Chapter 62: I Want to Go to School
Chen An’an secretly felt relieved.
Fortunately, his older brother was already in middle school and had left for school early.
Otherwise, he might have been in serious trouble!
The two boys roughhoused and played as they headed off to school with their backpacks. Before leaving, Chen An’an waved to Tongtong and said, “Tongtong, wait for me to come back after school—I’ll catch bugs for you to play with!”
Ever since Tongtong taught him how to observe living creatures, he had fallen in love with studying all kinds of small animals and insects.
Tongtong was helping the elderly aunt shell edamame. Without turning her head, she replied softly, “Okay, An’an.”
Liu Lan watched the two lively boys walk away with a smile, then turned to the well-behaved Tongtong and said, “Tongtong, look—An’an and the others have started school. You’re also old enough to go to school now. Would you like to go?”
Tongtong tilted her head and blinked her big eyes.
The knowledge stored in her little brain was probably richer than that of any teacher.
But she was still full of curiosity about school—a place where many children could play and learn together.
After all, in her previous life, she was just a system and had never experienced the life of a normal child.
Tongtong thought for a minute, then nodded firmly.
“Yes! Tongtong wants to go to school! Study hard and make progress every day!”
Her adorable demeanor made Liu Lan laugh. She patted Tongtong’s little head and handed her a piece of candy.
“Good! When your mother comes back, I’ll talk to her about this!”
When Yu Wanqin returned from work and heard what Liu Lan said, she also felt it was time for her daughter to start school.
Now that she had a stable job and income, she was fully capable of supporting her daughter’s education.
The next day, when she went to work, she sought out a doctor she was familiar with to inquire about enrollment at the Military District Affiliated Primary School.
Coincidentally, Dean Su happened to pass by. Hearing this, he smiled and said, “You should ask Commander Gu about this. The principal of the affiliated primary school is the wife of one of his deputy regiment commanders.”
Yu Wanqin was a bit surprised. She thanked Dean Su but hesitated inwardly.
She didn’t really want to trouble Commander Gu again, but this concerned her daughter’s schooling.
After thinking it over for the afternoon, Yu Wanqin bought two pounds of fruit and a pound of milk candies, then took Tongtong to Gu Yanbin’s home.
Gu Yanbin was on leave that day and was at home. He was wearing a loose white shirt, having just showered after exercising. His hair was still damp, and the collar of his shirt was slightly open, revealing his firm and powerful chest muscles.
He exuded a wild, lazy charm.
Yu Wanqin glanced at him, blushed, and looked away.
When he opened the door and saw it was Yu Wanqin, Gu Yanbin’s expression stiffened for a moment before he abruptly closed the door with a “bang.”
Yu Wanqin: “…”
She looked down and exchanged a glance with her daughter. “Maybe we came at a bad time?”
Tongtong blinked her big eyes and gently patted the door with her chubby little hand. “Dad Gu, it’s me, Tongtong.”
A slightly flustered, magnetic male voice came from inside. “O-okay, Tongtong… wait for Dad!”
After he said this in a flustered tone, the door opened again.
When Yu Wanqin looked over, he had already returned to his usual serious and proper demeanor. His shirt was buttoned neatly all the way to the top, and he was dressed impeccably.
So, had he closed the door to tidy up his clothes?
Yu Wanqin couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times, making Gu Yanbin’s ears turn red.
He welcomed them inside, secretly letting out a sigh of relief once they were in.
That was close… he had almost let Wanqin see his untidy side.
Gu Yanbin poured water for the two guests. Gu Jingnan had gone to school and hadn’t returned yet, leaving only Si Muchen at home.
As soon as he saw Tongtong, his dark eyes lit up. He ran over and secretly slipped a handful of pearls into her hand.
【Hurry, hurry! Let this System get close to our little patron! It’s been so long since I last siphoned energy—I almost kicked the bucket again!】
Si Muchen cleared his throat softly and took the chance to sneakily pat his little sister’s fluffy head.
He absolutely would not admit that he had wanted to do it himself.
It was for the sake of letting the System siphon energy more effectively.
Tongtong looked surprised, her chubby little hands holding pearls that were plump and lustrous—clearly high-quality.
She grinned, her eyes sparkling like little stars.
Following the usual rule of not asking where gifts came from, she tucked the small pearls away and stored them in her space.
She would save them for Mother to sew onto a little dress—it would surely look beautiful!
Seeing her delighted expression, the corners of Si Muchen’s lips lifted high.
After calming the System in his consciousness, he focused on listening to what his uncle and Aunt Yu were discussing.
“Tongtong wants to start school? That’s simple—I’ll just talk to the principal! No need to trouble you with a trip here.” Gu Yanbin ran a hand through his still-damp hair, a smile curling at the corners of his slightly narrow eyes.
Yu Wanqin felt a bit embarrassed. “We’ve already caused you enough trouble.”
Gu Yanbin turned to pour more water, muttering under his breath, “I’d welcome it…”
Yu Wanqin didn’t catch it and looked up at him curiously. “Commander Gu, what did you say?”
Gu Yanbin smiled, pushing the water toward her, his expression serious. “Nothing. Tongtong is my dry daughter—her matters are my responsibility!”
Tongtong nodded her little head in agreement. “Mm-hmm! Tongtong will take good care of Dad Gu in the future!”
Gu Yanbin immediately beamed, lifting the little girl onto his lap and gently pinching her round cheek. “You said it yourself—Godfather will rely on you for support in his old age.”
Tongtong nodded solemnly, her voice soft. “Mm-hmm!”
Si Muchen pushed his hand away, frowning as he stared at Tongtong’s flushed cheek, displeased. “You’ve made it red.”
Gu Yanbin sighed in exasperation. “You brat!”
But he withdrew his hand nonetheless.
Yu Wanqin explained the matter, chatted a bit more, and then, to avoid overstaying her welcome, left after a short while.
At the Gu family dinner table that evening.
Gu Jingnan chattered between mouthfuls of rice. “Mmm… now that Tongtong’s gone back home, it feels strange not having a little sister to eat with.”
Gu Yanbin also sighed. Without his little dry daughter calling him “Dad” with every bite, the meal just didn’t taste as good.
Si Muchen set down his chopsticks, looked up at the two of them, and said in an even tone, “Uncle, I want to go to school.”
Both Gu Yanbin and Gu Jingnan were stunned.
Gu Jingnan even exaggeratedly cupped his ear. “Muchen, what did you say? Have you finally come around and decided to stop holing up at home reading those advanced books?”
Si Muchen had always been solitary since childhood, disliking crowded places.
Gu Yanbin had suggested sending him to school a few times before, but he had always refused.
He said he’d rather stay home reading, and besides, he already knew everything the teachers taught.
Gu Yanbin knew he was clever—even at a young age, he had already started reading high school textbooks.
Seeing that he wasn’t wasting his time at home, Gu Yanbin had let him be.
Who would have thought the kid would now ask to go to school on his own?
But thinking back to what Yu Wanqin had said that afternoon, he guessed the brat had probably heard that Tongtong was going to school.
Hmph! He knew it—the kid was only doing it for his little sister!
Gu Yanbin saw right through it, chuckling inwardly while maintaining a serious expression: “Oh? What made you suddenly want to go? There are a lot of people at school, and you don’t like crowded places, do you?”
Si Muchen pursed his lips and said vaguely, “…Knowledge needs to be systematically organized, and besides, I’ve reached the age where I should be attending school.”
Gu Yanbin held back a laugh and nodded: “Alright! I’ll take care of it tomorrow!”