Seeing the "Daughter's Call" displayed on Ruan Su's phone, Ling Xiao's attention was completely captured.
"Hello, Ruan Ruan," Ruan Su answered, her voice soft, indicating she was a patient and good mother.
Ling Xiao listened to Ruan Su's endearment for her daughter and softly repeated it: "Ruan... Ruan?"
The name immediately brought to mind the adorable little girl in the photo.
He was very close to Ruan Su and heard the child's sweet voice on the other end, "Mommy, I miss you so much, when are you coming back?"
"In two or three days, can you wait for Mommy a little longer?" Ruan Su estimated the time. Now that Fatty was here, she should be able to finish quickly with a helper.
"Then Mommy, can I go with An An and the others to the exchange meeting tomorrow?"
Ruan Su then remembered the message her brother Wang Qian had sent her earlier. Ruan Ruan was playing at An An's house, and tomorrow Ren De's elementary school section was going to participate in an exchange meeting with the First Municipal Primary School, requiring parents to accompany them.
Wang Qian, as the leading teacher, couldn't be distracted to take Ruan Ruan to the event, and he was still asking her what to do.
Huo Rou was definitely no ordinary person. She had investigated after their last meeting. Although she hadn't obtained core information, she could rest assured leaving her daughter with her.
"Okay, you go with Aunt Huo. Stay close and don't get lost."
Her daughter was very careless, not only prone to tripping on flat ground but also terrible with directions.
She probably took after that ugly man. After all, judging by his inability to walk properly, he couldn't have been much better even if he wasn't injured.
Ling Xiao was still lost in the tender voice of his daughter, completely unaware that his past pretense of lameness to elicit Ruan Su's sympathy had been so misinterpreted.
After Ruan Su finished the call, Ling Xiao intensified his grip on her.
This time, he wouldn't let go for anything.
Ruan Su didn't know how she ended up agreeing to Ling Xiao's request and acting with him.
Meanwhile, Huo Rou and Qin Ningyi took An An and Ruan Ruan to the exchange meeting.
"Wow, Brother An An, the First Municipal Primary School has so many basketball courts?" Ruan Ruan exclaimed since entering.
As a public primary school, the First Municipal Primary School had a large student body, necessitating more facilities for children's physical activities.
"Watch where you're going, don't fall," An An advised with an air of maturity.
"Oh, isn't this Huo Rou, the heir selected by Old Wang? You've really gone upscale."
No one expected to see Zhou Qin in such a way.
Ever since An An transferred from that school, the school's reputation had been severely damaged due to Qin Ningyi's influence. However, considering Zhou Qin's status, the leaders dared not discipline her.
With students transferring out, Zhou Qin had caused a school to lose its enrollment and had not appeared in public for a long time.
This time, she appeared with a small child by her side.
"Not as much as you, who's gone upscale with a child," Huo Rou didn't give her a second glance. Initially, she only thought Zhou Qin's educational philosophy was bad for An An, with no other intentions.
But now, since the woman dared to insult her, why be polite?
Speaking of the child next to her, Zhou Qin's face contorted.
If it weren't for Huo Rou and the others causing the school to lose enrollment, would she have been forced by her father to marry? And married to someone with a child at that.
She hated Huo Rou with all her heart, thinking that a Chinese person in the Qin family must be living poorly. She had even secretly rejoiced.
Who would have thought that she would leap to become Old Wang's successor and take over the Calligraphy Association?
"Huo Rou, don't get smug." Zhou Qin walked arrogantly to Huo Rou's side and said in a low voice.
"The Calligraphy Association has not yet held an inauguration ceremony. Even if you presided over the situation at Old Wang's funeral, you are not the recognized president of the association."
After so many days, the association had shown no activity, which only indicated that Huo Rou was not the association's choice. Perhaps she had simply pleased Old Wang for a while, and in his senility, he had passed on the position of president to her.
The thought calmed Zhou Qin's anger. "A Chinese person, the association won't recognize you. It's best if you step down yourself."
Huo Rou gave her a strange look.
There was no need to say too much to such a pitiful person.
She pulled An An and Ruan Ruan towards the event venue.
"Didn't you tell the association to postpone the ceremony?" Qin Ningyi turned to look at her.
Huo Rou smiled helplessly, "What's so good about taking this hot potato? I'll delay it for as long as possible. Anyway, the association is running fine without me."
Old Wang's friends would often show off the calligraphy she wrote at the calligraphy competition, showering her with praise, making her seem like a mascot for the association.
A mascot's words or silence were all the same.
"Wait for me!" A childish boy's voice called out from behind.
The speaker was the child accompanying Zhou Qin.
He ran over in a few steps, looking up at Ruan Ruan and An An with an arrogant expression.
"Play with me," the little boy spoke as if commanding someone.
Ruan Ruan didn't like his condescending manner and hid behind An An. "Brother An An, I don't want to play with him."
This remark provoked the little boy. "If you don't play with me, I'll have my dad expel you!"
An An stood in front of Ruan Ruan, calmly looking at the clamoring boy.
An An, at this moment, was shorter than children of his normal age who had started school, but his demeanor appeared more mature.
"Brother An An, is this what they call 'daddy power'?" Ruan Ruan asked from behind An An.
"Something like that," An An didn't know how such a strange thing came to Ruan Ruan's little head.
With An An's affirmation, Ruan Ruan was no longer afraid. She bypassed An An and stood in front of the little boy, proudly saying, "At our school, my uncle is in charge, so you can't expel us. Hmph."
Huo Rou watched helplessly as the three children engaged in a childish display of 'daddy power' and 'uncle power'. She patted An An's shoulder. "Son, let's go."
An An led Ruan Ruan, following Huo Rou. The little boy was taken aback that they dared to leave. He was always used to having his way in class, and younger children were afraid of him. How could there be two exceptions appearing now?
He wanted to chase after them but was stopped by Zhou Qin.
"Didn't you say you needed to use the restroom? Let's go first, and we can find them later." Zhou Qin had only spoken out of momentary spite. She had received instructions from her husband before leaving to apologize to Qin Ningyi if they met, preferably to establish good relations with the Qin family.
She couldn't resist making a snide remark but didn't dare to pursue them further.
"You vixen, you're interfering in my business now?" The little boy clearly was accustomed to swearing, speaking without hesitation and showing no respect for Zhou Qin.