CHAPTER 360: EPISODE 34.1 FIRST DAY PROBLEMS!

The 200 new kindergarteners were divided evenly into ten classes—no rankings, no "top section." Just a jumble of toddlers brimming with potential.

Shen Yuan actually liked that set-up because that stays true to the vision of the academy: a high-quality education for all.

"I didn’t notice this earlier, but all the kids have such clear eyes," Shen Yuan murmured as he watched the neat rows of little ones. His lips twitched. "I was expecting at least one to cry and make their first day a core memory... but it seems they’re all holding it together."

Parents who didn’t need to hold their child’s hand had already been ushered to the raised seating area. From there, they had a perfect view of their children below—and their children could still spot them easily if needed.

"That’s because, just like our son, these kids were drilled on how to behave in public," Bai Tingfeng said dryly, leaning closer. "Even the spoiled ones from rich families have to put on a front. Their parents’ reputations are on the line."

Then his brow furrowed. "Wait. Are you actually hoping one of them to have a traumatic school memory?"

Shen Yuan immediately bristled, tail practically flicking in spirit. "Of course not! I just think tantrums are cute. Our son never threw one, so... I’m a little curious."

Curious?

Bai Tingfeng’s face went blank. Is it his bad if he thinks that Shen Yuan just loved to see children crying?

He knows that Shen Yuan will always be kind and patient with children. However, something about that smile whispers that he also loved to tease kids, and it is not surprising if that is indeed the case.

Shen Yuan has always been a naughty soul.

"Don’t worry," he muttered. "Once baby number two arrives, I bet you’ll see plenty of tantrums."

Shen Yuan whipped his head around, narrowing his eyes at his teasing husband. "Why did that sound like an ominous prophecy?"

Bai Tingfeng wisely said nothing. Shen Yuan let it slide; remarks about "baby number two" had become too frequent to fuss over.

Instead, Shen Yuan only hummed, his gaze drifting back to the rows of children. "Hmm... your explanation makes sense. Even the shy ones are trying hard to look brave. But what does the reputation of those rich kids’ families have to do with the school’s opening ceremony?"

"This ceremony is another chance for networking," Bai Tingfeng replied matter-of-factly. "Did you notice how the parents were already grouping together when we walked into the auditorium? That’s the first step for some career-minded families—scoping out which children they’d like their own kids to befriend."

He lowered his voice slightly. "For families obsessed with status and achievement, it’s simple. They want their children to mix with others of equal background—or, at the very least, with kids who are bright and promising even at this age. That way, their own children are pushed to excel in academics and social standing."

Shen Yuan scrunched up his face, thoroughly unimpressed. This was supposed to be a wholesome school opening ceremony, yet somehow the adults had already turned it into another round of politics. Leave it to humans to ruin a day meant to celebrate the kids.

The pregnant, hormonal omega’s mood soured instantly. This was supposed to be Yanyan’s moment, and damned if Shen Yuan was going to let petty adults ruin it.

"Tingfeng." He called his husband’s name.

Bai Tingfeng turned to him, almost religiously waiting for the next words or instruction.

"If some career parent dares to approach us," Shen Yuan drawled, eyes narrowing, "I expect you to blast your pheromones and mana like the territorial bastard you are. I am giving you the go signal to show me how possessive you could be."

He then whispered about the career parents. "I am not wasting my energy entertaining those bitches."

Bai Tingfeng didn’t so much as flinch at the cursing. In fact, he looked positively delighted—as if his wife had just permitted him to unleash his inner beast. Which, truthfully, had been his plan all along.

Because if anyone was going to be swarmed by career-minded parents, it would be their son.

Bai Tingfeng looked over his son’s direction, and he saw how his boy sneakily tried to speak with Xiaolun and his friends.

Yanyan might not realize it yet, but to the parents of his not-so-familiar classmates, he was already considered ’elite.’

The heir of two influential S-class awakeners, backed by generational wealth on both sides of the family, he was practically a walking jackpot for any ambitious parent hoping to tie their child’s future to his.

~~~

"Psst! Yanyan!" Xiaolun’s whisper reached him from behind.

Because the line was arranged by height, Yanyan had been pushed all the way to the very front.

He was the shortest in his class...

Not that he felt insecure about being the smallest—Yanyan never minded things like that. But what did make him squirm was the feeling of so many eyes staring at him.

It had been a long time since he’d felt the prickling weight of gazes like this—whether from curious schoolmates beside him or from the watchful parents seated from afar.

Yanyan tilted his head, confused why so many eyes were staring at him. Then he remembered what Daddy always said: "People love to hover around anything beautiful."

So, Yanyan puffed out his cheeks proudly. Of course! It must be because he looked just like Daddy!

Yanyan’s self-awareness reached level 10 thanks to Shen Yuan’s training.

"What is it?" Yanyan carefully looked around, trying not to make it too obvious that he was engaging in small talk when everyone was silently waiting for the ceremony to start.

"Your parents have been intensely looking at you. Did you not notice it?" Xiaolun pointed at Shen Yuan and Bai Tingfeng.

Yanyan looked up and indeed, his parents were following his movements like guard dogs. He tilted his head a little and waved at them.

"My Papa and Daddy must be checking if I am too nervous for the speech."

Xiaolun’s eyes almost jumped out of their sockets. "Speech? Why?"

Yanyan calmly smiled. "They said I got the biggest score in the exam, so now I have to be the student... rep-re...sentative. That means I gotta say the welcome speech today!"

Xiaolun almost jumped at that revelation. People were supposed to know who the admission exam’s top scorer was after they were invited to the stage to deliver their speech.

Hearing that his friend ranked first in the exam results thoroughly surprised Xiaolun. He couldn’t help but raise his voice.

"You aced the admissions exams?!"

This inevitably attracted the attention of his fellow kids. The heated looks that Yanyan was receiving doubled, no, tripled in an instant. It was accompanied by amazed and disbelieving murmuring.

"What? He had the highest test score?"

"Is that true? Who is he? What family is he from?"

"He is the son of that famous S-class couple, right? He is Shen Yuan and Bai Tingfeng’s son."

"He is? Then that explains why he looks... kind of cute."

"What do you mean cute? He is handsome!"

"Mom, Dad, I think I am crushing on someone..."

"Eh?" When almost everyone is whispering, that is as good as yelling directly to one’s ears.

Yanyan cannot help but feel overwhelmed by the things that he is hearing.

And he is now someone’s crush?!

Yanyan knows the meaning of that word, but he simply can’t comprehend why they feel like that when all he did was get a good score in the admissions exam!

’Daddy, you are right. People are simple-minded.’ He murmured in his heart.

On the side, Xiaolun felt guilty that he had stupidly divulged his best friend’s information in public. He should have listened to his Daddy when he said that he should learn to be tactful at all times!

"Sorry, Yanyan." Xiaolun apologized, his forehead creased.

Yanyan never blamed this friend of his, so he shook his head while smiling a little. "It’s fine. It’s not like we are keeping it a secret."

Xiaolun was happy to hear that his friend was not angry at him. He was about to jump and hug Yanyan, but suddenly, a condescending voice sounded from their right side.

"Liar! You’re not the student rep!" a boy from another class stomped forward, cheeks puffed. "I’m the ace! It’s me, not you!"

"Eh? Who’s that kid?" one whispered.

The little boy stomped his foot but kept staring right at Yanyan, his eyes red and watery like he was trying super hard not to cry.

"I’m Ao Yichen!" he blurted. "The school called me first to do the speech! But my mom said no ’cause she thought I couldn’t do it!" His tiny voice cracked, but it rang through the whole auditorium. "It’s not fair! My dad just died! My speech was gonna make him proud! And now... now my dad can’t hear it, and I can’t even say it!"

The boy, Ao Yichen, plopped right down on the floor and burst into loud sobs. His shoulders shook as he cried and cried, not caring who was watching.

Xiaolun, Yanyan, and all the kids nearby just froze, wide-eyed. None of them knew what to do.

"Uhmm. Are you okay?" Yanyan took the initiative to approach Ao Yichun. He touched the boy’s shoulder to pacify, but Yichun angrily shook him off.

"Don’t touch me! You stole my chance! Huhuhu!"

It seems that Yanyan’s first day of school will not be as smooth sailing as hoped.