CHAPTER 296: CHAPTER 296 ARGUMENT (1)

"The big box is for Zerui, and the small one is for you." Ji Dongquan said with a gentle smile.

"Oh." Xuanxuan responded softly, clearly disappointed, but she consciously placed the big box on the dining table.

Hmph! If I had known it was for that jerk, I wouldn’t have bothered bringing it down! Xuanxuan thought to herself as she looked at the small box in her hand.

"Xuanxuan, do you want the big box?" Ji Dongquan, knowing children’s simple minds, worried that Xuanxuan might think he favored Zerui by giving him the bigger gift, so he asked specifically.

"No, as long as it’s from Mr. Ji, Xuanxuan likes anything." Receiving a gift naturally made Xuanxuan happy. She smiled again and quickly sat down in the chair beside her, impatiently starting to unwrap her gift.

"Xuanxuan, it’s time for school." Mi Wan, eating breakfast hurriedly due to limited time, drank a cup of milk in one go. She wiped her mouth and reminded Xuanxuan once more.

"Got it, Mom. Give me two minutes." Although filled with anticipation, Xuanxuan wasn’t in a rush. She carefully tore open the wrapping paper and responded distractedly to Mi Wan while she opened the box.

What could be inside the small box?

Xuanxuan couldn’t help but guess curiously. With her hand’s movements, the next second, a bright, smooth, and translucent red agate appeared.

"Huh? Is this a rock?" Xuanxuan glanced at it curiously, then looked a bit confused and asked Ji Dongquan.

"It’s agate," Mi Wan interjected.

"Agate? What’s agate? Is it something inside a horse’s head?" Xuanxuan widened her eyes and naively asked again.

"Idiot! If you don’t know, don’t say so much!" He Zerui suddenly spoke with disdain in his voice.

"Of course, I have to ask if I don’t know! I hate pretending to know everything!" Xuanxuan glared angrily at He Zerui and added, "And I helped bring your gift down, and you haven’t even thanked me!"

"Thanks," He Zerui coldly said the two words without a hint of gratitude.

Acting all cool! Rude guy!

Xuanxuan pursed her lips, filled with dissatisfaction, but since Ji Dongquan and Mi Wan were present, she chose to remain silent and didn’t continue to argue with He Zerui.

"Xuanxuan, do you like the gift Mr. Ji picked for you?" Seeing the cheerful atmosphere cooling down, Ji Dongquan calmly tried to ease the tension.

"I like it. This stone is very pretty." Xuanxuan held the box, admiring it with interest.

"Alright, stop looking at it. I’ll help you put it on." Seeing that Xuanxuan had completely forgotten about going to school, Mi Wan sighed helplessly, walked over to her, took the box from her hand, and took out the agate necklace, then helped her wear it.

"Does it look good?" Xuanxuan asked, holding the agate pendant.

"Yes, it looks good." Mi Wan answered as she took Xuanxuan’s small hand and led her outside.

At 8 a.m., Xuanxuan’s kindergarten was as lively as ever. A number of cars and parents sending their kids to school gathered in front of the gate. Some were in a hurry, dropping off their kids and leaving quickly to go to work, while others seemed more relaxed, chatting in small groups.

"Have you guys heard? Xuanxuan’s mom hooked up with a big corporation’s boss, not only cheating but also ruthlessly dumping her husband!" Parent A glanced at a car that had just parked in the distance, a look of disdain flashing in her eyes as she spread the gossip.

"No way?" Parent B clearly didn’t believe it and defended Mi Wan, "She seems so cultured and polite, not at all like someone who’s materialistic. Are you sure you got the right person?"

"There’s no mistake!" Responding to Parent B’s skepticism, Parent A straightened her back and said confidently, "I heard it directly from her husband’s assistant. Also, that big corporation’s boss even donated money to the kindergarten before the New Year just to chase her. Now, the teachers and principal treat Xuanxuan like a treasure. My kid said a few words about her and got severely scolded by the teacher in front of the whole class. It broke my heart seeing my kid cry for so long!"

"This... really goes to show you can’t judge a book by its cover," Parent C and Parent D couldn’t help but join the criticism upon hearing Parent A speak so passionately, as if she were exposing someone else’s ugly truths as an act of justice.

"Hey, keep your voices down. Xuanxuan’s mom is coming over." Parent B, still half-believing what Parent A said, noticed Mi Wan approaching while holding Xuanxuan’s hand and warned the others, so they’d stop gossiping.

"Good morning, Xuanxuan’s mom!"

"You look great today."

"Your clothes are lovely too."

Just a moment ago, they were badmouthing Mi Wan, but now they changed their faces instantly, greeting her with compliments and extra enthusiasm.

"Good morning, everyone," Mi Wan greeted with a smile. Although she was a bit surprised by the parents’ warmth, she didn’t show it and remained gracefully composed.

What kind of people are these?

Parent B was stunned, completely taken aback by how quickly the others switched their demeanor. She thought to herself that it was a shame they weren’t actors!

After exchanging simple greetings, Mi Wan smiled at the group and then led Xuanxuan towards the school gate. The gossiping, however, didn’t stop.

"Look at her, pretending to be a lady, but really just a slut!"

"Yeah! Women like her just fool men with their looks. The big boss just wants something new; he could have any woman he wants!"

"..."

"You guys are too much. What does someone else’s life have to do with you? Do you have to be so mean?" Unable to bear the escalating gossip, Parent B angrily left a disapproving remark before turning away, leaving the others stunned in place.

Mi Wan held Xuanxuan’s hand as they entered the kindergarten gate; unaware of the gossip behind her, she felt as calm as ever, unaffected by it all.

"Mom, aren’t you leaving?" Seeing her mom not leaving right after dropping her off at the gate but instead holding her hand and walking toward the classroom, Xuanxuan felt a wave of worry and asked nervously.

"Xuanxuan, what’s wrong? Do you not want mom to bring you to school?" Just on the way to the kindergarten, Xuanxuan had mentioned that she preferred the housekeeper to take her to school in the future, saying she didn’t want her mom to work too hard. But Mi Wan had other thoughts upon hearing this. Now noticing Xuanxuan’s nervousness, she couldn’t help but ask her suspicion.