C7 Chapter 7

A tremor ran through his chest. Saang Shijuan closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “I told you, I deliberately picked a more ordinary preschool for you. And as for my company, you don’t need to worry about it at all. Another subsidiary went public yesterday.”

Saang Yuxin curled his lips but said nothing more.

He pushed open the car door and stepped out on his short little legs. Turning back, he asked, “Are you coming in with me?”

“No.” Saang Shijuan’s tone was flat. “Mr. Xie will go in with you and handle the paperwork.”

The light in Saang Yuxin’s eyes dimmed, and he ignored Saang Shijuan after that, heading straight into the preschool while Steward Xie hurried after him.

Inside the preschool came the bright, bell-like laughter of children, a sharp contrast to the car behind him, where the silence was so deep you could hear a pin drop.

Thunk.

Something hit the car door.

Saang Shijuan looked up at the driver outside.

Huo Zhou was standing some distance away, smoking, completely unaware of what had happened.

Frowning slightly, Saang Shijuan rolled down the window and saw a dirty soccer ball resting by the car door.

“Mister!”

A childish voice called out from the direction of the preschool. A cute little head was stuck between the bars of the fence, tiny hands gripping the metal as the child looked at him pitifully.

A round little face, long eyelashes, delicate features, and skin so fair and soft it almost seemed to glow.

Saang Shijuan’s pupils shrank. It felt as if something heavy had slammed into his heart, making his whole body tremble slightly.

He had already seen countless photos, but seeing this child in person for the first time still struck him with overwhelming force.

Though the child was asking for help, his young voice was bright and clear, full of sunshine, completely unlike Saang Yuxin’s perpetually cold tone.

He hadn't expected her to be taking such good care of him.

Sunny, warm, lively...

“Please, hurry up! If the teacher catches me, I’m dead!” Xia Yanyou said anxiously, blinking his innocent, worried eyes as he looked to Saang Shijuan for help.

Saang Shijuan smiled faintly. A rare trace of warmth softened his usually cold, distant eyes.

He got out of the car, bent down to pick up the ball, and walked toward the fence.

He tossed the ball over the fence. Xia Yanyou immediately turned and ran to grab it, but he didn’t forget the person outside who had helped him.

Cradling the ball in his arms, he hurried back to the fence and flashed Saang Shijuan a big smile, his voice sweet. “Thank you, mister.”

Saang Shijuan lowered his eyes to look at him, his throat bobbing as he awkwardly let out a quiet “Mm.” Then he raised a hand and reached it through the gap in the fence.

Xia Yanyou blinked up at him. Even though his mom had told him not to make contact with strangers, this man somehow felt strangely kind and familiar.

So he simply stood there, hugging the ball and staying perfectly still, letting Saang Shijuan’s long, defined fingers ruffle his hair.

Xia Yanyou thought the feeling of this stranger patting his head was oddly wonderful. He liked it so much he almost wished the man would keep going a little longer.

Unfortunately, the man pulled his hand back soon enough.

But instead of turning to leave, he crouched down until they were eye level, his expression gentle and his voice soft. “My son just transferred to this preschool today. Could you help me look out for him?”

He was actually asking for his help? Of course he was willing! Even though he himself had only transferred to this preschool yesterday.

But there was no way he was going to tell the man that.

Xia Yanyou narrowed his eyes in a grin and, pretending to be one of the preschool veterans, patted his chest and promised, “Don’t worry. Since you just helped me out, I’ll make sure your son is taken very good care of! What’s your son’s name?”

Saang Shijuan smiled. “Saang. Yu Xin.”