The School Anniversary is Approaching

Several days had passed since the incident involving Luo Che.

The matter with Xu Huan's family had also settled somewhat, and Tang Niu was naturally detained, awaiting a lawsuit from Chen Qin's company.

When someone has influence, they must be careful with their words and actions, avoiding the spread of misguided ideas and values to their devoted fans. The man who once stood in the chicken-eating square shouting "Gaia" had already set an example.

After all these events, the day of the school festival finally arrived.

Apartment, Early Morning.

"Brother, look, Yiwan has a belly now." Tang Keke held up the orange tabby's front paws, its body stretched out like a golden loaf of bread.

"Cats grow quickly," Ye Shuang said.

Yiwan was now around five or six pounds, a far cry from the tiny, frail kitten it had been. Being a long-haired cat, its plump, fluffy appearance made it even more endearing.

"Meow!"

Ye Shuang glanced at the tabby, which had been passed from Tang Keke’s lap to Bai Yuyou’s arms. Watching the girl and the cat together, he couldn’t help but smile.

In a way, Yiwan’s growth mirrored Bai Yuyou’s—little by little, day by day.

Wearing an apron, Ye Shuang prepared breakfast. Today, he was in the mood to make dumplings, stuffed with pork and shrimp.

"Brother, why are you frying the dumplings?" Tang Keke peeked over curiously as Ye Shuang worked the pan.

The kitchen was filled with the enticing aroma of fried dough and oil. Ye Shuang chuckled. "Keke, how do you usually eat dumplings at home?"

"My mom likes to dump them all into a pot of stew, but they always come out mushy," Tang Keke gestured, mimicking the scene. "Just a lumpy mess, like pig slop."

Ye Shuang sighed. "Your mom would be sad if she heard you say that."

Bai Yuyou, drawn by the smell, stood nearby, and even Yiwan stretched its neck toward the pan.

"Ye Shuang, smells good."

"Carbs and fat—of course it smells good." Ye Shuang mixed a flour-water solution. "These are pan-fried dumplings."

Once the bottoms turned golden, he poured in the flour water, covering about two-thirds of the dumplings, then put the lid on.

"Brother, if you’re adding water to boil them, won’t they turn out like my mom’s?" Tang Keke looked dismayed. If they ate them now, they’d be crispy and delicious.

The thought of lumpy dumplings gave her flashbacks.

"They won’t," Ye Shuang reassured her.

Soon, the water evaporated, leaving only a sizzling sound. When Ye Shuang lifted the lid, both girls’ eyes sparkled.

"So fragrant!"

"And they didn’t turn to mush?"

Ye Shuang grinned at their amazement. "See? No lumps, no mush."

He sprinkled black sesame seeds from a small jar over the dumplings before plating them. The bottoms had formed a crispy golden crust from the flour water, and the sesame seeds added the perfect finishing touch. Tang Keke was stunned.

"Brother… can you be my mom?"

Ye Shuang: "?"

Male mom?

The pan-fried dumplings earned rave reviews from both Tang Keke and Bai Yuyou. Considering the latter’s appetite, Ye Shuang fried three or four plates, finally satisfying her.

Watching them enjoy the meal, Ye Shuang, still in his apron, felt a deep sense of contentment.

"Ye Shuang… eat." Bai Yuyou occasionally fed him a piece.

"You eat. I’ll grab my own."

"Oh…"

After breakfast, Tang Keke and Bai Yuyou washed the dishes. Before leaving, Bai Yuyou buried her face in Ye Shuang’s chest for a moment, reluctant to go.

"Brother, it’s the school festival today. Come early—there’s lots of fun stuff!"

"Got it. Be safe, and call me if anything happens."

"Hehe, okay."

After the girls left, Ye Shuang updated his novel. The quiet apartment fueled his inspiration, and before he knew it, he’d finished writing—only to find Yiwan asleep on his lap.

"Alright, time to head out." He scratched the tabby’s chin.

"Maybe it’s about time for your neutering, Yiwan?"

"Meow?!" The plump cat, previously enjoying the scratches, bolted upstairs in a panic, its paws skidding like it was on a treadmill for a few seconds before regaining traction.

Ye Shuang laughed. "Did it actually understand?"

Driving to Yinshan Academy, he was met with a shocking sight as he neared the entrance—

A massive crowd.

An overwhelming number of people.

From his car window, the sea of bodies stretched so far he couldn’t even see the school gates.

"Yinshan Academy’s festival drew this many people?"

As he inched forward, he noticed an endless stream of cars entering the school parking lot. Students with armbands directed traffic at the entrance.

One lightly tapped his window. Rolling it down, she said,

"Teacher, faculty parking is to the left. The other lot’s full."

"You knew I’m a teacher?" Ye Shuang was surprised. How could she tell?

"Yes, the gate scanner shows your faculty ID." She pointed at the sensor.

"Ah, right." Ye Shuang chuckled at his own oversight. Temporary passes and registered faculty cards were different—the system could distinguish them.

Following her directions, he turned left into the faculty lot, while the outer areas were reserved for visitors. Thankfully, the internal lot wasn’t crowded.

"This is insane." After parking and locking his car, a tiny pink electric vehicle slowly pulled into the spot beside him.

The door opened, and a short-haired girl stepped out. "Yo, old man."

"Changed cars again?" Ye Shuang eyed the miniature EV behind An Shiyu.

"Yep. Fun little thing. The 4.0-liter engine’s plenty."

Ye Shuang: "..."

What did you do to it?

Memories of a certain ride-hailing "Master An" resurfaced, and he felt a wave of dread.

"Later." An Shiyu stuffed her hands in her pockets and walked off.

Ye Shuang shrugged and took the elevator up to the school’s first floor.