Chapter 194.1
Editor: Jodi
Cheng Yu looked at the well-behaved little child in front of him, smiled slightly, then said gently, “What a cute little handsome guy.”
The child instantly felt a bit embarrassed, his face turning a little red even as he said obediently, “Thank you.”
“Then, study well.”
After he said this, he and Lin An Lan walked out of the classroom.
And seeing that they had come out so quickly, the principal asked, “How was it?”
“Not bad.” Lin An Lan replied, “I’d like to take a look at his file.”
“Alright.”
The group headed to the principal’s office, and the principal asked the teacher in charge to find the relevant file.
“This child has been here for two years now.” The teacher started. “He was found at the entrance one night. He wasn’t sick and was quite healthy physically, he just didn’t talk much. A couple had thought about adopting him before, but after talking to him, they felt that he was too quiet. They wanted a livelier child, so they didn’t adopt him.”
“Normally, this kid’s personality is actually quite good. He doesn’t cause trouble, is quiet and well-behaved, and doesn’t have any bad habits.”
Lin An Lan nodded, “Then we’ll observe for a few more days, then if there are no problems, and if he’s willing, we’ll adopt him.”
“Okay.”
So for the next three days, Lin An Lan and Cheng Yu took time each day to visit the orphanage to see the child.
He really was a very quiet kid and didn’t play around much. While the other children laughed and played in the courtyard, he stayed in the classroom reading.
He’d go out to play occasionally, but never fought or grabbed, always lining up obediently.
The more Lin An Lan observed him, the more he felt a bit distressed for him. Because of this, by the fifth day, he told the principal that he was willing to adopt the child, as long as the child was also willing.
Hearing this, the principal immediately asked Teacher Li, who was in charge of the kindergarten class, to find the child.
The child was still reading, and so was a bit dazed when he was brought to the office.
He hadn’t seen Lin An Lan and the others for several days now. On that first day, he had thought they had talked to him because they’d wanted to take him away. But after waiting a few days and not seeing them again, he thought he must have been mistaken.
After all, they never said they wanted to adopt him.
He felt a bit sad, but comforted himself that it was nothing, then covered his face with the blanket secretly.
So because of this, when he was brought to the office this time, adoption wasn’t even on his mind.
“Do you remember the two uncles who talked to you a few days ago?” Teacher Li asked gently.
The child nodded.
“They want to adopt you now. Are you willing?”
The child looked at her in surprise, as if he couldn’t believe it. “Me?”
“Yes.”
He blinked, blinked again, then asked quietly, “Take me home?”
“That’s right.” Teacher Li smiled as she patted his head. “Those two uncles are both very nice. They donate things to the orphanage every year, so if you go home with them, they’ll treat you well too.”
The child listened, his head lowered, however he didn’t say anything.
“You’re not willing?” Teacher Li was a bit confused and could only try to persuade him, “Didn’t you really want to be adopted before? Do you not want to now?”
The child in front of her shook his head anxiously, then, a bit worried, said softly, “I’m afraid they won’t like me.”
“That won’t happen.” Teacher Li told him patiently. “They want to adopt you because they like you. They’ll only take you home if they like you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Teacher Li comforted him, “But when you go home, you need to be obedient. Don’t talk back to Dad, listen to him. Oh, and I think they have a little brother at home, so you’ll need to get along well with him too, okay?”
The child nodded.
Teacher Li reminded him of a few more things before bringing him to Lin An Lan and Cheng Yu. “He said he’s willing, so Mr. Lin, Mr. Cheng, please take care of our child from now on.”
“We will.” Lin An Lan said in reply.
Then looking at the child in front of him, he bent down and patted his head gently. “How about I give you a new name?”
The child nodded obediently.
“You’ll take my last name, so you’ll be called Lin Cheng. Your nickname will be Xiao Qi. Go pack your things, and we’ll go home.”
“Okay.”
The child nodded again, glanced at Teacher Li, and then started walking back.
At first, he walked very slowly, but gradually, he got faster and faster, and eventually, he broke into a run, racing back to his dormitory.
Teacher Li watched him leave, then said to Lin An Lan, “This child has always thought no one would ever adopt him, so he keeps on learning. The teachers always tell them that studying is important, that if they study well, they can leave the orphanage and go to school outside. So I guess he thinks that since no one is taking him away, he has to try hard to leave on his own.”
Lin An Lan, hearing this, couldn’t help but feel touched.
He’d had the same thoughts when he was small. He had been about the same age, just watching younger kids being adopted one by one. He had felt sad but had no way out, so he had to rely on himself.
Fortunately, he could now be someone else’s support, providing comfort to others.
And it was a good feeling, because at least now his existence could be a source of hope and light for someone else.
Not long after, Lin Cheng came running back with a little backpack, and the dormitory teacher who had been looking after them carried a small bag for him and handed it to Lin An Lan, saying, “These are some of his clothes and little toys.”
Lin An Lan took it, held the child’s hand, then said to him, “Say goodbye to the teachers.”
Lin Cheng said softly, “Goodbye, teachers.”
Teacher Li and the dormitory teacher both smiled, saying in response, “Goodbye. Be sure to listen to your dad, okay?”
Lin Cheng nodded, then followed Lin An Lan and Cheng Yu out of the orphanage.
**
Read without ads and unlock a total of up to 110 advanced chapters with coins.
Please kindly turn off your adblock, we want to pay our translators