"Alex He! Your mother is here to pick you up." Edith Qian, one of the kindergarten teachers from Sunflower Kindergarten, called out towards the playground area with her singsong voice.
Just as she finished saying that, the kids in the kindergarten started to join in and call, "Alex, pick up!"
A few seconds later, a little boy appeared from the playground. His eyes perked up when he saw his mother stood beside his teacher.
"Mummy!" he said excitedly and ran towards his mother and hug her thigh.
Alex He's mother, Lily Zhao staggered at the impact. "Did you have fun today?" seeing the bright smile on her son's face, she bent down and kissed him on both cheeks.
"En!" Alex He nodded excitedly and proceed to report on every single activity he did in the kindergarten. His hands moved along as he tried to explain everything to his mother.
Edith Qian laughed at his animated movements. She bent down a bit and patted his dark hair. "Alex was a really good boy today. He helped me a lot in class."
"Really?" Lily Zhao said, eyeing her son.
"Yes," he nodded. "Mummy!" Alex He let out a loud gasp when his mother suddenly carried him in her arms. "Put me down. You're embarrassing me."
He could tolerate his mother kissing him on both cheeks, but now that he has turned five, he did not want his friends to witness this scene.
"Alright, alright," Lily Zhao giggled at her son's puffing cheek. She pressed her lips on his cheek for one last time and put the little boy down. "Go and get your things. I'm going to talk with Teacher Qian for a bit."
"Oh!"
The smile on her face widened as she watched her son entered the building to get his belonging in the classroom. "Isn't he adorable?"
Edith nodded. "He is."
Lily let out a sigh. "He resembles his father more and more as he grew up, This isn't fair."
Edith chuckled. "Are you jealous?"
"Of course. Everywhere I go, people would say that Alex looks more and more like his dad. His hair, his tall nose. He's like a mini replica of Ethan. Sometimes it feels like I didn't have any part in making him. His DNA is just too strong."
Edith nearly choked at hearing this. They were at kindergarten! Was this an appropriate topic? "What are you saying? Clearly he came out of your womb. I was there. I know."
"I want my son to look a bit like me too." Lily pouted her lips slightly.
"Alex has your eyes." Edith offered. She thought about it for a few seconds and added, "Maybe you should consider having a daughter. I bet she will look exactly like you."
Lily stared at her friend long before she spoke. "To be honest, now that Alex is almost six, I'm considering having another child. Ethan and I think it's best to let fate decide."
"That's good. Don't stress yourself. If it will happen, it will happen."
"But Ethan has been busy with his workload lately. Saying that the company has an important project and whatnot," Lily let out another sigh. "He's going on a business trip tomorrow."
Edith smiled awkwardly. She knew where the conversation was leading, but she did not want to talk about her friend's private life. "Where is he going this time?" she decided to steer their conversation away from babymaking.
"Japan. His company is discussing a partnership. That's right." Lily's lips curved into a happy smile. "Since my husband won't be around, you should come over and sleepover at our place."
Edith's mouth twitched at her best friend's invitation.
Although Lily was two years older and comes from a respectable family, the two of them become best friends.
Edith had lost her parents when she was still a child and grew up with her grandpa in a small town near the sea. Ten years ago, when the small town had become a famous tourism spot, Lily visited the beach with her family.
At that time, Lily was having a walk alone on the beach when she was harassed by a few local boys. Coincidentally, Edith was around to help her.
Lily was amazed at how a small girl like Edith could defeat two boys bigger than her and pestered her to teach her self-defense. After spending time together, the two girls become best friends.
"We'll have a spicy hot pot. I'll prepare a lot of seafood. I heard crab is in season now." Lily tempted.
"Lily, why do you always make spicy hot pot whenever you invite me over?"
Lily laughed. "Because my husband can't eat spicy food, that's why. You and I both enjoyed spicy food. So? What do you say? Alex will like it if you come over."
"Now you're even using your son to tempt me to come over."
Lily smiled. "Tell me it's working."
Edith thought about it for a while before she said, "I have classes on Saturday."
Lily's face immediately fell.
"But I guess I can come over once my classes are over."
"That's fine. We can have dinner together." Lily waved a hand.
The two of them looked up when they heard footsteps running towards them.
"Mummy," Alex He said as he reappeared wearing his jacket and bag. "I'm ready."
"I'll walk you to your car." Edith offered. She frowned when she noticed a luxury car she had never seen before parked not far away from the gate.
As the kindergarten teacher, Edith had recognized and memorized the parents' vehicle and plate number after a few months of working for the kindergarten.
"What's the matter?" Lily asked, noticing her friend's strange expression. She followed Edith's gaze and raised her brows.
Edith shook her head. She told her friend not to worry and bid the mother and son goodbye. Just as she turned around, one of the teachers walked towards her in a hurry.
"Teacher Qian, here you are. I've been looking all over for you."
"What's the matter, Teacher Guo?"
"Headmistress Fu is looking for you."