On the first day, I was rejected by the children.
"She's the illegitimate daughter."
"What’s an illegitimate daughter?"
"An illegitimate daughter is an illegitimate daughter. My mom says only shameless women become illegitimate daughters."
"My mom says she hates illegitimate daughters the most."
"My mom says the same thing."
"We don't want to play with her."
"Yeah, don't play with her."
...
I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
Kids these days actually understand what an illegitimate daughter is.
I was really amazed.
I ignored them and ran to the side, deliberately sitting on the ground to play with my toys.
Wiggling my hips and shaking my waist.
"Na na na, not playing with you."
"Na na na, a bunch of little fools."
"Na na na, go play by yourselves!"
They were furious and came over to argue with me.
The leading boy was named An Feng.
"You’re the illegitimate daughter; your whole family are illegitimate daughters!"
I chuckled.
"I'm not an illegitimate daughter."
"I'm a stolen daughter."
"My mom didn't interfere with your dad's family."
"Did your mom interfere with my dad's family?"
An Feng's face turned red with anger.
"You are talking nonsense!"
"I'm not!"
I shrugged.
"Who told you to talk about me first?"
"You're so petty!"
An Feng got angry and ran away.
The other kids scattered as well.
I was happy to have some peace and started playing by myself.
...
At the end of the day, I carried my little backpack and obediently walked towards Aunt Shiyu.
She smiled and picked me up, giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"Ling'er, how was your first day of school?"
"Did you make any friends?"
"Did anyone bully you?"
I looked at her seriously and answered earnestly, "Everything is good."
"I, Ling'er, made a lot of good friends."
"No one bullied me."
Aunt Shiyu paused for a moment and then laughed.
"Ling'er, you are so cute."
"Mom loves you so much!"
After saying that, she kissed me on the cheek again.
I couldn't help but smile.
It's so nice.
Having Mom around is truly wonderful.
The next day, I was still isolated by An Feng and the others.
His mom told him that my mom was a mistress, a bad woman who destroys other people's families.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
I never said I was an illegitimate child.
I said I was a hidden child!
Just one word makes all the difference!
Unfortunately, no matter how I explained, they didn't believe me.
I was too lazy to communicate with them and just played by myself.
After all, I was older and smarter than them, so why should I stoop to their level?
...
Fortunately, life in kindergarten wasn't without its benefits.
What I liked most was that every day after school, Aunt Shiyu would come to pick me up.
I loved the scent that lingered on her.
Warm and fragrant.
I would dive into her arms and breathe in deeply.
Aunt Shiyu would always laugh so hard she couldn't close her mouth.
"Ling'er, what are you doing?"
"I'm inhaling the milk scent from Mom."
"Hahaha, where's the milk scent on Mom?"
"There is, there is, Aunt Shiyu, you definitely have it."
"Alright, alright, if you say there is, then there is."
...
I was very happy every day.
But Lu Mengmeng was like a shadow in my life that I couldn't shake off.
I often dreamed of her.
In my dreams, she always looked at me with a twisted face and said fiercely—
"Chen Ling'er, you are born from me; my blood flows in you."
"I will never let you go in this lifetime."
"You will never escape my grasp!"
"Just wait, one day, I will strangle you!"
"I won't let you have it easy!"
Every time, I wake up crying from the dream.
I can't forget her.
She is too terrifying.
When I was two years old, she deprived me of my right to eat cake.
When I was three, she almost choked me to death.
When I was four, she pricked me with a needle, calling me a worthless child, a cursed one, a harbinger of doom, saying that if I died, she would be free.
...
The evil things she did to me could fill three days and nights of stories.
Fortunately, Aunt Shiyu appeared.
She threw me a grand birthday party.
It was even more extravagant than the last engagement banquet.
She bought a huge cake for me to make a wish.
She dressed me up as a flower fairy and invited many friends and family to celebrate with me.
My wish was for Aunt Shiyu and Dad to be happy forever.
I hope I will always be Aunt Shiyu's child.
...
However, protecting Aunt Shiyu's reputation came at a cost.
I was called in for a parent-teacher meeting.
Aunt Shiyu rushed over and was very silent as she took me home.
I remember the last time she took me to a banquet; those uncles and aunts were gossiping about her behind her back.
"Hmph, Wang Shiyu is really shameless, actually becoming a Stepmother."
"Exactly, raising him so well; who knows if it's genuine."
"I think she just wants to climb the social ladder by marrying into the Fu Family."
"President Fu must be blind to have chosen her."
"It's because she knows how to put on a show. She seems fine on the surface, but who knows what she's really thinking?"
"Poor little girl, being used by others, yet smiling happily."
...
I know they don't like me.
It's because they don't like Aunt Shiyu being with my dad.
So, they don't like Aunt Shiyu's child either.
And that is me.
I don't care.
As long as Aunt Shiyu likes me, that's enough.
...
However, things didn't go so smoothly.
Great-Grandmother really likes me.
She suggested adopting me and taking care of me herself.
That way, Aunt Shiyu wouldn't have to work so hard.
I know Great-Grandmother wants to help me.
She means well.
But I don't want to leave Aunt Shiyu.
I want to be with her forever.
Aunt Shiyu refused Great-Grandmother's offer.
She held my hand and took me to the gathering together.
At the gathering, I performed a Tang poem.
I received applause and cheers from Great-Grandmother.
In the end, Great-Grandmother didn't bring up the adoption again.
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