Chapter 182 Small Class Five

Chapter 182 Class 5

Pei Yi held Qi Qi, his heart a tangle of emotions.

Qi Qi had a rather reserved personality. Aside from the first half-month after returning to the country, Pei Yi hadn't really experienced the feeling of being clung to and relied on by his little nephew.

"Qi Qi, don't cry," You You ran over at some point.

He patted Pei Qiqi’s back with a grown-up air.

Pei Qiqi buried his face in his uncle’s chest, and it took a long time for his emotions to settle.

He actually didn't quite trust his uncle and aunt.

Adults were especially good at deceiving children.

The little hand patting his back was very gentle. Pei Qiqi looked up from his uncle’s embrace.

The little curly-haired boy beside him was smiling, one hand gripping his backpack strap.

Yes, You You would be with him.

Pei Qiqi immediately felt less scared. He held Su Youli’s little hand tightly, waved goodbye to his uncle, and walked toward Teacher Apple.

A line of children had already formed in front of Teacher Apple, who was checking each one to ensure they hadn't brought any dangerous items to school.

"You You—"

The two little ones walked to the back of the line and queued up, just as they heard someone calling.

It was the child who had given him a small cake yesterday.

"Hao Hao," the little boy was quite happy to see him.

Hao Hao happily ran over from the front, surprised, "You still remember my name?"

The little boy tilted his head, "You remember my name too."

Hao Hao felt a little embarrassed. It was because the child sitting in front of him was as cute as a doll that he could remember the doll’s name.

Other children in the class also started looking over. Most of them still remembered these two little friends who had visited their class last week.

After the two little ones joined the group of children, the parents standing not far away kept a close watch.

The children were all about the same height and wore matching uniforms. Fortunately, most of them carried backpacks issued by the kindergarten, so the parents could still distinguish their own child.

Teacher Apple bent down to greet the two new children: "You You, Qi Qi, good morning! Welcome to Xingya. How about I take you inside in a moment?"

You You really liked Teacher Apple and nodded obediently.

Pei Qiqi nodded slightly, turned his body a little, and scanned the crowd for Pei Yi.

Both Pei Yi and Hua Zhao were very tall, making them easy to spot in the crowd.

"Qi Qi, you got this! Uncle and Aunt will come pick you up this afternoon—"

Pei Yi cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted loudly, enunciating every word clearly.

Many parents looked over, seeing in him their own selves from two months ago when they were sending their children to school.

Pei Qiqi’s lip trembled, and his eyes reddened again. He really wanted to run over and be with his uncle.

Teacher Apple smiled at Pei Yi, then knelt down to pat Qi Qi’s head: "Don’t be scared, Qi Qi. Uncle will come pick you up this afternoon. How about you play with Teacher and the other children today?"

Nobody could understand how Pei Qiqi felt at that moment.

All the other children had their parents pick them up.

But he was a child who had truly been abandoned by his mother.

Back then, his mother had done the same thing—dropped him off at kindergarten and promised she would come pick him up.

Every Friday, all the other children were picked up by their parents.

Only he stood at the classroom door, waiting and waiting, but no one ever came for him.

At first, the teacher would call his mother.

When she learned the other party couldn’t make it, she would feel sorry for Pei Qiqi.

After it happened many times, the teacher began to see him as a burden.

Later, the teacher yelled at him, saying he was unwanted and only made trouble for her. Because of him, she couldn’t leave to attend to her own matters.

His mother had lied. She wouldn’t come to take him home.

No one understood the fear of abandonment better than Pei Qiqi.

Teacher Apple kept trying to comfort him, but Pei Qiqi didn't respond.

But this time was different. He had Su Youli by his side.

The younger child sensed his emotions, opened his arms, and hugged him.

"Qi Qi, don’t cry. You You will always be with you."

The childish voice reached his ears. When Pei Qiqi came back to his senses, he was enveloped in a warm embrace.

He raised his arms and hugged You You back.

"I’m not crying," Pei Qiqi explained softly.

The little one saw his teary eyelashes but said nothing, only nodding.

"Qi Qi is so brave."

The two little ones were holding Teacher Apple's hand as they walked into the classroom.

Shen Minyan watched You You’s figure getting smaller and smaller. He took long strides forward, his gaze following closely.

It wasn’t until You You’s figure disappeared around the corner that he reluctantly withdrew his gaze.

Pei Yi was equally reluctant. He ran to the security guard, pleading to be let in.

He promised he would just hide by the classroom door, peek in for a minute, and then leave without disturbing the children’s class.

The teacher on duty patiently explained: "This parent, I completely understand how you feel. But as parents, the first lesson we must learn is to let go."

"Only by letting go can children fly toward a broader world..."

He was full of grand pronouncements.

Pei Yi sniffled; he couldn't bring himself to let go.

He could never let go in his lifetime, and Qi Qi didn't need to go to any broader world.

As long as he could live happily and healthily under his protection for a lifetime, that would be enough.

While Pei Qiqi was still adjusting, little Su Youli had already perfectly integrated into the harmonious and loving Class 5.

Five minutes earlier, Teacher Apple had led them into the classroom, stood in the middle, and clapped her hands.

Children were scattered in every corner of the classroom, playing like little mushrooms. As soon as they heard the clapping, they immediately returned to their seats.

The two new children introduced themselves once again and were warmly welcomed by everyone.

Teacher Apple showed them their seats and where to put their belongings.

The two little ones took off their backpacks and hung them alongside those of the other children in the class.

Both were relatively quiet children, and Teacher Apple didn’t force them to join the other kids’ games.

She brought the two little ones to their seats and placed an activity book in the middle for them to look at together.

The two little ones sat obediently without squirming, occasionally distracted by the sounds of other children playing and laughing, their two little heads turning together to watch them.

Hao Hao brought over some other kids, taking one by the hand and leading them to line up for the slide.

Both little ones had slides at home and were already bored with them from playing every day.

But sliding with so many other children was a new experience.

Everyone lined up in an orderly manner, holding onto the clothes of the child in front as they climbed up the stairs, then sliding down one by one.

After sliding, the children went to the back of the line again.

Pei Qiqi was right behind You You. As soon as You You slid down, he immediately followed, and after sliding, he tightly grabbed onto You You’s clothes.

A few times, when a child mistakenly joined the wrong line between them, You You stepped aside to wait for him, and the two little ones wordlessly held each other’s hands and walked to the back of the line, waiting for their next turn.