"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 on the hem of Renee Jennings's shirt as he blinked his big eyes pleadingly. "Can we please stop studying?"
Renee Jennings paid him no mind. She bent down slightly and coaxed, "Mommy knows you're very tired, but how can you give up when you haven't finished your tasks? Last month, you slacked off a little, and the spot in the kindergarten showcase was snatched up by Kiki Chandler from Class Five. In this world, there will always be someone working harder than you. If you don't work hard, you'll be left behind."
Nathan Lynch's bangs were a bit long, and Renee Jennings reached out to brush them aside. "Do you understand, Nathan?"
The rims of Nathan Lynch's eyes reddened. "But I'm really tired."
"How can you be tired? You've just been sitting on a stool. I bet you just want to watch TV, don't you? Watching too much TV is bad for your eyes. Nathan, you don't want to start wearing glasses at such a young age, do you? If you do, none of the other kids will want to play with you."
Renee Jennings's voice remained gentle as she coaxed him. "Nathan, you're so smart. You can understand Mommy, can't you? How about this? We'll eat first, and then we'll study afterward, okay? Mommy will stay right here with you and study together."
"You need to study hard. That's the only way to make Mommy and Daddy proud."
For a moment, there was no reply. Renee Jennings took Nathan Lynch's hand and led him inside.
[OMG, this parenting style is so suffocating. I much prefer Naomi Kenway's approach.]
[The commenter above is being too sensitive. How is it suffocating? What family doesn't want their child to succeed? Kids are so young; if you don't discipline them, they'll go down the wrong path!]
[I don't get why people like Naomi Kenway's parenting. If it were genuine, fine. But she's obviously just using her kid to craft a public image. She treated him so badly before this show, and now she's all doting and attentive on camera. It's not hard to see what's really going on, is it?]
[It's not easy being a celebrity's kid. I used to be so jealous of their privileged lives, born with a silver spoon in their mouths. Now I feel like my own life is pretty good. It's ordinary, but I'm happy enough.]
[No wonder our dear Nathan is such a good student! It's all because Renee is a great teacher! (Thumbs Up) (Thumbs Up)]
...
"Nina, time to get your new mission."
Naomi Kenway had just finished breakfast with Ian Shaw. Hearing her name, she stood up and took the mission card from a staff member.
"Another mission so soon?"
She opened the card.
"Please gather at the town square at 1:00 PM sharp..."
Naomi Kenway murmured the words aloud. She glanced up at a clock—it was already ten. Since she wasn't familiar with the village and would need time to ask for directions, Naomi decided she would head out early.
Around noon, Naomi Kenway finished packing their things.
"Annie, we have to head to the square for our mission."
Ian Shaw lifted his head very slowly, his expression a mixture of hesitation and fear.
"Mommy, I don't really want to go."
Naomi Kenway knew this was because her son lacked experience interacting with people; in fact, he was averse to any contact with strangers. 'The main reason I brought him on this show was to help him become more positive and outgoing. Every time I remember that he died from depression in the original book, the pain is unbearable.'
"Annie, this mission might be fun. How about we try something new together? Mommy will be right by your side the whole time."
Ian Shaw looked into Naomi Kenway's sincere eyes. After a moment of internal struggle, he finally gave a slow nod.
'Trying something new with Mommy.' The offer was too tempting for Ian Shaw to resist. 'Every day, I secretly make a wish, and it's always the same: for Mommy to love me a little more. Even though she has a bad temper sometimes, I still want her love so badly. Just like how Doudou's mom bakes him cakes, and Sunny's mom takes her to buy pretty dresses...'
'I can be good, really, really good. I just want Mommy to love me a little bit more.'
After leaving the house, Naomi Kenway asked a villager for directions. It was a bit of a walk from their earthen house to the village square, but luckily, a kind villager offered them a ride.
They were riding in a three-wheeled cart. Ian Shaw had never experienced anything like it. He sat in the back, gazing at the flowers and plants along the road. "No glass! The cart has no glass! Mommy, look, flowers! The flowers are so pretty..."
Ian Shaw's high, sweet voice sounded incredibly well-behaved and adorable. The old woman driving the cart chuckled when she heard him. "What a delightful little boy. How old are you?"
Naomi Kenway smiled at Ian Shaw. "Why don't you tell the nice lady how old you are?"
Perhaps it was the woman's kind face, but Ian Shaw wasn't as guarded as usual. "Annie's four," he said.
"Four, you say? You're a real cutie." The old woman's voice carried over the sound of the wind.
The sun had been shining brightly just a moment ago, but now a wind had picked up out of nowhere, and the air turned chilly. Thankfully, 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 looked up at the sound of her name, a hint of confusion in her eyes. She hadn't expected Naomi Kenway to arrive so early.
Being in the same industry, Margaret Jennings had heard things about Naomi Kenway's past behavior. She offered a perfunctory smile. "Oh, it's you."
She then looked back down, clearly indicating she didn't want to continue the conversation.
'Well, greeting her was just basic courtesy. No need to press the issue if she's not interested.'
Naomi Kenway led her son to a spot with plenty of flowers and began teaching him to identify the different wildflowers and plants. However, Naomi's own botanical knowledge was quite limited, and she frequently had to turn to the more experienced director nearby for help.
Seeing that Naomi Kenway didn't try to press the conversation, Margaret Jennings found herself glancing over in her direction a few more times.
'The Naomi Kenway from the rumors was a complete pest, someone who couldn't read social cues and was obnoxiously loud.'
Margaret Jennings stared at the woman in the distance, who was being remarkably patient with her son. 'This Naomi Kenway,' she thought, 'doesn't seem much like the person from the rumors.'
'The Naomi I remember loved to flaunt her wealth. She'd be dripping with jadeite necklaces and red agate bracelets, never caring if they matched or not—utterly ostentatious. But looking at her now...' Margaret sized her up carefully. 'She isn't wearing a single piece of jewelry. Even in simple, casual clothes, her beautiful face makes her the most striking person here. She looks so... clean and sharp.'
'How could she be so different from my memory of her...?'
"Mommy," Carina Sanders's voice piped up.
"What is it, Carina?" Margaret Jennings snapped out of her thoughts.
Carina Sanders was still dressed in a princess gown, a diamond tiara perched on her head. She looked just like a real princess.
"Mommy, I want to go play with Annie!"