TOTWV CH3

Chapter 3: It’s a Book-Book

Toddlers are deep sleepers; usually, they are hard to wake up and love to sleep in. But Shi Li was different. After being nudged awake by his mother, he didn’t curl back into the blanket. Instead, he sat up in a daze, hanging his head and rubbing his eyes.

The dinosaur pajamas came with a hood. On the crib, the little toddler looked like a tiny, furry dinosaur, his head nodding off bit by bit. Even though he was exhausted, he struggled to crawl up obediently, his little tail drooping listlessly behind him.

After being lifted to the ground, he dragged a small stool into the bathroom all by himself.

Xiang Xiaoying was squeezing toothpaste for Li-Li when she turned around to see a huffing little dinosaur pushing a stool to her feet and climbing up.

His eyes could barely open, yet he vaguely accepted the rinsing cup she handed over and placed the toothbrush into his mouth.

Xiang Xiaoying picked up a face towel that had been soaked in warm water and wrung out, wiping the face of Li-Li, who could already brush his teeth on his own.

“Mom, I do it myself~”

Because he was being wiped by the soft towel, Shi Li’s head wobbled back and forth, his tone tilting upward sweetly.

Xiang Xiaoying said “Okay” and watched Li-Li apply cream to his face, rinse the towel again, and hang it up.

Just yesterday he needed her help to brush his teeth, but today he could do everything himself.

She couldn’t help but wonder if Li-Li was so well-behaved this morning because he hadn’t taken his medication last night, yet Dr. Chen’s words lingered in her ears, refusing to dissipate.

After washing up, little Shi Li was changed out of his dinosaur pajamas and put into yellow overalls featuring a 3D rabbit plush on the front, matching his little backpack perfectly.

There was no time for breakfast because Xiang Xiaoying had to rush to the film set. Wanting to personally drop Shi Li off at school today, she packed a bottle of prepared milk and a few small buns into his backpack before taking him to the car.

Shi Li sat in a specially purchased child safety seat. Clutching his backpack, he pulled out the breakfast his mother mentioned, sipping on his milk bottle while asking in confusion, “Mom, my su-su wasn’t brought.”

He paused drinking to correct himself, “…It’s a book-book.”

Aside from snacks, his little backpack was completely empty. Memories from his childhood were too distant and blurry, but Shi Li vaguely recalled that in his past life, Omega toddlers had to learn how to protect their glands from a young age.

Xiang Xiaoying was taken aback. “Sister Fang, do kindergartens hand out textbooks?”

Sister Fang in the passenger seat was also stunned. “They shouldn’t, right? Li-Li is only three years old; he doesn’t even have all his teeth yet.”

Shi Li noted this down in hazy understanding.

Kindergartens in a normal world don’t have textbooks to study.

Next, little Shi Li experienced a day at kindergarten. He spent the entire morning drawing with crayons, surrounded by the constant chatter of toddlers—shouting one moment, singing the next.

Shi Li was so overwhelmed by the noise all morning that his eyes looked utterly blank.

After washing his hands at noon, Teacher Liang—who had been given special instructions—prepared a bottle of milk for Li-Li. After he finished drinking it in his arms, he was taken to nap.

However, Shi Li kept getting woken up shortly after falling asleep because disobedient children would actually sneak out to play during naptime and get dragged back!

The afternoon was reserved for outdoor activities. Little Shi Li stood to the side, watching the kids running wild like crazy in the toy area under the scorching sun, and slowly took two steps back.

Slides are so childish.

Jungle gyms are too rough, looks so tiring.

He remembered that when he attended kindergarten, the surrounding Omega toddlers were all busy changing clothes for their dolls.

Teacher Liang, who was leading a group of running toddlers in a game of “Eagle Catches Chickens,” suddenly realized someone was missing when counting heads.

After searching for a while, she finally spotted Li-Li sitting all alone under the shade of a tree.

His soft black hair rested against his snow-white cheeks. He had detached the little rabbit plush from his overalls, cradling it in his arms while staring blankly ahead, no one knowing what he was thinking.

He was too quiet.

So quiet he seemed to live in another world entirely.

“Teacher, teacher! Come catch us!” Seeing Teacher Liang freeze, the children began clamoring.

Teacher Liang withdrew her gaze, suppressing the anxiety in her heart, and continued the game.

She had no choice but to watch from a distance to avoid triggering Li-Li, who had finally settled down into quietness with great difficulty.

However, day one, day two, day three…

Li-Li remained the same, staying in a corner by himself, not talking to anyone, and barely participating in games aside from dazing off.

Teacher Liang finally couldn’t watch any longer and called Shi Li’s mother to explain the situation. “Li-Li doesn’t seem to like being around crowds.” She paused. “These past few days he has indeed been very good and obedient, not crying or causing trouble during meals or naps.”

“It’s just that he’s a bit too quiet.”

·

“Sister Ying? Sister Ying!”

Xiang Xiaoying snapped back to her senses and looked at her assistant who was calling her. She had to press the screen several times before successfully hanging up the phone, standing up to look around. “Where is Sister Fang?”

The assistant said, “I’ll go call her.”

Xiang Xiaoying stood up. Her makeup was only half-done without lipstick, making her face look somewhat pale. “No need. Tell her I’m going to pick up Li-Li from school.”

The assistant checked the time. “Sister Ying, you remembered the time wrong. It’s just past noon, and you still have a scene coming up. The set is already prepared—”

Xiang Xiaoying interrupted, “I’m not shooting anymore. Tell the director I have something to take care of today. That’s final.”

Decisive and swift.

Before the assistant could say anything more, Xiang Xiaoying had already turned and left.

Inside the nanny van.

Xiang Xiaoying scrolled through her contact list several times before finding the name “Dr. Chen.”

“Dr. Chen, are you free this afternoon?”

“Can I bring Li-Li over right now?”

Fortunately, she was filming in Jing City today and hadn’t flown to Hai City. Jingya Kindergarten was also built near the city center. In less than an hour, Xiang Xiaoying appeared at the kindergarten entrance.

At this moment, Shi Li was still holding a fairytale book he found in the toy area, reading it slowly.

Fairytale books with Pinyin were very friendly to Shi Li, who had forgotten some characters. Most of his memories were like being covered by a layer of fog; only when he saw something would he recall—oh, so that’s how it is.

The rabbit plush that came with his overalls had been detached two days ago, and Shi Li insisted on bringing it to school every day. When he enjoyed reading, he would even murmur a question, “Little rabbit, do you understand it?”

When Xiang Xiaoying arrived, she happened to see Li-Li sitting alone in the corner, talking to the rabbit plush.

On the other side were normal children lining up and competing to play on the slide.

She couldn’t help taking two steps back.

Teacher Liang asked worriedly, “Shi Li’s mom, are you okay?”

Xiang Xiaoying shook her head and forced a smile. “I’m fine, it’s just too hot, a bit of heatstroke.” She adjusted her sunglasses. “I’ll take Li-Li home then.”

Teacher Liang nodded and waved. “Li-Li.”

Shi Li raised his head sluggishly. Seeing the person standing next to Teacher Liang, his eyes lit up, then he blinked in disbelief.

After processing for a moment, he trotted over, hugged the adult’s leg, and looked up with his small face. “Mom?”

Xiang Xiaoying picked Li-Li up, nodded to Teacher Liang, and turned to leave. “Li-Li, Mom is taking you somewhere today. Promise me first that once we get there, you won’t run around like last time.”

“If Mom can’t find you, she will worry.”

Shi Li nodded his head obediently. “Li-Li is good.”

Not long after being carried into the car, he heard his mother answer a call. “Sister Fang?”

“Mm.”

“Alright, come over then.”

Without much being said, the call ended quickly.

Stepping out of the car and seeing Sister Fang waiting on the steps, Shi Li realized in hindsight that he was being led into a high-rise building.

Sensing the familiar smell of disinfectant, he asked somewhat sluggishly, “Mom, is Li-Li sick?”

He didn’t ask if this was a hospital, whether they were seeing a doctor, or if he would get a shot. Instead, he asked if he was sick.

Li-Li sometimes seemed slow to react, but Xiang Xiaoying knew in her heart that her child was not stupid.

A private psychological clinic without any hospital logos—yet he knew what this place was.

Xiang Xiaoying slowed her pace and then came to a sudden stop. “Li-Li isn’t sick. Mom did something wrong.”

Sister Fang couldn’t help speaking up, “Don’t take all the blame on yourself either.”

Xiang Xiaoying simply said, “We’re here.”

Shi Li was brought inside.

Surprisingly, there was no scent of disinfectant inside; it smelled like a scented candle had been burning for a while, leaving a faint, sweet, warm aroma.

The decor inside was simple, centered around a soft sofa decorated with squishy cushions, plush toys, and even toy cars.

Shi Li couldn’t help glancing a few times at a white bear among the plushies. In the next second, that white bear was picked up and placed into his arms.

A handsome young man half-kneeling before him asked, “Does Li-Li like this one?”

Shi Li nodded his head. “Can I play with it?”

Dr. Chen smiled. “Of course you can.”

His smile was contagious, making his facial features move warmly along with it. Combined with the bear in hand, Shi Li instantly developed a high level of acceptance toward this unfamiliar doctor.

Xiang Xiaoying was pulled outside by Sister Fang.

Shi Li glanced at the closed door, hugging the small bear in his arms with a touch of unease. However, the cushion propping up his back and the soft sofa he sat on gave him a sense of security.

Dr. Chen said, “I heard from Li-Li’s mom that Li-Li seems to have been a bit disobedient recently.”

Shi Li thought carefully before shaking his head. “No, Mom and Auntie both said Li-Li is good.”

Dr. Chen asked, “Is that so? Then why did Teacher Liang say you don’t play with the other children at kindergarten?”

Shi Li pursed his lips in hesitation, but ultimately spoke the truth: “Because those games are so silly.”

“The other children are very silly too.”

Just like a little adult, well-reasoned and justified.

If possible, Shi Li would rather stay home instead of attending kindergarten. But if he did that, his mother would be unhappy.