Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Lin Wan could see Li Zekaiâs anticipation, but a transfer of schools was not a small matter.
âLetâs discuss this with dad when he comes back,â she said and placed a
comforting hand on the childâs shoulder.
âReally?â said Li Zekai happily. âThen you agree with me, too? Yay! Daddy will definitely listen to you.â
In his eyes, the head of the family wasnât Li Yanchen. It was Lin Wan. His father and even his two stubborn older brothers always listened to Lin Wan. Lin Wan was speechless. âSince when does Li Yanchen listen to me?â
âJiejie, can you play by yourself for a while?â she asked. âI am too tired. I want to rest for a bit.â Her back ached from standing the whole time for the livestream.
âAlright!â Li Zekai took a cake and walked to the small toy house to play.
After dinner, Lin Wan was in the study preparing for her Night Talk livestream when Li Zekai knocked on the door and peeked in.
âAuntie, did you forget about talking with daddy about my studies?â he asked. He had been very eager to talk to Li Yanchen about transferring schools.
However, he saw that his father was tired from work, so he kept quiet till Li Yanchen finished his meal. He thought that when Li Yanchen was well-rested, he would be in a good enough mood to accept his request.
Li Yanchen was watching a movie with relish after dinner. So, Li Zekai thought this was the right time to breach the subject. He went to the study to get Lin Wan.
Lin Wan put down her pen and papers and went downstairs with Li Zekai.
Li Yanchen, who was leaning back on the sofa, raised his head to see two serious faces looking at him intently. âWhat? Whatâs wrong? Why are you looking at me that way?â
Li Yanchen touched his forehead self-consciously. âDid I go bald so quickly?â
He got up and walked to the small mirror by the door. He lowered his head and ran his fingers through his hair. Nothing looked amiss.
Li Zekai pulled on Lin Wanâs hands. âI didnât even say anything, and he already left,â he said anxiously. âWhat should I do?â
Li Yanchen walked back to the sofa. âSo, why are you two looking at me like that? Tell me.â
âDaddy,â said Li Zekai and hugged Li Yanchenâs arm with his little hands. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âDaddy, Iâ¦â
Li Zekai kept mumbling. Li Yanchen glanced at Lin Wan, and then at his son. âWhatâs wrong? Did you pee your pants again at school?â
Li Yanchen knew that his son only acted like that when he had made a mistake that he was having trouble accepting.
Li Zekai let go of his hands. âI didnât pee my pants! Donât talk such nonsense!â
Lin Wan looked at her stepson. She sighed. âJust say it.â
âWait. Let me prepare myself mentally for this. I am scared of how serious both of you look,â said Li Yanchen.
âDad, I want to transfer schools,â blurted out Li Zekai. His head was lowered.
âTransfer schools?â said Li Yanchen. He was concerned. âWhy? Did you get bullied?â
Li Yanchen knew what Lin Wan had gone through in high school. His heart ached for his son. âWho dares to bully my son?â
Li Zekai shook his head. âNo, daddy. No one bullied me. My classmates are all very good. They really like me. I just⦠Doudou transferred schools. I want to transfer, too.â
âWhoâs Doudou? Your girlfriend?â asked Li Yanchen.
Lin Wan sighed. She couldnât take it anymore. âDoudou isnât his girlfriend, Mr.
Li! He is only eight years old. Doudou is his classmate. He transferred to a school near his home as a day scholar. He doesnât have to pay fees for nine years of education at that school. Jiejie wants to go to day school as well.â
âDaddy, itâs free schooling for nine years!â said Li Zekai expectantly. âAuntie Lin also agreed!â
Li Yanchen turned and looked at Lin Wan. âReally? Public school starts at eight in the morning and ends at three in the afternoon. The kid will need tutoring for homework, too. Who has the time?â
Lin Wan had thought about the same issue.
âDaddy, I can do it myself. I go to school and do my homework by myself right now, too! Besides, you wouldnât have to spend so much money on fees.â Li Zekai was sure that day school would be the same as a boarding school, except he got to go back home every day!
âBuy less Ultraman. That will be enough for me to save for your fees.â Li Yanchen already didnât get time with Lin Wan because his second son came home every day for English lessons. If his youngest son also attended a day school, then he would completely blend into the background.
Moreover, Yun Xi Primary School is the best in the city. They advocate happy education and focus on cultivating talent in students. Li Yanchen wanted his son to get the best education.
âDaddy, you will need to buy Ultraman for me anyway. Canât you just send me to public school and buy Ultraman with the school fee that you donât have to pay anymore?â asked Li Zekai. He didnât know how much the school fees actually were, but Doudou had said that it was too expensive for his parents.
Li Yanchen sighed. âYou agreed to it?â he asked Lin Wan.
âI⦠am fine with anything.â
âJiejie, itâs not as easy to transfer schools. Even if you want to transfer like Doudou, we will need to find a school close to Royal Water Bay because that is where we live. Right now, if we transfer you there, it will be too difficult. Who will drop you off and pick you up after school? Who will stay with you? Even if we find another Auntie to help you, she may not be able to help you with homework,â said Li Yanchen. âWe are here only till Xinxin graduates from Yun Xi Junior High School. If you still want to transfer schools, we will have to discuss that after we go back to Royal Water Bay. Besides, schools have their own set of rules. They wonât allow just any student to transfer schools in the middle of the semester.â He patted his sonâs head comfortingly. âDo you understand?â
âI donât understand everything, but I realize that I canât transfer schools immediately.â Li Zekaiâs head drooped. âI will call Doudou and tell him.â
Lin Wan looked at Li Zekaiâs sad figure walking to his room. Li Yanchen had lost all interest in the movie he was watching.
Lin Wan placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. âI know you canât bear to see your son disappointed, but you had no choice. Itâs alright.â
Li Yanchen raised his head and looked at her. âHiring someone to pick him up and tutor him is the same as having teachers at school. At least in schools, he will have children his age and he wonât feel very lonely.â
âI know,â said Lin Wan gently. âJiejie is a smart kid. He will understand.â
âI understand why they want to stay home so much. They finally feel like our house is like a true home. Wanwan, youâve changed us all for the better.â Li Yanchen leaned his head on her shoulder. âEven I feel like staying at home most of the time because I can rely on you.â
Lin Wan pushed him away playfully. âMy shoulders are fragile. Donât break them.â
âCan you not joke around while I am confessing my feelings?â Li Yanchen pinched her cheeks gently.
âI am just telling the truth.â She pushed him away. âYouâre heavy.â
Li Yanchen got up from the sofa and lifted her in his arms. âWell⦠letâs go back to our room then. We will do our own homework.â
She tried to push him away. âWhat are you doing? I still have a livestream at eight! Besides, Jiejie isnât asleep yet. Donât make a fuss..â