Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

”Class, we have a new student joining us today! Should we give her a warm welcome?”

”Yes!” the children all chirped excitedly.

The teacher’s voice was incredibly gentle. She walked to the door, took Dorothy Bancroft’s hand, and led her to the front of the classroom.

”This is our new friend. Come on, let her introduce herself to everyone.”

Dorothy Bancroft blinked her big eyes, not shy in the slightest. ”Hi, everyone! My name is Dorothy. From now on, I’m your new friend.”

The teacher then assigned her a seat next to Elmer Grant.

In the younger kindergarten class, there wasn’t much actual instruction time. Children at this stage were all at a playful age; they were too young to really absorb lessons. So, most of the day was free time, spent playing together in the yard.

There weren’t many games for children so young. They usually just played on the slide, used the swings, or played games like Eagle Catches the Chicks, Drop the Handkerchief, and playing house.

Of all the games, playing house was the one this group of children never grew tired of.

And every time they played, Elmer Grant was always the groom.

This time was no different. Melody White was full of anticipation, hoping to be the bride, but unexpectedly, it wasn’t her. Instead, it was the new girl, Dorothy Bancroft.

”Dorothy is new, so let’s have her be the bride this time. Melody, you can be the bride next time.”

Melody White was a little upset.

Dorothy Bancroft stepped forward and said, ”This is my first time, so I don’t really know how to play. How about this? You guys play once first so I can watch. Then I’ll be able to play properly next time.”

Elmer Grant nodded. ”Okay, then Melody can be the bride.”

Melody White was instantly ecstatic.

Dorothy Bancroft went back to the classroom and found one person who hadn’t gone out to play.

She walked over. ”Huh? You look exactly like my deskmate. Are you two twins?”

Dylan Grant sat up straight in his seat. ”Uh-huh. He’s my younger brother.”

Dorothy Bancroft sat down beside him. ”They’re outside playing groom and bride. Do you have a bride?”

Dylan Grant shook his head. ”No.”

Dorothy Bancroft’s eyes lit up. ”Then I’ll be your bride from now on, okay? I don’t have a groom, either.”

He looked at her round, chubby little face and, very pleased, nodded eagerly. ”Okay.”

Dorothy Bancroft held out her hand. ”Here, let’s shake on it. I’m Dorothy.”

Dylan Grant slowly extended his own hand. He looked a little awkward, but he still took her hand in his.

”I’m Dylan.”

Dorothy Bancroft pulled out the phone that was hanging around her neck. ”Groom,” she said, ”can I take a picture with you?”

He nodded.

Dorothy Bancroft switched the phone to the front-facing camera and leaned in close. With their little faces pressed tightly together, she lined up the shot and—CLICK—snapped the picture. As she turned her head away, her lips accidentally brushed against his left cheek.

The two kids froze instantly.

A faint blush quickly spread across Dylan Grant’s face. He reached up and touched the spot on his cheek where she had kissed him.

Seeing he wasn’t smiling, Dorothy Bancroft thought he was angry. She lowered her head and said, ”I’m sorry, Dylan. Don’t worry, I’ll take responsibility for you. I’ll marry you and take you home with me.”

When he still didn’t say anything, Dorothy Bancroft didn’t dare to look up.

”Okay.” His voice held a hint of a smile.

Hearing this, Dorothy Bancroft snapped her head up, her eyes filled with delight. She looked at him and said, ”Then when we’re all grown up, you have to be my groom, and I’ll be your bride!”

Spoken in such a cutesy, childish voice, any adult who heard it would have dismissed it as just a joke.

But a child’s heart is the purest, and the words they speak are the truest expression of that moment.

The two children then giggled together. They sat side-by-side as Dorothy Bancroft told him all sorts of stories about her life, and he just listened. The scene was unbelievably harmonious.

Dorothy Bancroft really enjoyed her day at kindergarten. When it was time to go, she didn’t even want to leave.

Back at the Imperial Palace, Chloe Marshall met her at the main gate.

”Tell Mama, was school fun?”

Dorothy Bancroft nodded. ”Mama, I like kindergarten! I want to go every day from now on!”

This sudden enthusiasm for school took Chloe Marshall by surprise.

”Well, since you like it so much, you can go every day.”

Dorothy Bancroft grabbed her hand and nodded cheerfully. ”Thank you, Mama!”

”Are you hungry?” Chloe Marshall felt a little awkward asking the question. She had to admit, she wanted to go to the dining hall because it was the only place she could see him.

”I’m starving! Mama, I want to eat.”

”Okay, how about Mama takes you to the dining hall?”

”Okay!”

She hopped and skipped backward. ”Mama, why aren’t you asking me why I like kindergarten so much?”

”Alright, then Mama is asking you now. Little Miss Dorothy, why do you like going to kindergarten so much?”

Dorothy giggled. ”I’m not telling you.”

Chloe Marshall was exasperated. She could only look helplessly at her mischievous daughter.

Dorothy Bancroft scurried up the steps with her hands clasped behind her back, looking every bit the part of a little lady.

Suddenly, she stopped right at the entrance, turned around, and her eyes met Ethan Ellsworth’s.

”Hey, Mister, why are you always staring at me? Don’t you know you’re not allowed to look up at me and my mama here?”

Standing a short distance away, Chloe Marshall felt her breath catch in her chest. A moment later, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’Her own father just got called ’Mister.’ Is it because he looks too young?’

Ethan Ellsworth smiled at her. ”It’s because the little princess is so beautiful that I can’t help but look at you.”

Dorothy Bancroft retorted, ”That’s not true! My mama is the most beautiful one here. Mama is number one, so I can only be number two.”

Ethan Ellsworth’s gaze shifted to Chloe Marshall. No one could know how much tenderness was hidden in the depths of his eyes.

Chloe Marshall’s hands clenched into fists. Every time she met his gaze, it felt like a thousand arrows were piercing her heart, leaving it to bleed.

His affection was impossible to ignore. She slowly began to walk forward, drawing closer and closer to him.

As she passed by his side, a slip of paper was passed to her.

Her heart pounding with anxiety, Chloe Marshall quickly hurried into the dining hall.

”Dorothy, Mama is going to the restroom for a minute. You sit here and be good, okay?”

”Okay, Mama, you can go.”

Chloe Marshall walked into the restroom, entered a stall, and unfolded the crumpled note from her palm.

It contained just a single line: ”Tonight, let’s meet. Wait for me.”

Seeing this made her even more anxious.

’Is he really coming to see me tonight?’

’If he gets caught—’

She didn’t dare to think about what would happen. But the desire to see him was like a flood, impossible to hold back.

After thinking it over, she made her decision. Even if it meant death, she would meet him in private tonight!

With her mind made up, she exited the restroom. She found her daughter staring intently at something. Chloe Marshall walked over and leaned in for a look. She was utterly shocked by what she saw. She immediately snatched the phone, still on its lanyard, from around Dorothy’s neck.