“I don’t care.” Song Wan lost her temper when she heard what her son said. “I just want my granddaughter to be happy so I will be happy, too. Chu Lui, that is also your daughter. I have been taking care of her since the day she stepped foot into our house. As her father, are you that unwilling to do something for your daughter? Chu Lui,” —Song Wan voice turned frosty— “if you don’t do this, you don’t have to come back home ever again. I won’t let Chu Xiang call you ‘Daddy’, too.”
She slammed the telephone down once she was finished. She was so angry that her chest hurt.
Chu Lui kept the phone in his pocket. He knew his mother had made up her mind this time. He smacked his lips together. Why hadn’t they protected him like this when he was young? Did they honestly believe that by sparing the rod, they would be spoiling him? Now, they had treated their granddaughter like a precious gem, not subjecting her to the slightest injustice.
“Mr. Chu, about this…” the director asked Chu Lui cautiously, “do we still need to amend the results?” He really hoped it wouldn’t happen.
“Yes, proceed.” Chu Lui put both his hands into his pockets. His silhouette seemed heartless. Although he had his doubts, he had made his choice in the end. He was still him. As for the others, he would let it be.
He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he found the rays of sunlight coming from above his head, glaring. If one was to ask him if he had exacted his revenge against Gao Yi, would he have said no?
Judging from his mother’s character, she would make sure that the first place was taken away from this child and given to Chu Xiang. Her affection for Chu Xiang could be described as outrageous in the eyes of the others. It might be wrong to say such things about his own mother, but that was the truth. With the addition of Chu Xiang in the family, he could feel the family’s values crumbling. Whatever he had learned and upheld for so many years was for naught.
The teacher from the smaller class was looking through the results, but she was getting curious. Rainy was clearly the one who had won first place, and even the director himself had made that announcement. Why had it changed to Chu Xiang in the end? There was nothing good about her artwork. She wouldn’t be able to squeeze her way into the top ten, not to mention the first place. Besides, there were only fifteen children in the class.
The teacher had sought the director out intentionally to voice her concerns. She thought he had made a mistake. However, he had simply told her there were no mistakes and to make the announcement.
Finally, the teacher understood what had happened.
Everything in their kindergarten could be bought, including their director.
She truly felt like a sinner when she was looking into those innocent eyes. She was telling them a lie and deceiving the pure uncorrupted souls as well as her own conscience.
She gave a gentle cough to hide her embarrassment.
“Children, hello, everyone?” She greeted the children like she always did.
“Hello, Teacher.” The childish voices replied. On each face, there was complete trust and adoration. It was very difficult for one to make a mistake. She couldn’t understand why one would choose to deceive such naive, kind, and lovable children.
The teacher searched for a few times before she finally took out the list in her hands and placed it on the table. She smiled so widely that she was squinting.
“Children, we have a conclusion for the drawing competition. This time, the winner for first place comes from our class.”
Fat Boy puffed out his chest.
“Rainy is definitely first place.”
All the other children agreed because they knew Rainy was the best at drawing in the whole class. No, she was the best in the whole kindergarten. Even the teachers had complimented her several times.
“I think Xiang Xiang will win first place.” A girl sitting beside Chu Xiang was playing with her own braids as she pouted and voiced her opinion. Chu Xiang had a die-hard fan at such a young age. Obviously, giving out candy and chocolate for days had not been in vain.
“Xiang Xiang will win first place.” It was another die-hard fan.
The teacher was on the verge of tears. She really wished she didn’t have to say it.
She coughed again and tapped the table gently. “Ahem. Everyone is right. Chu Xiang has won first place. We also have a present for Chu Xiang.”
When she finished, the teacher took out a bouquet of fresh flowers and presented it to Chu Xiang.
Chu Xiang held the flowers. Her face broke into a wide and bright smile.
“However, Rainy did very well, too.” The teacher shook Rainy’s hand which felt too thin to the former. Her heart went out for the little girl. Although Rainy remained smiling, the teacher could see the obvious disappointment in her big round eyes. It pained her.
She rubbed Rainy’s head. Her hair was especially soft and comfortable to touch.
“We may not have won a prize this time. However, it would definitely happen the next time. Right?” She encouraged Rainy.
“Yes. I will do my best.” Rainy clenched her hands into balls of fist while she motivated herself. However, the light in her eyes dimmed. It would be great if she had won first place. She could have given her mother those flowers. She had boasted to her mother that she would definitely win. Would she be sad if she found out that Rainy had not won? Her eyes reddened the more she thought about it.
Xia Ruoxin came to pick Rainy up after school in the afternoon. She had arrived slightly later because of work and to avoid meeting that family. Initially, both she and Gao Yi had the intention to transfer Rainy to another school. However, they would be leaving the country very soon, and so they didn’t want to spend too much time to make the transfer. It would be hard on the child.
“Mommy…” Rainy buried her face into her mother’s legs, not looking very happy. Her eyes were red, too.
“What happened?” Xia Ruoxin was surprised. “Baby, are you feeling unwell? Tell Mommy.” She was always worried about her daughter’s health. Every now and then, she would scare herself. At times, she would feel that she was going crazy.
She felt her daughter’s forehead and then gripped her little hands. Fortunately, it was normal to her. Perhaps, the little girl had other thoughts? Was she bullied or wronged in school?
“Mommy, I didn’t win first place today.” Rainy sniffed. The more she thought of it, the more upset she was. Soon, tears of grievance fell started falling from her eyes.
The teacher couldn’t bear it any longer. She started complaining to Xia Ruoxin after she made sure there was no one around them.
“These days, there are many people who will take advantage of their own power to bully others even towards small children like this. The Chu family. You heard me. It’s the Chu family who had bribed the director. Rainy had been the first place winner, but they took it away and gave it to Chu Xiang.
“I never like Chu Xiang. She always frown and treats me with indifference. I can’t tell her off. Or else, she will complain about me. So what if she comes from a rich family? If this is her character now, what will she become as an adult?”