Chapter 19: First Day

After having a short conversation with Hong Yu, Heero found this Hope Preschool was more like daycare rather than school. The parents dropped their children here and picked them up when they finished their work.

Yes, most parents were busy with their work and leave their children at preschool. At least, most of the children had the same circumstance.

As for his co-worker Teacher Hong Yu, she had a cheerful personality and often smiled as they talked. Especially for today, she was quite happy with him around.

Oh, she was also the third person who did not look at him with a strange or suspicious gaze because of the clothes he wore. The first one was Teacher Lin and the second one was Han Ying. Hong Yu is instead quite talkative despite today being their first meeting.

Before he came, Teacher Hong Yu took care of the children alone. So she was quite happy when she got a partner. She enthusiastically told Heero about her 2 years of teaching experience after knowing this was the first time Heero became a teacher.

Right at 7 am, Heero had to be in class one, waiting for the children to come. Heero didn't have to wait for a long time as two little girls and their mothers entered the class.

The two little girls were wearing blue Hope Preschool uniforms while carrying a bag. Heero felt somewhat familiar with the outfit of these two little girls. Without a doubt, Heero had seen the uniform somewhere but he could not remember.

The two little girls seemed reluctant to part with their mother. The girl with a blue ribbon was even crying after knowing her mother would leave her here. Because of the girl with a blue ribbon was crying, the other one also started crying.

However, with two years of teaching experience in Hope Preschool. Hong Yu coaxed the two little girls and they stopped crying. As expected of experts.

Meanwhile, Heero introduced himself to the two little girl's mothers.

"Hello~ I am the new teacher here, Teacher Xing."

He kept receiving a strange and suspicious gaze from the two mothers. So he took this chance to introduce himself, polite and a fresh smile. Each time he greeted or talked to someone, Heero gave out a vibe of an energetic and kind young man.

The two mothers were the same as the others that he met all this time. After having a little conversation with Heero, the two left the school with ease.

Afterward, more and more children kept coming. Most of them were sent to the school by their mother. Everything went smoothly, each time someone was crying, Teacher Hong Yu used her coaxing technique to smooth things over. As expected of an expert.

Heero meanwhile got in touch with the guardians. He was a new teacher after all. He had to get familiar with the children's parents, so they would not worry to entrust their children to a weird stranger like him.

Heero was going quite well until he found a familiar face.

"Huh, Big Brother, what are you doing here?!"

Suddenly Heero heard a familiar voice. He looked toward the familiar voice and found it was Lan Lan. Butcher Wang's daughter, Lan Lan. She was accompanied by a woman that looked younger than Butcher Wang.

Heero could see the little Lan Lan somewhat resemblance with the woman, especially their eyes. Lan Lan really did inherit her mother's traits.

'No wonder Butcher Wang and Lan Lan do not look alike…' Thought Heero as he approached Lan Lan.

He rubbed her hair and said, "Good morning, Lan Lan."

After that, Heero greeted Lan Lan's mother, "Hello, Mrs. Wang I am a new teacher here, you can call me Teacher Xing."

"Oh, hello Teacher Xing~ I am Wang Mi. I have heard a lot about you from Lan Lan. Thank you for helping my daughter yesterday~" Wang Mi slightly bowed her head to express her thanks.

It seemed Lan Lan already told her mother about yesterday's incident.

Heero also bowed his head slightly.

Meanwhile, Lan Lan was casting a dubious look toward Heero. She seemed could not believe Heero became her teacher.

"Big Brother, how did you become a teacher when you did not even know about the clock?" Lan Lan finally could not resist asking out loud. In her mind, Heero seemed to be unreliable as a teacher.

Heero's smile stiffened. After hearing Lan Lan's explanation regarding the clock, Heero knew the clock was a basic thing here. He did not even know about the clock then what he could teach to the children if the children were more knowledgeable than him?

Lan Lan might be thinking like this. However, Heero could not refute Lan Lan. He really did know a little about this world.

"You don't even know how to use chopsticks, but you can be a teacher, " Lan Lan added.

"If Big Brother can be a teacher… this means Lan Lan also could be a teacher…" Lan Lan's eyes sparkled as she came to a conclusion.

Heero was crying inside, a little girl like Lan Lan did not think of him as a teacher at all. But he knew that Lan Lan's thought was understandable. A person who did not know basic things such as clock and chopsticks children like Lan Lan would think he was not good enough to be a teacher.

'I have to work hard to impress the children.' Heero was determined to convince Lan Lan with his ability.

"Qing Lan!" Mrs.Wang called Lan Lan in high intonation.

Lan Lan stuck her tongue out and apologized. Even though she apologized, it was clear she was not seriously apologizing. She just did it because her mother reprimanded her.

Heero squatted down and rubbed Lan Lan's hair again.

After that, Lan Lan waves her tiny hand toward Heero asking him to come closer. Heero brought his head close to Lan Lan.

"Big Brother, if you don't know something, you can ask me. But don't forget the sweets, okay?"

After that, Lan Lan ran to the classroom. Leaving Heero stunned as he smiled wryly there.

"I am sorry, Lan Lan is so mischievous."

"It's okay, she is still a child after all, " Heero waved his hand embarrassedly.

"I have to leave now, please take care of Lan Lan." Wang Mi bowed her head once again.

Heero returned with the same gesture and smile.

Wang Mi turned around but after a few steps, she turned back and said, "Please stop at our shop, we will treat you to a meal."

After that, Wang Mi left the Hope Preschool.

Except for the Lan Lan episode, everything went smooth for Heero. It was just the special attention children, Shen Miao, Jiang Yujin, and Kang Myung Hee acted differently with the other children.

Right at 8 am, all children arrived in the classroom, 31 children in total. They sat in their respective seat and had their attention on Heero they were all looking towards Heero.

Heero was a new face and added with the clothes he wore the children kept looking toward Heero curiously.

"Good Morning~" Teacher Hong Yu started the class with a greeting.

"Good Morning, Teacher Hong~" The children returned the greeting in unison. However, their gazes were still glued toward Heero.

"It seems you guys are curious about him. He is the new teacher, Teacher Xing~. Starting today, he will be your teacher as well~"

Teacher Hong Yu introduced Heero to the class with her sweet voice.

"Good Morning, Teacher Xing~" The children greeted Heero in unison.

Heero stepped forward and returned the greeting. Everything went smoothly and the class started with the new teacher's introduction. After a brief introduction, Teacher Hong Yu took over the class.

Heero knew his duty was to watch how Teacher Hong Yu taught the children while giving her assistance.

Even though Heero did a brief introduction, the children's gazes were still at him. It was clear the brief introduction from Heero could not satisfy children's curiosity.

Teacher Hong Yu also realized this, "Do you have a question for Teacher Xing?"

As soon as Teacher Hong Yu threw this inquiry out, 12 children raised their hands. Teacher Hong Yu picked a little girl called Man Man.

"Teacher Xing, what clothes do you wear? Is it kimono? Teacher Xing, are you coming from the south area? Teacher Xing, what South Area does look like? Teacher Xing…"

"Stop! Stop! Stop…" Heero stopped Man Man. This little girl was sure having a lot of questions for him.

"Man Man, ask one by one, okay?" Heero was somewhat flustered. He was afraid that Man Man would ask something he did not know. That was why, before Man Man got to that point, he stopped Man Man.

"First, my mother made clothes for me, it's not a kimono. Second, I am not from the South Area, I come from the outside of the city. Third, I have been in the South Area for a while, it's the same as here." Heero answered what Man Man asked him.

Teacher Hong Yu laughed inwardly as she saw Heero flustered. Looking at Heero, brought the memories of the first time she became a teacher. At that time, she was more flustered than the current Heero.

Just like that, the class started with QnA between Heero and the children. It was a great success as the children accepted Heero quickly.