Zhao Yixin watched their backs with longing, but lacked the courage to chase after them. The old lady and Zhao Zhanshen beside him were getting anxious.
Mr. Zhao looked at Shen Qingqing, "Mrs. Fu... what do you think about this..."
Shen Qingqing said calmly, "I won't interfere in the matters between the two children."
Her words sent Mr. Zhao packing.
The old lady wanted to say something more, but Zhao Yixin shook his head at her, "Grandma, don't say it. I can't force them to be friends with me."
The old lady looked at her sensible grandson, her heart aching.
She finally realized that it was all her fault.
Zhao Yixin didn't pester them. He glanced one last time at the empty staircase and said politely, "Uncle, Auntie, we'll be leaving now. Sorry for disturbing you today."
Shen Qingqing had no intention of making things difficult for the child. She nodded gently, "Okay, be careful on your way back."
"Mhm mhm!"
Zhao Yixin was a little apprehensive, worrying that if Xixi and Chenchen didn't play with him, this beautiful aunt wouldn't talk to him anymore either.
But the beautiful aunt's attitude was different from what he had imagined.
He said goodbye politely and, for the first time, with an undeniable attitude, pulled his grandmother and father away.
As soon as they left, Shen Qingqing was pulled into an embrace. A deep voice sounded in her ear, "You should have kicked them out the moment they came in."
He had wanted to do just that.
If his wife hadn't pinched him.
Shen Qingqing's slender, fair hand rested on the muscular arm around her waist, "I just wanted to see what they wanted. Besides, who would have thought that this old lady, at her age, would be so unreasonable."
Fu Jingshu let out a cold snort.
Shen Qingqing turned around and gazed at him steadily, as if she knew what he was thinking, "You are not allowed to interfere in this matter. This is between the children. I will go talk to them later."
Fu Jingshu grumbled, "Got it."
Shen Qingqing smiled, cupped his face, and kissed his cheek, "Let's not interfere in the children's affairs, we adults."
Regardless of what kind of people the Zhao family parents and grandmother were, Zhao Yixin was a decent child at least. He was impulsive and rash at times, but loyal, not resentful, and able to admit his mistakes, qualities that were very rare.
She went upstairs to the bedroom and pushed open the door, only to see the two children sitting at their drawing boards, both drawing diligently.
The two children's drawing styles and processes were completely different.
Chenchen's work was done in one go, but his standards for the quality of his drawings were extremely high. If a stroke wasn't satisfactory, he would frown and stare at it for a long time.
He was a perfectionist.
Xixi, on the other hand, was much more casual. His drawing style was also very abstract. He would draw a stroke casually, then stare at it, nodding with satisfaction.
If Chenchen was a perfectionist with smooth and neat lines, then Xixi was unrestrained and free-spirited.
Shen Qingqing watched with interest.
The two children's drawing styles were diametrically opposed, yet when they were together, they could both put aside their restlessness and patiently complete their artwork.
These two children were both opposite and similar.
At some point, Xixi suddenly turned around, "Mommy!"
Shen Qingqing responded, "What are you drawing?"
"This is the homework the teacher assigned today. She told us to draw what we most want to see in our hearts. It's too abstract, there are no specific words, just draw whatever you want to see."
Xixi propped his chin on his hand, looking very troubled.
When the teacher assigned this homework, he had felt lost. He didn't have anything specific he wanted to see, nor did he understand why such homework was assigned.
Shen Qingqing looked at his drawing, which was filled with colorful, extremely vibrant colors. It was difficult to say what the painting was, in essence.
But the colors he used were bold, and the entire painting exuded a very distinct personal style.
Xixi asked, "Mommy, what do you think of my painting?"
"It's very beautiful." Shen Qingqing did not spare her praise, "There is no right or wrong answer for this homework assigned by the teacher. She just wants you to draw what you want to draw. Just follow your heart. As long as you like it, this homework is considered complete."
Xixi seemed to ponder this.
Chenchen, beside him, had also finished his painting. His drawing had only one color.
Blue.
The vast ocean, corresponding to the clear azure sky, the entire painting was filled with a calm and elegant blue, tranquil and distant.
If Xixi's painting gave people a sense of shock, then Chenchen's painting gave people just one feeling.
Peace.
Looking at this painting made one's heart become peaceful. Shen Qingqing affectionately ruffled the little one's hair, seeing the great talent of her two sons in painting from these two works.
"Study hard with the teacher in class, okay?"
"Mhm mhm!"
Xixi and Chenchen nodded in unison.
Shen Qingqing thought of something and crouched down in front of Xixi, asking gently, "Xixi, tell Mommy the truth, do you really not want to play with Zhao Yixin anymore?"
Xixi huffed, "His grandmother did such a thing, she will definitely teach him bad habits in the future. I won't play with him anymore."
Shen Qingqing said, "You don't have to play with him, but you can't say that his grandmother will teach him bad habits."
Xixi blinked, "Why?"
Shen Qingqing said calmly, "If someone were to say something bad about me one day, and say that I would also teach you bad habits, how would you feel?"
"Who dares to say that?!"
Xixi had always been a loyal protector of his Mommy. Hearing this, he immediately became like a little cannon, wishing he could explode on the spot.
Shen Qingqing chuckled, "See, you're unhappy when others say things about you, so we shouldn't say things about others. But who you play with is your freedom, and Mommy won't interfere."
Although Xixi was very reluctant, he knew that Mommy's words made sense, so he nodded, "I understand, I'll listen to Mommy."
"Good boy."
Shen Qingqing hugged the two children and patiently explained the principles of life to them. Although they were still young and might not fully understand,
She believed that the two children would remember these lessons.
...
The next day, Shen Qingqing sent the two children to class. On the way, they passed a boutique. She asked the children to wait in the car while she went shopping.
After getting into the car, Xixi asked curiously, "Did Mommy buy something?"
Shen Qingqing hummed, "I bought a small gift."
"Is it for me?"
Shen Qingqing glanced at him, but didn't say anything, a faint smile on her face.
Xixi immediately understood that the gift was not for him. He looked at his brother, Chenchen, who also looked bewildered.
Clearly, he had not received any news from Mommy about a gift being bought for him.
It wasn't for his brother either.
Then who was it for?