fang Lele helped wash the dishes in the kitchen. As he gazed at the garden outside the window, the corners of his mouth lifted without him realizing.
After living with him for so long, Ms. Chen knew he was a good, polite boy who understood boundaries. It was impossible not to worry when she saw him looking miserable every day.
But she knew Mr. Ji's temperament all too well, and given her position, it was not her place to say much. All she could do was make him more delicious food whenever possible.
Things were better now, though Mr. Ji had inexplicably begun intervening in the boy's life. Not just his studies, but his food, clothing, accommodation, and