Daily Intelligence: Forced to Save the Beautiful President at the Beginning

118: Chapter 118 The Dilemma of Kindergarten Parent-Child Day!The Friday evening glow dyed Xia Qinyi’s living room a warm orange.

Lele returned from kindergarten with her little backpack on, and as soon as she changed her shoes, she threw herself into Xia Qinyi’s arms, burying her little head in her neck, her shoulders heaving with sobs, her voice filled with a grievance-laden nasal tone: ”Mommy, tomorrow is Parent-Child Day. All the other kids have their dads with them. Hao Hao said his dad is going to take him to make a robot craft, and Duo Duo said her dad will braid her hair into little bunny ears... I want a dad to come with me too.”

Xia Qinyi’s heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle. She crouched down and gently wiped the tears from her daughter’s face. Her fingertips touched the warm tear tracks, and her own eyes turned red as well: ”Be good, Lele. Mommy will go with you, okay? Mommy can also do the little bunny hairstyle, and I’ll help you make the most beautiful craft.”

”No!” Lele shook her head, crying even harder, ”The teacher said Parent-Child Day requires both Mom and Dad to go. I don’t have a dad, and the other kids will make fun of me...” Her little hand gripped the corner of Xia Qinyi’s shirt, ”Mommy, does Daddy not like me? Why does he never keep me company?”

Xia Qinyi’s throat tightened, and she couldn’t speak.

She couldn’t explain to her five-year-old daughter that Lin Haoyu didn’t dislike her, but rather, he had never cared about the two of them from the very beginning.

He approached her only because she looked like Su Qing; the occasional gifts he bought for Lele were merely to avoid being called ”irresponsible” by others.

Ever since he found out Su Qing was returning to the country, Lin Haoyu hadn’t even called once, let alone mentioned Parent-Child Day.

”Mommy...” Lele’s crying gradually subsided, leaving only soft sobs, ”If Daddy can’t come, can we ask Uncle Zhang Fan? Uncle helped us move boxes last time and even played with me; he would definitely go with me.”

Xia Qinyi was stunned. It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered asking Zhang Fan for help, but upon second thought, she felt it was inappropriate.

Zhang Fan was just a neighbor, with no family ties to them; how could she have the nerve to bother him?

Besides, if Lin Haoyu found out, who knows what kind of trouble it would cause.

She stroked Lele’s head and said softly: ”Uncle is very busy. We shouldn’t bother others casually. Let’s just go with the two of us tomorrow, okay?”

Lele didn’t speak; she just lowered her head, picking at the corner of her clothes with her fingers, looking exceptionally dejected.

The next morning, Xia Qinyi got up early to put Lele’s hair in twin tails and even had her wear a new dress, wanting to make her daughter happy.

Just as they reached the entrance of the residential complex, they saw a familiar black sedan parked on the side of the road. Song Zhiwei got out of the car and was walking towards the apartment building, while Zhang Fan followed beside her, holding a document. The two seemed to be discussing work.

”Uncle Zhang Fan!” Lele’s eyes lit up. She broke free from Xia Qinyi’s hand, ran over quickly, and wrapped her arms around Zhang Fan’s leg, ”Uncle, where are you going?”

Zhang Fan looked down, saw Lele, and smiled as he crouched down: ”Good morning, Lele. I’m going to the company with Auntie Song; we have an important meeting today. Are you heading to kindergarten? You look really pretty.”

”Today is Parent-Child Day!” Lele looked up with her little face, her eyes full of anticipation, ”Uncle, are you free today? Can you go to Parent-Child Day with me? All the other kids have their dads with them. I want you to be my dad for a day, just for one day!”

Zhang Fan was stunned. He glanced at Song Zhiwei beside him. She raised an eyebrow, stood to the side with her arms crossed, and a hint of amusement played at the corners of her mouth, clearly waiting to see how he would respond.

Xia Qinyi hurried over, grabbed Lele’s hand, and said to Zhang Fan embarrassedly: ”Mr. Zhang, I’m sorry. The child doesn’t know any better; please don’t let her put you in a difficult position. We were just talking nonsense. You should go handle your work; you don’t need to worry about us.”

As she spoke, she kept giving Lele meaningful looks, telling her to stop making a scene.

”Mommy!” Lele wouldn’t have it and leaned closer to Zhang Fan, ”I want Uncle to go with me. Uncle is the best!”

Looking at Lele’s expectant eyes, and remembering what Auntie Wang said yesterday about ”someone coming to harass Xia Qinyi,” Zhang Fan’s heart softened.

He knew that for Lele, not having a father accompany her on Parent-Child Day might become a regret of her childhood; and for Xia Qinyi, facing the gazes of other parents alone would certainly be unpleasant.

”Alright,” Zhang Fan nodded with a smile and reached out to stroke Lele’s head, ”It just so happens that today’s meeting can be postponed to the afternoon. I’ll go with you to Parent-Child Day, and we can make crafts together, okay?”

”Really?!” Lele’s eyes brightened instantly, and she jumped up in excitement, ”Thank you, Uncle! Uncle, you are the best!”

Xia Qinyi was stunned. She hadn’t expected Zhang Fan to actually agree. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say and could only thank him repeatedly: ”Mr. Zhang, thank you so much. This is too much trouble for you... If you are busy, you really don’t have to force yourself.”

”It’s no trouble,” Zhang Fan stood up and smiled at Xia Qinyi, ”I haven’t attended such an event in a long time; it’s a good chance to experience it.”

Song Zhiwei, standing nearby, finally couldn’t help but speak up, her tone tinged with sourness: ”President Zhang is truly warm-hearted. To accompany a neighbor’s child, you can even postpone a company meeting. Anyone who didn’t know better would think this child was your own daughter.”

Zhang Fan knew Song Zhiwei was jealous and smiled helplessly: ”Miss Song, it doesn’t matter if the meeting is postponed for a while. Lele’s Parent-Child Day only happens once, and I can’t let her be disappointed. When I return to the company this afternoon, we can discuss the overseas cooperation details for ’star path: reboot’ in detail; it won’t delay anything.”

Song Zhiwei huffed but didn’t argue further. She just glanced at Xia Qinyi, her eyes filled with a hint of scrutiny—she had long heard that there was a female neighbor in the residential complex where Zhang Fan had recently moved, and seeing her today, she was indeed delicate and had a gentle temperament. No wonder Zhang Fan was so attentive.

”Then I’ll go to the company first,” Song Zhiwei said to Zhang Fan, ”See you in the conference room at two in the afternoon. Don’t be late.” After saying this, she looked at Lele again, her tone softening slightly, ”Little one, I hope you have a fun Parent-Child Day.”

”Thank you, Auntie!” Lele replied sweetly.

After Song Zhiwei got in the car and left, Xia Qinyi finally breathed a sigh of relief. She said to Zhang Fan: ”Mr. Zhang, I’m really sorry about just now. I caused a misunderstanding between you and Miss Song.”

”It’s fine,” Zhang Fan waved his hand, ”Miss Song was just joking; don’t take it to heart. Let’s go quickly, so we don’t be late.”

”Okay, okay!” Xia Qinyi nodded and quickly took Lele’s hand, ”Lele, hurry up and go with Uncle. We’re going to kindergarten.”

Lele excitedly held Zhang Fan’s hand, talking to him as they walked: ”Uncle, our kindergarten has a slide and a swing. After we finish the craft later, I’ll take you to play, okay? I also know where there are little ants; we can feed the little ants breadcrumbs.”

Zhang Fan listened patiently, responding occasionally. Watching Lele bouncing along, he felt much more relaxed himself. Xia Qinyi followed beside them, looking at her daughter’s happy smiling face and then at Zhang Fan, who was patiently talking to her daughter, and a wave of warmth welled up in her heart.

Ever since she met Lin Haoyu, her life had been filled with schemes and anxiety. It wasn’t until she moved to this residential complex and met Zhang Fan that she finally felt a bit of stability and kindness.