On the right side was addition: "1 1," "1 2." Although it only went up to five, it was already enough to shock Lillian Clark. Back then, kindergarten was basically a big daycare, at most a group of kids singing nursery rhymes together. Usually, formal learning started in preschool, and the multiplication table was officially taught in first grade.

Emma Bennett looked at her mother nervously and anxiously.

Lillian Clark asked her, "How do you know these things?"

Emma Bennett's heart was pounding. "From the wall in kindergarten."

Before Lillian Clark could say anything, William Bennett laughed heartily and said, "Our Yaoyao is a little genius!"

Emma Bennett knew her father wasn't as sharp as her mother. She had the memory of a third grader, so writing Chinese characters and doing addition was no problem, but she only dared to pick simple things, afraid Lillian Clark would get suspicious.

Lillian Clark thought for a moment. "What's two plus two?"

Emma Bennett felt a bit guilty. She lowered her head, used her little hands to count, and after a while, four soft fingers stood up.

Lillian Clark looked at the fingers raised beside her daughter's cheek and gave Emma Bennett a big kiss on the face!

She, Lillian Clark, finally had a day when she could beat Susan Clark! She felt so proud and vindicated!

"Let's sign up for preschool. Tomorrow, Mommy will go find the teacher!"

Emma Bennett's almond-shaped eyes curved as she beamed with a bright smile.

~

When the little wild chrysanthemums by the roadside started to bud, September arrived.

Every year in C City, it always rained on the first day of school.

September 1st, 1996, was no exception. Charles Page watched as the road was instantly soaked, his pale fingers resting on the wheelchair, lost in thought.

Emily James, afraid her child would get wet, dressed him in a raincoat.

The night before, Emily James spoke calmly with her husband for the first time. She was especially uneasy about Charles Page starting preschool. Ever since Charles Page's legs were amputated, Emily James was often jolted awake by bloody, mangled scenes in her dreams—repeating images that became a nightmare tormenting a mother. Ever since the accident, she found her now-silent husband increasingly hard to tolerate.

But getting their child into school depended on Brian Page's connections.

There was no special education school near their home, and the country hadn't established such schools that year. For Emily James, she was even afraid of her child entering such a school, as if it would stamp Charles Page with a lifelong label of disability and specialness.

C City's Chaoyang Primary School had two preschool classes: Class One and Class Two. The Chinese teacher of Class One happened to be Brian Page's middle school classmate, surnamed Yu. Mr. Evans had already heard about Charles Page's special situation, so as soon as Brian Page asked, Mr. Evans agreed.

Chaoyang Primary School was a fifteen-minute walk from their neighborhood. Brian Page started up the motorcycle and signaled for Emily James to lift the child on.

The wheelchair was tied to the back of the motorcycle with a leather strap, and Charles Page was settled in the front seat.

Brian Page carefully protected his son, deliberately saying in a cheerful tone, "Let's go!"

Charles Page gripped the metal bar in front of the motorcycle, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

The light rain drizzled down. Out of his mother's sight, Charles Page's expression finally faded. Behind him was his father's broad chest, and Brian Page rode very slowly. Raindrops rarely hit Charles Page's face. Watching the curtain of rain, Charles Page knew he was about to enter a new environment.

He didn't want to go, but he knew he had to.

Because of preschool, his mother was finally willing to talk to his father again. He wanted a complete, normal family, even if his own body was no longer whole.

Charles Page gripped the metal bar tightly. On the way to school that first day, many elementary school kids with backpacks looked curiously at Brian Page's motorcycle.

The engine was loud.

When Charles Page was three, Brian Page bought this motorcycle. Back then, little Charles Page was thrilled to ride it, feeling like a cool little superhero. Everyone around looked at him with envy. Now, sitting on the same bike, as all those envious looks turned strange, Charles Page lowered his eyes in gloom.

All along the way, Charles Page saw countless childish faces, all as vibrant and full of hope as the name of Chaoyang Primary School itself.

Brian Page dropped him off at Mr. Evans's office door, and Charles Page sat in his wheelchair.

A water bottle hung from the wheelchair, filled with cool boiled water by Emily James for Charles Page to drink when he was thirsty.

September was still summer, and the plane trees at Chaoyang Primary School were lush and green.

The gentle female Chinese teacher, Chloe Evans, reached out her hand to him. "Hello, little Charles Page, I'm Mr. Evans, and also your father's friend. I'll be teaching you and taking good care of you from now on."

Charles Page's cold, pale fingers grasped Mr. Evans's hand, and he gave a polite smile.

He still didn't like talking to people he wasn't close to.

Mr. Evans already knew about Charles Page's situation, so she said to Brian Page, "You can go to work. I'll take good care of your child."

Brian Page left, and Mr. Evans said to Charles Page, "If you want to go to the bathroom, just raise your hand and tell the teacher, okay?"

Charles Page's pupils were pitch black as he silently looked at Chloe Evans, then nodded after a moment.

"All the kids in preschool are new. Maybe you'll see some friends from your old kindergarten class."

Charles Page cooperatively pulled at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained cold.

He didn't want to see anyone from before.