The phone rang.
"Where are you?"
Wen Zhiyan reported the address.
Fang Zhihuan clicked his tongue a few times, said "Wait," and hung up the phone.
"Who is it?"
"Fang Zhihuan."
"Fang Zhihuan?" Fang Miaomiao searched for the name in her mind, "Grandpa Fang's son from overseas?"
"Yes, he's back in the country. I asked him to bring something back for me," Wen Zhiyan said, nodding. "I've investigated what happened to Xie Wanqing a couple of years ago, but the results aren't showing."
"Alright then, you wait for Fang Zhihuan at home, and I'll go pick An An up."
"Okay."
Arriving at the kindergarten entrance.
To Fang Miaomiao's surprise, there were many children surrounding Wen Yan'an. Even Xixi was following An An with starry eyes, completely surrounded. An An, the center of attention, wore a stern expression.
An An has friends at school?
This realization warmed Fang Miaomiao's heart inexplicably. Did having friends mean his 'tragic yet strong' persona was gradually fading?
"An An's mom."
"Teacher Yue Liang." Fang Miaomiao nodded slightly. "May I ask what's going on?"
"An An was especially amazing today, everyone likes An An."
"Really?" Fang Miaomiao smiled knowingly. "I think An An is amazing too."
Teacher Yue Liang was initially surprised, then quickly responded, "I thought An An's mom would be more modest."
"What's there to be modest about? My An An is the best." Fang Miaomiao looked at An An, surrounded by the children, with endless pride and joy in her eyes.
Her An An would walk a path of happiness.
She didn't want her An An to be some damned 'tragic yet strong' protagonist.
Teacher Yue Liang nodded along, looking kindly at the children playing on the playground. "It's what we teachers hope for most to see children become lively and cheerful. An An behaved very well today and was able to mingle with his classmates. We also hope parents can try to spend more time with their children."
"Yes, yes, I know. My work is finished recently, so I'll have plenty of time to spend with An An."
"An An, An An."
Wen Yan'an's eyes lit up when he spotted Fang Miaomiao standing at the entrance with Teacher Yue Liang. He politely said something to the surrounding children, who then happily followed Wen Yan'an towards Fang Miaomiao.
Fang Miaomiao raised an eyebrow at the sight of an entire class of children rushing towards her. Good heavens, so many? I can't afford to raise them, I'll go bankrupt.
"Aunt Miaomiao."
"Aunt Miaomiao, you're so beautiful, even more beautiful than on TV."
"Aunt Miaomiao, my mom really likes you and An An. She told me to learn from An An."
The children surrounded Fang Miaomiao, each speaking in turn.
The compliments coming from all directions and the admiring gazes of the children made Fang Miaomiao feel a bit giddy. "You are all so cute too."
"Hahaha, why are there so many cute children?"
Oh my gosh, this is simply heaven.
Wen Yan'an pursed his lips and hummed a few times, but ultimately stood obediently in place, staring intently at Fang Miaomiao.
"Ahem, alright children, stand properly," Teacher Yue Liang said with a chuckle from the side. "We need to line up and wait for our parents to pick us up."
The children held onto the corner of the garment of the child in front of them and stood obediently in place.
They looked like they could play 'eagle catches chicks' with just two adults.
"Aunt Miaomiao."
Fang Miaomiao looked down to see Xixi.
"Little friend Xixi, what's wrong?"
Xixi lowered her head, clasped her hands together tightly, as if after much deliberation, she raised her head and said in a muffled voice, "I want to say, I'm sorry."
"Why do you need to say sorry to me?"
"I shouldn't have said that to Aunt Miaomiao on the set before. An An is right, no one can know too many things, just like..."
Just like...
What was that word again?
Xixi's delicate little face scrunched up because she couldn't recall the word after a long time.
She had memorized it for so long, why did she forget it at such a crucial moment?
Seeing Xixi about to cry, Fang Miaomiao squatted down to comfort her when she heard a sigh beside her ear.
"That word is 'each to their own specialty'."
Xixi's eyes lit up. "Right, right, 'each to their own specialty'. An An is so smart."
Wen Yan'an turned his head.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Miaomiao, can you forgive me?"
She didn't know why she had such bad thoughts before.
She clearly wanted to be friends with An An.
"I will definitely correct myself from now on."
Fang Miaomiao looked at the little girl in front of her, her eyes red, tears welling up in her eyes. Her heart softened. "It's okay, I believe Xixi is a great girl, and you will do even better in the future."
Xixi's lips parted and closed.
Fang Miaomiao took out a wet wipe and wiped away Xixi's tears. "Alright, little friend Xixi, you won't be pretty if you cry anymore."
"Can I have a hug from Aunt Miaomiao?" Xixi asked tentatively, her watery eyes looking up at Fang Miaomiao.
"Of course."
Fang Miaomiao gave Xixi a hug.
"Mom, we should go." Wen Yan'an indicated he was unhappy.
"Good boy." Fang Miaomiao stroked Xixi's head. "We need to go home. You do too."
"Okay."
Xixi nodded. "Goodbye, Aunt Miaomiao, An An."
"Goodbye."
They got into the car.
Fang Miaomiao squeezed Wen Yan'an's cheek. "Why does my An An look unhappy?"
Wen Yan'an buried his head in Fang Miaomiao's embrace. "Mom, you talked to them a lot today."
Don't think he didn't know that his mother was clearly beaming when she was with so many children.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, your mom's favorite is still you. An An is the best in Mom's heart. An An, Mom is proud of you. An An has friends now, do you like it?"
Wen Yan'an thought about how he felt today. It seemed not bad. They were chattering, but it was different from the children chattering together during the New Year holidays. "Mom, this feeling is good. I've never felt this way before."
Fang Miaomiao hugged Wen Yan'an tightly, tears welling up in her eyes. Her An An.
"Mom, are you crying?"
"Mom is crying tears of joy. The better An An is, the happier Mom is."
"I'm sorry, An An made Mom worry before." Wen Yan'an raised his hand and carefully wiped the tears from her eyes. "Mom, don't cry. An An is very good now, very happy. I have Dad and Mom, and Brother Sisi, and friends from kindergarten."
"Yes, our An An will be fine."
They returned home.
A man in his early thirties, dressed in a white suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, was sitting on the sofa.
"Fang Zhihuan, Mr. Fang?"
Fang Zhihuan stood up, pointed towards the study, and said, "Hello, I am Fang Zhihuan, your husband's temporary partner. Your husband is in the study now."