Chapter 37

Bo Xin wasn't particularly impressed after listening. Of course, some had said she had no artistic sense; her music appreciation stayed at three levels: good, okay, and not good. As for the piece she named, it was from a concert where she had fallen asleep. Her friends had teased her about it for a long time. Bo Xin leaned against the edge of the piano and found a comfortable spot to sit. They weren't much different in height, and the piano piece they had just played made the atmosphere seem full of affection. Most people wouldn't think of interrupting at such a moment, especially with something as mundane as moving the piano. Away from the door, the iron gate creaked. Bo Xin lifted her eyelids and recognized the yellow trim of a moving company uniform. She waved helplessly. "What are you doing? You didn't get the wrong place." They were regular customers—how could they not know where she lived? The situation was awkward, but Old Li, who was familiar with Bo Xin's personality, broke the ice and got straight to the point. "Should we send the piano back to Weirui Xuan as planned?" Bo Xin nodded and added, "It's valuable, so be careful. ... And there's an extra cabinet to be delivered to my house." Since it was within about three kilometers, there was no extra charge. Bo Xin learned something new. She took another look at this former house, now cluttered with miscellaneous items. They weren't entirely useless. For instance, when Yanyi was little, they bought too many clothes, and he outgrew them before wearing most. She had no friends to give them to and didn't want to sell them cheap to second-hand stores. So they were all packed up here. She remembered the children were of various ages; she might bring these over for them. Besides the cabinet Ji Xingzhi had pointed out, the table and chair from his room could also be used. No need to waste them. Bo Xin made her request, and Old Li hesitated, rubbing his hands. "If it's three locations, there'll be an extra charge." Bo Xin thought that was fair. She gave a mischievous smile and pointed behind her at Ji Xingzhi. "He said he'll pay." Ji Xingzhi tilted his head in confusion. He hadn't meant that kind of payment earlier. But never mind, for the sake of those children. Ji Xingzhi considered himself empathetic toward kids. He pressed a hand to his heart and nodded firmly. "So am I coming along? I want to see the children's happy smiles too." Bo Xin declined. "The kids probably won't smile happily seeing you." Ji Xingzhi's luck with children was frighteningly low. But that was normal—he always put on a stern face, especially in front of kids. Between a cold benefactor and a gentle teacher, children naturally knew whom to get close to. Ji Xingzhi wasn't targeting those children. He clicked his tongue lightly and put on a smile. "Actually, I can keep smiling." Bo Xin glanced at him curiously and found the smile even weirder. Was he sure he wouldn't scare the kids? And he said 'keep'? Bo Xin remarked, "Only a fool would believe you." They had come together, but on the way back, Bo Xin chose to ride in the moving truck. Ji Xingzhi stood with one hand in his pocket. In the rearview mirror, he could clearly see his own smile. Was it really that hard to look at? As he pondered, his lips flattened again. Of the thirteen children, only one had found their biological parents. The rest were housed in a place with bunk beds. The conditions were decent, but to ease loneliness and help the kids bond quickly, they used bunk beds. Bo Xin couldn't remember the last time she slept in such a bed, but such beds indeed encouraged more interaction among children. She brought a lot of things. Besides the clothes, she bought pencils, erasers, and workbooks. Back then, the police mostly gave food. After all, trafficked children were lucky to have basic necessities. Education came later. So He Yewan's presence was really crucial. He Yewan thanked her for the donation like a patriarch. "We have small awards here—little red flower certificates made by the children themselves, to thank kind-hearted donors like you." Bo Xin: "..." She had long said he was suited to be a kindergarten teacher. But little red flowers—Yanyi had one too. Back in the room, he had enthusiastically recounted the story of his red flower. But as an adult, Bo Xin wasn't easily satisfied. "Is the reward just this red flower?" "... With this red flower, you can claim a handmade craft from a child." Bo Xin paused. "Is this rule newly added?" He Yewan rubbed his hands together. He thought Madame Bo Xin must not understand the saying 'don't be too harsh.' But then Bo Xin chuckled. "Still, it's a good idea." Of the thirteen children, only one had found their biological parents. The rest stayed in bunk beds here. Not because it was cramped or they were mistreated, but because trafficked children lacked security and didn't know the others around them. Bunk beds helped them get along sooner. Nothing promotes communication better than bothering others. Bo Xin thought no one would recognize her when she arrived. These children had only seen her once, at the police station meeting where they thanked her. There were too many people to thank, and she was just one among them. Kids couldn't have such good memories to remember her. But unexpectedly, one did. A child handed her a handmade paper rose. It was colorful, seemingly made from countless triangular colored blocks folded together—a clever idea. Bo Xin instinctively twirled the paper stem between her fingers. She nodded approvingly. "Well done." The child excitedly twisted the hem of his clothes. "Thank you. I'm glad you like it." Bo Xin took out a little red flower certificate from the books. "Here's your reward." The child shook his head. "I don't want it, I don't want it." Bo Xin teased, "With this red flower, you can exchange it for more paint. Are you sure you don't want it?" The child frowned in hesitation. His thanks were genuine, but so was his desire for paint. So he took it. "Next time you come, I'll make you something even better." Bo Xin nodded, accepting the proposal. She looked at He Yewan and mouthed 'learning on the job.' He Yewan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She had a way of attracting people, even children. When teased by her, they weren't angry; instead, their eyes sparkled as they looked at her. But being too attractive to kids wasn't good—the one at home would definitely get jealous. Having been that child's teacher for so long, he knew a thing or two. Bo Xin returned home with a colorful paper rose. She kept twirling it in her fingers, apparently quite fond of it. Bo Yuxu frowned. He had initially thought the child had given something to Yanyi, but it turned out to be for their mother. She seemed to like it so much. Bo Yuxu propped his head up, looking sullen. Rarely, he entered Ji Yanyi's room. Clothes worn once were scattered everywhere. What was the laundry basket for? And the stuff on the table—by the time he found the practice test he wanted, the other person would have finished a whole set. Bo Yuxu scanned the room, full of disdain. But this seemed to highlight his own tidiness and capability. He regained his smile and glanced at Ji Yanyi. "Did you notice what Mom is holding?" Ji Yanyi widened his eyes, hoping his brother would notice their existence. "... I'm not blind." Bo Yuxu: "..." He was stupid to come to Ji Yanyi for discussion. Rarely, he felt the same as Ji Xingzhi—a kind of smooth surface on the brain. Bo Yuxu crossed his arms and said in a deep voice, "... That was given to Mom by another kid." Ji Yanyi mimicked him, crossing his arms too, but couldn't hold it for more than a second because he had something to show. The painting that kid had given him—he had framed it nicely and hung it on the wall. So Ji Yanyi pointed at the wall and said confidently, "This was given to me by another little brother too." Bo Yuxu couldn't be bothered to correct the age relationship between Ji Yanyi and that child. But why bring this up now? Did he mean that both of them had something, while only Ji Xingzhi and Bo Yuxu didn't? Forced into the same team as Ji Xingzhi again? Bo Yuxu was furious. Ji Yanyi's reason for bringing it up was, "You're jealous of Mom, but aren't you jealous of me, your big brother? This was given to me by another little brother!" Another little brother?! Bo Yuxu let out a cold laugh, then his lips immediately straightened. His tone was unusually domineering for a moment. "I'm not jealous." Ji Yanyi had something to say. "Then let's draw." What? Bo Yuxu couldn't keep up with Ji Yanyi's rhythm again. Ji Yanyi: "Think about it. Doesn't Mom like kids who draw well? She likes the color combinations. We can learn." Bo Yuxu was momentarily convinced. Indeed, that artwork looked very childlike. The gifts he gave were either fresh flowers or watches, while Yanyi had no concept of gifts. By comparison, that kid did seem special. Ji Yanyi could see his brother was swayed. He took out a notebook. "I have brushes and paint here." Bo Yuxu sat down. He still needed to think about what to draw. But after a few strokes, he unconsciously started drawing triangular color blocks. Bo Yuxu closed his eyes. If he did the same as that kid, wouldn't it seem like he was imitating? In anger, he snapped the crayon. After a few seconds, he decided to give up. "I'll give Mom something in my own style, something she'll like even more."