465: Chapter 46 Successfully Winning the Championship

Shen Yan's heart completely melted at that moment.

He held the tiny body in his arms tightly and rubbed his chin against her soft hair.

"Daddy isn't tired."

"Holding Youyou is the best way for Daddy to recharge."

He spent some time playing puzzles with Youyou and told her half of the Little Red Riding Hood story until the little girl began to let out tiny yawns in his arms.

He placed his daughter gently on the toddler bed, tucked her in, and pressed a goodnight kiss onto her forehead.

Standing at the doorway, Shen Yan looked at that peaceful sleeping face, feeling as though the schemes and calculations that stirred up storms during the day had become distant and surreal.

This place was everything he wanted to protect.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking.

A black phaeton drove smoothly out of the garage.

Shen Yan first drove the already dressed Youyou to pick up Liu Hui.

Liu Hui was wearing a light-colored casual suit today, her long hair tied into a gentle bun, with a faint smile on her face, looking intellectual and elegant.

As soon as she got into the car, Youyou immediately lunged toward her.

"Mommy!"

The call was natural and loud.

Liu Hui smiled and rubbed Youyou's head, her eyes full of doting affection.

The entrance of the Elite Kindergarten was already packed with all kinds of luxury cars; the parents coming and going were all dressed glamorously and behaved with decorum.

This wasn't just a kindergarten; it was a miniature social circle.

Shen Yan had zero interest in this.

He held one of Youyou's hands while Liu Hui held the other, and the three of them walked into the kindergarten side by side.

Youyou was wearing a pink princess dress today, her little face full of excitement and anticipation.

"Shen Youyou!"

A rather discordant voice came from the side.

A little boy wearing a small suit, looking much sturdier than his peers, stood with his hands on his hips, looking at them with a face full of disdain.

Behind the little boy stood a couple with exquisite makeup; they only glanced over before continuing to chat with others.

"Is this your new mommy?" the little boy's voice was very loud, carrying the unreserved malice unique to children.

"Don't you not have a mommy?"

The surrounding air seemed to freeze in that instant.

The gazes of several parents drifted over subtly.

Shen Yan's eyes turned cold.

Youyou's little hand subconsciously gripped his finger tightly, and her little face fell.

Liu Hui, however, squatted down so her line of sight was level with the little boy's.

She still wore a gentle smile, as if she hadn't heard those mean words.

"Hello, little friend."

"I am Youyou's mommy."

"In the future at kindergarten, please look after our Youyou."

Her voice was steady and calm, clearly reaching the ears of everyone nearby.

The little boy was stunned, clearly not expecting such a reaction.

The parents behind him had a flash of embarrassment on their faces as they pulled their child away in a hurry.

Liu Hui stood up and took Youyou's hand again, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Don't be afraid, Mommy is here."

Youyou looked up at Liu Hui's gentle profile, the disappointment in her eyes swept away as she nodded vigorously.

The social gathering activities soon began.

The first event was the 'Three-Legged Race.'

The legs of Shen Yan, Liu Hui, and Youyou were tied together.

The whistle blew.

The family stumbled a bit at first; Youyou's short legs couldn't keep up with the rhythm of the adults.

"One, two, one, two!" Shen Yan called out the cadence in a deep voice.

Liu Hui coordinated with his rhythm while using a gentle force to guide Youyou.

The three of them soon found their synergy.

They didn't chase after speed, but simply walked steadily, step by step, toward the finish line.

The sunlight bathed them, and all three had heartfelt smiles on their faces.

The second event was 'Blindfolded Parent Search.'

Parents were blindfolded and stood in a row in the middle of the field, while children had to run from the other end to find their own parents.

Without almost any hesitation, Youyou wove through the crowd and accurately lunged into Shen Yan's arms.

"Daddy!"

Shen Yan took off his blindfold, scooped up his daughter, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

A round of kind laughter and applause erupted around them.

The final grand finale was the 'Parent-Child Treasure Hunt.'

Different colored puzzle pieces were hidden in various corners of the kindergarten; the first family to collect all pieces and assemble the complete image would win.

This tested not only eyesight but also strategy and physical stamina.

Shen Yan quickly scanned the map on the task card, instantly planning the optimal route in his mind.

"Liu Hui, you take Youyou to the activity room to find the red and yellow pieces."

"I'll go to the climbing frame and the back garden."

"We'll meet at the central fountain."

He didn't hesitate for a second, dividing the tasks clearly with an unquestionable tone.

Liu Hui nodded immediately and ran toward the school building with Youyou.

Shen Yan, meanwhile, was like a gust of wind, rushing toward the other side of the field.

The amazing speed and agility he displayed left the surrounding parents staring in awe.

The family of the little boy who had just been mocking Youyou had long since been left far behind, with not even their shadows in sight.

The central fountain.

Shen Yan and Liu Hui arrived almost simultaneously.

The pieces in Youyou's little hands were quickly assembled into a beautiful castle pattern.

"We finished!" Youyou shouted excitedly, holding up the puzzle.

There was no suspense.

Youyou's family took first place overall in today's social gathering.

The principal personally presented a shiny little trophy to Youyou.

Holding the trophy, Youyou's little face bloomed like a flower.

Holding Shen Yan's hand with one hand and Liu Hui's with the other, she stood on the podium, puffing out her little chest like a proud little princess.

Under the sun, her smile was even more dazzling than the trophy.

The children who used to talk behind her back and mock her for not having a mother were now all looking up at her, their eyes filled only with envy.

Shen Yan looked at Liu Hui and Youyou beside him.

One was his future wife, and the other was his flesh-and-blood daughter.

The peace and happiness of this moment brought him more satisfaction than leveraging hundreds of billions in capital or disrupting an entire industry.

After the awards ceremony, Youyou skipped happily into Shen Yan's car.

The noise of the kindergarten was slowly sealed away by the car windows.

Youyou held the small trophy, sitting in her child safety seat with her little legs swinging, humming a tuneless nursery rhyme.

Liu Hui sat in the passenger seat, turning her head to look at Youyou, the smile in her eyes seemingly about to overflow.

The atmosphere inside the car was warm and peaceful.

Shen Yan gripped the steering wheel, his gaze sweeping over his daughter's excited face via the rearview mirror.

"Youyou performed so well today; how about Daddy takes you to eat something delicious?"

His voice was several degrees softer than when he was at the company.

"Okay, okay!" Youyou immediately clapped her little hands. "I want to eat big lobster!"