Chapter Thirty-Nine: Huanhuan's Grievance

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Although he had already submitted his resignation, none of the formalities had been completed. It would still take some time before he could leave entirely.

Several things happened during that period, but Zhou Chen was extremely busy at the time, and since most of them had little to do with him, he paid them little attention.

The first was that his father-in-law, Nan Jianlong, swallowed his pride and went to plead with one of his former subordinates—now a district chief—to secure Yan Ziyou a place in the Gold Medal Class.

Although Zhong Yi had taken a firm stance, he was now facing an opponent of an entirely different caliber. Once the deputy district chief made a phone call, not only Zhong Yi but even the owner of Zexu would have to submit obediently. Zhong Yi therefore had no choice but to accept Yan Ziyou as his student.

Zhou Chen offered no opinion on the matter. His father-in-law was willing to ask, and others were willing to grant the favor; it had nothing to do with him. In any case, Huanhuan would never compete with Yan Ziyou for a place at Zexu.

Nan Li also complained repeatedly after returning home, saying that Tian Yulan had argued with her several times recently over work-related matters. It was very likely connected to that previous quarrel.

After school that day, Zhou Chen had arranged with his mother-in-law that he would pick up Huanhuan. When the time came, he drove to Wind Sail Elementary School.

This was not the first time Zhou Chen had gone to pick up Huanhuan. He already knew the routine by heart. After parking by the roadside, he walked to the school gate and waited.

“Oh, Huanhuan’s father. You’re here to pick her up today?”

A voice suddenly sounded behind him. Zhou Chen turned around and saw that it was Mitao’s mother.

“Oh, it’s Mitao’s mother. Hello, hello.”

Since Mitao’s mother worked for his family by the hour, Zhou Chen saw her often and knew her quite well.

The two of them chatted at the school gate for a while. Before long, the fifth-grade students were dismissed and began filing out in orderly lines.

“Dad!”

After waiting a little longer, Zhou Chen saw Huanhuan walk out with a little girl. The moment she spotted him, she pouted unhappily and ran over to throw her arms around him.

Seeing how wronged she looked, Zhou Chen quickly asked, “What happened, Huanhuan? Did someone upset you?”

“The class elected its student leaders today, and Huanhuan lost the election for vice monitor,” the little girl beside her explained.

“Hello, Uncle. I’m Huanhuan’s classmate. My name is Mitao.”

“Oh, so you’re Mitao. Your mother mentions you all the time. You really are a sensible, well-behaved girl.”

Zhou Chen gently patted Huanhuan and spoke to Mitao. Although Mitao’s mother had worked as a domestic helper for his family for more than two months, this was actually the first time he had met Mitao. The girl was slightly shorter than Huanhuan, but her uniform was spotless, and her soft, delicate manner made her look bright and spirited.

Mitao’s mother came over. Mitao was just about to tell her that she had been elected class monitor that day, but when she saw Huanhuan clinging to Zhou Chen, she worried that Huanhuan might feel even worse and kept silent.

Zhou Chen squatted down and wiped away Huanhuan’s aggrieved tears.

“It’s all right, Huanhuan. It’s only the position of vice monitor. You lost this time, but you can compete for it again next time. Our Xia Huanhuan is the best. You have to learn to accept both victory and defeat. Don’t let anyone look down on you.”

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Perhaps the bond between a daughter and her father was simply something innate. After hearing Zhou Chen’s words, Huanhuan sniffled twice, and her mood improved considerably.

“Dad, I just don’t understand. My grades have clearly gotten better, so why did everyone refuse to vote for me and choose Yan Ziyou instead? How am I worse than him?”

Her little aggrieved expression broke Zhou Chen’s heart, but it also made him frown inwardly.

In the original story, Huanhuan lost the election for vice monitor because her grades were poor and ranked near the bottom. But after Zhou Chen’s arrival, he had hired her a tutor. Although she had not risen to the top of the class, her marks were now comfortably above average. Yet she had still lost the election.

That left Zhou Chen suspicious. Yan Ziyou had never been vice monitor before, and given his personality, few students would normally have voted for him. Besides, he and Huanhuan were very close; it was unlikely that he would deliberately compete against her.

After considering the matter from every angle, Zhou Chen could think of only one possibility: Tian Yulan had interfered. And, just as in the television drama, she had probably banded together with the parents of several top students to canvass for votes.

When children elected their class leaders, most parents would not stoop to interfering behind the scenes. Only a parent as shameless as Tian Yulan could bring herself to do such a thing.

“It’s all right, Huanhuan. It’s really all right. Dad believes in you. You’ll definitely be elected next time.”

Children were prone to getting stuck in their own thoughts. Huanhuan had been a class leader since first grade, and this was the first time she had lost an election. Naturally, the disappointment felt enormous.

Zhou Chen was cursing inwardly as well. The school was ridiculous. With barely more than a month left before summer vacation, they had chosen this moment to hold another election for class leaders. What was wrong with them? Did they think this was a change of government, with only a limited window for a new term?

“After we get home and pick up Chaochao, Dad will take you both to the Fairy Tale Restaurant. I’ll even buy you an Elsa princess dress. How does that sound?”

“Really?” Huanhuan asked through her sniffles.

Zhou Chen stroked her head and smiled. “When have I ever lied to you?”

Huanhuan wiped away her tears and looked toward Mitao.

“Mitao, do you want to come to the Fairy Tale Restaurant with us? It’s really fun there.”

Children were easy to comfort. Even at a moment like this, she had not forgotten to invite her good friend.

At Huanhuan’s invitation, Mitao glanced at her mother, then shook her head.

“No, Huanhuan. We’ll go home for dinner.”

“All right.”

Huanhuan looked a little disappointed. Mitao had only transferred to the school at the beginning of the new term, but Huanhuan already liked her very much. Mitao not only studied well, but also had a pleasant personality.

“Huanhuan’s father, Huanhuan, we’ll be going now.”

Mitao’s mother greeted Zhou Chen, then left with her daughter.

Zhou Chen was preparing to take Huanhuan away when he saw Tian Yulan walking out of the school with Yan Ziyou. She had one hand supporting her son, and she strode along with the confidence of someone who had just enjoyed a great triumph.

Huanhuan’s mood had finally improved, but the instant she saw the red stripe on Yan Ziyou’s shoulder—the mark of a vice monitor—her little mouth drooped again.

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“Why, if it isn’t Xia Junshan? Our great genius! What brings you here to pick up your child today?”

The voice arrived before the person did.

Zhou Chen had no intention of responding to Tian Yulan. It had been only a few days since their last confrontation. It was not that he held a grudge; he simply had no desire to deal with this woman. And with Huanhuan already upset over losing the position of vice monitor, he was even less inclined to exchange empty pleasantries.

But while Zhou Chen wanted nothing to do with her, Tian Yulan, basking in her triumph, insisted on coming over.

“Isn’t your family made up of a great genius and a chief executive? Aren’t you both terribly busy?”

Zhou Chen looked at Tian Yulan and said coolly, “If you have something to say, then say it properly. Don’t make sarcastic remarks in front of the children.”

“You…”

Tian Yulan’s smile froze on her face. She had been in an excellent mood and had intended to show off in front of Zhou Chen. Who could have expected that the usually amiable Zhou Chen would immediately fire back? The speech she had prepared vanished from her mind, leaving her at a loss for words.

Seeing that something was wrong, Yan Ziyou hurriedly called out, “Uncle Zhou!”

“Ah, Ziyou. Your uncle happens to be free this weekend. Go home and tell your father that I’m inviting him to play soccer this weekend. You come along, too.”

Although Zhou Chen was deeply displeased with Tian Yulan, he had a very favorable impression of Yan Peng and Yan Ziyou. Yan Ziyou was entirely different from his mother and grandmother. He had a good disposition and respected his elders. A child like that was bound to be well liked by every parent.

The moment he heard about soccer, Yan Ziyou became excited and immediately asked, “Really?”

Zhou Chen smiled. “Of course. Let me tell you, Uncle Zhou is very good at soccer. I’ll teach you a few tricks, and then you’ll be unbeatable among your classmates.”

He was not exaggerating. Zhou Chen really was skilled at soccer. When he had been in middle and high school, playing soccer had been his favorite pastime. Although he had rarely had time to play after starting work, his skills remained more than sufficient to teach an elementary school student.

“That’s wonderful! Uncle Zhou, how come you never told me before that you could play soccer?” Yan Ziyou asked happily.

“I used to be too busy with work and never had the time. This weekend, I’ll show you what I can do.”

Zhou Chen rubbed Yan Ziyou’s head. His real reason for inviting the boy to play was to consider Huanhuan’s feelings. He did not want her to develop a conflict with Ziyou over the vice monitor election.

Children often forgot their unhappiness quickly when they spent time playing together. With Zhou Chen there to guide them, the matter of the vice monitor should soon pass.

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