After the children finished their lunch, Shen Wei took them back.
The school bus driver had been waiting outside for a long time.
It wasn't until Teacher Tang handed over the last child to their parents that she could take a break.
After playing for much of the day, the little kids were exhausted, their rosy cheeks ready for a nap.
Mu Zhixing returned to the kindergarten with Shen Wei. On the way, Shen Wei even bought her an ice cream.
Mu Zhixing looked delighted: "Is this really for me?"
She could hardly believe it—an ice cream ball cost more than 30 yuan, something that had been reserved for her younger sister at home.
Now she had a whopping three scoops.
Seeing her look of utter delight, Shen Wei said, "Yes, it's for you!"
The little girl then took the first spoonful and said, "For you."
Shen Wei was truly touched.
After tasting the rich, creamy strawberry milk flavor that melted smoothly in her mouth without a hint of ice crystals, she found it absolutely delicious.
Seeing her enjoy it, the little treasure happily dug into her ice cream.
Shen Wei stroked Mu Zhixing's cheek, finding it hard to imagine that such an adorable child could have such scum for parents.
Fortunately, that was all in the past. From now on, it would be a happy life.
Shen Wei asked Mu Zhixing, "Did you have fun today?"
The little girl nodded vigorously, truly overjoyed.
She had never played that game before.
And in the game, she was a princess—something she could have never imagined.
The two returned to the kindergarten. As it was a day off, there were no other children around.
He Lingfeng preferred tinkering with his computer in his room and didn't enjoy the playground activities.
So the vast slide, ball pit, and bouncy castle were all for Mu Zhixing's exclusive enjoyment.
After playing outside for a while, the little one scampered off to the art room.
But when she opened the door, she felt guilty—Qi Zhong was still there.
Though it was his day off, Qi Zhong found painting at home less comfortable than in the art room.
So, out of habit, he came to paint.
Seeing Mu Zhixing's flushed little face, showing how much fun she'd had, he said, "Come paint."
Mu Zhixing replied, "Sorry!" She didn't know she was supposed to paint today. Otherwise, she wouldn't have played those other games.
Qi Zhong had taught students before, but none as young and well-behaved as her.
Though he wanted to put on a stern face, he couldn't bring himself to do it in front of such an adorable little treasure. "No need to apologize."
So Qi Zhong set aside his own work and started teaching her to paint from the very beginning.
One thing that particularly delighted Qi Zhong was that she had a natural gift for 3D perspective.
The little one seemed to be born with it.
Though she could have moved on to more complex subjects for some of the simpler spheres, Qi Zhong heeded the advice of his mentor.
Lay a solid foundation—so he stubbornly made this painting prodigy do five more pieces before progressing to the next level of difficulty.
Although it meant working overtime, he did it willingly.
Each day, he would share his little apprentice's paintings on his social media feed.
His WeChat contacts were all prominent figures in the art world.
He hadn't posted anything on his feed for years, but now, showing off Mu Zhixing's work, he felt like a proud parent boasting about their child, unable to stop himself.
Even if others didn't want to see it, he insisted on showing off, unstoppable.
Many people liked the posts, commenting, "She's really just a six-year-old? Her perspective is so accurate."
It was hard to imagine a child that age being able to sit still for that long.
Qi Zhong didn't explain. He just posted more frequently.
That earlier painting of the stars had been borrowed by a friend in the industry for an exhibition.
A collector even wanted to buy it for 100,000 yuan.
But Qi Zhong didn't sell it.
The painting held too much meaning—it was the child's very first work.
Of course, he would keep it as a treasured piece.
What was a measly 100,000 yuan? At his peak, that kind of money was nothing to him.
His little apprentice deserved better.
Qi Zhong had spent a remarkably fulfilling Saturday, only to find that the calligraphy teacher Wang Pei had arrived on Sunday as well.
Were they still eating takeout?
After getting used to the cooking of Chef Chen and Chef Liu, takeout felt almost inedible.
It was hard to imagine how he used to find it so tasty.
Qi Zhong said to Wang Pei, "What are you doing here?"
Wang Pei replied, "I made plans with Mu Zhixing to come practice calligraphy."
Qi Zhong exclaimed, "What? But she's supposed to be painting with me!"
Painting and calligraphy were two sides of the same coin.
With her steady hands, she would excel at calligraphy as well.
Appreciating talent, Wang Pei had arranged to give her private calligraphy lessons every Sunday morning.
Qi Zhong immediately felt territorial: "Listen, this student is mine."
He could let other students go, but Mu Zhixing was his to claim.
Teacher Wang Pei said, "I'm not trying to compete with you. But why not let her learn? What's wrong with studying calligraphy?"
Qi Zhong grumbled, "Nothing's wrong with it!"
Teacher Wang Pei continued, "Then it's settled. I'm not trying to take her from you. I just want to teach her good calligraphy."
Qi Zhong gave him a look. "Shen Wei said you have a way with words. Now I see what she meant."
Soon, the little girl arrived, having also eaten the meal ordered by Shen Wei. She sweetly called out, "Teacher Wang Pei, Teacher Qi Zhong!"
Qi Zhong gave Mu Zhixing a brooding look. "Why did you make plans with him?"
Being a people-pleaser by nature, Mu Zhixing grew anxious upon sensing Qi Zhong's displeasure. "I..."
Wang Pei interjected, "It was my idea for her to practice calligraphy. Don't blame her."
The little one looked uncertain of what to do.
Wang Pei then gently suggested, "Why don't you practice calligraphy with me first, then go paint with your other teacher?"
"Okay!"
Qi Zhong shot Wang Pei an angry glare.
He had never understood the term "green tea" until now, when he was starting to get a sense of it.
But with Mu Zhixing present, he couldn't make a scene, as she was quite sensitive. He feared upsetting her.
Yet rage simmered within: You green tea snake, just wait—if you ever have a student, I'll snatch them too!!
