Cheng Ying had been under too much emotional strain recently. After a brief bout of sobbing, Chi Wu calmed down. Although the incident had happened some time ago, the realization had struck her so suddenly. She truly hadn't thought the old lady’s muddled state had any real consequence. Since moving to the city, Cheng Ying had treated the old woman like a child, ensuring she lived comfortably. But that single utterance—Mom—truly shocked Cheng Ying into awareness; she was stunned. She finally understood the difference between being muddled and being truly gone.

After all that agitation, she felt considerably lighter. Before Chi Wu could even comfort her, Cheng Ying said, "I'm just being overly sensitive."

Chi Wu felt like he’d made the trip for nothing; he hadn't managed to be of any use. He patted his wife’s shoulder. "What’s this about being sensitive? It’s fine. Did the two little ones upset you?"

He still needed to get to the root of it. Although the two children were truly infuriating, he couldn't believe they had driven Cheng Ying to tears. It shouldn't be possible; the children didn’t possess that level of power. Who had they taken after? Those troublesome kids.

Cheng Ying replied, "No, I just feel like Grandma has truly lost her mind, that she won't ever understand again."

Chi Wu glanced at the two children beside him, realizing there had been a misunderstanding. What a situation this had turned into. Naturally, Chi Wu felt a touch of apology. The children were truly well-behaved. But where was his wife getting this idea? Wasn't the old lady always like this?

Chi Wu didn't realize that the simple address of "Mom" had deeply rattled Cheng Ying. For the sharp-witted old lady to become this way was something Cheng Ying found hard to accept.

Before, when the old lady was muddled, she’d just make a few silly, jovial remarks, forgetting things occasionally, but she wasn't foolish, was she?

But now, this realization was something Cheng Ying could not reconcile.

Chi Wu placated his wife, following her lead. "It’s all my fault. I say, I took on raising two children for you, and I haven't done enough to help you yourself. What do you call this confusion of Grandma’s? You don't know what truly confused looks like. If you don't believe me, ask Grandma for the gold bracelets on her arms; she definitely won't give them to you."

Chi Wu continued, "Speaking of which, the kids are getting older. You don't have to manage them so tightly all the time. Just drop them off at school, let the teachers worry about them—that would be better." The best way to completely ease his wife's tension was to focus on the children, who were clearly the cause of her stress and why she was so tightly wound.

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu. "Are those your biological children? Can you be a little more responsible? Is that something you should be saying?"

Chi Wu genuinely wanted his wife to relax. As for the children, he thought they were fine; they really didn't need that much worrying over. There were two aunties alongside Cheng Ying watching them. If his wife insisted on doing everything herself, wasn't she just making things hard for herself?

Still, what he had just said was definitely out of line. If Chi Wu's own parents had heard that, they would have kicked him twice over for good measure.

Cheng Ying thought of her own two troublesome children. Even with her strict supervision, they were this maddening. If she just let go now, it would be a disaster; they'd grow up to be two eternally stuck in their adolescent phase neurotics.

Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu. This man was too unreliable. Is that how you raise children? What a terrible realization that was.

The burden on her shoulders for the future was immense. Until the children grew up healthy and normal, she couldn't afford to relax for a single moment.

Chi Wu had no idea that this one piece of well-intentioned advice to comfort his wife would lead to a loss of trust. His intentions, truly, were always for the children's sake. He had nowhere to appeal his case.

As for the old lady nearby, who was quietly whimpering after no one answered when she called out "Mom," Cheng Ying felt utterly defeated. Do whatever you want, but please don't torture my fragile nerves like this.

Chi Wu had come over, but he still hadn't grasped why his wife’s emotions had suddenly flared up. Cheng Ying couldn't bring herself to say it.

Cheng Ying’s career had never been properly settled due to the children's family situation. She had originally planned to work once the children started school, but now it seemed too soon. No matter how difficult it was, she would have to ask Cheng Ming to pull some strings again; she would stay home for another six months.

The children’s father was simply too untrustworthy. This was why, after finally enduring until the children were a year and a half old and old enough for nursery school, Cheng Ying still hadn't managed to become a career woman.

However, Cheng Ying’s professional development hadn't stopped. She had also studied the psychological development of newborns and geriatric care. Cheng Ying felt that although her internship period was long, the practical results were solid.

In the future, she would possess all the noble qualities and medical ethics required of a practicing physician. She was someone cultivated both inside and out.

Time slowly passed, matching Cheng Ying’s expectations. These past few months felt like they had aged her by ten years. The two children were not adorable at all; they were little demons—as mischievous and annoying as possible, truly universally disliked.

When the old lady wasn’t paying attention, the two children dared to snatch chicken feathers. It was better if the old lady was aware, but when she was muddled, the three of them would get into a brawl. The only comfort to Cheng Ying was that they only argued verbally and never resorted to physical violence, which made her role as a parent incredibly difficult. The core issue—who to side with—was something Cheng Ying hadn't figured out.

Still, the chicken feathers Cheng Ying had secretly hoarded were enough to make a proper feather duster.

If it weren't for her spatial ability, allowing her to secretly send the old mother hen into storage for a quick restorative session one or two times when the children and the old lady weren't looking, the chicken would have been plucked bald long ago.

It was truly a life of constant chaos and noise.

On September 1st, all the kindergartens started their sessions. Cheng Ying’s two children, just over a year and a half old, could finally be rid of the two little devils. Cheng Ying almost wanted to host a celebratory banquet; it felt like her own liberation day.

Cheng Ying dressed the two children beautifully. Pretty children get preferential treatment these days, and Cheng Ying herself appreciated good looks, so dressing them up had its advantages. What if the teacher was also a fan of aesthetics? They might gain some small advantage. The children were so difficult to manage; who knew how the teacher would handle them?

Cheng Ying rationalized that this was for the children’s sake. At least if the teacher found them excessively cute, they might be spared a few moments of standing in the corner.

The couple happily prepared to take the children to school, but they met an obstacle at the doorway: the children’s very first steps toward independence were intercepted.

Cheng Ying’s entire mood soured. This felt like an ominous sign for the children’s upcoming educational journey. It wasn't superstition; Cheng Ying genuinely felt these two children were destined to cause endless worry.

Chi Wu looked at the old lady blocking the door. "Grandma, be good now. Stay here at home; they’ll be back in the evening."

The old lady shook her head vehemently, refusing to budge. She held the children's hands tightly and wouldn't let go. She wasn't even holding the chicken anymore. Although the three of them often fought fiercely over things, when it mattered, they were harmonious little companions.

She didn't say much, but she made her refusal perfectly clear.

Cheng Ying suggested, "Let Grandma go for a drive to clear her head. It would be nice for her to come see the kids off too."

Chi Wu agreed that was a good idea. The old lady didn't object and settled into the car obediently with the children.

The two children, who had been calling her "Grandma," also expressed their welcome. The problem was, this overly cheerful family forgot that the old lady was confused. Since it was the first day of nursery school, the classes welcomed parents inside for tours to put the parents at ease.

Cheng Ying brought the old lady and the two children onto the campus. The old lady was overjoyed. She immediately grabbed hold of her two little grandsons and refused to leave.

Cheng Ying awkwardly stepped forward to take the old lady’s hand. "Let’s go, Grandma. They don't enroll elderly children here."

With one old woman and two little ones, neither listened to the teacher nor the parents. They insisted on playing inside the school grounds while class was in session. This was attracting a crowd of onlookers.

Cheng Ying wanted to cry. The old lady seemed determined to relive her beautiful childhood, but this was not the way to do it; societal structures wouldn’t allow it. They wouldn't accept her as a nursery student.

Chi Wu covered his head, reflecting. He hadn't paid enough attention to his wife; look how distressed she was. It was hard enough for her normally.

Then he looked at the circle of people gathered outside. Chi Wu felt his head wasn't enough; his brain felt like it was throbbing with pain.

Cheng Ying now just wanted to drag the two children back home with her, but only if the old lady was willing to leave the kindergarten willingly.

The most infuriating were the two little terrors. They dragged the old lady everywhere, playing with everything they could reach. Whether the old lady could climb something or not didn't matter; watching was enough for her.

The old lady, who hadn't spoken much for a long time, actually spoke to Cheng Ying: "I'm not going back. It’s fun here."

The two children nodded in agreement. "We’re playing with Grandma," implying that the parents were free to leave.

The kindergarten gatekeeper stood nearby, watching this family scene. "You are disturbing the other children’s class!"

Cheng Ying covered her face and tried to pull her son back. How could he be so undisciplined? He was supposed to be inside learning.

Her son burst into tears with a loud wail: "I’m staying with Grandma! Make us all listen to Grandma!"

If there was ever proof of sisterly or brotherly bonds, Cheng Ying knew it now. When the son cried, the daughter cried too. It was more immediate than telepathy.

The old lady didn't cry; instead, she stood to the side and began cursing, scolding Cheng Ying from head to toe. It was a spectacular performance, more fluid than her street-ranting days back in the village. Her point was clear: she hadn't let the three of them have enough fun.

All the parents who hadn't left, along with the teachers, were now looking at the couple with utterly mortified faces.

Cheng Ying wondered who on earth was so thoughtless as to bring so many people along to drop off their child at school.

Chi Wu was already thinking about transferring the children to a different school; they wouldn't even bother trying to get the tuition refunded.

He truly didn't dare face the principal’s stern, tight expression again. This was causing far too much trouble for the institution.

Why did the two children have to be so loud?

At home, they would certainly discipline the children. But seeing the old lady standing there, hands on her hips, scolding, felt so jarring. The old lady was supposed to be like this, but to see her muddled state hadn't diminished her fighting spirit or her imposing presence at all.

Chi Wu, as the man, couldn't let his wife be publicly humiliated like that. He went over to speak with the principal.

The gatekeeper had already ushered all the other parents out, leaving only their family. The school had also asked their family to leave, but since they wouldn't go, they were stuck.

Chi Wu adopted a sincere demeanor, which managed to impress the principal, especially given the generous offer he made. The principal was moved enough to allow the old lady to stay a while longer, but securing her silence would be even better, as it was significantly impacting the children's emotional and mental development.

Chi Wu expressed his understanding, saying that he and his wife were prime examples of being led astray emotionally by the old lady. He agreed that the children absolutely shouldn't follow their example. Listening to the old lady lose her temper, he quipped, was as pleasant as listening to music—or rather, it must be psychologically damaging.