Chapter 2: I Want to Study

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[Name: Liu Xiaoli]
[Gender: Female]
[Age: 32]
[Occupation: Dancer]
[Note: Uh, awkward, she suspects you are the reincarnation of the Divine Dragon. She adopts you and plans to nurture you well.]

Liu Jing rubbed his eyes. This woman was really good at lying; it turned out you saw a supernatural phenomenon too. If this had been in that era, Lü Buwei would probably have silenced him.

Among those scattered memories, Liu Jing had often seen Lü Buwei’s son doing bad things. Liu Jing was not some privileged second-generation heir; besides, this was now a society governed by law.

The supernatural visions only appeared when the system was activated; subsequent use of abilities showed no anomalies. Aunt Liu had her own triple gains in mind, and Liu Jing had his own single focus.

He wasn’t after the artistic aura—that had only appeared once. At three years old, Liu Jing understood little of this world, and the second-generation heir was but a stain.

Life at the welfare institution was inconvenient; a normal family was better, making it easier for him to understand the world. A three-year-old child without a guardian was hard-pressed to survive in this world.

Now there was yet another reason: having a “scheming” guardian. Later, some unusual behaviors could be explained away more easily.

Aunt Liu was coaxing the child when a refined-looking man wearing glasses arrived. The little girl, practicing silent mouth exercises, brightened up but, thinking of her training, stifled the urge to speak.

“Xiaoli, this child is Liu Jing?” Teacher An was somewhat reluctant but wanted to make one last effort. Seeing the child’s teary eyes, he gave up his hesitation and sighed inwardly: since he was here, so be it. Three years old or not, the adoption would proceed.

“Okay! Let’s find the director; I’ve already spoken with Teacher Li.” Aunt Liu breathed a sigh of relief. Since her husband had come, it meant he had come to terms with it.

“All right.” Teacher An nodded.

“Yay! Ten minutes are up.” The little girl glanced at her wristwatch, keeping an eye on the time.

“What?” Teacher An was puzzled. What was this nonsense now?

“Dad, I’ve mastered the first move; soon, I will be a martial arts expert!” The little girl proudly showed off.

Liu Xiaoli’s expression turned odd. “Ahem, Wooden is teaching Qianqian martial arts.”

“Yes, standing still for ten minutes without speaking, and I mastered the first move. I did it!” The girl was proud, holding her mother’s hand and lively.

“Impressive.” Teacher An gleaned something from his wife’s expression.

He glanced at Liu Jing and, as his daughter walked away, whispered, “Don’t bully your sister in the future.”

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“Oh.” Liu Jing struck a standing posture, replying perfunctorily. Such a silly girl hardly needed bullying; sooner or later, she’d be easily taken advantage of.

After all, Teacher An was a teacher, observant and experienced with children.

At the welfare home, many children, regardless of age, avoided Liu Jing without greeting him, which already indicated something.

If not for his wife’s desperate insistence, he truly did not want to adopt a child.

To persuade his parents, Teacher An put in considerable effort.

Whether the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law got along well depended heavily on the man. Teacher An thought he was doing okay.

He silently observed Liu Jing. This kid was nothing special. Could it be just because of this chance encounter?

Though reluctant, Teacher An finally signed the adoption agreement.

Signed, no regrets.

Liu Jing insisted on keeping his name, refusing to change it to An Jing.

Teacher An did not insist; his hope for another child was not entirely lost.

Aunt Liu was very pleased—her efforts were not in vain.

Little did she know, Liu Jing refused to change his surname simply because it was a hassle.

A few days later, all the formalities were completed, and Liu Jing left the welfare home.

The An family’s home was well-off and magnificent.

Liu Jing was indifferent; in his memories as a second generation heir, he had never been unacquainted with wealth.

To welcome the new family member, Aunt Liu prepared a sumptuous meal and invited friends and relatives.

Not only did the grandparents come, but many from Aunt Liu’s maternal side attended.

The whole family joyfully shared dinner, and from then on, Liu Jing became part of the household.

The An family was an intellectual household. Since the adoption agreement was signed, they treated the child well.

However, an unknown relative, taking advantage of Aunt Liu’s absence, said in front of Liu Jing, “If you can have your own, why adopt? I don’t know what kind of mischief she’s involved in. Why adopt a three-year-old child? A three-year-old knows nothing. Don’t raise a white-eyed wolf in the end. Tsk tsk, isn’t this child her illegitimate son from outside? No wonder the surname is...”

The old man snorted coldly. “We invited you here as witnesses, not to gossip. Since Liu Jing has entered the An family, whether he is three or thirty, he is one of us. I only want to hear such words once. If I hear them outside, this relative won’t be one anymore.”

The atmosphere immediately changed.

Some were curious and asked about the welfare home’s past.

Others comforted, saying life would be better from now on.

Some warned not to forget today’s kindness.

Some encouraged to study hard and improve daily.

Liu Jing wished he could be invisible—dealing with these adults was far more complicated than interacting with the children at the welfare home.

“Sister Li, I want to go to school.” After everyone left and the tea was cold, Liu Jing took a hot shower and put on new clothes.

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Teacher An was reading the newspaper, Aunt Liu was doing beauty care, and the little girl was doing homework when Liu Jing solemnly made his request.

“Sister Li?” Aunt Liu’s eyes widened. Was he calling me? He really called me sister.

“He just arrived. We can’t force him to call me ‘mom’ right away. It sounds awkward from him and uncomfortable to hear. ‘Sister Li’ works fine. But don’t call me Brother An, call me Uncle An,” Teacher An said understandingly, comforting his wife.

“All right, Sister Li it is.” Aunt Liu smiled wryly. I never said no. This guy is just addicted to being a teacher.

“Sister Li, I’ll take him to school.” Qianqian, doing her homework, found it interesting and chimed in.

Aunt Liu’s face darkened. “What did you just call me?”

“Mom.” Qianqian quickly corrected herself, muttering softly, “Why can he call you that but I can’t?”

“Because you’re the older sister. You can’t be capricious; you have to act like the elder sibling. Your behavior influences...” Teacher An began to advise his daughter again.

“Then I don’t want to be the older sister.” Qianqian regretted it immediately, suddenly feeling that the new addition wasn’t a toy but a burden.

“Go finish your homework. No sleeping until it’s done.” Aunt Liu scolded.

“Bang!” The little girl threw down her notebook in a huff but, under her mother’s fierce gaze, obediently picked it up again.

Teacher An shook his head. Having a child at home wasn’t so bad. “Liu Jing, the New Year is coming. Next year, you and Qianqian will go to kindergarten together.”

“Kindergarten? I want to go to a proper school.” Liu Jing frowned. To him, kindergarten was no different from the welfare home.

Teacher An was patient. “You’re still young. You have to wait a few years before going to elementary school.”

“I can go now. I understand.” Liu Jing glanced at the little girl biting her pen while doing homework—a real troublemaker.

“You can only start school at six.” Teacher An patiently explained.

“Why?” Liu Jing was puzzled.

“It’s the rule.” Teacher An didn’t know how else to explain it. Should he go into psychological and physiological details?

“Rule” was simple, clear, and convenient—it could explain all inconsistencies.

“Who made the rule?” Liu Jing pressed on, feeling it unreasonable.

“The state.” Aunt Liu said irritably.

“Oh.” Liu Jing thought for a moment, then made a request. “I want to study.”

He could temporarily give up going to school but would never give up learning.

Liu Jing was not a second-generation heir, his father was not Lü Buwei, and this was no longer the Qin state. He couldn’t expect special treatment from the government.

He must study, and he must study well.

Learning sharpens the mind, understanding grows through experience—both are indispensable.

“I’ll teach, I’ll teach...” Qianqian couldn’t sit still and saw an opportunity for payback.