Chapter 649: Extra: Childhood 6

Extra: Childhood 6

Okay, welcome him." Lin Ning thought for a moment, then asked, "Hey, treasure, which kindergarten do you go to? I'm now in the senior class."

Mu Youyu shook her head, "I don't go to kindergarten; my brother and my mother said I don't need to go, and I'll go directly to elementary school when I'm a bit older."

Wow, your brother is really nice; my sister also let me go straight to elementary school, but my grandma said kindergarten is more fun.

Lin Ning said while gesturing, "Actually, I also think kindergarten is pretty fun; there are lots of people to play with, and they're especially interesting."

As my sister would say, it's that I'm not crazy enough on my own; I need someone to be crazy with me!

More crazy people?" Mu Youyu's curiosity piqued, "Really?"

Really, really, as your friend I won't lie to you; when you come, you'll definitely find it fun.

Wow.

After that, the two little girls officially formed an alliance.

Mu Youyu would occasionally pull Jiang Liangjin over to hang out, feeding the turtles, playing games, and sharing snacks together.

After the winter break, the elders in the household clearly resumed their own routines.

Mu Yunshuo spent his days at the company handling affairs, and Song Ningsheng also had her own things to do.

Lin Ning was sent to kindergarten by the family, the brothers also had to go to school, leaving only her and Jiang Liangjin sticking together all day.

In September, three-and-a-half-year-old Jiang Liangjin was sent to kindergarten.

As for Mu Youyu, due to health reasons, the elders planned to wait until she was old enough to skip directly into first grade, believing that home tutoring would be just as effective as kindergarten.

Her only long-term playmate was gone.

Mu Youyu endured for a month, then finally said, "Mom, I also want to go to kindergarten."

Song Ningsheng was on a video call with Shen Ningmu nearby; hearing this, she put down her phone and asked, "Why do you suddenly want to go? Didn't you say you didn't want to?"

Mu Youyu looked tearful, "A Jin also went, my brothers also went; I can't go to school with my second brother? I want to be with my second brother every day; being alone at home is so boring."

Song Ningsheng patiently explained, "Mu Xi is already in second grade; you're only three now, so even if you went, you couldn't be in the same class."

Mu Youyu didn't believe it, "Then why can A Jin go to school with my second brother? I don't want A Jin anymore; I also want to go to school with my second brother."

A Jin isn't attending school with Mu Xi; A Jin is currently in the junior class, while Mu Xi is in second grade.

She counted on her fingers, "How old do I have to be to be in the same classroom as my second brother?"

Wait until you're a bit older, like Mu Xi's age.

Mu Youyu muttered, "Then I need to grow up quickly."

Song Ningsheng was amused by her, "No rush; growing slowly is fine too."

Alright...

After a pause, she lifted her face, "Can I be with Ningning? She said she's waiting for me at kindergarten and asked me to go to school together."

No, my treasure; Ningning is already in the senior class, so if you go, you'd have to start in the junior class, and you still wouldn't be in the same class.

Song Ningsheng pinched her cheeks, "Isn't it fine to study at home with Qingma?"

Mu Youyu lowered her head, poked her own fingers, thought for a while, then whispered, "But Qingma won't teach me to sing and dance; she only teaches me foreign languages."

Song Ningsheng probed, "How about Mom hires a teacher to teach you singing and dancing?"

Actually, it's not really about the teacher... it's just that there's no one to play with me.

Song Ningsheng, hearing this, could no longer bear to refuse, "How about Mom, Dad, and Grandma discuss it? Let you be in the same class as A Jin, okay?"

Mom is the best!" Mu Youyu immediately beamed.

Not being able to be in the same class as my second brother, being in the same class as A Jin is also good.

Mu Youyu remembered something, tugged her mother's sleeve, "And what about my second brother? Will he come find me to play after school?"

Song Ningsheng, overwhelmed by her rapid-fire questions, said, "Yes, yes, yes; your second brother likes you the most, he'll definitely be the first to come find you after school every day."

Mu Youyu asked again, "And what about A Jin? Won't he stop playing with me if he makes other little friends?"

That would make her alone not fun either.

Song Ningsheng laughed while tweaking her nose, "A Jin will also play with you; he'll be worried that if you don't play with other kids, you'll also be afraid that if you make new friends you'll ignore him."

Mu Youyu then felt relieved and generously declared, "Well then, I forgive you for not letting me go to kindergarten."

Song Ningsheng laughed and cried, "Then Mom thanks you on behalf of the whole family for your forgiveness."

You're welcome, Mom; this is what a polite, good child should do.

The next morning, Song Ningsheng called Shen Ningmu, saying she wanted Youbao to transfer into Jiang Liangjin's kindergarten.

Shen Ningmu was delighted, "No problem! Having the two kids together means they can look out for each other."

Exactly, I was thinking the same." Song Ningsheng casually asked, "How is A Jin doing in kindergarten?"

The teacher says he's quite well-behaved, not mischievous, loves learning, just doesn't like to play with other kids much, and is a picky eater; I'm worried he might be too solitary! If A You goes, maybe he'll become more outgoing.

This situation is the same as Mu Xi's back then.

Song Ningsheng hooked her finger (smirked), "It will definitely happen."

That afternoon, when the butler picked Jiang Liangjin up from kindergarten, Shen Ningmu grabbed him.

She crouched to be at his eye level, her tone quite serious: "A Jin, Mom tells you that tomorrow A You will join your class; please look after her and don't let other kids bully her."

Jiang Liangjin initially had a cold expression, as if it didn't concern him, but then his lips curled up: "A You? She's also going to school?"

Shen Ningmu smiled even more, "Yes, she'll be in your class."

Jiang Liangjin thought of her every day in class, "Will she really come?"

Really, she's coming tomorrow; then you can show her around the environment.

Okay!

That night, Jiang Liangjin tossed and turned, unable to sleep; every so often he'd peek out from under the covers to check if the sky outside was light.

The next morning, he opened his eyes before the alarm, dressed himself, ate breakfast faster than usual, then sat properly by the door waiting.

The Butler held back a smile, "Young master, don't be impatient; the young lady will arrive a little later."

Jiang Liangjin shouldered his backpack, "Then let's go wait first."

He wants Youbao to see him the moment she arrives at kindergarten!

On the other side, Mu Youyu also got up very early.

The pink small backpack on her back, she wore new clothes, turned around in place, and showed off to her mother who was straightening her collar.

Seeing her excited look, Song Ningsheng couldn't help but curl her lips, "Youbao, from today you're a little kid in the junior class; Mom and I have three rules for you."

Mu Youyu pretended to be solemn, "Okay!"

Song Ningsheng raised a finger, "First, if you feel unwell, you must tell the teacher, or call Mom with your watch."

"Okay!"

Song Ningsheng raised a second finger, "Second, after school you must be picked up by Aunt Jin and other parents; don't go with strangers, don't leave the kindergarten grounds on your own."

"Okay!"

Song Ningsheng raised a third finger, "Third, if someone bullies you, tell the teacher; don't cry secretly by yourself."

After Mu Youyu agreed, she asked back, "What if Aunt Jin gets bullied?"

"Aunt Jin… probably won't be bullied."

Mu Youyu insisted, "What if?"

Song Ningsheng resigned, "Then you can tell the teacher, and later tell Mom and Aunt Shen."

Mu Youyu then nodded, "Okay then, I won't let him be bullied."

Song Ningsheng felt that was all her daughter needed to remember; the rest she would arrange with the teacher and Jiang Liangjin.

"All right, let's go—today's your first day of school." She turned her head to glance at the living room, "Where's Mu Xi?"

As her words fell, footsteps sounded on the stairs.

Mu Xi wore a dark school uniform, held a black backpack in hand, and walked down the stairs steadily.

He is now in second grade of elementary school; the elementary department is next to the kindergarten's department, sharing the same main gate, but after entering they must take different passages.

Mu Xi got up especially early today just to send his little sister to kindergarten for her first day.

After making sure his sister was dressed neatly, he turned to his mother, "Mom, I'll take my sister to the kindergarten side."

Song Ningsheng squatted down, "Do you two little treasures still need Mom to escort you?"

"No need."

"No need, Mom! I have my older brother, that's enough!"

Song Ningsheng smiled, "All right, then I'll entrust your sister to you."

Mu Youyu trotted over and grabbed her older brother's hand, "Older brother! Let's go to school together!"

Mu Xi lowered his head, took her hand, "Let's go."

The brother and sister got into the car together.

Mu Youyu sat in the back seat, watching familiar scenery recede through the window, feeling curious, clutching the strap of her small backpack, "Older brother, is the kindergarten big? Is it fun? What's the teacher like?"

Mu Xi's voice soft, "It's pretty big, fun—you spend half the time playing, half studying, and the teachers aren't strict."

"Really?"

"Really."

This kindergarten belongs to the country's most prestigious international education group, offering a K12 integrated curriculum, with high tuition, and the four major conglomerates have all invested.

The faculty is top-notch, with more than half foreign teachers, most from different countries, holding proper teaching qualifications, and many have years of experience at international schools.

The teaching blends the strengths of various national education systems, emphasizing language enlightenment and overall quality development, with courses and recreational activities in a one-to-one ratio.

Beside the playground are a constant-temperature pool and an indoor sports hall; every classroom in the teaching building is equipped with the most advanced multimedia facilities and an independent activity area.

As for these, Mu Youyu only grasped the main point: there are lots of places to play!

That way she can also play with Aunt Jin; kindergarten is truly great.

"……"

Arriving at the kindergarten department's main gate, Mu Youyu saw Jiang Liangjin standing on the steps, looking around.

As the car door opened, another of Mu Youyu's hands was taken by him.

Mu Xi let go of his sister's hand, turned to Jiang Liangjin, and said solemnly, "Aunt Jin, I'm entrusting my sister to you."

"It's her first time at kindergarten; you must look after her, not let anyone bully her, and not let her be alone—can you do that?"

Jiang Liangjin nodded firmly, gripping Mu Youyu's hand a little tighter, "I can—I'll stay with Youbao all the time."

Mu Xi likes well-behaved kids; plus, this guy is like a younger brother he's watched grow up, just like Song Lujing—he's usually friendly and quite trusting of him.

"All right." Having gotten a clear reply, he slightly bent down to meet his sister's eye level, "Then big brother's off to class; shall I pick you up after school?"

"Okay!" Mu Youyu replied crisply, "Can older brother come at noon to eat with me?"

Mu Xi regretted, "That's not possible—we're in different grades, so meals are separate."

Mu Youyu didn't insist either, just squeezed his fingers, "Remember to come pick me up, older brother—don't forget!"

"Okay, I won't forget." Mu Xi ruffled his sister's hair, "I'm heading off now—see you this afternoon."

"See you this afternoon, older brother!"

"See you this afternoon, Mu Xi brother!"

The young female teacher waiting at the door wore a gentle smile, bent slightly, and extended her hand to Mu Youyu.

"Hello, little Mu Youyu, I'm your head homeroom teacher, Teacher Tian. Welcome to the junior class; I'll take you to the classroom."

Mu Youyu didn't reach out right away, but turned her head to look at Jiang Liangjin.

He nodded at her, and then she placed her small hand in the teacher's palm, "Thank you, teacher."

Teacher Tian led the two into the classroom, "Your seat is right next to Jiang Liangjin—he specially asked the teacher to hold it for you; your textbooks and a few sets of uniforms have already been prepared."

Mu Youyu: "Understood, teacher."

Each class in the kindergarten department has a full quota of fifteen people; she transferred in, making exactly sixteen.

The classroom is spacious, with a corner stacked with building blocks, and the walls have alphabet charts posted.

Several children were gathered together; upon seeing the newcomer, they all turned to look.

"Wow, the new classmate is so pretty."

"Is she Jiang Liangjin's younger sister? She looks so short."

"Yeah, even shorter than my sister."

"Yes, she's so tiny, but really pretty, like a doll!"

Before she could introduce herself, the class bell rang.

In the first foreign‑teacher class, a blond‑haired, blue‑eyed foreign teacher walked in holding a stack of cards, greeting the children in an accented language.

The children responded enthusiastically.

Mu Youyu opened the textbook on her desk, flipped a few pages, then closed it—she had already learned this material at home.

The foreign teacher asked her to stand and give a brief self‑introduction; she stood and spoke a few clear sentences.

The foreign teacher praised her, saying, "Very good, please sit; the new student did excellently today."

During the foreign teacher's questioning, after Mu Youyu answered she sat quietly and did not show off how much she knew.

Both Mu Youyu and Jiang Liangjin would speak; the former studied earnestly, while the latter occasionally glanced down at her a few times to make sure she wasn't disturbed by other children.

But the foreign teacher was somewhat surprised; after class he specially told Teacher Tian, "That new little one has a rock‑solid foundation beyond her age, is smart and polite, and speaks at a native level—did you not place her in the wrong class?"

Teacher Tian replied, "No mistake—she just reached the transfer‑in age, now only three and a half, and she has never attended kindergarten before."

The foreign teacher uttered a few 'ohs', nodded, and left.

Teacher Tian also understood inwardly that a three‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old child who could fully comprehend the foreign teacher's whole question and even answer in complete sentences was already outstanding among her peers.

But in the résumé that Song Ningsheng privately sent to the Mu family, besides the basic information, there was a small line: able to independently read original‑language early‑childhood materials from Z, Y, M, H, and F countries.