Volume 1, Chapter 6: Clip-clop, clip-clop, Auntie, are you a horse?

After the brief interruption, Jiang Rui simply picked up the little cub, Jiang Duoduo, and carried her in his arms as he walked forward, ensuring the overly energetic child wouldn’t bump into anyone else.

They reached a spot just outside the principal’s office before Jiang Duoduo’s two little feet finally touched the ground. Jiang Cheng patted the child’s head and whispered, "Duoduo, do your best! If you behave well, you can watch an extra half-hour of TV when we get home today."

At these words, Jiang Duoduo’s eyes lit up instantly. Ever since Jiang Cheng had adopted her, she had been teaching the child the language and social rules of human society. Discovering that Jiang Duoduo had a unique talent for imitation, she used television programs as a tool to help the child learn to speak.

The method proved effective; Jiang Duoduo was soon able to communicate with her. Aside from the occasional grammatical lapse or mispronunciation, she could generally express what she meant. However, what surprised Jiang Cheng most was that the child had no interest in the cartoons or children’s shows that most kids enjoyed. Instead, she had a penchant for… melodramatic soap operas. When out in public, she would even excitedly discuss plots with the neighborhood aunties and grandmothers. Although their conversations often felt like they were talking past each other, that didn't stop little Jiang Duoduo from acquiring a large circle of friends across generations.

In addition, the child would occasionally study Jiang Cheng with a strange look in her eyes. Jiang Cheng assumed it was just childhood curiosity and didn't think much of it—after all, having grown up in the mountains without any human contact, such behavior was to be expected. While she didn't have any prejudice against the girl's odd hobby, Jiang Cheng knew that watching too much television wasn't good for a child. To protect her eyesight, she strictly limited Duoduo’s "TV time." Now, it had become a useful reward.

Jiang Duoduo straightened her small frame, looking as serious as if she were taking an oath. "Mommy, Duoduo promises to finish the mission! When we get back, I want to watch 'The CEO’s Sweetheart, Don’t Run Away.' Grandma Wang said that today, Sweetie is finally going to meet the Big CEO!"

Jiang Cheng didn't know whether to laugh at the child turning "CEO" into "sewage manager" or be amazed that even after moving to Beijing, she still called Grandma Wang back in Suzhou to discuss the plot.

"Humph, what a tacky country bumpkin," a little girl’s voice piped up from nearby.

Jiang Rui, who had been watching the entrance to the office, noticed a family of three walking out. Jiang Cheng and Jiang Duoduo looked over as well. The couple was dressed in designer labels and were quite attractive.

The woman wore high heels that clicked rhythmically against the floor. A diamond necklace hung prominently around her neck, and even the fingernails she used to adjust her handbag strap were the result of a professional manicurist’s work. The man beside her looked about Jiang Rui’s age; his curly hair made him appear younger, and his casual-style suit was from a well-known designer, while his leather shoes were polished to a mirror shine. Both of them wore expressions of arrogance.

Standing slightly ahead of them was the little girl who had spoken. She was roughly the same age as Jiang Duoduo, though half a head taller, dressed in a pale blue princess dress with a small diamond-encrusted tiara on her head. To be fair, she was quite pretty. Yet, despite her youth, there was little innocence or cuteness on her face; instead, she was as arrogant and rude as the couple behind her, looking at Jiang Duoduo with undisguised disdain.

As adults, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Rui didn't want to engage directly with a child. They were worried Duoduo might be upset and were considering asking the parents to mind their child's manners. To their surprise, Jiang Duoduo felt no anger or sadness at all. Instead, she widened her beautiful eyes, let out a "Wow," and looked at the stranger with anticipation.

"Is there a steamed bun inside? Is it yummy? Duoduo loves steamed buns! I can eat… um, one, two, three… Duoduo can eat five big ones!" As she spoke, she held up her chubby hand, clearly extending four fingers with little dimples on them.

The little girl across from her hadn't expected such a response to her mockery, leaving her feeling like she had punched a cloud. Seeing that Jiang Duoduo couldn't even count properly, she snorted in contempt, tugged the woman's hand, and said, "Mom, let’s go. A dummy like her could never pass the interview. I don't want to talk to dummies!"

The couple behind her didn't even bother to spare a word for the three "commoners," lifting their chins as they prepared to leave. The little girl gave Jiang Duoduo one last look, as if to ensure she knew she had been called a dummy.

Jiang Duoduo remained oblivious. Her lively nature, honed by growing up wild, meant her attention was easily diverted. Just now she was talking about buns, but her eyes were already glued to the lady’s high heels.

The young woman noticed this. Seeing Jiang Duoduo’s focused gaze and then looking at Jiang Cheng’s simple, casual knit dress and flat white sneakers, a flash of mockery crossed her eyes. She spoke with a tone of condescension, "Sunflower Kindergarten isn't for just any stray cat or dog. I suggest you have some self-awareness and go try a regular school instead of coming here and embarrassing yourselves."

Jiang Cheng was baffled, unsure why the woman was saying this to her. Jiang Rui, however, understood the implication and frowned, ready to lose his temper.

But then, Jiang Duoduo’s curious, milky voice rang out: "Auntie, do you have horse hooves on your feet? You’re just like a horse, walking 'click-clack-click-clack.' Do you also know many doggies and kitties? Duoduo wants to have something fluffy too when I grow up!"

The haughty woman froze. It was clear she hadn't expected the little girl to be staring at her shoes not out of envy for luxury goods, but because she thought she was a horse.

The woman’s face turned green instantly. She opened her mouth to snap back, but the office door suddenly opened. A young woman stepped out, smiling and beckoning to the three of them. "Are you little Duoduo? Come in, and bring your mother and uncle with you."

Seeing the principal’s assistant, the woman in heels shut her mouth abruptly and forced a smile onto her face, but the transition was so sudden that it looked quite distorted. The assistant smiled politely and opened the door to let them in.

Outside, the woman in heels stomped her foot. "What a brat! Lin Shuangshuang, don't you ever learn from that kind of trash. You are a granddaughter of the Lin family; you must always maintain your image!"

Seeing her mother’s anger, the little girl’s shoulders trembled, and she quickly promised, "Yes, Mommy, I will!"

The man on the other side, phone in hand, couldn't be bothered with these trifles and urged impatiently, "Are you done yet? Don't waste time; I have a party to get to."

The once-arrogant woman immediately put on a fawning smile and clung affectionately to her husband’s arm. "Okay, okay, let’s go back."

The two adults walked ahead, neither bothering to hold little Lin Shuangshuang’s hand. She trotted after them, turning back to glance at the principal’s office door, which had already closed. That country bumpkin’s mother… she had patted her head and smiled at her…