Soon enough, the day arrived for Little Rice Cake to start kindergarten.
Chi Chi insisted on taking their child together. They switched to a more spacious and comfortable car for the occasion.
Little Rice Cake wore the new backpack his mother had bought him, his whole face alive with excitement.
“Mama, will you and little sister come pick me up later?”
“Of course. As soon as you finish class, I’ll be waiting for you right at the gate.”
Little Rice Cake nodded, reassured. He then gently patted Chi Chi’s belly, bringing his tiny head close.
“Baby sister, be good, okay? When big brother gets home, I’ll bring you ten sweet treats!”
The baby inside kicked lightly, as if responding to her brother’s promise.
Their car pulled up outside the gates. The private kindergarten was well-organized, but the entrance always saw some drama—children refusing to let go of their parents, clinging fiercely around their necks, each trying to outcry the other.
Little Rice Cake walked to a quieter spot, holding his parents’ hands on either side. His big bright eyes blinked and he shook his head. “Why are all the other kids crying?”
“Because they’re a little scared of going to kindergarten. So, how about this—when you see them, you can comfort them a bit.” Chi Chi explained gently.
Little Rice Cake nodded. “Okay, Mama, you can go home now. I’m not scared.”
…
“Hold on now, Mama’s not leaving just yet.”
It was Chi Chi who had a hard time saying goodbye, not Little Rice Cake. Watching her son with his little backpack—packed with his favorite plushies—she felt her heart twinge.
He even had his water bottle hanging from one side.
“But Mama, you’ll get tired.”
Little Rice Cake spoke with the seriousness of a little adult. He’d already agreed with his father at home that he didn’t need the extra fuss of being escorted all the way to class.
In front of the kindergarten, children still sobbed while their parents tried to coax them.
The three of them—Little Rice Cake and his young, good-looking parents—were hard not to notice. With his striking features and bright, lively eyes, the child was adorable. His parents were both young and attractive. Xavier Foster, tall and naturally dignified, had an air that drew second glances, and Chi Chi, even heavily pregnant, was almost impossibly beautiful.
Nearby, a little girl in a white dress cried her heart out. Frowning, Little Rice Cake watched then found his favorite bear-shaped lollipop in his backpack.
“Mama, can I give this to her?”
Chi Chi smiled. “Yes, you can.”
“Um... I’m Little Rice Cake. Don’t cry, okay? Here’s a lollipop—it’s strawberry and super sweet.”
The girl hid in her dad’s arms, her eyes red from crying. She eyed Little Rice Cake and the lollipop, wanting it but too shy to take it.
“It’s for you! If you eat it, you’ll feel happy and stop crying.”
She couldn’t resist. Taking the treat, she sniffled out a quiet “thank you.”
Blushing, Little Rice Cake scampered back to his dad.
When it was time to say goodbye, Xavier Foster handed their son to a teacher and led Chi Chi away, worried she’d tire out.
Watching their little boy walk into the classroom, Chi Chi felt a sudden emptiness in her heart.
At their car, Old Third was waiting. Chi Chi sighed, not up to conversation.
Xavier Foster pulled her into an embrace. “Don’t worry. It’s only a half day for the first day. We’ll go pick him up right after lunch.”
Chi Chi nodded. In the driver’s seat, Old Third glanced in the mirror.
“Uh, boss, I checked in with the school—they keep surveillance in the classrooms. If you guys can’t bear to leave Young Master alone, do you want the classroom feed sent to your phone?”
Before Xavier Foster could answer, Chi Chi sat up eagerly. “Really, Old Third? You’re amazing. I want to see!”
“Of course, Madam! I’ll set it up now.”
Old Third grinned, only to meet Xavier Foster’s icy gaze in the mirror. He snapped his mouth shut at once.
Not long after they got home, Old Third sent the streaming link. They could now peek into the kindergarten classroom through their phones.
Curled on the sofa, Chi Chi watched Little Rice Cake in class. He behaved admirably. The school was small-sized—one teacher for every three students, just ten kids to a class. The classrooms were childproofed with safety bumpers on corners and tables.
Chi Chi finally relaxed, pleased with her son’s performance. The girl from earlier had even been seated next to him, and the two whispered together with their heads down. Little Rice Cake helped her dab away tears with a tissue.
Chi Chi covered her mouth and giggled—so young, yet already looking after girls!
Kindergarten life turned out to be much simpler than Chi Chi feared. She found herself gradually getting used to it.
Whenever she missed her Little Rice Cake during the day, she’d check the classroom feed on her phone.
With her due date just a week away and the baby arriving any day now, only Xavier Foster went to pick up Little Rice Cake after school.
Every time he got home, Little Rice Cake would pull some treat—a chocolate chip cookie, strawberry cake, or a Swiss roll—from his backpack for his mom. He always hid it in the innermost pocket, and if it got squished, he’d be heartbroken over it.
Chi Chi ticked off the days, waiting for her due date.
With so many kids in kindergarten, though, little tussles were bound to happen.
She had just woken from a nap when the teacher called.
Xavier Foster had left for the day—he always stayed home except for taking Little Rice Cake to and from school—but that morning, he mentioned stopping by the office before returning, so he’d left half an hour earlier than usual.
When the teacher’s call came, Chi Chi’s heart seized. Teachers didn’t call home unless something had happened.
She propped herself up, hand on her belly, and answered.
It was the principal herself. “Little Rice Cake got into a fight,” she said. “He’s fine, just a tiny scratch, but we need you to come in.”
Chi Chi, anxious, readied herself in spite of her heavily pregnant belly and had Old Third take her to the kindergarten. Only then, on the way, did she call Xavier Foster.
“Zhiye, I’m heading to the kindergarten, Little Rice Cake apparently got into a fight.”
Startled, Xavier Foster headed straight for the elevator, not even hanging up. “Baby, I’ll go. You stay home.”
“No, I’m worried. Old Third’s with me—it’s fine, just meet us there.”
At only three years old, Little Rice Cake had always been sweet and sensible, never once in a scuffle with other children.
There was no way Chi Chi could just stay home. She had to go.
When they arrived, the other parents were already there. Not what she expected—there were two sets of parents.
Little Rice Cake sat quietly on a child-sized chair, not crying, a small bandage on his hand. When he saw his mom, he rushed over to hug her leg, finally letting his grievance show.
Chi Chi crouched down as best as she could, inspecting him.
“Mrs. Fu, there’s a small scratch on his hand—we’ve disinfected it. He’s fine otherwise,” the principal explained right away.
Chi Chi nodded curtly, her face cold.
The other two children were a girl they knew—Duo Duo, a regular playmate of Little Rice Cake’s—and a chubby boy, his face still tear-streaked.
Next to him stood a plump woman decked in gold—necklaces, chunky bracelets on both wrists, and loud designer labels from top to toe. The principal seemed wary of her and didn’t say much.
Ignoring everyone, Chi Chi knelt and asked her son gently, “Sweetheart, what happened?”
Little Rice Cake pressed his lips together. “I’m sorry, Mama. I hit someone.”
The plump woman gave a sharp “Humph! You heard her. Your kid hit my son!”
Chi Chi took no notice, only repeating, “Why did you hit him, honey?”
“Dou Dou tried to take Duo Duo’s teddy bear, and even pushed her down. I told him it was wrong and dangerous, but he wouldn’t listen—and he stepped on the teddy and made it all dirty.”
His explanation spilled out in a rush. “So I told the teacher. The teacher scolded Dou Dou. But then Dou Dou got really mad and threw blocks at us. It hurt.”
“I didn’t want to talk to him anymore—he wouldn't listen.”
Chi Chi stroked his head. “It’s okay, Mama understands. You did the right thing.”
“Ugh, what kind of mother are you? Praising your boy after he hit someone?” the plump woman snapped.
Chi Chi braced herself on the nearby table to stand. The principal hurried to help her up.
Her face icy, Chi Chi stared down the woman. “Ma’am, you heard my son. Your child began by hitting mine.”
The other woman grew flustered under Chi Chi’s gaze and shouted, “Your kid’s version isn’t the only truth! My son said it was your kid who started it!”
Chi Chi gave a cold laugh. “Yes, my son tells the truth. He wouldn’t lie.”
“You! Like mother, like son—having so many kids, just to bully others!” The woman, furious now, glared at Chi Chi’s belly and began shouting abuse.
Duo Duo’s father stepped forward, “Dou Dou’s parent, if you don’t believe us, let’s check the security footage. Duo Duo’s story matches Little Rice Cake’s.”
The plump woman scoffed, “So you’re all in this together? Do you know how rich my family is? I’ll sue this whole lousy kindergarten!”
She grabbed her whimpering son and pushed right up to Chi Chi, pointing out a bruise on his forehead for all to see.
Chi Chi stepped back, careful not to get bumped.
Immediately, Little Rice Cake darted forward, put his hands out and pushed back at them.
“Stay away! You’re not allowed—don’t come near my mom!”