Chapter 68 Reflection
Freya was floored by this eight–year–old’s logic. “So what are you saying?”
+5 Free Coins
Aiden explained his reasoning in an orderly tone. “Cinderella could have shown off her hardships when she was out at social gatherings or when she met people–like casually mentioning how her stepmother treats her. But she should frame it as praise, like, ‘My stepmother’s so good to me. She never makes my stepsisters do anything, but she makes me do all the chores to build character,‘ or something like that.”
It wasn’t a completely wrong way of thinking, but it definitely had issues. So Freya asked, “But what if the people she tells just think she’s a fool? And don’t forget, this takes place in Western Europe. Her father was a count, and his lands were huge. Unless there was some special occasion or banquet, it wasn’t like she’d be meeting people regularly. Even if she wanted to talk, there’d be no one to listen.”
Aiden hadn’t thought about that. He scratched his head. “If that’s the case, then I guess my idea wouldn’t work. Huh… now that I think about it, it really is tricky. So what do you think she should’ve done?”
“There really wasn’t a better solution,” Freya replied. “The way the original author wrote it was very logical. That’s part of why the story’s been passed down for so long. I told it to you today just to get you thinking.”
“I get it now,” Aiden nodded. “Like today, I realized I don’t actually know much about the history or social customs of Western Europe, so I ended up saying something that wasn’t really practical. I’ll go read up on Western European history later.”
This kid was so sharp, Freya was speechless. It wasn’t just that he was smart–he was incredibly perceptive. The way he picked up information during conversations and processed it was something even a lot of adults couldn’t manage.
She couldn’t help patting his head. “You’re not just smart–you’ve got amazing instincts too. If every kid was like you, adults would have way fewer headaches.”
Aiden’s eyes sparkled. He pointed at Louis, who was driving. “It’s all because of Uncle. I didn’t used to be like this. But once he started training me, everything became easier. My grades shot up, and I’ve been first in my class these past two terms! Plus, the ways Uncle taught me to think help in all sorts of other situations too–I can find the answer faster than before.”
Wow, the big boss even teaches kids? That’s seriously impressive. And Aiden practically worshipped Louis when he talked
about him:
“My uncle is amazing. Once he taught me, everything started making sense. My grades went up like crazy, and I’ve been number one every term since. And the way he taught me to think helps me solve problems quickly, even outside school.”
So it all came down to the big boss’s way of thinking. No wonder it was so effective–people would kill to learn something like that, and it wasn’t something you could just buy. Freya had wanted to ask Aiden more about his thoughts, but hearing this, she gave up. It wouldn’t be appropriate–she wasn’t part of the Graham family.
While they were chatting, the car pulled into the parking lot. Once Louis had parked smoothly, Aiden was the first to hop out of the car. The excitement in him couldn’t be contained.
Freya quickly got out and grabbed his hand, giving him a serious reminder:
“There are already a ton of people here, and it’s especially crowded today. You’re super cute–exactly the kind of kid traffickers go after. So make sure you hold onto either my hand or your uncle’s, and stay close to us at all times. If anything feels off, call out right away. Got it?”
“Don’t worry, Freya, I’m not stupid. I’ll definitely stay close to you and Uncle. Kids aren’t as strong as adults, and if someone grabs me I won’t be able to fight back. Our teacher talked about this, so I know not to wander off.”
Then his imaginary girlfriend walked up and kicked him in the shin: “Excuse me? What did you just say? Say that again if you
dare.”
