Only After I Was Reborn Did I Realize That I Had Childhood Sweethearts Chapter 494: The Ultimate Criterion is Love

After a week of intensive training, Sunflower Class at icun Kindergarten held its first parent-child cooking competition.

Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi each held i Xiaoyuan and i Zhixi’s hands as they entered the kindergarten—marking their first classroom visit since enrollnt day.

Though so mothers present were fair-skinned beauties, they paled beside the transcendent elegance of CStation’s two madams.

The mont Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi appeared, all parental gazes locked onto these rare maternal figures.

Wearing only light makeup yet radiating youthfulness surpassing even celebrities—their well-maintained, blissful lives leaving no trace of ti—they could pass for won in their early twenties.

Of course, Xia Yuan was a nationally beloved idol, while Lin Youxi’s refined deanor from attending elite business events with i Fang set her apart.

Yet watching them each guide a child, with i Fang chatting amiably between them before taking his spectator seat, they seed disarmingly approachable.

Whispers persisted among the parents:

“Are those Yuanbao and Xixi’s mothers? Wait—two moms? Not sisters?”

“Maybe an aunt or cousin…?”

“But Yuanbao’s mom looks familiar… almost like that celebrity.”

“What if… she is the celebrity? Then her husband would be—”

Though icun’s parents were socially established, a billionaire CEO among them felt too surreal to verify.

i Fang himself focused on photographing this milestone—the mothers’ first kindergarten activity with their daughters.

Despite her notorious kitchen struggles (inherited from her mother Yu), Xia Yuan had trained relentlessly with i Xiaoyuan, now brimming with confidence.

“Hmph…”

Watching Xia Yuan and i Xiaoyuan don chef hats determinedly, Lin Youxi chuckled. “You two seem very prepared.”

“Naturally!”

“Of course!”

Xia Yuan struck a proud pose. “While no match for Youxi’s skills, we’ve prepared a secret weapon!”

i Xiaoyuan mimicked her stance. “Secret weapon!”

“Do your best then.”

Lin Youxi turned to i Zhixi. “Shall we begin too, Little Xixi?”

“Mhm… What are we making, Xi Mama?”

“Do you want to win?”

“Not really…”

i Zhixi pouted. “Winners have to give speeches… I’m bad at that…”

She then reconsidered. “But doing poorly might disappoint Teacher Liu—”

“Then let’s aim for middle rank. Sound good?”

“Mhm! Okay!”

“Just a little effort is enough.”

Lin Youxi smiled.

As the competition began, three-year-olds’ contributions were predictably limited—focusing more on participation than skill.

Xia Yuan and i Xiaoyuan, however, operated with rare synergy:

“Yuanbao—eggs!”

“Cracked and ready, Yuan Mama!”

“Flour!”

“Here!”

“Mixer!”

“I’ll stir!”

“Your turn! I’ll chop the ham!”

“Yuan Mama, don’t cut your fingers!”

“Hey! I’m not that clumsy!”

Their fiery efficiency contrasted sharply with Lin Youxi and i Zhixi’s leisurely pace:

“Let’s shuck corn first.”

“Okay.”

“Now we’ll dice cucumbers—want to guide your hands?”

“Xi Mama, hold … I’m scared.”

“No rush… We’ll go slow.”

“Next, carrots. Ti to peel.”

Having only introduced kitchen tools days prior, Lin Youxi let i Zhixi savor the novelty under her reassuring supervision.

“It’s fine to take your ti… Daddy’s watching too.”

“Ah—”

Spotting i Fang filming with a DV cara, i Zhixi blushed and turned away—until Lin Youxi waved at the lens and whispered:

“Don’t want Daddy filming? I can ask him to stop.”

“Um…”

After a pause, i Zhixi faced the cara and waved shyly.

“Wow, so brave today!”

Lin Youxi nuzzled her ear. “Why the change?”

“Because… I like Daddy.”

“So you’ll do things you normally avoid… just for soone you love?”

i Zhixi nodded. “Is… that weird?”

“Not at all…”

Lin Youxi guided her hands to scoop boiled corn. “It just ans you love Daddy very much.”

“Love?”

“Yes—a feeling deeper than ‘like.’”

“How… deep?”

“Let’s finish cooking first…”

anwhile, Xia Yuan and i Xiaoyuan’s culinary spectacle reached its climax—employing gadgets from automatic egg beaters to pancake molds, dazzling other parents. 𝖗𝘢₦Ꝋ฿ÊŚ

“Cherry tomatoes!”

“Here!”

“Cheese slices!”

“Got ’em!”

“Heart skewers!”

“My turn!”

Their creation—”Yuan-style Egglet Burgers”—used mini pancake buns stacked with ham, tomatoes, mayo, lettuce, and cheese, speared with decorative skewers.

“Hmph… Perfection.”

Xia Yuan admired their work.

“So perfect.”

i Xiaoyuan mirrored her pose. “I want Daddy to try one!”

“Judges first. We’ll make more for Daddy later.”

“Next ti I’ll use that mold to make takoyaki for him!”

She whispered conspiratorially: “I peeked at Xi Mama’s recipes—I know how now!”

“My, what a clever girl!”

“Shh! Don’t let Xi Mama hear! I’ll surprise her!”

“Deal!”

Surveying simpler dishes nearby, their confidence soared—until an intoxicating aroma wafted from Lin Youxi’s station.

“Oh no, Yuan Mama—cover your nose!”

But Xia Yuan was already entranced. “It’s… heavenly!”

Even a humble stir-fry beca subli under Lin Youxi’s hands, drawing awed stares from all present.

“Xi Mama… wasn’t this supposed to be simple?”

“Ah, my apologies.”

Lin Youxi smiled sheepishly. “This is being casual…”

Eventually, all entries were presented, with every child receiving encouragent and “Best” awards in various categories:

Xia Yuan & i Xiaoyuan won “Most Creative” for their egglet burgers, while Lin Youxi & i Zhixi claid “Best Flavor” for their pine nut corn—all celebrating together onstage for photos.

“Yay! Everyone got awards!”

i Xiaoyuan sighed in relief, though Xia Yuan pouted.

“If there’s no real ranking, I should’ve just made cola chicken wings—my one reliable dish!”

“Yuan Mama! That attitude won’t beat Xi Mama’s cooking!”

“Oh? So you do prefer her food?”

“Eep! No! I didn’t an—giggle—”

i Zhixi loved the inclusive outco—no speech required—though the journey had been unexpectedly intense.

Post-event, the family piled into i Fang’s car, each receiving a sweet kiss as they boarded.

“Everyone was amazing today! I’m so lucky to have such wives and daughters.”

“Daddy, who was most amazing?”

i Xiaoyuan peered over the seat.

“Haha, isn’t it obvious?”

i Fang laughed. “You were all equally wonderful!”

“You sound just like Teacher Liu… never picking favorites…”

“Isn’t that nice?”

“Daddy…”

i Xiaoyuan’s excitent dimd. “After all our training… we got the sa award as kids who just tossed a salad. It feels… unfair.”

“You feel cheated?”

Lin Youxi inquired.

“Mhm…”

She rubbed her nose. “Xi Mama and Xixi deserved ‘Best Flavor.’ Yuan Mama and I earned ‘Most Creative.’ But Jiajia’s dad just sliced cucumbers and got ‘Best’ too…”

Wow.

My child is philosophizing at three.

Pride swelled in i Fang even as he pondered his response:

[ “Life isn’t fair—effort rarely outweighs privilege…” ]

No! Not giving my toddler existential dread!

[ “Awards don’t matter—you’ll always be our best!” ]

That dodges the question!

Exchanging helpless looks with Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi, i Fang stalled—until i Zhixi suddenly patted her sister’s arm.

“Jiejie… Maybe Teacher Liu wasn’t judging the food.”

“Huh?”

“Maybe… it was about ‘love.’”

She whispered. “All parents ca to make their kids happy… so everyone got ‘Best’…”

As the adults applauded her insight, i Zhixi shyly rubbed her nose.

“Well said, Xixi!”

“Exactly—the criterion was love.”

However fleeting, these shared monts would beco cherished childhood treasures.

“My brilliant girl… articulating such wisdom.”

i Fang leaned back to kiss i Zhixi’s forehead—the rare paternal respect (not just doting) filling her with quiet pride.

“But… if it’s about love, why call it a ‘cooking contest’?”

i Xiaoyuan’s follow-up gave the adults collective headaches.

“D-Don’t overthink, Yuanbao! You’ll ruin your childhood!”

anwhile, event photos/videos uploaded online began circulating—until a CStation user comnted:

[Aren’t those the station chief,Young Miss, and Yuanbao? Spitting images!]