PCMWF Chapter 184

Su Youli had been in kindergarten for a week. He adapted better than anyone expected. In that week, he memorized all his classmates’ names. He learned to say hello in English, learned to knead dough in cooking class, and learned two new nursery rhymes. Every day was full and happy.

His habits changed too. He no longer had to get up for morning exercise or practice climbing stairs. He even told his mom he was a big boy and wanted to sleep alone. Though after ten minutes, he pitifully pulled out his phone watch to call his mom, hugging it and saying the room was dark, asking her to come.

At seven in the morning, Shen Lin, face sullen, carried the sleepy little guy downstairs.

“Second Brother, still sleepy.”

The little guy’s milky voice. Shen Lin yawned and pulled down the little hand rubbing his eyes.

“Baby, you’re a kindergarten student now. No more sleeping in, okay?”

The little guy in his arms was puzzled. “But Second Brother sleeps in too?”

Shen Lin was silenced by a three-year-old. He stammered, “I don’t sleep in.” He pinched the little guy’s nose and lowered his voice. “Second Brother’s bed has magnets. Every morning when I try to get up, it sucks me in tight…”

The little guy’s eyes widened. “Magnets?”

Shen Lin: “Yeah, a huge one.”

“Youyou wants to see!”

Something that could suck Second Brother into bed must be amazing.

Shen Lin cleared his throat, put the little guy down, and put on his jacket. “Only adults over eighteen can see the invisible magnet!”

Wow. So cool. Tang Dou, with a small backpack on his arm, came downstairs with Su Youli’s Stitch water bottle filled with warm water. Hearing Shen Lin’s lies, he shook his head and smiled. Shen Lin blinked desperately at him, telling him not to expose him. Tang Dou zipped his lips.

Once Su Youli’s school routine was normal, the parents no longer picked him up all together. The Shen family took turns. Today was Shen Lin’s turn. At first, he wasn’t qualified. He was still a kid himself, not reliable. Letting him pick up the child, he might lose him. Teenagers think they can do anything. Throwing a plastic bottle could ignite their fighting spirit. How could he be excluded?

He slammed the table, stood up, hands on hips. “My classmate has been picking up his sister since he was six. This is discrimination, blatant discrimination.”

“I, Shen Lin, calm and reliable, kind and simple, handsome and elegant new-era outstanding high school student, Wutong Kindergarten Love Angel Medal recipient, actually have to endure such discrimination!”

“Injustice! Heaven is unjust!” Shen Lin spread his arms, looking sadly at the sky.

Shen Yan couldn’t stand it, mocking: “Shut up. Love Angel? Teacher Qin gave it to you out of pity. Every kid has one.”

Shen Lin clicked his tongue. “Just tell me, am I a Love Angel or not?”

Shen Yan: “…”

Shen Lin rarely saw his brother speechless. He spread his hands, shrugging proudly at his parents. Shen Minyan and Chu Ying exchanged a look, glancing away. Five meters away, Tang Dou’s back looked so steady and reliable. Chu Ying’s eyes met her eldest son’s, speaking silently: Tang Dou is with him anyway. Let him.
Shen Yan disagreed: By the time he gets out of school, the kindergarten will be empty. You want Youyou to wait at the gate?
Shen Minyan: Then just let him drop off. Tang Dou goes every day anyway.

Shen Yan still disagreed. Tang Dou, no matter how good, wasn’t family. Picking up the family’s little treasure required a parent.

Shen Minyan coughed, winking: Forget it, let him. He’s still a kid himself.

Shen Yan shut up, thought, and nodded. “Then you’re on Friday pickup.”

Shen Lin also got out at four on Fridays. Shen Lin won the family meeting for the first time. If he had a tail, it would be wagging to the sky. Going out, they happened to see Pei Yi and Pei Qiqi.

“Good morning, Uncle Pei. Good morning, Brother Qiqi!” The little guy was full of energy.

Pei Yi came over and patted his head. “Youyou, good morning. You look so handsome today.”

The little guy stuck out his toe. These were new shoes from Little Dad. Pei Qiqi praised too. The two little ones were carried into their cars, sitting obediently in their safety seats. The little guy’s feet couldn’t touch the ground. He swung them, staring at his new shoes. His two dads had been abroad for a long time. This was the first time they’d sent something back. Su Siwen and Qin Kun bought these shoes to match his uniform. But by the time the package arrived, the little guy had been in school for almost two weeks. Getting out, Shen Lin secretly stuffed lollipops into the two little ones’ pockets.

Qiqi: “Thank you, Brother Shen Lin.”

Shen Lin flipped his head coolly. “No need. Wait for me to pick you up this afternoon. We’ll go to KFC.”

The little guy swallowed. “Big burger.”

Shen Lin tapped the little foodie’s nose. “Yes, big burger. We’ll eat secretly; don’t tell Big Brother and Mom and Dad. Qiqi, keep it secret too, okay?”

Pei Yi saw them crouching there and came over to urge them. Shen Lin stood up, led the two kids to the back of the line.

After they left, Shen Lin put his arm around Tang Dou’s shoulder. “Brother Xiao Tang, I’m taking them to KFC this afternoon. Don’t tell my brother.”

Tang Dou squinted, waving at the two little ones, keeping a smile. “No.”

Shen Lin clasped his hands. “Brother Xiao Tang, a childhood without fried chicken, fries, and burgers is incomplete. Just agree, agree.”

Tang Dou pushed the squirming teenager. “You eat less too.”

“It’s not every day…”

After the two little ones were taken in by the teacher, the parents left.

“Brother Pei, can you pick up Qiqi tonight?” Tang Dou asked.

Pei Yi checked his watch and nodded. “Yes. See you this afternoon.”

He got in the car, greeted Shen Lin and Tang Dou, and was about to leave. Every weekday morning, the gate of Xingya Kindergarten was crowded with cars. Pei Yi controlled the wheel, slowly moving out. Five meters later, he was stuck. Honking blared. He cursed. So uncivilized. Didn’t they know not to honk at a kindergarten gate?

Enjoying the story? There’s more where this came from. Patrons get to read the next chapters early, before they go live on the site, so you never have to wait on the cliffhanger. If a subscription isn’t your thing, a one-time tip on Ko-Fi or PayPal works just as well. Either way, every bit keeps the late nights and coffee going. Thank you for reading. 💙

▶ Read ahead on Patreon