Around 4 PM, Liu Ming arrived early at Hanamaru Kindergarten, ready to pick up Xiao Hina from school.
After all, it was just a kindergarten; school ended at 4 PM, and parents could come to pick up their children anytime.
Using his memory from that morning, Liu Ming quickly found his way to Xiao Hina's Sakura Class.
Looking around, Liu Ming immediately felt a black line appear on his face; wasn't Teacher Doma a teacher?
He was playing video games with the children!
Is that how a teacher acts?
Forget it; since the principal didn't care, there was no need for him, an outsider, to bother.
Liu Ming searched the classroom and quickly found Xiao Hina.
At this moment, she was happily acting out the movements of Magical Girl Luna with Xiao Anzu, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Dong.
Although it was her first day of school, Xiao Hina was having a lot of fun, smiles constantly appearing on her small face.
Xiao Anzu had excellent eyesight and quickly spotted Liu Ming standing at the doorway.
"Oh, it's the handsome Uncle! Are you here to see me?" Xiao Anzu happily ran to Liu Ming, and in a few breaths, she had climbed onto him.
"Uncle ~" At this moment, Xiao Hina also noticed Liu Ming and immediately dropped the other two, excitedly running towards Liu Ming.
Liu Ming gently put Xiao Anzu down from his arms.
He knelt down, gently stroked Xiao Hina's little head, and said kindly, "Xiao Hina, Uncle is here to pick you up."
"Mmm ~" Xiao Hina happily threw herself into Liu Ming's arms.
"Handsome Uncle is so biased! Xiao Anzu came first!" Xiao Anzu pouted, complaining.
"That's perfectly normal.
After all, he's Xiao Hina's Uncle, and you're not," Xiao Dong said, closing her book and explaining seriously.
"I don't care, I don't care!" Xiao Anzu rolled on the floor in a huff.
"Xiao Anzu, you shouldn't be angry with Xiao Hina, we're good friends."
Xiao Mei also spoke up to help, but her voice was so soft that only Xiao Dong next to her could hear; no one else could make it out clearly.
"Big Brother Liu Ming, you're here to pick up Xiao Hina.
You're quite early," Teacher Doma walked over, putting the game console he was holding behind his back.
Liu Ming glanced at him but didn't say anything.
"Can I pick up Xiao Hina now?" Liu Ming asked.
"Of course, you can.
As long as it's past 4 o'clock, you can come and pick up your child," Teacher Doma replied.
"Xiao Hina, say goodbye to your teacher and classmates," Liu Ming gently nudged Xiao Hina in his arms.
"Goodbye, Teacher Doma! Goodbye, Xiao Anzu, Xiao Mei, Xiao Dong!" Xiao Hina waved her small hand at them.
"Are you leaving so soon? Won't you stay and play with us?" Xiao Anzu stopped rolling, got up, and hugged Liu Ming's leg.
Liu Ming gently stroked Xiao Anzu's head.
"I still have things to do, so I really can't stay.
How about this: when you have a holiday, you can come to my house to play with Xiao Hina.
Then, I'll make some delicious food to treat you all."
Upon hearing this, even the usually calm Xiao Dong couldn't help but have her eyes sparkle with excitement.
Xiao Mei shyly lowered her head.
Xiao Anzu was even more exaggerated, drooling.
At noon, Xiao Hina's bento box caused a stir in the classroom.
The color, the aroma—just seeing it made their mouths water, and then looking back at their own, they felt like crying.
Xiao Anzu and her two best friends, who had the closest relationship with Xiao Hina, had had the chance to taste it.
They had never eaten such exquisite flavors before.
Now, hearing that Liu Ming intended to treat them, how could they not be excited?
Children are very fond of food.
"It's a deal, then! You have to treat us to delicious food this weekend, or Xiao Anzu won't talk to you!" Xiao Anzu extended her pinky finger to Liu Ming.
Liu Ming was defeated by Xiao Anzu; he was such a grown man, and she wanted him to make a pinky promise.
However, it seemed that Xiao Anzu wasn't the only one doing this.
Xiao Mei and Xiao Dong also extended their pinky fingers.
Seeing this, Xiao Hina also became interested and mimicked them, extending her pinky.
Looking at their innocent yet expectant gazes, what else could Liu Ming do?
Childish is childish.
He extended his finger and made a pinky promise with each of them.
Xiao Anzu and the others immediately broke into happy smiles.
"What about me, Big Brother Liu Ming? What about me? Am I not included?"
Teacher Doma also jumped out. For someone like him, who either ate takeout or cup noodles, he certainly wouldn't miss an opportunity for good food.
"Of course, you can just come and dine with Grandma Doma then," Liu Ming said calmly.
Teacher Doma was speechless; the preferential treatment was too obvious.
After chatting with them for a while, Liu Ming carried Xiao Hina and left the kindergarten.
Unfortunately, he didn't encounter the gentle Teacher Yamamoto.
"Xiao Hina, was school fun?" Liu Ming asked softly.
"Fun! Xiao Hina made many friends today," Xiao Hina said happily.
"Is that so? That's wonderful! Xiao Hina, you must get along well with your friends."
When they returned to the restaurant, they found that Sora and the others had already come back.
Liu Ming frowned and asked, "Why are you back so early? Didn't you participate in club activities?"
"Brother Xiao Ming, have you been out of school for so long that you've forgotten how things work? We just transferred today! How could we join a club so quickly? We need to take our time choosing."
Miyu looked at Liu Ming disdainfully.
Liu Ming glared at her. "You talk too much."
"Hehe," Miyu wasn't afraid. She grinned and glared back at Liu Ming.
Liu Ming didn't continue to bicker with her. He gently put Xiao Hina down and let her play with Iko.
"You don't need to worry about the restaurant. Enjoy your campus life to the fullest and don't leave yourselves with any regrets."
"Uncle, we understand," Sora nodded.
"Today, I found a new waitress named Kyoko. Miyu, go back to your room and get her some of your clothes. For some reason, she can't wear her own clothes."
"Okay, I'll go now," Miyu obediently went back to her room.
"Kanna, how was your first day of school?" Liu Ming came over to Kanna.
"Very interesting," Kanna's eyes flashed.
"That's good, but don't bully anyone, okay?"
"I wouldn't!" Kanna said, displeased.
"Xiao Lingyin, how about you? Are you adapting to life here?" Liu Ming looked at Xiao Lingyin.
"My new classmates are all very nice," Xiao Lingyin nodded happily.
"That's good," Liu Ming gently ruffled her hair.
"Brother Xiao Ming, can you teach me how to cook?" Xiao Lingyin looked up at Liu Ming expectantly.
"Why the sudden idea?" Liu Ming asked curiously.
"I want to help Brother Xiao Ming," Xiao Lingyin said seriously.
"What a good child," Liu Ming ruffled her hair once more.
However, he didn't want to teach Xiao Lingyin right now, mainly because Xiao Lingyin was too young, and Chinese Cuisine was too difficult and too arduous to learn well.
Xiao Lingyin was only ten years old; he couldn't possibly make her face intense heat and cooking fumes every day, and knife skills would also be an issue.
The restaurant already had several chefs, so there was no real need for Xiao Lingyin to continue learning.
However, faced with Xiao Lingyin's expectant gaze, he couldn't directly refuse.
"Xiao Lingyin, aren't you very fond of chocolate? How about I teach you how to make desserts? Megumi has left, and the takeout counter is empty, so you can make some desserts to sell there."
"Really?" Xiao Lingyin immediately became excited.
She had a special fondness for chocolate.
"Of course, but the desserts you make must be approved by everyone before I'll allow you to sell them."
"Brother Xiao Ming, you're too kind!" Xiao Lingyin happily threw herself into Liu Ming's arms, letting out bursts of laughter.