Shen Xi looked up in surprise at the phone she was handed.
It was a video of Shuo Shuo during the finals.
"Is there anything else besides this?" Shen Xi asked, a trace of worry in her voice.
"No. So far, this is the only video I've seen shared in my朋友圈," Xie Yifei replied, her face beaming as she stared intently at the phone screen. "Look at Shuo Shuo's little face, so calm and collected, and incredibly cool. He's so lovable no matter how you look at him. If I had known, I should have gone with you to accompany him at the competition.
And you too. With your child performing so exceptionally, why didn't you record the entire process? That way, the rest of us could have seen it when you got back."
Listening to Xie Yifei's admiring yet slightly chiding words, Shen Xi’s thoughts drifted back to the competition venue.
At that time, her heart had been clenched so tightly that she was solely focused on the match, not remembering to take photos or videos.
"This was Shuo Shuo's first competition, and I wasn't sure of his performance at first, so I didn't think about much else.
Next time Shuo Shuo participates in a similar competition, I'll definitely bring you along to be in charge of photography and videography," Shen Xi said, smiling as she looked up at her.
"Okay. It's a deal." Xie Yifei's slightly dim eyes instantly lit up. She continued, "Xi Xi, with Shuo Shuo achieving such a great result today, why are you still at work?
If I were you, I'd definitely be at home with him, celebrating properly."
"We already celebrated during lunch. It's just a small achievement, and if I make too big a deal out of it, I'm afraid he might get carried away," Shen Xi said dismissively, touching her forehead with one hand.
"Xi Xi, how can you think like that? If it were Chen Chen, he might get carried away. But with Shuo Shuo's steady temperament, I don't think he will."
Xie Yifei's beautiful eyes darted back and forth. She walked a few steps in front of Shen Xi and then suddenly turned around.
"How about this, tonight, I'll call Jian Fan, and you can notify Qin Si Ye. We can rent out a place outside and celebrate Shuo Shuo properly.
This is the child's first Rubik's Cube competition, and he achieved such a great result. We can't just let it pass by so plainly; it needs a celebratory ritual."
After hearing her suggestion, Shen Xi also felt that she might have been too low-key in her handling of the matter.
She recalled seeing a sentence online: "Life needs a sense of ritual."
Especially every progress and achievement in a child's growth process requires a celebratory ritual.
That is a beam of light ignited in the child's heart, encouraging him to move forward better.
"Alright. It's just that Qin Si Ye might not be able to make it. You know his father is hospitalized, and he..."
Before Shen Xi could finish her sentence, Xie Yifei quickly interrupted, "His father is hospitalized, but aren't his stepmother and brother looking after him? How do you know he might not be able to come?
You and the three children hold a very high position in his heart. I dare say, he will definitely attend our gathering when he hears this good news. Shall we make a bet?"
"Okay. I'll try," Shen Xi said softly, her lips pulling to the sides.
From morning until now, that man hadn't contacted her.
He had chased her to Country B some time ago, and after returning, he had recuperated at home for a week due to a leg injury, unable to work at the company. There must be a lot of backlog.
Yesterday at the birthday banquet, because of her, Qin Si Ye had a major argument with his father, which eventually led to his father's hospitalization and the discovery of a pulmonary nodule.
It was imaginable that he must be both busy and worried at this moment.
Therefore, she hadn't told him about Shuo Shuo winning the Rubik's Cube competition.
Xie Yifei's suggested way of celebration was not bad. Although she couldn't explicitly tell Qin Si Ye that his son had won the Rubik's Cube competition.
But if he could really show up, it would not leave regrets during this special period of the child's growth.
Just as Xie Yifei was about to turn to leave the room, Shen Xi's phone rang.
She picked it up and said warmly, "Grandma. Yes, I'm at work."
Xie Yifei's steps paused involuntarily.
"Ah? You know too?" Shen Xi looked up at Xie Yifei, her expression somewhat troubled.
She finally said, "Alright. I'll bring the children over tonight."
Seeing Shen Xi hang up the phone, Xie Yifei immediately sensed a change in the situation and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Qin Si Ye's grandmother also knows about this and insisted that I bring the three children over tonight to celebrate with her," Shen Xi replied, sounding a little embarrassed.
"Ah?" Xie Yifei's face showed disappointment, then she smiled and said, "Then you go. We'll get together another time."
Shen Xi stood up and smiled, holding Xie Yifei's hand. "I'm sorry, Yifei. You know Grandma's health isn't very good, and she fainted yesterday.
I really can't refuse her. How about this, I'll mention it to her, and you and Jian Fan can both come tonight. Since everyone already knows each other."