Chapter 194: Chapter 204: Ian Gets Jealous

“Nathan, what is this behavior? Where are the table manners Mommy taught you? How many times have I told you not to keep taking from the same dish, no matter how good it is? You’re being incredibly rude. Is it because we can’t afford to feed you at home? Why are you so greedy? If you eat it all, what will everyone else have?”

Renee Jennings frowned slightly, her voice stern.

Naomi Kenway couldn’t watch anymore. “That’s enough, Renee Jennings. He’s just eating. Stop acting like he’s committed some unforgivable crime.”

Renee Jennings huffed. “I’m just disciplining my child.”

“You never seem to care about Nathan normally, but you’re suddenly so attentive when it’s time to criticize him?”

“You! Naomi Kenway, what does this have to do with you?!”

Nathan Lynch seemed to be quite used to Renee Jennings’s criticism and accusations. His eyes didn’t well up with tears like they usually did. He simply put down his chopsticks and calmly stated a fact: “No one else was eating this dish. I wasn’t stopping anyone from having some.”

“So you think you’re in the right? Nathan, is this the proper attitude to have when you’ve done something wrong?”

“I didn’t do anything wrong. You’re the one who did. You’re yelling at me in front of everyone. You’re a bad mom.”

Renee Jennings was momentarily stunned. This was the first time she had ever seen this side of Nathan Lynch.

“The only reason I kept eating this dish is because it’s the closest one to me. The dishes I want to eat are too far away, and I can’t reach them at all!”

Nathan Lynch picked up his chopsticks again and began shoveling rice into his mouth.

Everyone around them looked shocked.

Renee Jennings’s face flushed.

[Why is Renee Jennings causing trouble again? A lot of people say that with all the money she donates, she can’t be that bad. But I think if someone is this irresponsible and careless with her own stepson, how good can she really be?]

[Come to think of it, Renee Jennings was just serving food to Six the whole time. Did she even once consider Nathan’s feelings? To put it bluntly, who’s her actual child here?]

[Some stepmoms are good, some are bad. Poor Nathan, stuck with such an irresponsible, awful one.]

[Don’t try to stir up drama in the comments. Back then, Nathan was heartbroken after his birth mother abandoned him. It was Rachel who slowly guided him and played games with him. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.]

[Speaking of charity, good people usually don’t want their names known, but Renee Jennings can’t wait to announce it to the whole world. It really makes you question her motives.]

[What’s the person above talking about? By your logic, is it wrong for our Rachel to do charity now? No matter what, our Rachel donated real money. That’s a lot better than some pretty-faced celebrity who never attends charity galas and doesn’t donate a single cent!]

[Renee Jennings built this persona for herself. What, so now people aren’t allowed to comment on it?]

…

Renee Jennings’s live stream chat was in chaos as the two factions of viewers began to fight.

“Here, Six, have some of this.” Renee Jennings continued to serve her food.

Six subconsciously glanced in Nathan Lynch’s direction. She felt incredibly guilty looking at the silent, withdrawn little boy. “I don’t want to eat anymore, Aunt Rachel. You should serve your son some food. I think… he seems very lonely…”

Naomi Kenway ate absently, her gaze toward Nathan Lynch filled with heartache.

Suddenly, her vision went dark, and she felt a soft touch over her eyes. Naomi Kenway grabbed a pair of small, soft hands and laughed. “Ian? Why did you suddenly cover Mommy’s eyes?”

Only then did Ian Shaw lower his hands. He pouted his little lips, looking aggrieved. “Mommy, why do you keep staring at other kids? Why aren’t you looking at Ian? Is it because Ian isn’t cute enough? Ian is jealous!”

As he spoke, he leaned into Naomi Kenway, nestling his little head in her embrace.

Naomi Kenway quickly hugged and coaxed him, saying earnestly, “To us, Ian will always be the cutest kid. No one could ever replace you.”

Satisfied with the answer, Ian smiled and gave Naomi Kenway a loud SMOOCH.

[Ian only ever blames himself. You’re making me cry, seriously. But you can tell your mommy really loves you, so don’t be sad, okay?]

[Auntie also wants to get a sweet kiss from baby Ian. It must be sweet and soft, and taste like candy!]

[It’s only with Nina that Ian is so expressive. When he’s doing tasks with the other kids, he usually seems pretty stoic.]

[Now *this* is how a parent and child should interact. It’s so heartwarming. I suggest Renee Jennings sign up for a class and learn a thing or two!]

[Ian is such a sensitive little boy. Nina, you have to love him lots for us~]

…

Naomi Kenway glanced at Nathan Lynch. He was still only eating the dishes in front of him, but he was no longer strictly limiting himself to the stir-fried green peppers and pork.

“Nathan, which dish do you like? Auntie will get it for you.”

Nathan Lynch paused for a moment, then hesitantly named a dish.

Naomi Kenway looked at the dish. It was indeed very far away.

When she turned back, she saw her own son staring blankly at her, that same aggrieved look on his face.

Naomi Kenway smiled and ruffled his hair. “Ian, Brother Nathan can’t reach that dish. Sweetie, how about you go help Brother Nathan get some?”

Ian’s eyes lit up. He nimbly picked up some of the food and placed it on a plate. After hopping off his stool, he scampered over to Nathan Lynch.

Nathan Lynch took the plate, stunned for a moment. “…Thank you, Ian.”

“You’re welcome.”

As he ate the long-awaited dish, he found that he couldn’t recall its former taste at all. This was his mother’s specialty, but he had already forgotten how long it had been since he’d last eaten it.

He also felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.

’My stepmom told me not to play with stupid kids, that it was only natural for a stupid kid to have no friends. But I still feel a pang of sadness, especially remembering the moment Ian Shaw so enthusiastically brought me food.’

’And besides,’ he thought, ’Ian isn’t an idiot at all.’

After dinner, Naomi Kenway helped the villagers clear the table. The other guests were also busy, either washing dishes or wiping tables.

Naomi Kenway was in charge of washing the dishes.

There was no faucet in the courtyard, only a large water vat by the door. She heard it was filled with water the villagers had drawn from a well.

Feeling that there wasn’t enough water in the basin, Naomi Kenway called out to Six to help her find a ladle, as she wasn’t familiar with the courtyard’s layout.

Six readily agreed with a loud, clear voice. She quickly handed the ladle to Naomi Kenway, saying with a smile, “Here you go, Fairy Sister.”

Naomi Kenway took it with a smile. “Thank you, Six.”

Six quickly shook her head. “It was no trouble, no trouble at all!”

Renee Jennings happened to witness this scene. She frowned. “Nina, how could you be so outrageous? Why are you ordering Six around? Don’t you have your own hands? Look at Six, is she in any condition to be working? Her leg is injured, and it’s hard for her to walk. We should be helping her, not making her run around the yard on her bad leg!”

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