Chapter 198.2
Editor: Jodi
After playing for quite a while, Lin An Lan suddenly remembered that his new friend hadn’t taken a turn yet.
The teacher had said that fun things should be shared with other kids, not hogged all to oneself. So, when the swing finally came to a stop, he turned to Cheng Yu and said, “It’s your turn now. I’ll push you.”
Cheng Yu nodded and walked over. Then after Lin An Lan stood up, he sat on the swing.
And standing behind him, Lin An Lan imitated what Cheng Yu had done earlier, pushing the swing while asking, “Do you want to go higher?”
Cheng Yu shouted, “Yes!”
However Lin An Lan still remembered the fear from being pushed too high at the end of his turn, so he didn’t dare push too hard. He just kept it gentle and steady.
However Cheng Yu wasn’t satisfied, so he called out, “Little brother, put some effort into it!”
Hearing this, Lin An Lan had no choice but to push harder, which caused it to finally reach a height that made Cheng Yu happy.
Cheng Yu laughed heartily, clearly enjoying himself.
All this made Yu Hanshuang, who was watching them frrom a distance suddenly understand why Cheng Yu wanted a little brother so badly.
He simply wanted someone to accompany him.
Whether it was her, Cheng Feng, or even Cheng Xiao, they all had their own things to handle.
During the day, Cheng Yu was at school, and in the evening, he returned to an empty home.
When they weren’t busy, they would spend time with him, watching TV or helping with homework. But when they were occupied, they would leave him to watch TV or do his homework alone.
Cheng Yu was very understanding and never demanded their company. However deep down, he probably still wished for someone to stay by his side.
It didn’t necessarily have to be them. Siblings around his age would also work. However his preference for a younger brother was why he always said he wanted one.
Yu Hanshuang thought that this was good. With someone to keep him company, he wouldn’t feel so lonely.
“Did you say this child was abandoned just a week ago?”
“Yes.” The director replied. “His mother left him at our doorstep. She lied to him, saying she was going to buy him ice cream. When he first arrived, he couldn’t accept that his mother had abandoned him. He waited for days and cried for days. Eventually, when he realized his mother wasn’t coming back, he began to slowly integrate into life here.”
“Do you think his mother might come back for him in a few days?” Yu Hanshuang asked.
Because as a mother herself, she couldn’t fathom abandoning her own child. She was worried that the child’s mother might regret her decision and come back only to find that her son was no longer there.
In that case, she would have to return the child, but it would inevitably hurt Cheng Yu.
“Unlikely.” The director said honestly. “Most parents who leave their children at our welfare center’s doorstep have already made their final decision. The moment they let go is likely the culmination of their inner struggle. It’s before they come here that they suffer the most. But once they’ve left the child behind, they might feel less pain.”
“In all my years here, I’ve seen very few parents who abandon their children come back to reclaim them. And some who do take their children back might abandon them again, whether at the same welfare center or another one.”
“The first time is always the hardest. But once they’ve done it, it becomes easier to do it a second time.”
Yu Hanshuang turned to look at the director, an older woman whose eyes held both sorrow and compassion.
She had seen too many unfortunate children and too many whose mental health had suffered because of being abandoned by their parents. The director worked tirelessly to make sure every child at the welfare center felt warmth and care. Yet, she could never really be their mother. All she could provide was a stable place to live and the hope of a future through education.
Yu Hanshuang had never encountered people like this, nor had she ever set foot in a welfare center before.
But now, she felt that such places were both necessary and heartwarming.
Just like the name of this welfare center—Universal Love.
It welcomed every abandoned child and extended love to each of them.
“If you’re willing, you can send me a summary of the welfare center’s history and the investments made in the facility over the years. If the details are appropriate, I will allocate a donation in my son’s name. It can also serve as a blessing for him.”
The director was pleasantly surprised. “Really? Then thank you very much.”
Yu Hanshuang smiled. It was just a small effort. She hadn’t paid attention to such matters before, but now that she had, she was naturally inclined to help.
Lin An Lan and Cheng Yu played in the playground all afternoon. It wasn’t until the bell rang that Lin An Lan left the slide, ready to return to the classroom for class.
He waited for the new friend he had just made, planning to walk back to the classroom together.
“What’s your name?” Lin An Lan asked him.
“Cheng Yu. I already know yours—- you’re Lin An Lan.”
Lin An Lan was surprised. “You know my name?”
Cheng Yu nodded. “The director here told me.”
Lin An Lan was still young, and so didn’t pick up on anything strange about that statement. He simply grabbed Cheng Yu’s hand and said, “Let’s go, class is starting.”
“You guys have classes too?”
Lin An Lan blinked at him and asked, “Aren’t you in my class?”
Cheng Yu shook his head.
Lin An Lan assumed he was from another class in the welfare center and had sneaked over to their side when the teacher wasn’t looking.
“Then you should go back. If you don’t, your teacher might get mad when they can’t find you.”
“I don’t have class today.”
“You’re off today?”
“En.”
“So you just came over here to play with us?”
“En.”
Lin An Lan felt like he understood now. “Then keep playing. I need to go to class.”
“I want to go to class with you.”
Lin An Lan frowned slightly, feeling a bit conflicted. He turned to the teacher who was watching over them and asked, “This little friend isn’t in our class. He says he wants to join us for class. Is that okay?”
The teacher had already noticed the director and Yu Hanshuang standing off to the side, and had also seen Cheng Yu arriving with them, so hearing this question now, the teacher could only look toward the director for guidance.
Lin An Lan followed the teacher’s gaze and saw the director standing next to a very beautiful woman he didn’t recognize.
Xiao Qiao walked past him and asked, “Why aren’t you moving? Class is starting.”
Lin An Lan pointed to Cheng Yu and said, “This little friend wants to come to class with us.”
**
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