C313 I Am Willing
C313 I Am Willing
Zhen Xiu's eyes were also red from crying as she whispered to herself, "Grandmother!" as if she wanted to pour out all the grievances and yearning for her family.
"Principal, is this the child that you said was absent for a long time?" the woman asked sadly.
Dean Chai seemed to have a lot of respect for this woman, but she could not speak even though she was crying bitterly. She could only hug Zhen Xiu's petite body as she nodded.
The woman smiled and said, "It's good that you're back. You must have suffered a lot outside, so you can be considered a sensible child."
Dean Chai caressed Zhen Xiu's jet-black hair as she consoled Zhen Xiu. However, she couldn't care less about anything else.
The woman turned around and smiled apologetically at Yang Chen, "Young man, I'm sorry, these two children are worried about my safety. Actually, they have no ill intentions, so don't worry. How could someone who would like to see a child here at Christmas be a malicious person? You wouldn't hold a grudge, would you? "
Yang Chen looked at his face that was like the spring breeze in front of him. The dissatisfaction in his heart had disappeared without him knowing. He could not help but sigh at how amazing this woman was. Her words and demeanor were extremely gentle, making people unable to bear any anger. It was as if a huge force had landed on a cotton ball, causing the clay ox to lose all signs of life once it entered the sea.
If it wasn't innate, then it was because he had been cultivating his body and mind for many years.
"Forget it, I'm just here to accompany Zhen Xiu to visit the dean and the children. I don't want any more trouble to arise." Yang Chen said lightly.
"Do you think we're afraid of you!?" Little Li widened her eyes.
The woman frowned and lowered her voice. "Isn't that enough!?"
When Xiao Wen and Xiao Li saw that the woman seemed to be really angry, they stopped talking and lowered their heads.
The woman shook her head and sighed. She turned around and said to Dean Chai, "Dean Chai, I won't be delaying your reunion with your child. You must have a lot of things to say. I still need to go to the orphanage in the neighboring city."
When Dean Chai heard that the woman was about to leave, she immediately let go of Zhen Xiu and urged her to stay, "Madam, you should eat first before leaving. The children are all very grateful for the gift that you have brought."
"No, I'm on a tight schedule, so I can't drag it out. Tell the children that I'll be back after the new year," the woman said kindly.
Dean Chai seemed to know that what the woman said was the truth, so she didn't urge him to stay any longer. She respectfully bowed and said, "Madam, I hope that your family will be healthy for the coming year."
"How can I accept this?" The woman smiled as she helped Dean Chai up. "I'm a junior. I might as well bow to you, Principal."
"I did it on behalf of the children," Dean Chai said with a smile.
The woman smiled and looked around the yard. Then, she turned around and nodded to Yang Chen as a form of farewell before leading Xiao Wen, Xiao Li, and the other female bodyguards out of the yard.
Yang Chen also nodded towards the woman. As for Xiao Wen, Li's warning look towards Yang Chen, Yang Chen ignored it.
"Teacher, I didn't expect it to be you again. Every time you come here, there will always be something good. I didn't expect that Zhen Xiu would come back with you." Dean Chai said emotionally.
Yang Chen picked up two bags of sweets and snacks and said with a smile, "Principal, why would I leave the matter of bringing Zhen Xiu back first? I think it's better if I send gifts to the children first."
"Ai, good. You must be tired from carrying me." The wrinkles on Dean Chai's face looked as if they were about to split into two. She led Yang Chen and Zhen Xiu, who had a teary smile on their faces, into the inner courtyard.
Outside the orphanage, next to a quiet parking space.
The woman who was about to get into a white Infiniti car stopped in her tracks. She seemed to be thinking about something and asked the two bodyguards, Xiao Wen and Xiao Li, who were following behind her.
"That young man just now, did you ask for his name?"
Xiao Wen shook his head. "I didn't ask. What's the matter Madam? Is it very important? If Madam wants to know, I can ask her now."
A hint of doubt flashed in the woman's eyes, then she laughed at herself, "Maybe I was overthinking things. How could that be possible? Sigh, you guys, you didn't even ask who he was and still pulled out a gun. Is it so easy to pull out a gun?"
"Madam, the Chief has said that we must protect you well, especially since the beginning of next year, when the election will be held. With such an important hurdle, your safety cannot be neglected," said Little Li, feeling wronged.
The woman's expression was dejected, as if she had no interest in the "general election". She didn't say anything more and slowly got into the car.
At the same time, Yang Chen, who followed Dean Chai into the inner courtyard, finally understood who that woman was. Wasn't she the portrait of the biggest corridor in the orphanage, and the founder of the orphanage, a woman named Guo Xuehua?
No wonder the dean treated her with such respect. He felt that she looked familiar now.
It was probably due to the new year that he came here today to inspect the orphanages he founded.
Seeing him, Yang Chen realized that the portrait did not show his true temperament. That warm smile could not be felt by anyone through the cold oil painting.
As it was just time for lunch, Dean Chai let Zhen Xiu and Yang Chen have lunch together. Everyone had lunch happily in a big dining room.
After that, Dean Chai naturally pulled Zhen Xiu back to her own office, and after chatting for a while, she knew that Zhen Xiu was setting up a stall outside and doing small business. Since she didn't eat out on the streets, she finally felt better and asked Zhen Xiu how she knew Yang Chen. As for the matter of Zhen Xiu becoming a bad girl, playing motorcycle, and stealing from him, Zhen Xiu naturally didn't mention it.
It was not a question of honesty or dishonesty, but of fear that the abbot would not be able to bear it.
Yang Chen dozed off in the orphanage alone, so he wasn't bored. Because there were often naughty kids coming to tease Yang Chen, they didn't want to paint a turtle on Yang Chen's face, but they wanted to tie a rope between Yang Chen's legs, which made him at a loss whether to laugh or to cry.
When the sun went down, the children were going to have evening class, and Dean Chai was going to take care of the children. She was reluctant to part with Zhen Xiu and told her to come back often to visit.
Zhen Xiu ran back to Yang Chen. Although she had talked all afternoon, there was no sign of exhaustion on her face. Instead, she looked happy.
"We had a very good chat. Why didn't you come back earlier?" Yang Chen said with a smile.
Zhen Xiu pouted, "I was afraid that I would be scolded by Grandmother, so I felt ashamed to come back here. If it wasn't for Brother Yang accompanying me, I think I would have waited until next year or something."
"Come back and take a look, the dean is old." Yang Chen did not continue.
Zhen Xiu nodded in understanding, her eyes filled with sadness.
"Brother Yang, can you accompany me to a place?" Zhen Xiu suddenly raised her head and asked.
Yang Chen originally thought that Zhen Xiu wanted to go back, but he didn't expect that she still had a place to go. Since he accompanied her out, there was naturally no reason for him to not fulfill her small request.
The place Zhen Xiu wanted to go wasn't a special place. It was just a small playground behind the orphanage. There were some big toys such as slides, climbing poles, swings, etc. It was the playground for children in the orphanage.
Zhen Xiu's eyes were filled with nostalgia as she caressed all the equipment in the courtyard. Finally, she sat on a swing and started swinging slowly.
Yang Chen followed them and sat on another swing. On the opposite side of the swing, they could see the main entrance of the orphanage.
"When I was young, I would sit here almost every day and watch the sun set in the horizon, waiting for grandma to call us to dinner …" Zhen Xiu seemed to be muttering to herself, "When I dream, I often dream of this scene, just like yesterday …"
Yang Chen listened quietly. Zhen Xiu, who was beside him, did not look like an eighteen year old girl at all. The sorrow and vicissitudes of life between her brows were not something that those children who were doted upon by their parents could possess. Although it could not be considered outstanding, no one dared to ignore this girl's strong heart.
Zhen Xiu turned her head and smiled sweetly as she asked Yang Chen, "Brother Yang, do you know what I think about every day I sat here when I was young?"
Yang Chen pondered for a moment, "It can't be, what are you thinking about for dinner?"
Zhen Xiu pouted. "I'm not that greedy …"
"Then what do you think?"
Zhen Xiu laughed bitterly, her eyes full of nostalgia, "I was just thinking, from a doorway, would a couple come in, or a man, or a woman, and then just turn her head and look at me, and smile, and when that person comes to me, he would say, 'Little friend, be my daughter,' and I would think, 'Okay,' no matter what kind of person they are, as long as they are willing to adopt me, I'll go with them, because that's the only way I can have a father and mother is …"
Seeing Yang Chen looking at her, Zhen Xiu bit her lips. "However, most of my friends have been adopted, and no one came to adopt me. So I stopped thinking that way …"
Yang Chen was silent. In his mind, the sun was setting. A little girl was sitting alone on the swing, looking at the empty door. Day after day, year after year, those devastating days must have been very hard to bear.
"Brother Yang, do you know why I don't want to go back to school?" Zhen Xiu said quietly, "When I was in school, when people knew I was from the orphanage, they would laugh at me because I jumped out of a stone, without my parents. Later a bit older, junior high school students do not want to be with me, some boys do not want to do homework, let me help them do it. If I don't want to, they'll bully me, even beat me … Hide my lunchbox so I can't eat...
To me, reading is not so much learning as torture and torture.
Brother Yang, actually, I used to ride with those people on motorcycles, fight and make trouble, and be a thief... Because if I don't fight back, they'll bully me even more. I know, I can only rely on myself, because I won't have my parents to help me. If I want to survive in this world, I can only rely on myself … "
"Zhen Xiu." Yang Chen turned around and looked at Zhen Xiu, "Sit on the swing and don't move."
"Huh?" Zhen Xiu was curious about what Yang Chen was going to do, but she still sat obediently on the swing.
Yang Chen got up and walked out of the courtyard. He then walked out of the orphanage.
Just when Zhen Xiu was confused, Yang Chen walked in again.
Yang Chen looked around for a while as if he didn't recognize this place. Then, he saw Zhen Xiu sitting on the swing …
Yang Chen revealed a pleasantly surprised smile. Step by step, he walked towards Zhen Xiu and approached her until he was right in front of her.
Yang Chen crouched down and stretched out his hand to hold Zhen Xiu's small, white hand.
Zhen Xiu's cheeks were flushed red, but she didn't know why Yang Chen held her hand.
It was as if Yang Chen had seen Zhen Xiu for the first time. His admiring gaze lingered on Zhen Xiu's face for a long time.
"Ya, truly a beautiful little girl. Seeing you, I can't bear to put her down. Little girl, can you come home with me? Even though I seem to be a bit too young when I'm your father, can you be my sister?"
Zhen Xiu's heart seemed to be covered by a sweet wave. She was obviously provoked by her sudden happiness and emotions and wanted to laugh out loud, but when her mood reached its peak, it was completely converted into tears of joy and weeping. She couldn't help but drop them onto the snow like beads of broken string.
"Why are you crying? If you cry, you won't look good." Yang Chen said gently, "Answer me, are you willing?"
Zhen Xiu nodded vigorously, "Yes, I am willing."
"Being my little sister is not enough just because you are beautiful, but also because you have good grades in school. If I send you to study, will you be able to study well?" Yang Chen asked seriously.
Zhen Xiu held back her laughter and said in a childish voice, "But brother, what if someone bullies your sister?"
"Whoever dares to bully my sister, I will beat him to death." Yang Chen said in a serious tone.
Zhen Xiu finally couldn't control her near collapse. She wailed and jumped into Yang Chen's arms. Her tears instantly soaked Yang Chen's chest.
Yang Chen lightly patted Zhen Xiu's back and whispered in her ear, "Zhen Xiu, if you think that everyone in this world has let you down, then you must remember that there is someone who will let the whole world down for you …"