CHAPTER 17

Qin Yinong usually returned home once a month. If the filming schedule was tight and time didn't permit, it could stretch to two or three months between visits. Ningning rarely saw her and was shy around her. Each meeting required some time for them to get used to each other.

Qin Yinong complimented Ningning's beautiful dress and kissed her face before placing her in the child's seat in the back. The little girl placed her soft and warm hand in Qin Yinong's hand. Qin Yinong held her hand and didn't divert her gaze. She could feel Ningning looking at her, and every time she turned her face, their eyes met. Ningning would get nervous, her face turning bright red, and she would lower her small head, almost burying her chin in her chest.

After a few instances like this, Qin Yinong stopped looking at her, allowing Ningning to examine her with her big, grape-like eyes, blinking innocently.

The little girl's name was Qin Jianing, symbolizing kindness and peace. Qin Jianing seemed to have inherited her birth mother's talent for learning. From an early age, she displayed an extraordinary intelligence. While other children at the age of one were still learning to speak, and the late bloomers were not yet able to communicate, she already knew some simple phrases, with stacks of little flashcards in her possessions.

Normally, children enter kindergarten at the age of three, but prestigious kindergartens can be more flexible with the requirements. Since Qin Jianing was just two and a half years old and learning at a rapid pace, with independent abilities surpassing other children, and with only two elderly grandparents at home who may not be the best for her growth, Qin Yinong and Ji Shulan discussed it and decided to send her to kindergarten early. They wanted to see if she could adapt to group life, and if not, they could always bring her back home.

The feedback from the teacher was that Qin Jianing adapted very well. The other children in the class were drawn to her beautiful appearance and charming demeanor. She was popular among her peers, so they decided to let her continue attending kindergarten.

However, there was one drawback. The kindergarten had many parent-child activities, but Qin Yinong, being who she was, was unable and didn't have the time to appear at the kindergarten. Ji Shulan, on the other hand, not only had advanced age but also had a limp leg, making it physically challenging for her. Moreover, the other parents were typically mothers and fathers, so what was an old lady like her doing there?

Feeling guilty, Qin Yinong leaned to the side and gently touched Ningning's soft hair. Ningning shyly hid away and looked at her grandmother, unable to contain her happiness as she burst into laughter. When Qin Yinong withdrew her hand, Ningning pursed her lips and showed a slightly disappointed expression.

Ji Shulan said, "Touch her again."

Qin Yinong didn't see Ningning's expression earlier and asked, "Hmm?"

Ji Shulan gestured with her eyes.

Qin Yinong then touched Ningning's head once more.

This time, Ningning didn't hide and looked at Qin Yinong with bright eyes, softly calling out, "Mom."

Qin Yinong's heart filled with infinite tenderness, and she replied in a gentle voice, "Ningning."

Ningning immediately became restless in the child seat, kicking her shiny leather shoes and reaching out both hands towards Qin Yinong urgently, with an eager look as if she wanted to be held. Qin Yinong shook her head and said sternly, "Not now, Qin Jianing, you can be held once we get out of the car."

Ningning shrank back.

Ji Shulan couldn't help but remind Qin Yinong, "Don't keep that stern face all the time. You're scaring the child."

Qin Yinong raised an eyebrow and asked, "Am I keeping a stern face?"

Ji Shulan glared, "Yes, you are!"

Qin Yinong awkwardly touched her nose and quickly adjusted her expression to a gentle and approachable one. She smiled and said, "What Mom means is that it's not safe to be held in the car. If we brake suddenly, Mom won't be able to hold onto you, and you might fly out and get hurt."

Ningning looked confused, as the accumulation of her knowledge wasn't enough to understand such a long and slightly complex explanation.

Qin Yinong continued to explain, "Do you know what it means to fly out?" She gestured with her hands, simulating a sudden brake. The pillow in her arms flew out and hit the backrest of the driver's seat before bouncing back. She pointed at the battered and forlorn pillow sympathetically and said, "That's you."

Ningning trembled as she listened.

While Ningning might not fully understand, Qin Yinong, being an award-winning actress, had her emotions perfectly in place. The children could understand her meaning, which was that she would be in a very sorry state.

Ji Shulan's lips twitched.

After that, Ningning sat in the child seat without daring to move. Ji Shulan asked her if she wanted some water, and she nodded. She held the child-sized water cup in her hands and obediently sipped the water, occasionally stealing glances at Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong knew that she had scared Ningning earlier and smiled warmly at her.

Ningning handed the cup over and whispered, "Mom, drink water."

Qin Yinong took a sip from her straw and looked at Ningning's bright eyes. "Thank you, sweetheart."

The little girl blushed again, lowered her doll-like thick eyelashes, and remained silent. Her shiny patent leather shoes lightly kicked in the air and then landed.

The car stopped at the villa, and Qin Yinong carried Ningning out of the car. Ningning nestled on her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Mom, walk slower." Qin Yinong slowed her pace and turned back to wait for Ji Shulan with difficulty walking.

They had an early dinner at home, and Aunt Fang was cooking in the kitchen. Qin Yinong crouched down to change Ningning's shoes, and Ningning, with her short legs, waddled into the kitchen. She struggled to open the door and politely greeted, "Grandma Fang, I'm back."

Qin Yinong glanced in that direction, sat on the sofa, turned on the TV, found "Peppa Pig," and paused it, waiting for Ningning and Aunt Fang to finish their conversation before coming back to watch.

Ji Shulan was feeling a bit tired. She told Qin Yinong to call her when it was time to eat and went back to her room to rest. She pressed the switch on the wall, and the light above her head flickered a few times. After a brief moment of brightness and darkness, it suddenly went out.

"Dudu." Ji Shulan walked out of her room and hesitantly called out.

Both faces on the sofa turned at the same time—an adult Qin Yinong and a little Qin Yinong, both with slender eyebrows and long, delicate eyes, as if they were carved from the same mold.

Ji Shulan couldn't help but be taken aback.

The adult Qin Yinong leaned to the side and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ji Shulan said, "The light in my room seems to be broken."

Qin Yinong stood up and said, "I'll go take a look."

After a while of staying with Ningning and Qin Yinong, they became more familiar with each other. She imitated their conversation with a giggling tone, saying, "Dudu."

Qin Yinong smiled and patted her head. "You shouldn't make random noises. Watch TV by yourself, and when I come back, tell Mom what happened in the show."

Qin Yinong put the lampshade back on and clapped her hands to remove the dust, abruptly interrupting Ji Shulan's hesitant words. She tilted her chin and said, "Go turn on the light and see."

Ji Shulan swallowed her words and silently pressed the switch again, illuminating the room with the light pouring from above.

"Alright, take a rest." Qin Yinong jumped down and moved the chair back. She went to the bathroom to wash her hands.

Ningning sat on Qin Yinong's lap, excitedly recounting the plot of the cartoon she had just watched, "Peppa and her mom, dad, and little brother were watching TV together when suddenly, the queen appeared on the TV! The queen was wearing a golden crown on her head, and she said she would give medals to the hardest-working people in the whole country..."

For a child under three years old, remembering the plot and expressing it in such a coherent and organized manner was simply unbelievable. Qin Yinong had only spent a short time with her and had no idea how she had developed such language skills. Even if she had extraordinary talent, it was still amazing to this extent.

During dinner, Qin Yinong asked Ji Shulan about it, and Ji Shulan said she didn't do anything special, just told her stories. When asked Ningning, she understood that she was being praised. She straightened her little waist and said in a childish voice, "I have to listen twice before I can say it."

Pretending not to see through her false modesty, Qin Yinong played along with her words, teasing her, "Wow, then you're not as good as Mom. When Mom was little, she could memorize it after listening just once."

"Oh." Ningning didn't receive the expected praise and pouted. She sulkily poked her spoon into the rice in her bowl.

Ji Shulan calmly said, "Where did you hear that? She's lying to you. She used to be so dumb that she couldn't even memorize her lessons after ten times."

Qin Yinong: "..." Where did such an exaggerated claim come from?!

Ningning blinked her bright eyes and looked at Qin Yinong expectantly.

Qin Yinong pretended to be downcast and said, "Yes, Mom was really dumb when she was little. Not even half as smart as Ningning." Although her biological mother could indeed memorize things in one go.

Ningning sighed like a little adult and comforted her, "Mom, don't be sad. It's good that you're smart now."

Qin Yinong coughed and could barely hold back her laughter. She quickly lowered her head to hide her expression from Ningning. "Let's eat."

After dinner, the family of three and Aunt Fang cleaned up the kitchen together.

Qin Yinong stayed in the living room with Ningning, continuing to watch cartoons. It's not good for children to watch TV for too long, so she kept an eye on the time on her phone, intending to limit it to within half an hour. Just after finishing three episodes, around fifteen minutes, Ningning voluntarily said, "I don't want to watch anymore. I want to do my homework."

Qin Yinong fetched Peppa's backpack for her and Ji Shulan brought over a small customized chair and table. Ningning sat in the living room to do her homework. Qin Yinong glanced over to see if she needed any assistance, but to her surprise, Ningning furrowed her brow and said, "Mom, can I finish my homework before playing with you?"

Qin Yinong: "..."

She felt like she had no dignity as a mother.

With nothing to do and having finished reading the script, Qin Yinong, who currently had no work, opened a bullet screen website on her iPad. She clicked on a video from her favorites and silently enjoyed it with the bullet comments turned off.

She became so engrossed in watching that she didn't even notice when Ningning approached her.

"Who is this?" Ningning pointed to a close-up shot of Tang Ruoyao's face on the screen, curiously asking.

Author's note:

Ningning: Since you refuse to pursue her, don't blame me for finding myself a stepmother.﹁_﹁

Guess how Qin Jiejie will respond? ╰(*°▽°*)╯

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