The next morning, Qin Ningyi felt a pang of displeasure when he returned from his morning run and saw An'an sitting next to Qin Feiwai, beaming.
As he came downstairs for breakfast after washing up, An'an finally noticed Qin Ningyi's gloomy mood.
"What's wrong, Daddy? Don't you like it?" An'an asked, walking over to Qin Ningyi after finishing his fried egg.
Qin Ningyi looked at An'an beside him, and his mood improved slightly. It seemed the child still knew who his father was.
"Mm," Qin Ningyi replied to An'an.
An'an frowned. "You must eat breakfast, no picky eating!"
"Daddy, you should drink more porridge. The porridge is very good." An'an pushed the porridge towards Qin Ningyi.
Qin Ningyi smiled and picked it up. "Mm, it's delicious. An'an is right."
Qin Feiwai, sitting on the side, could barely watch. What happened to "no talking while eating, no talking while sleeping"?
Su Nianzhu, having finished her meal, was looking at her phone. She suddenly looked up at Qin Ningyi and asked, "All my old friends have sent their grandsons to school for registration. Is An'an starting school soon too?"
Qin Ningyi paused as he finished his bowl of porridge and set it down.
He hadn't taken care of a child before and had forgotten to ask about An'an's schooling. "An'an, did you attend kindergarten in the village before? School is starting soon, shall I tell your teacher to transfer you?"
An'an shook his head. "An'an is not in school."
As he mentioned school, a hint of undetectable disappointment flashed in his eyes.
The whole family was surprised. An'an's obedient and sensible demeanor did not seem like that of a child without an education.
After Qin Ningyi finished his meal, they gathered around the sofa with An'an to understand the reason.
"There's no kindergarten in the village?" Su Nianzhu asked with concern.
An'an shook his head. "There is. The children who stay in the village all go there."
Qin Feiwai thought of a possibility. "Did your mother not let you go?"
"No, no, it wasn't Mom who didn't let me go." An'an waved his hands eagerly. "I myself didn't want to go, so Mom let me stay at home."
"Why didn't you want to go to kindergarten?" Su Nianzhu asked gently. "There are so many fun things at kindergarten, and so many children. Many children that Grandma knows love going after attending once."
"Are you reluctant to leave Mommy?" Su Nianzhu wondered if An'an was more attached to Huo Rou, who was raising him alone, and didn't want to be separated.
An'an lowered his head and was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "An'an doesn't like kindergarten. I don't want to go."
"Daddy, can An'an not go to kindergarten?" An'an looked at Qin Ningyi with longing.
Before Qin Ningyi could speak, Qin Feiwai interjected, "No."
"An'an, don't be afraid, Grandma will go with you every day!" Su Nianzhu thought An'an was just scared and tried to comfort him.
Seeing that everyone was determined for him to go to kindergarten, An'an looked at his father, who had remained silent, his eyes filled with hope.
Qin Ningyi nodded slightly at him, picked him up, and said, "Let's go, you'll come to work with Daddy first."
In the car.
"An'an, do you really not want to go to kindergarten?" Qin Ningyi asked him earnestly. He knew An'an was a child with his own thoughts.
He had missed so much during the years he didn't know of An'an's existence; he felt he was already a negligent father. He didn't want to force his child to do something he disliked right after meeting him.
Although school was important.
An'an nodded. "Daddy can teach An'an when you have time, or give An'an the books to read himself."
"I really don't want to go to kindergarten. I went to the village kindergarten for a long time, and I truly dislike it," An'an said, only stating his dislike.
However, Qin Ningyi sensed a struggle in his eyes, realizing there must be another reason. He decided to ask An'an about it properly that evening.
"Alright, I'll have Uncle Xiao find some school materials for you to look at. If you like any school, we'll go then," Qin Ningyi promised An'an. "If you don't like any of them, then I will respect your wishes."
An'an hugged Qin Ningyi's arm and nodded.
After waking from his nap, Xiao Konglin brought over some school materials. An'an sat alone on the sofa, slowly looking through the documents.
At his desk, Xiao Konglin handed over a separate document.
"Mr. Qin, this is Rende School."
Qin Ningyi took it and flipped through it casually.
Xiao Konglin continued, "Rende School is the former school in Taichuan City. After the Ren family cleaned up their image, they moved to Yuchang City and brought the school with them."
"Elementary school?" Qin Ningyi asked, looking at the introduction.
"Yes, I thought it would be necessary for the young master to know in advance since he'll be in elementary school soon," Xiao Konglin said, looking up at Qin Ningyi. He saw no sign of displeasure.
He continued, "Rende School is nationally renowned because its students not only achieve top academic results but are also outstanding in terms of character and ability."
"However, Rende School has a very high entry threshold. Apart from their own family members, everyone else must undergo a strict review. So, we can start preparing," Xiao Konglin said to Qin Ningyi, looking at An'an.
"It is indeed necessary to prepare for these vague assessment criteria," Qin Ningyi chuckled. "I never expected..."
He never expected that he, Qin Ningyi, would one day be running around for his child. Qin Ningyi was happily troubled.
"Find me Ren Xiangtian's contact information," Qin Ningyi told Xiao Konglin. "Just in case."
An'an finished looking through all the kindergarten materials very seriously and slowly closed the booklet.
When they returned home in the afternoon, the two women started recommending schools again. An'an looked at Qin Ningyi with a distressed expression.
"Dinner!" Qin Ningyi's stern, cold demeanor successfully quieted the two women.
An'an ate his meal with great joy, incredibly happy to have a father who kept his promises.
After dinner, before the two women could say anything, Qin Ningyi took An'an out for a walk.
When he put on a stern face, no one dared to approach. An'an enjoyed the peace and quiet and even clung to Qin Ningyi when it was time to sleep.
Lying on the bed, Qin Ningyi finally asked his question, "An'an, why are you so resistant to going to kindergarten?"
An'an fiddled with the blanket with his fingers and was about to speak when Qin Ningyi continued, "Don't try to fool me with the word 'dislike.' There must be another reason. Tell me the truth."
An'an's ears drooped, and a muffled voice came from under the blanket, "They are so stupid."
He turned his head and rested it on Qin Ningyi's arm, continuing, "The kindergarten children are very stupid, and An'an is so bored. I already know everything, and they are still at the first step."
Qin Ningyi was surprised by the reason. It seemed that having a son who was too intelligent was also a form of distress.
"Why don't you just say it directly?" Qin Ningyi reached out his other hand and stroked An'an's hair. This reason could have been communicated directly to them.