Chapter 95
Xia Shi could only step forward to comfort him. “It’s okay, it’s just a game. Winning and losing is normal. Look, the other kids lost too, right?”
Lu Xuan tried to hold back his tears, but his voice already sounded strained. “But I… I just want to tell Mom and Dad that I’m really good at math now. I can do it. I really can.”
“Mom and Dad believe in you. We know you can do it. Look, you do your homework really well every day, don’t you?”
Lu Xuan’s expression brightened a little, though there was still a hint of regret on his face. Lu Tingchuan said, “Then Dad will give you one more chance. Let’s do another question. I’ll teach you, and you can try to buzz in first. Once you earn the chance, then you can think about the answer. That’s a strategy too. Understand?”
Lu Xuan nodded happily.
“If you lose this time, you’re not allowed to throw a tantrum. Can you promise Dad that? Mom and Dad know you’re the best, okay?”
Lu Xuan, encouraged by this extra chance, was overjoyed and nodded eagerly.
Xia Shi was a little confused. “Another chance?”
Lu Tingchuan didn’t answer immediately. Following the rules, he picked a brick, found a suitable spot, and stood on the only brick. Then he held out his hands toward Xia Shi. “Come up! Stand on my feet, I’ll hold you.”
Xia Shi was stunned.
Lu Tingchuan smiled. “For our son, you don’t want him to be unhappy, right?”
Xia Shi sighed but didn’t want to make Lu Tingchuan uncomfortable. She bent over and took off her shoes so it would be easier to step on him, and he wouldn’t be strained.
The teacher and the other families watching were all dumbfounded: Whoa, you can do this too? Why didn’t anyone think of it before?
Lu Tingchuan slyly said to the teacher, “Teacher, we’re still following the rules of the game. This isn’t cheating, right?”
By the rules, it really wasn’t cheating. The teacher had nothing to say and continued with the third question. Whether it was Lu Tingchuan’s strategy, Xia Shi’s encouragement, or Lu Xuan himself rising to the occasion under the pressure of “the one and only chance,” the third question, Lu Xuan buzzed in successfully!
The third round was a music question. The teacher played a piece, and the kids had to guess the song title or the next lyric.
This was Lu Xuan’s strong suit! Three questions, three wins! Even if He Jing’s parents tried to do the same trick as Lu Tingchuan and Xia Shi, they still lost fairly!
When the results came out, Lu Xuan cheered and jumped up, stretching out his hands. “GIVE ME FIVE! Dad, you’re amazing!”
Lu Tingchuan and Xia Shi high-fived him, praising, “Xuan Xuan, you’re amazing too!”
The prize for the game was two sets of colored pencils. Lu Xuan hugged them, giving one set to He Jing—after all, if it weren’t for Lu Tingchuan’s little trick, the championship would have been hers. He Jing was very generous; they hadn’t cheated and had played fairly, so Lu Xuan won rightfully.
He kept the other set, smiling as he handed it to Xia Shi.
Lu Tingchuan was slightly taken aback. “But you said Dad was amazing! Dad is amazing, yet you’re giving the prize to Mom? Mom can’t draw, Dad can!”
Lu Xuan blinked. “This is for the little brother or sister in Mom’s belly!”
At this moment, he was even thinking of his future sibling! Lu Tingchuan and Xia Shi exchanged a glance and laughed.
Author’s note: Daily plug: [Entertainment Industry] The Queen’s Path.
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Chapter 63 – Thanksgiving (2)
This moment was once again shared on Weibo by a “cousin.”
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“The little master is a dark horse that appeared out of nowhere!”
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“The little master was so wronged. I know he could’ve done it; he just didn’t buzz in in time! Haha, the male and female stars really fought for their son!”
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“I looked closely—the brick is tiny! Can one person even stand on it? How did the male star manage to hold the female star without toppling over?!”
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“Once again amazed at the male star’s strength! This kind of man gives you a sense of security!”
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“I feel like he wasn’t really doing it just for his son, but also to show off their love. Look at him holding her so tight, noses almost touching, lips almost… the picture is so beautiful!”
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“They don’t even need to show off—just one look can make you melt!”
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“I’ve never seen a couple so loving even after being married for so long. Gives me hope that love still exists!”
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“Why do I feel even less hopeful? Being bombarded with love daily… I’ll never find a boyfriend!”
Meanwhile, Lu Tingchuan and Xia Shi were completely unaware of the online buzz. The kindergarten had already moved on to the next game: tug-of-war!
In the first round, the kids were divided into two teams. Parents were the cheerleaders.
The two teams were evenly matched, and everyone tried their hardest. In the end, Lu Xuan’s team still lost. But this time, the little guy didn’t throw a tantrum. He had a hopeful look. “Next round, Mom and Dad compete. I want to be on Mom’s team!”
Yes, the second round was family vs. family. Each parent stood on one side, and the kids chose which side to be on. Most kids chose their mothers. The teacher laughed: “Looks like everyone loves Mom more. They know Mom isn’t as strong as Dad, so they need help, right?”
All six kids agreed in unison: “Yes!”
Only Lu Xuan shook his head.
The teacher was a bit surprised. “Why? Do you think Mom is stronger than Dad?”
Lu Xuan’s eyes sparkled. “Because Mom will win! Dad won’t dare beat Mom!”
Everyone looked at Lu Tingchuan. He covered his face and turned away. Xia Shi laughed quietly.
The game started. Lu Tingchuan, a frequent gym-goer, was matched against the moms, many of whom were pregnant or had young children, and the kids themselves were only five and a half. He barely needed to exert force. One hand on the rope was enough.
Lu Xuan was in front, Xia Shi behind him. Seeing the sweat-drenched little guy trying his best, Lu Tingchuan teased him, pulling a little, then loosening to let him “win” a bit, pulling again, letting him “win” some more.
Lu Xuan, at first oblivious, soon realized his dad was teasing him and got frustrated. “Dad! I’m mad! Mom’s mad too!”
He even included Mom, which made Xia Shi laugh behind him.
Lu Tingchuan didn’t react. Lu Xuan jumped up, yelling: “Dad, you’ll hurt the baby sister in Mom’s belly!”
“Dad, we lost. Mom will be unhappy! If Mom’s unhappy, you’ll be in trouble!”
“Dad, are you planning to go home and kneel on the washboard?”
Lu Tingchuan was stunned. His son was becoming more capable at talking back—but why was it always at him?
“Dad, Uncle Yu brought back the washboard you got from fans yesterday. I saw it! Mom said… if you…”
Lu Tingchuan quickly ran over and covered Lu Xuan’s mouth. “Alright, alright! Enough!”
Lu Xuan shot him a victorious glance, brushed off his hand, and pulled the rope over. “I won!”
Lu Tingchuan covered his face, laughing and crying at the same time. Everyone erupted in laughter.
Online, fans once again praised the “cousin” for capturing every exciting moment perfectly through video, text, and photos, showing the male star, female star, and little master, while avoiding unnecessary bystanders.
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“Cousin blogger is awesome! I’m a fan!”
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“The little master’s history of tricking Dad strikes again! Haha, male star, taste the consequences! You messed with your son, teasing him like a cat, pulling him back and forth! Serves you right!”
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“I just want to ask—who sent the washboard to the male star’s company?! Unfair! I want to send one too!”
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“No way! I won’t send a washboard, I’ll send a durian!”
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“Haha! Brilliant! Eat the durian, then kneel on the shell—two purposes in one! Excellent!”
Lu Tingchuan never expected that online, a craze for sending packages would break out while he was unaware. For a long time afterward, his office was full of stinky durians, each with a little card:
“After eating, don’t throw away—save it for Lu Tingchuan to kneel on!”
He deeply felt that his fans were becoming less cute and more mischievous.
Meanwhile, the kindergarten started the next game: number-counting group hug.
A simple game: parents and kids walk around a circle. The teacher calls a number. If two are called, two people hug; if three, three people hug, and so on. Those left out fail.
The first number was three—everyone naturally hugged in threes. Then the teacher called two. Families paused, realizing three people had to split. Quickly, each family adapted. Some kids hugged other kids; some dads hugged random dads.
Lu Tingchuan instinctively went to hug Xia Shi. But Xia Shi dashed toward Lu Xuan. At the same moment, both held the target. Xia Shi hugged Lu Xuan, Lu Tingchuan hugged Xia Shi from behind, and the three tumbled on the rough ground.
Lu Xuan clutched Xia Shi with one hand and pushed Lu Tingchuan with the other. “Dad! Mom hugged me first! I hugged Mom first! You lost!”
Lu Tingchuan laughed silently. Xia Shi nudged him with her elbow. “Alright, let go. Can’t you let the kid win a little?”
