Chapter 211: Family Chemistry.
Leo was stunned, and so was Snow, they didn't expect Lily to such a thing, she had always loved going to school and learning new things. How could she all of a sudden dislike school.
Leo wanted to ask when the system said, 'Ping: Host, help your daughter relax and calm down. Reward: Ten percent stakes in the Wagoner Racing Department.'
The reward stunned Leo and he asked, 'System, how is this reward relevant?'
'Ping: Host, sports are the best stress relieving activities in the world and moto sports is one of the most adrenaline triggering sports, this is why, the system provided this reward. Even if someone does not drive a car flat out, they can still feel calm watching the entire process.'
Leo replied, 'I wonder if the drivers and the support staff also feels the same.'
'Ping: It is always one step at a time, for some, driving to the top speed is relief, and to some crossing the finish line. While some rejoice driving across the circuit without causing any accident or taking any penalty. Different people find different goals to relieve their stress host.'
Leo sighed as he could not wrap his mind around it and replied, 'If you say so.'
Snow looked at him and asked, "What is all this about?"
Leo shrugged and stood up as he said, "Let me have a chat with her."
Snow rolled her eyes and said, "I am coming with you."
The two people went inside the little girl's room and they found Lily laying on the bed with her head buried in the pillow. Leo could sense that she was not crying but she was not really happy either. He went to her side and sat down on the bed as he asked, "Love, did anyone say anything to you in the school? Did Miss Verse scold you?"
As a parent, how could he know what was going on with her? The mind of a child was just that sensitive, but Lily shook her head yet she didn't raise her head. Leo leaned closer and he spoke softly, "Baby, if you do not tell me the reason why you don't wish to go to school, how can I agree?"
Lily turned around slowly, she was sad and Leo couldn't help but cradle her in his arms as Snow sat down next to them. The little girl said, "Today in class, everyone acted as if I was a new student. They didn't talk to me like they used to. Many times I made a mistake while coloring but they all just praised me. Why should I go to the place where they all just lie to me? They don't want to be friends with me anymore."
Leo patted her back gently and then he looked at Snow who narrowed her gaze before she said, "I will look into it, you don't have worry."
Leo nodded and said, "Lily, before we make a decision why others are reacting the way they are, we should find out why they are reacting that way."
Lily raised her head to look at Leo with a confused expression and the young man gently caressed her head and said, "You can go to school tomorrow and ask them what is wrong. Or how about this? We can go to meet them after lunch? At their homes."
Lily was surprised, and Snow was the same, she didn't expect that this guy was willing to go to such lengths. Thankfully, Lily was more sensible, and she said, "I will go to school tomorrow and ask them."
Leo nodded and said, "Don't worry, it would be alright."
Lily nodded and then she went to change her clothes, had a bath, and did her homework with Symphony who came over, as Leo wanted to investigate this shit. He could not see his daughter's spirit running low.
He went to the study, called Miss Verse, and asked, "Miss Verse, pardon me for disturbing you at this hour, but could you please do me a favor?"
The teacher on the other side, didn't expect such a serious tone from Leo. She agreed and then Leo asked her for the contact numbers of all the parents of Lily's classmates. A few minutes later, she passed in all the numbers, and Leo was about to make the call when Snow came inside the room, and looked at him with an exasperated gaze.
She said, "Can you calm down? When I said that I will handle everything, it meant that I will."
Her tone was calm and she knew that he was letting his emotions get the best of him once again. Leo sighed and leaned back in his chair as he said, "Fine, you can do it your way."
Snow shook her head and replied, "I have talked with the mothers of the children and they said that it is the fathers and the grandfathers who have told the children to maintain some distance. The kids all like Lily and they clamored when they were told not to talk much or specifically to be nice to her regardless of anything. The fathers have threatened to take away their toys."
Leo sighed and said, "What shall we do now?"
Snow replied calmly, "I got the information, now you can hold a conversation with the men to discuss the issue. I am sure you know what you need to do to make them understand your point."
Leo nodded and asked, "The contact details?"
Snow tapped her phone a few times and Leo received a message, and then he saluted her before he began to make calls. The discussion he had with the males was rather simple and straight. To conclude the statement he said, "I have no intent to act against your family if the children stay normal with each other. The reason I acted against the media mogul was because of her underhanded deeds. You all must know that as a citizen of Clover Nation we don't support any acts of terror or exploitation. However, Hayley Prestige did what she wanted and tried to do the same to me and my child. This is why I retaliated. I hope you all understand this."
The people agreed and after a couple of hours Leo finished talking to everyone, and heaved a sigh of relief. Snow was waiting for him on the dining table and the mood of the family was solemn. After a meal, everyone retired for the day, and the next day, Leo woke up to find that Lily didn't come out for workout.
He checked her room, and found that she was awake, but she didn't seem interested in having a run today. The young man thought for a bit and said, "Lily, how about today we teach you something new?"
Lily looked at him with her groggy eyes, and Leo smiled as he sat close to her while replying, "I was thinking if we should teach you boxing?"
His words caused Lily's eyes to sparkle. She was a child and she loved to do new things. Learning boxing was one such new thing. She got up from the bed, and then changed her clothes before going to the garden. The weather was cold, and the people were wearing heavy woolen jackets.
Leo did some stretching exercises and Lily followed him. After a few minutes, they finished the warm up and Leo showed her how to punch. Then he crouched and extended his palm ahead as he said, "Hit here, but don't go full force."
Lily chuckled and asked, "Baba, are you afraid Lily will hurt you?"
Leo was stunned and then he laughed as he said, "Of course, my daughter is the strongest."
The two began to play while studying about boxing. Leo taught Lily with the best method that he could come up with and Lily being the talent that she was, picked up all the skills in a blink. She was like a sponge that was absorbing everything Leo poured.
The guard team was shocked, they could not believe their eyes that despite lacking strength, their young miss was able to throw punches and her technique was very sound. Leo covered every point including body balance and energy generation. This lecture helped them understand and revise the basics again.
After the lecture, the two of them went back in to clean up the sweat, and got ready to face the day. When Leo was tying a knot in his tie, Lily came to his room, she saw him deciding which tie to pick, and she said, "Baba, wear a blue one, I like that color on you."
Leo asked with a smile, "Why so?"
Lily giggled and said, "Because Baba looks the best in blue, so handsome!"
Then she covered her face, and Leo chuckled loud as he picked her in his arms and said, "Little Goblin, you want Baba to wear blue tie because you are wearing a blue dress."
Lily stuck out her tongue and said, "I will help you."
She used her little hands to tie a knot and then she pecked Leo's cheek, as she said, "Baba, I love you!"
Leo also pecked her cheeks and said, "Baby, I also love you."
Snow was watching from the side and said, "If you father and daughter have finished proclaiming how infinite your love for each other is, can you please give space to someone else to dress up?"
Lily and Leo stuck out their tongues and said, "We will help you."
After half an hour, the trio came out of the room, dressed up, and ready to handle anything that the day was about to throw at them.