Gerard didn't seem like the type of person who couldn't say no to others, yet he allowed Sugar to draw close without objection.

As the day wound down and dusk approached, Lilah took Sugar home.

Before leaving, she glanced back at Gerard, who stood beside the butler, watching them depart.

Lowering her head to Sugar, she said gently, "Next time, let's invite big brother Gerard over to our house to play."

When it comes to children's friendships, it's best to let them unfold naturally and without interference, Lilah thought.

As a parent, her role was to pave the way for her child's growth and ensure she had a safe space to thrive.

Since Sugar and Gerard had bonded so quickly, Lilah decided not to interfere too much. If any issues arose, she could always step in to protect Sugar.

Two months passed quickly, and the kindergarten semester began.

During that time, Sugar and Gerard had become inseparable, spending nearly every day together as close friends.

When Jerrold finally came to his senses, he realized his little sister had already been “stolen away" by someone else, much to his chagrin.

He had too much to learn and too little time to spend with Sugar, unlike Gerard, who didn't attend school and spent his days reading at home.

But now, school was starting.

Once classes resumed, Sugar would reunite with her kindergarten friends, and she would likely return to being the lively, carefree Sugar she had always been.

Jerrold pondered over the matter, but Lilah had a different perspective.

The bond between Sugar and Muchen Zhou was unique—something that couldn't be replaced by anyone else.

Having a companion like him, in Lilah's view, was a valuable experience for Sugar.

In the end, things unfolded exactly as Lilah had predicted.

Sugar enjoyed her time at school, but once she was home, she preferred to seek out Muchen Zhou.

Even Jerrold, who initially tagged along to the Zhou family's house with the intention of "reclaiming his sister, ended up forming an unlikely friendship with Muchen Zhou after a few encounters.

There was something about Muchen Zhou's charm; it could even win over the Harris siblings, who were naturally reserved around unfamiliar people.

For the Zhou family's head steward, the Harris siblings were perhaps the biggest gain after his young master's return to the country.

He treated them with extra care, warmly welcoming them every time they visited. He even passed updates about them to someone overseas.

The Harris family had some business overseas, and this seemed like a good chance to strengthen ties.

Their sincerity was evident, and it showed how much they valued Muchen Zhou.