Chapter 51 : The Most Noticeable Person at the Parent-Teacher Meeting

When Shen Zheng wasn’t home, life was quite peaceful.  

Fang Xiaoluo’s days revolved around eating, sleeping, and embroidering her cheongsam.  

Shen Haiping and Shen Jinxia were well-behaved, and although Shen Haifeng was a bit sullen, he didn’t cause trouble.  

Fang Xiaoluo understood that Shen Haifeng wasn’t a bad kid. He had simply endured abuse and hardship in his previous family, which made him highly defensive.  

If she wanted Shen Haifeng to fully accept her, it would take time.  

Luckily, she wasn’t in a rush, nor did it disrupt her life.  

However, what Fang Xiaoluo didn’t expect was for Shen Haifeng to knock on her door after lunch on Monday instead of taking his usual nap after school.  

Fang Xiaoluo had left the door open. Hearing the knock, she saw Shen Haifeng standing awkwardly at her doorway.  

“Something you need?” she asked.  

Shen Haifeng nodded.  

“Come in, then.”  

After Shen Haifeng stepped inside, he even closed the door behind him.  

Fang Xiaoluo raised an eyebrow, utterly clueless about what he wanted.  

“What is it? Something you don’t want your grandma to hear?” she teased.  

Shen Haifeng approached with his head bowed. “A… Auntie…”  

Hearing this, Fang Xiaoluo was certain he had a favor to ask.  

“Come on, be a man and just say it! All this hemming and hawing is getting on my nerves,” she said.  

Taking a deep breath, Shen Haifeng finally blurted out, “Auntie, can you go to the parent-teacher meeting at my school this afternoon?”  

“A parent-teacher meeting?”  

Fang Xiaoluo hadn’t expected this at all. While she had mentally prepared herself to be a stepmother when she married Shen Zheng, she hadn’t thought much about things like parent-teacher meetings.  

“Yes.”  

“Why not ask your grandma to go?” Fang Xiaoluo questioned.  

Shen Haifeng fiddled with the hem of his shirt. “I… didn’t do very well on my midterm exams.”  

“So, you’re passing the buck to me, huh? Want me to go embarrass myself on your behalf?”  

Shen Haifeng was visibly uneasy. He didn’t dare tell Shen Zheng about his poor performance, especially since Shen Zheng wasn’t home.  

But asking his grandma was out of the question too. If she found out how badly he’d done, she might blow her top at school.  

“Will you… can you go?”  

It was rare to see Shen Haifeng humble himself to ask for a favor. Fang Xiaoluo chuckled. “Of course, I’ll go.”  

Children could be guided gradually, but since she had taken on the role of stepmother, their education was important. She needed to understand the situation.  

After all, studying and education were pivotal in shaping a person’s future.  

Hearing Fang Xiaoluo’s agreement, Shen Haifeng’s eyes lit up. “Thank you… thank you!”  

“Time, place, and anything I need to bring?” Fang Xiaoluo asked.  

“This afternoon at 3 o’clock, at Qingshi Primary School, Class 2, Year 1. You don’t need to bring anything, the teacher told us to leave pens and paper on our desks before the second break. My seat is in the middle, fourth row, on the right.”  

“Got it.”  

Shen Haifeng was still a bit worried that she might not actually go.  

But since he had already asked, he dared not nag further and headed to school.  

Unlike last time, when he kept zoning out in class after preparing to apologize to Fang Xiaoluo, today he forced himself to stay focused. Shen Haifeng felt this was progress.  

Finally, after the second class, school was dismissed. But no one left, they all waited for their parents to arrive.  

Yu Feixu, with his backpack slung over his shoulder, walked to the door. “Shen Haifeng, your dad isn’t home, same as mine. Who’s coming to your parent-teacher meeting?”  

Shen Haifeng raised his head proudly. “Of course, my mom.”

“Your mom?” Yu Feixu laughed as if he’d just heard the funniest joke ever. “Hahaha, you really think your stepmom will come to your parent-teacher meeting? Stop dreaming!”  

“She will definitely come!” Shen Haifeng insisted stubbornly.  

Yu Feixu crossed his arms. “Alright, let’s bet. If your stepmom shows up, I’ll give you fifty marbles.”  

Shen Haifeng gritted his teeth. “Fine! If she doesn’t come, I’ll give you fifty marbles. But listen here, Yu Feixu, you’re going to lose!”  

The two of them stood off at the school gate, locked in their bet.  

Yu Feixu even waited for his own mom to arrive. After escorting her inside, he returned to find Shen Haifeng still waiting at the gate.  

It was almost 3 o’clock, and most parents had already gone into the classrooms. The number of people outside dwindled, and Shen Haifeng’s confidence started to waver.  

Yu Feixu burst into laughter. “Shen Haifeng, just admit it. Bring me my fifty marbles tomorrow, you’ve lost.”  

Shen Haifeng stared intently down the road. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. “Yu Feixu, you’re the one who’s lost!”  

Yu Feixu froze, watching as Shen Haifeng ran excitedly toward a beautiful woman.  

He recognized her from a distance, Shen Haifeng’s stepmom. She was already stunning from far away, but as she got closer, she looked even more breathtaking.  

She was wearing a gray blazer over a crisp white shirt, her hair neatly tied up. She looked even better than a movie star.  

Even Shen Haifeng was momentarily stunned. Fang Xiaoluo had clearly put effort into her appearance today.  

She must have taken this parent-teacher meeting seriously, Shen Haifeng thought.  

That realization filled him with happiness, a rare and cherished feeling of being valued.  

Shen Haifeng stopped at the school gate and proudly introduced her to Yu Feixu. “This is my mom.”  

Fang Xiaoluo found his smug expression amusing. At home, he was so awkward and shy, but outside, he was calling her “Mom” without hesitation.  

Yu Feixu shrugged. “Fine, it’s just fifty marbles. I’ll give them to you tomorrow.”  

Fang Xiaoluo leaned in and whispered, “You bet on me?”  

Shen Haifeng scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. “Yu Feixu said you wouldn’t come to the meeting, and I said you definitely would.”  

Fang Xiaoluo understood it was childish, but it also showed what Shen Haifeng cared about deep down.  

“Alright, I’m going in now. You head home and start on your homework,” she said.  

“I’ll walk you to the classroom first, then leave,” Shen Haifeng insisted.  

After escorting her to the classroom door, he finally left. However, he didn’t go home immediately but lingered near the gate. He had more to say to her later.  

Fang Xiaoluo was one of the last parents to arrive.  

As she entered, many heads turned to look at her.  

In a class with many children from military families, some parents had seen her before. Those who hadn’t were stunned by her beauty.  

Fang Xiaoluo found Shen Haifeng’s seat and sat down. Lowering her gaze, she noticed a printed report card on the desk.  

She scanned the names on the list, starting from the top. The students in the front rows all had perfect scores of 100 or near-perfect scores like 99 or 98.  

She thought to herself, ‘Shen Haifeng said he didn’t do well. Even if it’s bad, the lowest should be around 80, right?’  

But she couldn’t find his name anywhere at the top. She kept scanning until she reached the very bottom.  

There it was, dead last.  

Fang Xiaoluo held her forehead, shrinking into her seat, wishing she could storm home and give Shen Haifeng a good kick.  

She had dressed up to save his face, only to find herself the most conspicuous parent in the class, the parent of the last-place student!