"I’m afraid you’re the one who’s going to lose, and then you’ll cry and cheat, won’t you?" Sheng Sheng absolutely despised the idea.

Zun Zun raised both fists: "Let’s compete then, who’s afraid of who, huh? Just don’t cry when the time comes. The winner is king, the loser is a villain. If you lose, you can be my horse." Ah, another idiom spoken correctly—so much potential! Time to praise myself again.

Zun Zun looked at Gu Shaocheng and said, "Daddy, I want to compete with Sheng Sheng. I want to make him cry!"

Gu Shaocheng pondered for a moment. It was indeed a good idea to motivate the two children; though he wasn’t genuinely enthusiastic about such competitions, he decisively said: "Alright, every year, Sheng Sheng, Zun Zun, and Wubai will have a comprehensive competition. The winner will get the reward they want, but if you lose, you will be punished by me, okay?"

"Got it!"

"Got it!"

"Got it!"

The three little ones nodded in unison, secretly determined not to lose because losing would be embarrassing.

Anyway, this Christmas night was quite enjoyable!

After dinner, it suddenly snowed outside. Sheng Sheng was delighted, thinking it wouldn’t snow today. It’s a shame they couldn’t make a snowman yet; the snow wasn’t thick enough.

"Daddy, are there presents for Christmas?" Zun Zun ran up to Gu Shaocheng, eyes full of anticipation.

Gu Shaocheng patted his head: "Santa Claus will put gifts in your stockings tomorrow morning. Before you sleep tonight, remember to put your stockings at the bedside."

Sheng Sheng carefully remembered what Daddy said. But in just two hours, he’ll be sent away. Will there really be presents when he wakes up tomorrow morning?

Zun Zun clapped his hands: "Great! I’ll prepare two stockings; Santa will give me two gifts, right?"

Chenxing pulled Sheng Sheng aside, held her youngest son tightly, reluctant to let go, unwilling for him to leave her side. Seeing him getting thinner and darker made her terribly sad.

"Sheng Sheng, your Daddy promised me that every month I could come and spend a day with you. What do you want to eat? Mommy will bring it next time." She felt Shaocheng was too harsh. She wanted to see her precious son every week but only managed to secure once a month.

She knew Shaocheng had his difficulties. Being the chairman didn’t mean being above everything; many eyes were watching him. Yet, Chenxing felt once a month was way too little. She didn’t want her son away from her side at all.

Sheng Sheng gently held Chenxing’s face, his voice tender but firm, without any resentment.

"Mommy, don’t be sad. I’ll take good care of myself."

"And Mommy, I chose to come here on my own. I believe this place will help me grow; I want to be strong like Daddy. This place will help me achieve my dreams, so don’t worry. Sheng Sheng doesn’t blame Daddy at all."

Chenxing clutched Sheng Sheng’s hand, wrapping it warmly: "Really, really no regrets?"

"Daddy has his difficulties. We must share them with Daddy, right? Mommy, I didn’t want Zun Zun to come here alone, so I chose to come myself. No regrets, Mommy, don’t worry. Look, Sheng Sheng is doing fine, right?"

"Fine? You’ve gotten darker and thinner."

Sheng Sheng hugged Chenxing and gave her a kiss: "Mommy, didn’t Daddy say ’Indulgent mothers raise useless sons’? Just let me go through some trials."

"But you’re only five, what trials can a five-year-old go through?" A child so understanding at five makes her unsure whether to laugh or cry—so heartbreaking.

Sheng Sheng rarely grinned and cheekily said, "This is called winning at the starting line, Mommy."

....................................