The next day—
She walked into the internet café carrying a small cake box.
"Boss, here's your slice."
The Boss looked up from the counter.
"Oh? You actually remembered."
She placed the box down.
"Had fun?" the Boss asked.
Qinran nodded.
"Yes."
A voice suddenly popped up from behind one of the computers.
"Where's my piece, Miyah?"
She froze.
"…I forgot."
"You meanie!"
She sighed and opened the box again.
"Alright, alright. Here. It's yours."
Nana grinned triumphantly.
Boss snorted softly.
"Alright now get back to work.
"Yes!!"
The day continued as usual.
The steady tapping of keyboards.Low chatter.The faint smell of coffee.
"Excuse me, could you help me with this?" a customer called, pointing at his PC screen.
"Yes."
She walked over.
Before that, she gently guided Luoli to a chair behind the counter.
"Luoli, sit down. Wait for me."
"Yes, Mom."
He obediently climbed onto the seat, swinging his legs.
As she fixed the customer's issue, he glanced toward Luoli.
"Cute kid," the man said casually.
She smiled faintly.
"He looks like he could use some friends."
She paused slightly.
The man continued, almost conversationally.
"My daughter cried when I took her to kindergarten the first day."
He chuckled.
"But at closing time? She didn't even want to leave. Already made friends."
He shook his head.
"It's amazing how kids can make friends anywhere."
Qinran looked back at Luoli.
He was quietly pressing buttons on an old keyboard, making soft clicking sounds for his own amusement.
Alone.
He has no friends.
No one to run around with.
Her gaze softened.
Kids really can make friends anywhere…
Maybe it's time.
Maybe she's been holding him too close.
"Thank you," she said softly after fixing the PC.
"No problem," the customer replied.
But her thoughts lingered long after he left.
Later that night—
She flipped through a few websites, scanning kindergartens.
This one teaches different languages.
Hmm… this one teaches cooking.
This one looks nice… friendly environment.
Her finger hovered over the screen.
A kindergarten near the cafe would be the best.
Oh… there's one. I should check it out tomorrow.
The next day, almost noon—
"Hey Nana, could you watch over Luoli for two hours? I need to go somewhere."
"Um, sure, Miyah~ But… where are you going?"
"Finding a kindergarten for Luoli."
"Oh! Okay then."
Nana grinned, already leading Luoli toward the sofa.
"Come on, little prince. Nana will keep you company."
Luoli nodded, swinging his legs happily.
Qinran grabbed her bag, checking her list once more before stepping out.
The café hummed behind her, the faint smell of coffee lingering.
Outside, the city felt alive. The sun was high, casting warm light on the streets.
She clutched her bag a little tighter.
At Sunshine Kindergarten—
"Hello, I would like to tour the kindergarten," Qinran said politely at the entrance.
The guard turned and smiled."Oh, yes. Right this way. I'll take you to the principal's office."
"Yes, thank you."
The lobby was bright, cheerful, and filled with the faint scent of crayons and play dough.
Five minutes later, she found herself in the principal's office.
The principal, a kindly woman with glasses perched on her nose, stood and extended a hand."Welcome! You must be here about enrolling your child?"
Qinran nodded."Yes, I'm looking for a kindergarten for my son."
The principal gestured toward a chair."Please, have a seat. I'll answer any questions you have, and then I can show you around."
Qinran took a seat, her fingers lightly resting on the strap of her bag.
She glanced out the window at the playground beyond, imagining Luoli running around, laughing, making friends.
Smiles unconciously
snapping out of her daze
Qinran shifted slightly in her chair."How do you ensure the children are safe on campus?"
The principal smiled reassuringly."All classrooms and playgrounds are child-proofed, and every teacher and staff member has passed background checks. Children are always supervised, and we have strict pick-up policies — only authorized guardians may take a child home."
Qinran nodded, taking mental notes.
good
"And what subjects or skills are taught?"
"We focus on a balance of play-based learning and structured activities," the principal explained. "Language, arts, music, basic math, science experiments, and social skills. We try to cultivate curiosity and independence while keeping learning fun."
"And if there's a disagreement or conflict between children?" Qinran asked.
"Teachers step in to mediate gently," the principal said. "We guide children to express their feelings, negotiate, and find solutions themselves whenever possible. Empathy and communication are as important as academics here."
"Do you provide meals or snacks?"
"No," the principal said firmly but kindly. "Each child has a different palate and dietary restrictions. To avoid accidents or conflicts, we ask parents to provide meals or snacks for their own children."
Qinran nodded again."And… the enrollment fees and monthly tuition?"
The principal gave a small smile."The registration fee is 2,000 yuan, and monthly tuition is 1,500 yuan. That includes all teaching materials, supplies, and daily activities."
"I see… I would like a tour," Qinran said.
"Yes, of course," the principal replied, standing gracefully."Please, follow me."
They stepped out of the office.
"This is the classroom area," the principal began."Much of the curriculum takes place here. Children learn, play, and explore in a safe and stimulating environment."
Qinran glanced around. The rooms were bright, filled with colorful posters, shelves of books, and small tables arranged for group activities.
"This is our lab," the principal continued."It's only equipped with harmless materials for science experiments and hands-on learning."
Qinran nodded thoughtfully.
"And here is the playground," the principal gestured toward the open space outside."All sharp edges have been rounded or padded, and the equipment is designed to minimize risk. Children can climb, run, and play freely while teachers supervise at all times.""We try to create an environment where children can be safe, curious, and happy."
Qinran looked around thoughtfully, imagining Luoli running across the playground, making friends, exploring every corner.
"Since when do classes start?" she asked.
The principal smiled."Classes begin in a month. But if you enroll today, you can take advantage of a 15% discount on tuition."
Qinran's fingers lightly tapped the strap of her bag. She glanced at the playground again, her mind already picturing Luoli laughing and running with other children.
"That sounds perfect," she said softly."I think we'll enroll."
The principal nodded warmly."Wonderful! We'll prepare all the paperwork for you. You'll also receive a schedule and a list of things your child should bring on the first day."