Double Leaf Kindergarten, Director Huang

"Her again."

Without even looking, Lin Xuan knew who had arrived.

No one but Duo Duo would call him that.

Ever since he had been her Gold Medal Babysitter once, the little girl had apparently kept talking about wanting to play with him.

Zhang Xinyin had been pestered beyond endurance and could only invite Lin Hai and his wife to bring him over to Duo Duo's home for a visit.

Heaven and earth bore witness—he truly had no interest in playing with a little girl.

But Zhang Xinyin was practically half his father's superior. As formal members of Crimson Flame, they all started out as Level Four Authority Users.

Lin Hai's usual job was to serve those formal members.

Since Zhang Xinyin had asked, Lin Hai naturally could not refuse. Besides, it was only bringing his son over to play for a while.

But Lin Xuan had suffered for it. He had been forced to play the obedient baby for half a day in front of both families' adults, exhausting himself terribly.

He would rather practice boxing at home for ten days than accompany that little girl again.

Fortunately, this time was his First Birthday Banquet. He probably would not have to be her playmate.

"Xinyin, Madam Li? What brings you here? Welcome, welcome—"

Lin Hai noticed the two people holding little Duo Duo's hands and hurried over with Lin Xuan in his arms, smiling.

Zhang Xinyin stood to Duo Duo's left, while on her right was her mother—the Madam Li Lin Hai had mentioned—Li Xue.

Li Xue smiled at that. "Duo Duo heard that her Xuan Xuan Younger Brother was holding a First Birthday Banquet, and she's been clamoring to come for days. We had no choice but to come and trouble you."

Lin Hai laughed. "What are you saying, Madam Li? Please, come in. I'll bring this brat over to play with Duo Duo later."

Zhang Xinyin said, "It's fine. You should get on with your work first."

After registering and presenting a cash gift, the two women led Duo Duo toward the banquet hall.

Duo Duo looked back at Lin Xuan with great reluctance the entire way, while Lin Xuan could only pretend not to see her, not daring to make eye contact with the little girl.

"You brat, don't think I don't know you're playing dumb!" Lin Hai immediately said to Lin Xuan after Duo Duo and the others entered the banquet hall.

Lin Xuan's little face was full of innocence as he looked at Lin Hai.

Lin Hai quickly admitted defeat. "Fine, fine. You're the star today. Do whatever makes you happy."

Clearly, Lin Xuan's strategy of muddling through with cuteness had won another resounding victory.

A year later.

Ye Hongyu drove Lin Xuan to the entrance of a kindergarten called Double Leaf Kindergarten.

From afar, Lin Xuan spotted Li Xue standing at the entrance.

"When you see Auntie Li later, remember to greet her, okay?" Ye Hongyu reminded him before parking.

"Got it," Lin Xuan replied listlessly.

He had practiced boxing a little too late last night, only to be dragged out of bed by Ye Hongyu early in the morning and told he was going to kindergarten.

How could he possibly be happy about that?

Having just turned two, he was technically not yet old enough for kindergarten. But his family had gradually become aware of his unusual nature, so they had decided to send him early.

It was not that the Premature Infant title's effect was unreliable. Rather, his height and build had now nearly caught up to many four- or five-year-old boys.

No matter how much his family was affected by the Premature Infant title, there would always be times in daily life when they noticed his physique.

As time passed, the title's effect naturally faded considerably.

After all, the title did not forcibly alter people's perceptions. It merely made them prone to unconscious misconceptions.

The changes in his family were more like developing a tolerance. They were no longer as easily affected by the title as before.

"Sorry, we're a little late." The moment Ye Hongyu stepped out of the car, she apologized to Li Xue.

"Good morning, Auntie Li." Lin Xuan promptly greeted her as well.

"Good morning to you too, Xuan Xuan." Li Xue smiled in response before turning to Ye Hongyu. "We agreed to meet at eight. It's only seven fifty now—I'm simply early."

After exchanging a few pleasantries with smiles, Li Xue led Ye Hongyu and Lin Xuan into the kindergarten.

Before long, the three arrived at the principal's office.

The director of Double Leaf Kindergarten was a middle-aged man in a yellow plaid shirt. At first glance, his features looked somewhat fierce.

Ye Hongyu's first reaction upon seeing him was to shield Lin Xuan behind her.

Li Xue smiled at this. "This is Director Huang, a veteran who retired from Old Soil. He may look fierce, but the children all like him very much."

After introducing Director Huang, Li Xue introduced Ye Hongyu and Lin Xuan to him as well, emphasizing that Ye Hongyu was her friend.

Ye Hongyu immediately looked a little embarrassed. "Hello, Director Huang. I was presumptuous just now. Please forgive me."

Director Huang laughed. "Many parents react that way when they first see me. There's no need to mind it, Mrs. Ye. I do look rather fierce."

Ye Hongyu said, "No, no, it's actually not that bad. My husband was a little frightening too when he had just retired from Old Soil."

Director Huang asked in surprise, "Oh? Mrs. Ye's husband served in Old Soil as well?"

Li Xue answered for Ye Hongyu, "Like you, he's a veteran. He works at Crimson Flame now and is Xinyin's colleague."

Upon hearing this, Director Huang became even more enthusiastic.

Even if veterans did not know one another, they naturally shared a measure of mutual appreciation. Director Huang was no exception.

After roughly learning about Lin Xuan's situation, he quickly finalized Lin Xuan's enrollment.

Lin Xuan had barely spoken throughout the process, only answering when Director Huang asked him a few questions.

It was not until they had confirmed his enrollment date and were driving home that Ye Hongyu suddenly asked:

"Are you okay, sweetheart?"

"Huh?" Lin Xuan turned to look at his mother.

"You haven't said much the whole time. Do you not want to go to kindergarten? If you really don't want to, Mommy won't force you. We can wait until next year," Ye Hongyu said.

"I can do it," Lin Xuan suddenly said.

"Are you sure?" Ye Hongyu asked for confirmation.

"Mm!" Lin Xuan nodded.

"I knew my baby was the most sensible."

Ye Hongyu smiled and stroked Lin Xuan's head.

However, Lin Xuan's attention was not on that. He was still recalling how he had felt in the principal's office earlier.

"Director Huang is definitely no ordinary retired veteran..."

Lin Xuan reached that conclusion with certainty.

Naturally, he had not made such a judgment without reason.

By now, he had raised the two martial arts methods he had first learned to Lv.2. As a result, his Martial Artist class had advanced to Lv.2 as well, bringing about a qualitative transformation in his strength!

He had learned of this method of class advancement as early as when he first unlocked the Martial Artist class.

To advance the Martial Artist class from Lv.1 to Lv.2, he needed two Lv.2 martial arts methods. To advance the Martial Artist class to Lv.3 again, he needed three Lv.3 martial arts methods, and so on.

Lin Xuan was still quite a distance from Martial Artist Lv.3, but even Lv.2 allowed him to sense certain unusual things.

Just like Director Huang just now!