I Became a Kindergarten Teacher for Monster Babies!-Chapter 458 Trolley ride

The wave seemed to short-circuit Sable’s thoughts for a second before he lifted his hand hesitantly and waved back, slow and careful, as if unsure of the rules. The toddler squealed even louder, thrilled by the response.

Sable’s eyes lit up in shock. "He waved back," he whispered, awe filling his voice.

Lucien’s lips curved into a very small smile. "You made him happy," he said matter-of-factly.

Alina watched the scene quietly, a smile on her face. To her, it was just a child in a trolley. To them, it was a tiny window into a world they were still learning to understand.

Lucien didn’t even have time to process what was happening before the world tilted.

One moment he was standing beside her, calm and observant as always, and the next her arms were around him, firm and gentle, lifting him clean off the floor. His eyes widened in pure shock as she placed him carefully into the empty shopping trolley. The metal felt cool beneath his hands, the edge just high enough to make him feel oddly exposed.

"Mom!" he exclaimed without thinking, his voice jumping an octave in embarrassment as he grabbed the side of the trolley. His cheeks flushed instantly, a deep, betrayed red. "What—what are you doing?"

Before he could climb out, Alina was already reaching for Sable.

Sable let out a small, surprised sound as he was lifted too, his arms instinctively looping around her neck for balance. When she set him down beside Lucien, fitting perfectly like the trolley had been made for them, his surprise melted into something entirely different. His eyes sparkled. He looked around, then up at her, then at Lucien, a slow, delighted smile spreading across his face.

"Oh..." he breathed, blushing shyly. "...this is high."

Lucien shot him a look. "You’re enjoying this," he accused quietly.

Sable tried to look serious, really tried, but his lips twitched. "A little," he admitted.

Alina rested her hands on the trolley handle and leaned forward slightly, her expression suddenly solemn, as if she were about to deliver very serious news. "What if you two get lost while I’m shopping?" she said gravely. "What will I tell your daddy then, hmm?"

Lucien stiffened. "We won’t get lost," he said quickly, alarm flashing through his embarrassment. "I remember the way back. And I can ask people."

"And I can shout," Sable added helpfully.

Alina raised a brow. "You think shouting is a good plan?"

Sable considered this. "...Maybe not."

Before either of them could argue further, she started pushing the trolley forward.

The sudden movement caught Sable completely off guard.

"Weeeeeee hee!" he shouted, the sound bursting out of him like a firecracker, loud and joyful and utterly unfiltered.

The moment the echo of his own voice reached his ears, his eyes went wide in horror. He slapped both hands over his mouth, staring around as if afraid the entire store had just heard him.

Lucien froze, then slowly turned to look at him.

Alina couldn’t hold it anymore. She laughed, a warm, delighted laugh that bubbled up from deep in her chest.

Lucien tried very hard to stay dignified. He failed.

A small laugh escaped him too, soft and reluctant, but real. "You yelled," he said, unable to stop the corner of his mouth from lifting.

"I didn’t mean to," Sable whispered behind his hands, his eyes crinkling with barely contained happiness. "It just... came out."

Alina pushed them a little farther, gentler this time, smiling down at both of them. "Hold tight," she said lightly. "Shopping trolley rides are very serious business."

Sable nodded solemnly, still covering his mouth, though his shoulders shook with silent giggles. Lucien sighed, resigned, gripping the edge of the trolley as his blush slowly faded.

But even he couldn’t deny it.

It was kind of fun.

Alina shifted a packet of biscuits into the trolley, glancing down at the boys just in time to see Sable clutching a loaf of bread with both arms like it was a priceless treasure, his little brows drawn together in fierce concentration.

"Careful," she said gently, smiling. "That one is important, huh?"

Sable nodded very seriously. "Yes. It’s... squishy," he declared, giving it the tiniest squeeze before freezing, as if afraid he might have done something wrong.

Lucien, on the other hand, was holding a box of cereal against his chest, reading the pictures on the front with focused eyes. "This one has nuts," he informed her helpfully. "Dad says nuts are good."

Alina’s heart melted a little more. "He’s right," she said warmly. "You’re doing a great job."

They were moving slowly down the aisle when an old granny with silver hair tied into a neat bun came walking past, her trolley creaking softly. She stopped mid-step, her eyes landing on the boys, and her face lit up instantly.

"Awww..." she cooed, leaning a little closer. "They are so cute."

Alina smiled, the kind of smile that came naturally, proud and soft at the same time. "Indeed," she agreed without thinking.

Sable peeked up at the granny, his eyes wide and curious. He tightened his hold on the bread, then lifted one hand in a tiny, hesitant wave. "Hello," he said politely, his voice small but earnest.

"Oh my goodness," the granny laughed, pressing a hand to her chest. "Such manners too."

Lucien straightened a little, feeling suddenly responsible. "We are helping," he explained seriously. "Mom is shopping."

"Well, aren’t you just the best little helpers," the granny said warmly, her eyes crinkling. She looked at Alina with something like fond nostalgia. "You’re lucky. They’re angels."

Alina chuckled softly. "Most of the time."

The granny smiled knowingly, gave the boys one last affectionate look, and continued on her way, still shaking her head as if she’d just witnessed something precious.

As soon as she was gone, Sable leaned closer to Lucien and whispered, "She liked us."

Lucien nodded. "Yes. People usually do."

Alina laughed again, pushing the trolley forward. The shelves passed by slowly, the trolley filling bit by bit, the boys proudly holding onto their items like they were part of a very important mission.