Chapter 81

On the other side, after Qin Xiaomeng left home, Yang Huijuan began to dress Yaoyao up with great care, smiling as she said, "Yaoyao, today you're going to kindergarten. When the teacher comes, you have to behave well, understand?"

"Kindergarten?" Yaoyao's eyes widened with excitement, her bright, sparkling eyes filled with anticipation. She asked eagerly, "Grandma, can I really go to kindergarten?"

"Yes, you can. The teacher will come for a home visit soon."

"Yay! I'm so happy! I can finally go to kindergarten!" Yaoyao jumped up with joy, threw her arms around Yang Huijuan's neck, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Don't worry, Grandma, I'll behave really well!"

Kindergarten is supposed to be a part of every child's childhood, but for Yaoyao, it had always seemed so far out of reach.

Before Chu Tianhe returned, every time Yaoyao walked past the kindergarten with Qin Xiaorou, she would grip the railings with both hands, peering inside with envy at the other children laughing and playing together.

Now, she could finally go to kindergarten. Yaoyao's eyes sparkled with hope, and she asked again and again, "Daddy, why isn't the teacher here yet?"

"That's right, by now the teacher should have arrived," Yang Huijuan said, frowning slightly as she glanced at her watch. "The kindergarten teacher said they'd come before nine in the morning. It's almost ten now—why aren't they here?"

Hearing this, the anticipation in Yaoyao's eyes quickly dimmed. She looked up, her voice tinged with a hint of tears, and asked, "Grandma, does the teacher not like me?"

"Of course not!" Yang Huijuan quickly crouched down, gathered Yaoyao into her arms, and kissed her cheek. "Maybe the teacher's just too busy and lost track of time. Let's wait a little longer."

Yaoyao nodded hard, tears glimmering in her eyes.

"Auntie, which kindergarten did you enroll Yaoyao in?" Chu Tianhe turned to Yang Huijuan and asked.

"Borui Kindergarten! It's not far from here—just four blocks away."

"If it's that close, let's not keep waiting here. I'll take Yaoyao over and see. Maybe the teacher was just too busy and forgot," Chu Tianhe said with a smile, taking Yaoyao from Yang Huijuan's arms. "Come on, Daddy will take you to kindergarten, all right?"

"Okay!" Yaoyao finally stopped crying, grinning as she hugged Chu Tianhe's neck tightly.

"Auntie, wait for us at home. I'll take Yaoyao to the kindergarten and ask about the situation."

After saying goodbye to Yang Huijuan, Chu Tianhe carried Yaoyao towards Borui Kindergarten. All the way there, Yaoyao hummed a little tune her mother had taught her, filled with happiness.

"Did your mother teach you that song?" Chu Tianhe asked with a smile.

"Mm-hmm! Mommy loves this tune. She sings it to me a lot. I can't remember the words, but I can hum it," Yaoyao replied cheerfully. "Daddy, do you like this song?"

"I do," Chu Tianhe nodded, his eyes growing slightly misty. This was the very tune that marked his and Qin Xiaorou's love—a song he had composed himself. In this world, only the two of them knew it. Now, there was a third.

"Yaoyao, can you hum it again? Daddy loves listening to you."

"Of course!" Yaoyao nodded and began humming the melody once more.

Soon, Chu Tianhe arrived at Borui Kindergarten with Yaoyao in his arms. As they entered, they were stopped by a security guard. "It's school hours; visitors aren't allowed inside," the guard said dutifully, refusing to let them pass.

"Sorry to trouble you," Chu Tianhe began politely, "I enrolled my child yesterday. They said a teacher would visit us today, but we've been waiting and no one came. Can you tell me what's going on?"

"What's the child's name? I'll check for you," the guard replied, his attitude not unfriendly.

"Chu Yueyao."

"Let me see." The guard picked up the register and flipped through a couple of pages before finding Chu Yueyao's name. His brows furrowed as he said, "Chu Yueyao was indeed registered, but she was withdrawn from the kindergarten that same afternoon."

"Oh, the registration was paid in cash, and the tuition hasn't been refunded yet. Please come with me to the finance office to collect your refund."