Chapter 61

“Parents of the two children…”

The teacher came out, interrupting the tense standoff, accompanied by a little boy.

In contrast to the adorably cute Lu Jiaojiao, the boy opposite her was dressed in a little suit, exuding an air of nobility. His childish features carried a hint of spoiled flamboyance, but upon seeing the woman across from him, he became somewhat timid.

He only lowered his head obediently and called out, “Sister.”

The woman’s gaze merely brushed over him lightly, responding casually with a sound, before her intense stare returned to Lu Ningshuang.

The little boy pouted aggrievedly. Though afraid, he still walked over and stood properly beside the woman.

Crazy!

Lu Ningshuang no longer looked at the other woman. While watching over her own child, she turned to the teacher. “Excuse me, what exactly happened with Jiao… Zhuixing fighting someone today? Could you explain the whole sequence of events?”

Compared to the other student’s parent, Lu Ningshuang’s attitude—whether toward the child or when addressing the teacher to resolve the issue—was far better.

The pitiful little one beside the other parent was the instigator today, but they were just kids, not even six years old. At this age, parental guidance was especially crucial.

Seeing the attitudes of both parents now, the teacher felt sorry for Ji Hengyu. “It wasn’t exactly a fight. During afternoon games, the two children had a disagreement, which escalated into some pushing and shoving…”

Lu Ningshuang listened attentively. “Who won?”

The Old Lu Family’s rules had always been like this. Simple childish scuffles were no big deal. Kids fought one moment and made up the next; meddling adults only annoyed them, and they’d be back to playing together. But if it got serious and they lost…

Oh ho~

That was a real problem! Losing once led to a second time, and then parents had to handle it while consoling the little one—exhausting!

The teacher: “…”

Lu Jiaojiao waved her hand frantically from behind. “It was me, it was me! Jiao Jiao won, Jiao Jiao won!”

The other little friend looked like a defeated rooster, dejected, but as the pampered young master at home, how could he accept it? He sneaked a glare at the little dumpling.

Lu Zhuixing noticed and immediately tattled. “Sis, sis, he’s glaring at me secretly! Jiao Jiao saw it!!”

The Lu Family this generation had four children, and Lu Zhuixing was the youngest, a full fourteen years younger than third-ranked Lu Chengyue. By the time Lu Zhuixing was born, the Old Lu Family had amassed plenty of child-rearing experience. They had everything arranged perfectly for Little Fourth Lu from the start.

She had learned everything she needed to, so there was no reason for her to be bullied. Moreover, Lu Ningshuang had just hugged the little one upon arrival, and her clothes were spotless, meaning she hadn’t been bullied.

At least, she hadn’t come out on the losing end. With Lu Jiaojiao’s personality, if she had been truly bullied, she would have burst into tears and shed little pearls the moment she saw the jerk approaching.

How had Qi Jingming handled these things in the past?

Lu Ningshuang ruffled the dumpling’s head in comfort and encouragement, then looked toward… the other child’s parent. Though the woman was a bit crazy, the kids were only five or six. She couldn’t intimidate a child at her age, could she?

Lu Ningshuang said, “Please ask this parent to discipline your own child. This time both parents came to handle it, but kids will roughhouse in places teachers can’t always see. Right?”

Lu Jiaojiao: “Wow!”

The teacher: “…”

She had called both parents to resolve the issue, as kids’ squabbles really weren’t serious. But as soon as Lu Zhuixing’s parent spoke… why was the gunpowder thicker? Was she sure this wouldn’t corrupt the children?

Lu Ningshuang looked down to meet the little one’s adoring gaze, and she immediately felt confident. No problem! Her cousin had always handled it this way—your kid couldn’t beat mine anyway, and if you don’t rein him in now, oh well, she deserves to give him whatever he gets next time.

The teacher’s head throbbed. She didn’t think either child was a problem kid, but this parent definitely was!

“Parent of little Lu Zhuixing, that’s not how you…”

“I’ll discipline him.” The woman opposite—Ji Yanran—suddenly spoke up.

The teacher: “…”

She thought this parent’s attitude was off too! She barely looked at her own child, her attention fixed on the other parent! These two seemed to know each other… Whatever. She was done!

“You’d better.” Lu Ningshuang responded offhandedly.

Ji Yanran’s gaze lingered on the Alpha’s face a moment longer before she waved, summoning her own little brother. “Started the fight and still lost?”

“Sis, you don’t know how annoying Lu Zhuixing is, she…”

“Hm?” Ji Yanran’s tone rose slightly.

Ji Hengyu: “…Yes.”

Ji Yanran: “Impressive.”

The child felt humiliated, but mostly aggrieved. After all, he was just a five-year-old dumpling. And Ji Hengyu was so proud! He had lost, even dirtying his clothes, yet his sister acted like she hadn’t noticed. Not only no comfort for him, but she seemed to side with the other side.

Tears welled in the little guy’s eyes. Normally, the teacher would coax and comfort, but with his own sister here and him in the wrong, she couldn’t intervene.

Lu Jiaojiao’s sharp eyes caught the opponent’s state. She tugged Lu Ningshuang’s clothes, signaling her second sis to look too. Lu Ningshuang saw, but she wasn’t saintly enough to comfort someone else’s kid now.

At such a moment, Lu Ningshuang still instilled the right mindset in Lu Jiaojiao. “This is what happens when you lose a fight.”

Lu Jiaojiao: “Wow!” The little one, all excitement and no fear, declared, “Then Jiao Jiao will work even harder from now on, no crying, and make sis proud!”

Lu Ningshuang continued ruffling the dumpling’s head. “Mm, good. Ambitious. Second Sis believes in you, Jiao Jiao.”

The sisters’ whispered exchange didn’t escape Ji Yanran’s eyes.

“Is this your little sister?” she suddenly asked.

Children were sensitive to adults’ emotions. From their first meeting, Lu Jiaojiao sensed her second sis disliked the weird woman opposite and immediately retorted.

“Not a sister, then a daughter? Use your brain—my sis couldn’t have a daughter as big as me!”

Qi Jingming’s virtue lesson day two: As the younger sister outside, uphold your elder sister’s dignity.

“Quite the sharp mouth.” Ji Yanran’s sharp phoenix eyes swept toward the little one, then she smiled. “Good at fighting too. Not surprising, as she is your sister.”

“Of course~” Lu Jiaojiao puffed out her chest proudly. Halfway through, she realized something was off. “Second Sis, do you know Ji Hengyu’s sister?”

“Of course… I do.” Ji Yanran answered first, pausing slightly.

Lu Ningshuang frowned. She usually gave an impression of fragile harmlessness, but her expression now wasn’t pleasant. Ji Yanran generously let her stare, ignoring her aggrieved little brother beside her.

Lu Ningshuang’s mind whirred into gear, but before she pieced anything together—

“President Qin, this way.” The teacher stood first and went over. She exclaimed, “Principal, why are you here?”

“…Why are you here?” Lu Ningshuang’s voice overlapped the teacher’s. Her eyes fell on Qin Yushu, who had arrived with the principal.

The instant she glimpsed the hem of her clothes, memories from that morning flooded back. Brilliant, joyful light sparkled in her eyes. These changes all fell into Ji Yanran’s view. No wonder Lu Ningshuang and Lu Jiaojiao were cousins—their expressions upon seeing family were identical.

Ji Yanran took it all in. Her phoenix eyes lowered slightly. Deeper was profound darkness. Lu Ningshuang’s expression upon seeing her was utterly different—worlds apart from how she looked at Qin Yushu.

Lu Ningshuang practically rushed to greet her “partner,” while Qin Yushu’s steps remained unhurried. Seeing the little girl behind Lu Ningshuang eyeing her brightly too—cousins, but with some resemblance.

Qin Yushu didn’t overlook the child, nodding lightly to Lu Jiaojiao, her stunning face softening somewhat. She turned to Lu Ningshuang. “Xiao Yi attends kindergarten here too. I have some connection with the principal, so naturally I could come in.”

Little Dog (Ningshuang) didn’t get the hidden meaning, whispering, “Isn’t the company busy?”

Qin Yushu: “Not urgent.”

Anyway, Qin Yushu coming for her alone made Lu Ningshuang happy regardless.

“Tian Sheng’s President Qin?” Ji Yanran suddenly spoke. “Pleased to meet you.”

Qin Yushu slowly turned to look at her. By now, the young female Alpha’s face had shed the teasing warmth it had for Lu Ningshuang. She was like a sword freshly unsheathed. Qin Yushu’s expression remained unchanged, merely nodding aristocratically in greeting—far more perfunctory than her greeting to little Lu Jiaojiao.

President Qin’s read on others’ emotions never erred. In that instant, she sensed the hostility from Ji Yanran. She brushed it off lightly before asking offhandedly, “And you are?”

Meanwhile, Lu Ningshuang was caught by Lu Jiaojiao again. The little one glanced at Qin Yushu, then at her own second sister, her lively eyes spinning. She asked once more, “Is this my second sister-in-law?”

“Yes!” Lu Ningshuang’s response was clear and proud.

Everyone’s gazes shifted to Lu Jiaojiao. But the little dumpling knew how to steal the show.

Lu Jiaojiao struck again— “Wah!”

Then, she no longer hid behind Lu Ningshuang. With pattering footsteps, she ran right up to Qin Yushu. The five-year-old girl with the full name Lu Zhuixing and nickname Lu Jiaojiao spoke in a milky yet resounding voice:

“Her Majesty the Queen, this old slave has finally found You today!!!”