Hazel Mo has been peeking behind the curtains for a while. As seconds ticked by, she grew agitated when she could not see her uncle. Earlier she overheard one of the teachers had mentioned that Headmistress Fu had prepared a front seat for her uncle.
A few hours have passed and her Uncle Neil had not shown up.
At this time, Headmistress Fu was giving a speech at the podium and by the look at it, the speech was going to end soon. However, the person she was waiting for has not come.
Hazel felt her heart grew heavy. Her hand at the sides clenched into small fists as she forced herself not to cry and not to be disappointed.
"Hazel, how is it?" Megan Xiao appeared by her side and whispered. She followed Hazel's gaze and peeked behind the curtains.
"He's not here," Hazel spoke and moved away from the curtains.
Staring at the audience and waiting for her uncle to show up will only make her heart grew sad. It was better if she did not look out and wait for him. If she did not wait for him, she will not be disappointed, right?
"He will come," Megan said. She reached for Hazel's hand and squeezed it hard. "Your uncle will show up."
A small smile appeared on her lips upon hearing her friend's encouragement. Hazel did not comment on anything and instead walked over to the others.
The performance will begin once Headmistress Fu's speech ended and they needed to get ready.
Teacher Guo clapped her hands twice to get the students' attention and everyone quickly stopped talking and focused on their teacher's instruction. Teacher Guo let the students lined up and her gaze fell on Hazel.
A sigh escaped her upon noticing Hazel's disappointed face. Hazel has been peeking behind the curtain for a long time and Teacher Guo was aware that the girl was waiting for her uncle to come. Looking at her expression, Teacher Guo was able to guess that President Mo probably had not arrived.
However, the show will have to go on. They could not wait and postpone this performance just to wait for him. There were other parents as well and the others will grow dissatisfied if they continue to delay.
Soon, Headmistress Fu's speech ended and the loud sounds of applause reverberate throughout the hall.
"Alright, children the next one is our show," Teacher Guo spoke to the students. "Your parents will be outside and watch your performance. If you make a mistake, that's alright. Just look at your friend and follow them. The most important thing is to do your best and have fun, understand?"
"Understand, Teacher Guo!" The little students echoed.
"Alright, let's go!"
Teacher Guo arranged the students according to their position and went out to the piano. Soon, the curtains rose and there were loud applauds.
Following Teacher Guo's instruction, the students stood at their place, bowed, and waited for the music to begin.
"Hazel! Look up!" Megan, who was standing beside Hazel, whispered. "Your uncle is here!"
Following Megan's words, Hazel raised her head to look at the direction she had been staring at for the last few minutes. Her eyes grew wide and her body froze upon meeting her uncle's gaze.
The disappointing feeling she had earlier quickly dissipated and her excitement and happiness bloomed.
Neil watched the surprised look on his niece's face and slowly raised his hand to wave at her. Then, he balled his hand into a fist and motioned her to work hard. His mouth moved to give her his encouragement. "Do your best, Hazel."
A pleasant melody came from the piano and Hazel felt a nudge on her waist.
"Hey, it's starting," Megan whispered.
Hazel snapped out of her trance and started to move. Following the music, she started to dance and sing along with her friends as to how they have practiced for the past few days.
The curtains fall and the hall was once again filled with thundering applause. The parents and everyone presented stood up with words of praise coming out of their mouth for the students.
Hazel gathered with her friends backstage and listened to the teachers' instructions to wait until the event on stage ended before they will be let out to meet their parents.
The activities on stage soon ended and the parents had started to leave the hall. Hazel and her friends went out to look for their respective parents and the students were making a lot of noises as they went to search for their parents.
When Hazel walked out, Teacher Qian was waiting for her at the door. Edith stopped Hazel and took her towards Headmistress Fu's office.
"Your uncle is waiting for you in the Headmistress's office," Edith explained.
Because of Neil Mo's identity, Headmistress Fu had invited him to her office lest the others would start to swarm him for a chance to make their connection with the President of MH Group.
After all, this was a kindergarten and it was the parents and child activity day. It would be inappropriate to let the parents discuss business and work.
"Uncle, you're here!" Hazel hopped towards her uncle excitedly. She was unable to mask her happiness upon seeing that her uncle had made it to see her performance just like he had promised.
Neil nodded. "Un. I promised that I will come and see you."
"I didn't see you earlier. I thought you weren't going to come."
He was overcome with guilt upon hearing her words.
Just now, when he was about to leave the office and head over to the kindergarten, Manager Autumn Feng had appeared at his office with important documents for him to sign.
Neil had a habit to read and check the documents properly and because of that, he was unable to leave earlier. If he had left a minute later, he might not be able to watch Hazel's performance from the beginning and recorded everything.
"Well, I made it, didn't I? I've promised you I would come." Neil ran his hand on the little girl's hair softly. "You look very pretty. So, you're a flower fairy today?"
Hazel nodded. "Un. Teacher Qian helped with my make up and hair." A thought crossed her mind and Hazel asked, "Uncle, will you stay here until the end?"
"Teacher Qian had mentioned that there will be other activities as well," Neil said. "Of course, I will have to stay until the end and accompany you. Later, let's head home together."
Just then, the door swung open and Teacher Shen showed up at the door with a tall man trailing after her.
"Excuse me, President Mo," Teacher Shen called out. "But this man was looking for you and he said that he is your assistant."
Neil shifted his gaze towards the door and nodded upon seeing his assistant trailing behind the kindergarten teacher.
"President Mo," Assistant Mo called. Then, he turned to Hazel and called, "Young Miss Hazel."
"Assistant Shawn, you're here as well," Edith greeted.
"Teacher Qian," Assistant Shawn nodded. "I'm here as Miss Hazel's photographer. Of course, I will have to show up."
Edith turned to Neil and smiled. "There will be a few games for the parents and child. President Mo, I hope you can cooperate and team up with Hazel to join this game. Of course, if you win, there will be some prizes for you and Hazel."
The little girl's face brightened up at the mentioning of prizes and she turned to her uncle with an expectant gaze.