That night, after working overtime, Wei Yumeng returned home. The living room was brightly lit.
"Young Madam, you're back." The maids hurried forward to take the bag and coat from Wei Yumeng.
Wei Yumeng nodded. Before she could speak, a child's joyous voice came from afar. Zhan Shiqing, brimming with excitement, threw herself into Wei Yumeng's arms.
"Mommy!"
Mu Linjing followed Zhan Shiqing out, smiling as she watched the mother and daughter, a storybook in her hand.
"Still pestering your auntie to play?" Stroking her soft, little daughter in her arms, Wei Yumeng's heart melted. The fatigue from the day instantly vanished. She smiled at Mu Linjing.
"You've been working overtime a lot these past few days. Shiqing insisted on waiting for you to come back today, saying she has something to tell you!" Mu Linjing said to Wei Yumeng.
Wei Yumeng picked up Zhan Shiqing and walked with Mu Linjing to the living room, settling comfortably on the sofa.
"Shiqing, what do you want to tell Mommy?" Wei Yumeng asked softly, stroking Zhan Shiqing's soft hair. She had been so busy lately, she had indeed neglected the children.
"Mommy, there's a parent-teacher meeting at school tomorrow. You have to dress up beautifully to come," Zhan Shiqing snuggled into Wei Yumeng, her large, watery eyes filled with hopeful light.
Parent-teacher meeting tomorrow?
Wei Yumeng quickly picked up her phone and flipped to the parent group chat. As expected, the homeroom teacher had posted a notification.
She had received too many messages and been busy with overtime these past few days, so she had overlooked this matter.
Wei Yumeng's face held an apologetic look. She rubbed Zhan Shiqing's little head and softened her tone.
"Shiqing, I'm so sorry. Mommy has to work overtime at the company tomorrow night and can't make it to the parent-teacher meeting."
As soon as Zhan Shiqing heard that Wei Yumeng couldn't go, her little cheeks puffed out, making her look like a little steamed bun.
Wei Yumeng chuckled, reached out to pinch Zhan Shiqing's bun-like cheeks, and winked, trying to excuse herself.
"I'm sorry, darling. Mommy will definitely go next time. This time, let Daddy accompany you, okay?"
"Daddy is on a business trip," Zhan Shiqing twisted her small body and crossed her arms, her little face pouting.
So... coincidentally?
Seeing that Zhan Shiqing had waited for her until now only to be disappointed, Wei Yumeng inwardly cried out, "This is bad!" She quickly cast a pleading look at Mu Linjing.
"Linjing..."
"Both of them are abroad for business negotiations," Mu Linjing sighed helplessly and shrugged. "I guess I'll have to accompany Little Shiqing then!"
Seeing that Mu Linjing was available, Wei Yumeng's face lit up with joy. She hugged Zhan Shiqing and gently persuaded her.
"Let your auntie accompany you, okay? When Mommy has time, I'll take you all out for a big meal!"
Zhan Shiqing pouted, her lower lip so low it could hold two oil bottles. Her big eyes blinked at Wei Yumeng. Seeing that she was truly busy, she compromised with Wei Yumeng's suggestion.
"Alright, but we also have to go to the amusement park!"
"Little one, you're getting greedy." Wei Yumeng comforted Zhan Shiqing and playfully flicked her little nose with affection.
Zhan Shiqing's mood improved just as quickly. She grabbed Wei Yumeng's finger with her small hand, giggling incessantly.
"Then I'll have to trouble you tomorrow, Linjing."
Wei Yumeng gave Mu Linjing a thumbs-up, and Mu Linjing made an OK gesture. The two women then led Zhan Shiqing towards the bedroom upstairs, coaxing the little one to sleep quickly.
The next day, many cars were parked one after another outside the elementary school. Parents held their children's hands and walked towards the entrance.
Due to the parent-teacher meeting, the crowd was immense. The school's main gate and two side gates were open, with people of all sorts entering and exiting, creating a lively scene.
Zhang Xinyi hid not far away, stealthily observing the activity at the school's main gate. A few security guards stood at the entrance. With so many parents and students, the management of outsiders had become considerably relaxed.
Thus, entering would be a simple matter.
Zhang Xinyi grinned, her eyes fixed on the scene. Suddenly, two familiar figures caught her attention.
It was Mu Linjing and those two children. They entered the school, chatting and laughing.
Wei Yumeng was not here. It was this woman who had come in her place!
Zhang Xinyi gritted her teeth as she looked at Mu Linjing. The woman's smile was extremely jarring to her. She calmed herself down and shifted her gaze to Zhan Shiqing.
"It's time to go in." Zhang Xinyi murmured. She pulled down the brim of her baseball cap, adjusted her slightly wrinkled clothes, and swaggered towards the school gate.
The security guard, seeing that she wasn't with any children, was about to question her.
Zhang Xinyi, however, approached the security guard proactively. She presented a resume she had prepared earlier and smiled politely at him.
"Hello! I'm here to apply for a dormitory teacher position."
The school was indeed hiring teachers. The security guard glanced at the name on the resume and handed Zhang Xinyi a registration form.
"Please sign here."
Zhang Xinyi nodded and, in one smooth motion, signed her name.
Lingering any longer might attract the attention of students and parents. The security guard took back the registration form without suspicion and waved her inside.
"Alright, alright, you can go in now!"
"Thank you!" Zhang Xinyi put away the resume, her smile deepening. She straightened her chest and walked into the school gate with her head held high.
Until the security guard was out of sight, Zhang Xinyi took out the resume from her bag, tore it into pieces, and expressionlessly threw it into a trash can.
She took out her phone and quickly tapped a few times, sending a text message:
"Successfully infiltrated!"
After sending the message, Zhang Xinyi walked around a few large trees and then quickly disappeared around a corner.
Mu Linjing looked towards a corner as if she had sensed something. She only saw a hurried figure and frowned.
Just now, she thought she had heard a familiar voice...
"Auntie, what's wrong?" Zhan Shiqing saw Mu Linjing stop abruptly and dangled her hand a few times, trying to bring Mu Linjing back to her senses. "We need to go to the classroom quickly, or we'll be late!"
"It's nothing, Auntie was just zoning out for a moment. Let's go!" Hearing the little girl's soft voice, Mu Linjing shook off her thoughts. She quickly took the two children by the hand and headed towards the classroom.
Perhaps she had misheard.
Mu Linjing didn't think much of it and followed the flow of people. Some of her acquaintances' children also brought their parents over to greet them, and the little ones gathered in groups.
"Are you Zhan Shiqing and Zhan Jinzhi's mother? You're so beautiful!" A parent approached Mu Linjing.
"No, I'm their auntie. Their parents are busy with work, so I'm here on their behalf," Mu Linjing said, waving her hand to deny it.
"Isn't my auntie beautiful too!" Zhan Shiqing put her hands on her hips and proudly raised her little head, showing off to the other children.