58、058
"Does that little Ke know which school Auntie wants you to go to?" Han Yanyan asked.
Tang Ke was aware and replied, "Dongchen."
Dongchen was Han Yanyan's school, where the students all came from esteemed backgrounds and wealthy families, each possessing at least an A-level innate mental strength. Each of them was destined to become an excellent mech warrior from the moment of their birth.
It offered the best education, the finest mechs, and many successful individuals had forged strong connections there during their youth. This place was a hub for the elite, a circle defined by wealth and privilege.
Xinya wanted Tang Ke to break into this circle, which was understandable from a mother's perspective. However, according to Han Yanyan's original plan, to cultivate Tang Ke into an elite mech warrior and bear the costly investments she could barely afford, she ultimately cast aside her pride and became one of Han Corporation's consorts.
Han Yanyan did not intend to let the plot follow its original course. She had her own plans; she intended to stay in this world for as long as possible before Leo awoke.
She didn't need Tang Ke to wake up.
"Little Ke, sister knows you are a smart child, so let me explain the situation to you." She led Tang Ke to sit on the grassy area under the shade of a tree and gently explained about Dongchen.
"Everyone has a background, and they like to group together with those of similar status to develop further." She continued, "But for those children who don’t belong there, things can be harsh. They face bullying, exclusion, and even harassment."
She revealed the cruel side behind the innocence of a child. Looking into his eyes, she could see he understood every word.
"Your mother is mistaken." Han Yanyan said. "She thinks you will receive the best education and the best friends there."
"But no one will be my friend, right?" Tang Ke asked, his intelligence and maturity shining through.
"What your mother envisions won't come true. Poor relationships will hinder your journey of learning. The expensive tuition would force your mother to make compromises against her will." Han Yanyan explained.
Suddenly, Tang Ke's expression darkened. He understood the implications of her words.
Xinya was beautiful, and through the past few years of searching for medical help for her husband, she undoubtedly encountered some disgusting men who took advantage of her situation. Tang Ke must have seen something, which was why he understood so clearly.
"Little Ke, even though this is our first meeting, I really like you. Would you be willing to listen to some advice?" Han Yanyan asked.
Tang Ke looked at her angelic face and nodded earnestly.
Han Yanyan activated the smart watch on her wrist, swiped through the screen, and pulled up some information. With a flick of her finger, the information was sent to Tang Ke's smart watch.
Tang Ke raised his wrist, focused on the screen, and read aloud, "Aolin?"
"It's not the best, nor as prestigious as Dongchen, but it has a strict school spirit and its teaching quality is not much inferior. The biggest shortcoming is its hardware conditions aren’t as good as Dongchen's." Han Yanyan said, “However, there will be many classmates there who could be your friends, and you can study peacefully."
She gently patted the boy's head and said, looking into his eyes, "Auntie always wants to give you the best. But she was wrong."
"You don't need the best; you just need to do your best."
The maid spotted the boy returning from his visit and rushed to report to Miss Han, "Should I follow him?"
"No need, go about your duties." Han Yanyan replied.
After the maid left, she stared at a small flower at her feet.
A strange power surged within her. Having experience with supernatural abilities from the apocalyptic world, she adapted quickly to this new power. Her eyes blinked, and with an invisible force, the little flower was crushed and scattered across the grass, disappearing from sight.
Mental strength, how splendid. Unfortunately, it isn’t real, Han Yanyan sighed.
The mental strength she possessed now was a gift of this world to "young Han Yanyan," just as the abilities of "apocalyptic Han Yanyan" were part of a different setting, inseparable from the body, and could not be carried out of this realm.
But that was alright; she had plenty of time to explore.
Zheng Yao had destroyed worlds using mental strength, and Yao Chen had halted bullets with it too.
Han Yanyan had once stopped bullets as well; in that moment, she had felt an unusual force stirring within her, ready to explode. Though she didn't know if it was because Leo severed the world, preventing it from fully erupting, she was sure that force didn't belong to Yao Chen's realm.
That force existed outside the world, belonging to her. Furthermore, it felt the same as the pressure she sensed from Yao's true self.
For some unknown reason, this ordinary girl might possess mental strength. Han Yanyan pondered, considering it might be related to the gene therapy Leo mentioned.
If Leo were here, he would probably curse, "Damn, she guessed it again!"
Tang Ke ran back to the main building. The structure was enormous, but he had a good memory and didn’t get lost, heading straight back to the small sitting room.
The two people in the sitting room were startled when the boy suddenly burst in. Xinya jumped up in a panic and asked, "Little Ke, what happened?"
Tang Ke froze for a moment.
Though the span of time was short, he had seen clearly. The people who had been sitting on separate sofas were now on the same one. At the moment he barged in, his mother sat stiffly with her head slightly bowed, almost pressed against the armrest of the couch, with nowhere to escape. The man, Han Yanyan's father, his mother’s uncle, held his mother's hand in one hand and reached around her waist with the other.
He was very close to his mother, so much so that it was as if he were holding her in his arms!
A surge of anger flared within Tang Ke for a brief moment. Though he was just a young boy, he could feel the man's strong aggression. Yet, he also had the instinct to protect what was his.
His hands curled into fists, and for a moment he felt like charging forward. But then he remembered Han Yanyan; her gentle angelic face quelled his rage.
He relaxed his fists and calmly stepped forward.
"Why are you back alone? Where's your sister Yanyan?" The head of the Han family inquired.
"Sister accompanied me for quite a while and got a bit tired. I came back to find my mother. Mom, we've been here for a while; it's time to go home." He said.
In that moment, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he seemed to want to kill the man. That little wolf cub... The head of the Han family smiled and said, "No rush, eat lunch first. I was just discussing your transfer with your mother. The best school in the East District is Dongchen. Your mother and I have decided to let you..."
"No, I don't want to. I don’t want to go to Dongchen." Tang Ke shook his head.
The head of the Han family was surprised. Xinya looked astonished, "Little Ke, what nonsense are you talking about?" Her child was mature and sensible; she had clearly discussed everything with him!
Tang Ke glanced at her and asked, "Mom, do you know about Aolin Academy?"
"Aolin?" Xinya of course knew about Aolin, it was one of the schools she had considered. But Aolin, while decent, wasn’t the best, and a mother always wanted to give her child the best of everything, even if it came at a cost.
"I was talking with sister Yanyan, and she also thinks Aolin is suitable for me. I’ve considered it, and with my grades and mental strength levels, entering Aolin shouldn’t be a problem." Tang Ke stated, "Mom, the best isn’t always what suits me best."
Xinya's heart suddenly felt chaotic. Her son's gaze was too complicated, filled with too many emotions, making her unable to meet his eyes.
Tang Ke called her, "Mom?" Even the small child had an aura of pressure in his gaze.
Xinya's mind was in a whirl. "This..."
"There's no rush." The head of the Han family smiled, "School is a big deal for children, affecting their future for a lifetime; it needs serious consideration. No need to decide now, go back and think it over carefully. Don’t rush into a decision that would delay the child."
"Okay, Mr. Han. We will make a serious decision." Tang Ke replied.
The bloodline might be distant, but he could see the intentions toward his mother, and he could not bring himself to call out "uncle." Being young and with a mind prone to overthinking, he still hadn’t developed enough cunning.
He tugged at Xinya, "Mom, let’s go back."
“No rush." The head of the Han family said, "Let’s eat lunch first, and then I’ll have the driver take you back."
Tang Ke, filled with youthful vigor, wanted to leave immediately from this humiliating and awkward situation with the man, ready to refuse.
"Ah, are you heading back?" Han Yanyan appeared just in time, interrupting him, "Perfect, I have to go out, I can take Auntie and little Ke with me."
Thus, lunch was left untouched. The matters were not finalized, and Xinya felt a bit gloomy.
When they got in the car, Han Yanyan patted Tang Ke's head and said, "Sister has some words to discuss with Auntie; little Ke, would you like to sit in the driver's cabin with Uncle Driver?"
Tang Ke pursed his lips slightly: "Can’t I listen?"
"No." Han Yanyan winked, "It's a conversation for women only. Hmm~"
The rising intonation at the end of "Hmm~" sounded curious, as if playfully swirling upwards. Tang Ke, still young, didn’t understand the nuance, but felt oddly nervous, obediently heading to the driver's cabin. Behind the wall, he had no idea what discussions were unfolding in the passenger cabin.
Seated in her chair, Han Yanyan noticed Xinya’s complex expression across from her. While she had unconsciously shown a bit of allure, Tang Ke didn’t grasp it, but Xinya, being a grown woman, understood all too well.
Although the young lady of the Han family had just begun to show signs of blooming beauty, she still possessed a youthful appearance. Were the girls of this age really that mature? Or was it just her...?
Considering her parents and the influences she had from a young age, Xinya suppressed any hint of disdain, daring not to see her as merely a child. She forced a smile and asked, "What does Yanyan wish to discuss with me?" If it concerned early romance between boys and girls, she would be more than willing to offer some advice. Establishing a rapport with this young lady could only benefit Tang Ke.
Yet Han Yanyan smiled and replied, "Auntie, to be honest, you're handling the matter of Little Ke’s transfer incorrectly."
Xinya's expression shifted slightly.
"If you plead with my father, he might assist in transferring schools and support Little Ke’s education. However, my father never makes investments without expecting a return." Han Yanyan continued, "Do you realize what it would take to ask for his help? Have you thought about what feelings such actions would kindle in Little Ke? A child who has lost a father—if he feels shame because of his mother, how would it affect his character development?"
This was the second time Han Yanyan took on the role of the young lady. Her aura was fully unleashed, sharp and assertive.
Xinya's face paled.