The woman held her chubby little girl, checking her up and down, letting out occasional shrieks as if her daughter had been seriously injured.
Si Nian's eyelid twitched. She disliked bratty children. But if the child was really hurt, she figured the mother probably wouldn't let it go.
A violent incident triggered by a sugar pancake.
Wu Ren'ai had the same thought and hurried forward to explain on her behalf. "Yuanyuan's mother, don't worry. I just checked Yuanyuan. She's not hurt, just scared."
Upon hearing this, Yuanyuan's mother immediately darkened her face. "I sent her to your school because I heard the learning environment was good. That's why she's here. And on the very first day, my daughter gets bullied!"
After saying this, her gaze shifted to Si Nian and Zhou Zedong, who was being shielded behind her.
Seeming to understand the situation, she immediately stood up and said to Si Nian angrily, "So it was your son who bullied my little girl, was it? Look how hard my baby is crying. Tell me, did your son tease her on purpose because she's pretty? Is that why she's crying?"
"Yuanyuan's mother, you've misunderstood. It wasn't like that."
Wu Ren'ai quickly stepped over to explain for Si Nian, afraid the other woman would go too far. Yuanyuan's mother looked fierce and seemed like someone who wouldn't back down easily.
"If it wasn't like that, then what was it? My little girl is such a lovely child. How could a boy lay a hand on her? What on earth are the parents teaching him?"
"It's not my mom's fault." Zhou Zedong stepped forward upon hearing her blame Si Nian, his small face tense. "I didn't bully her. She took my things first!"
Wu Ren'ai also said, "Yes, yes, Yuanyuan's mom, it was your Yuanyuan who took Xiao Dong's food and even knocked over his lunchbox. That's why he pushed Yuanyuan, and then she started crying."
"Impossible. My daughter never starts trouble. It must be the other party—" Yuanyuan's mother's retort died on her lips as she took a clear look at Zhou Zedong's handsome little face, then turned to look at her own daughter's large, round moon face.
Who would be teasing whom?
The words did a somersault in her mouth. "It must be because the other party is too good-looking, that she couldn't control herself. A handsome boy like that, how could he possibly tease a girl? My earlier assumption was clearly wrong!"
After saying this, she turned and glared at her own daughter, whose eyes were swollen from crying like walnuts, and scolded, "Yuanyuan, did you take someone else's food and knock over his lunchbox?"
Yuanyuan pouted, guiltily lowering her head.
"The sugar pancake smelled so good. I was hungry."
"You silly girl, at home we buy you food and feed it right to your mouth, but you won't eat it. At school, you go stealing from others? Have you no shame as a girl, huh?"
After saying this, she pinched her daughter's ear, the look in her eyes making the little chubby girl's legs tremble.
The little girl, who had just been sniffling, went weak in the knees and let out another "Waaah~", crying even louder than before.
Si Nian's mouth twitched.
Weren't they saying she was very brave, that she wouldn't even cry listening to ghost stories?
How come she was scared into tears by just one sentence from her mom?
Yuanyuan's mother finished, then turned and walked over, her expression changing as fast as flipping a book. With a kindly look, she placed her hand on Zhou Zedong's shoulder, her tone gentle. "Xiao Dong, don't be upset. Auntie has already scolded her for you. If she bullies you again in the future, you tell Auntie."
For a moment, Si Nian couldn't tell who was really the little boss's mother.
Zhou Zedong frowned and suddenly took a step back, hiding behind Si Nian.
This Yuanyuan's mother was strange, fierce one moment and smiling the next, like a weirdo.
Si Nian coughed awkwardly and said, "Sorry, my child is rather shy around strangers."
Since the other party had already disciplined her child, she couldn't really say much more.
She said to Zhou Zedong, "Xiao Dong, it was wrong of Yuanyuan to take your things, and she got scolded by her mom for it. But wasn't it also wrong for you to push her?"
"You're still young. I know you couldn't control your temper, and I know you were very angry. But you can't resort to hitting or pushing every time something like this happens. This time we were lucky, and Yuanyuan wasn't hurt. But what if she had fallen and gotten injured?"
Zhou Zedong, who had ignored Yuanyuan's mother earlier, immediately stepped forward, head bowed, and said, "Mom, I know I was wrong."
The speed of this attitude shift left Yuanyuan's mother and Wu Ren'ai standing there dumbfounded.
Wu Ren'ai had spent half an hour coaxing and pleading humbly, but the child hadn't given him a single glance.
Even after Yuanyuan's mother took the initiative to apologize, the boy still looked at her with the wary eyes of a wolf cub.
Yet the moment Si Nian spoke, he instantly transformed into a model student.
Not only did he lower his head in a second, but he also apologized proactively.
The two of them wiped their sweat.
How was this child raised to only listen to her?
Si Nian patted his head. "Yuanyuan is a girl, just like your little sister. You mustn't bully her, okay?"
Zhou Zedong nodded like a puppy.
Yuanyuan's mother snapped out of her stunned state and hurriedly waved her hands. "Xiao Dong's mom, no need to be so serious. A little roughhousing among kids is fine. Xiao Dong looks like such a well-behaved, handsome boy. How could he possibly bully a girl? I knew it had to be my silly girl who started it..."
Si Nian thought: Weren't you just saying your daughter was very well-behaved?
"It was our Yuanyuan's fault today, getting your Xiao Dong's lunchbox dirty. Tomorrow I'll have Yuanyuan bring extra candy to share with your Dongdong."
"Teacher Wu, sorry for the trouble. I was right to choose your school—full of quality people! I'll take Yuanyuan and go now."
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all."
...
Si Nian took the little boss home.
The little boss followed silently behind Si Nian all the way.
He would occasionally look up to sneak a glance at her.
Whenever Si Nian looked at him, he would immediately avert his gaze.
Zhou Zedong pursed his lips, a flash of regret in his eyes.
Back in the village, he never fought or bullied anyone.
If someone bothered him, he would pretend not to notice.
He just didn't want to cause trouble.
But now he had changed.
He had gotten a parent called to the school on his very first day.
Mom must think his previous good behavior was all an act.
He was never likable to begin with, and now Mom probably disliked him even more.
But... but even so, he still didn't want to give the sugar pancake Mom made to anyone else.
He didn't care if it was a boy or a girl.
At that moment, his mind was blank. He just wanted to strangle the other person.
Zhou Zedong was frightened by this thought that popped into his head, his little face instantly losing color.
He must be a bad person.
Otherwise, why would he have such a malicious thought?
No, he couldn't let Mom find out he was this bad...
Si Nian didn't notice the change in the little boss's expression.
She was still thinking about what had just happened.
She began to wonder if she had been mistaken in thinking she had already corrected the little boss's ways.
In her eyes, the little boss was indeed sensible and obedient.
But in front of others, he didn't seem to be that way.
The little boss was the oldest; his character was already set.
It had taken her a long time of getting along with him for the little guy to gradually accept her.
He wasn't like the second child.
