"Mom, I'm a little tired," Nathan Lynch said, his head drooping. "I've been studying since this morning, and I don't want to do it anymore."
His small hand tugged at the hem of Renee Jennings's shirt. He blinked his big eyes, trying to look cute. "Can we please stop studying?"
Renee Jennings acted as if she hadn't heard. She bent down slightly and coaxed him, "Mommy knows you're very tired, but how can you give up before the task is done? Last month, you slacked off a little, and didn't Kiki Chandler from Class Five snatch away the chance to perform at the kindergarten show? There will always be someone in this world working harder than you. If you don't work hard, you'll be left behind."
Nathan Lynch's bangs were a little long. Renee Jennings reached out to neaten them for him. "Do you understand, Nathan?"
The rims of Nathan Lynch's eyes turned red. "But I really am a little tired."
"How can you be tired from just sitting on a stool? I think you just want to watch TV, don't you? Watching too much TV is bad for your eyes. You don't want to wear glasses at such a young age, do you, Nathan? If you do, no other kids will want to play with you."
Renee Jennings's voice remained gentle as she guided him patiently. "A smart boy like Nathan will surely understand Mommy, right? How about this: let's eat first, and then we'll study. Doesn't that sound good? Mommy will stay right here and study with you."
"You have to study hard. That's the only way to be worthy of your father and me."
For a moment, no one answered. Renee Jennings took Nathan Lynch's hand and led him into the house.
[OMG, I find this parenting style so suffocating. I much prefer Naomi Kenway's way of teaching.]
[The person above is too sensitive, don't you think? What's so suffocating? What family doesn't have high hopes for their children's success? Kids are so young; if you don't discipline them, they'll go down the wrong path!]
[I don't get the people who say they like Naomi Kenway's parenting style. It would be one thing if it were genuine, but she's obviously just using her kid to build a public persona. She treated him so badly before this variety show, and now on the show, she's doting on him. If you all just think about it for a second, it's pretty clear what's going on, right?]
[It's really not easy being a celebrity's kid. I used to be so jealous that they had such privileged lives, born with a silver spoon. Now I think my own life is pretty good. It's ordinary, but I'm happy enough.]
[No wonder baby Nathan is so good at his studies. It's all because Renee is such a good teacher! (Thumbs up)(Thumbs up)]
...
"Nina, come get the new task."
Naomi Kenway had just finished breakfast with Ian Shaw. Hearing the voice, she stood up and took the task card a staff member handed her.
"A new task already?"
She opened the card:
"Please gather at the square promptly at 13:00..."
Naomi Kenway murmured the words aloud. She glanced up at the clock; it was already ten. Since she wasn't familiar with the village and asking for directions would take time, Naomi decided to leave early.
Around twelve o'clock, Naomi Kenway finished packing.
"Ian, we have to go to the square for the task now."
Ian Shaw lifted his head very slowly, a look of hesitation and fear in his eyes.
"Mommy, I don't really want to go."
Naomi knew this was because her son lacked experience interacting with people; you could even say he was averse to any contact with strangers. The most important reason she had brought her son on this variety show was in the hope that he would become more positive and outgoing. 'Every time I remember how he died of depression in the original book, the pain is unbearable.'
"Ian, this task might be really fun. Why don't you try something new with Mommy, okay? I'll be with you the whole time."
Ian Shaw looked into Naomi Kenway's sincere eyes and, after a moment of conflict, finally gave a slow nod.
'Trying something new with Mommy.' The allure of those words was too great for Ian Shaw to resist. Every day, he secretly made a wish. It was always the same simple wish: for his mommy to love him a little more. Even though his mommy sometimes had a bad temper, he still yearned for her love. Just like Doudou's mom would bake Doudou a cake, and Sunny's mom would take Sunny to buy pretty clothes...
He could be a very, very good boy. All he wanted was for his mommy to love him a little more.
The moment she was out the door, Naomi Kenway asked a villager for directions. It was a fair distance from their mud-brick house to the village square, but luckily, a friendly villager who was heading the same way gave them a ride.
They were riding in a three-wheeled cycle. Ian Shaw had never experienced anything like it. He sat in the back, watching the flowers and plants whiz by. "No glass, the car has no glass! Mommy, look, there are flowers! The flowers are so pretty..."
Ian Shaw's voice was sweet and childlike, making him sound very well-behaved and adorable. The old woman driving in front heard him and chuckled happily. "What a delightful child! How old are you this year?"
Naomi Kenway looked at Ian Shaw with a smile. "Tell the nice grandma how old you are."
Perhaps it was because the old woman had a kind face, but Ian Shaw wasn't as guarded as usual. "Ian is four."
"Four years old? You're so cute," the old woman's voice drifted back, mixed with the sound of the wind.
The sun had been bright just a moment ago, but now a wind had kicked up out of nowhere, and the air suddenly grew chilly. Fortunately, Naomi Kenway was prepared. She quickly pulled another jacket from her backpack and wrapped it around Ian Shaw.
Naomi Kenway was the second guest to arrive at the square. Margaret Jennings was already there, sitting on a wooden bench and chatting with her daughter.
"Pearl."
Margaret Jennings heard someone call her name. She looked up, a little puzzled. She hadn't expected Naomi Kenway to arrive so early.
Being in the same circle, Margaret Jennings knew a thing or two about Naomi Kenway's past behavior. She gave a perfunctory smile. "Oh, it's you."
Then she looked down again, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.
Greeting someone when you see them is just basic courtesy, but if the other person didn't want to talk, Naomi saw no reason to force the issue and get snubbed.
Naomi Kenway took her son to a spot with lots of plants and began teaching him to identify the wildflowers and weeds. However, Naomi's own knowledge of flora was quite limited, and for many of them, she had to ask the well-informed director standing nearby.
Seeing that Naomi Kenway didn't try to press the conversation, Margaret Jennings actually glanced in her direction a few more times.
'The Naomi Kenway of the rumors is a total nuisance, unable to read a room and annoyingly loud.'
Margaret Jennings stared intently at Naomi, who was being remarkably patient with her son not far away. 'She doesn't seem much like the rumors at all.'
'In my memory, Naomi was someone who loved to flaunt her wealth, decked out in jade necklaces and carnelian bracelets, never caring if they matched, just being as ostentatious as possible. But now, looking closely, I see she isn't wearing a single piece of jewelry. Her beautiful face, even in the most ordinary casual clothes, still makes her the most striking person in the crowd. She looks so clean and sharp.'
'How could Naomi be so different from my impression of her...?'
"Mommy." It was Carina Sanders's voice.
"What is it, Carina?" Margaret Jennings snapped out of her thoughts.
Carina Sanders was still wearing a princess dress, with a diamond tiara on her head, looking just like a real princess.
"Mommy, I want to play with Ian!"