That evening, Yun Su arrived at the kindergarten entrance to pick Gu Yan up after school.
Before long, the kindergarten gates opened, and a crowd of children came running out, chattering noisily.
Yun Su spotted Gu Yan immediately among them.
With his schoolbag on his back and his spine perfectly straight, he walked with the composure of a little adult.
Walking beside him was the same chubby boy who had bullied him before.
Hmm?
Yun Su blinked in surprise.
Had they gotten into another conflict?
When she had asked Gu Yan before, he had said that Shao Jun had already apologized to him of his own accord.
Seeing this, Yun Su quickly got out of the car and headed toward Gu Yan.
Before she reached them, she heard the chubby boy speaking beside Gu Yan.
“Gu Yan, can you give me tomorrow’s little red flower from the teacher too?”
Then Yun Su heard Gu Yan reply absentmindedly, “Mhm.”
The chubby boy jumped excitedly.
“Then can you give me all your little red flowers from now on? You definitely get one every day. I’ll give you all my snacks in return!”
“I don’t…”
Before Gu Yan could finish speaking, he noticed Yun Su approaching. His eyes instantly lit up.
“Sister!”
Walking up to him, Yun Su asked, “Xiao Yan, are you chatting with your classmate?”
The chubby boy, who had been bouncing around happily moments ago, immediately stopped moving when he saw Yun Su. Even his tone lost its earlier enthusiasm.
“I… Gu Yan and I are friends now.”
Possibly a one-sided friendship…
Gu Yan answered Yun Su instead.
“We’re done talking, Sister. Let’s go home.”
Yun Su took Gu Yan’s schoolbag with one hand and held his hand with the other.
“Xiao Yan, then say goodbye to your classmate.”
She glanced at the chubby boy beside them.
“Shao…”
“My name is Shao Jun,” he hurriedly supplied.
Yun Su smiled.
“Classmate Shao Jun, then Xiao Yan and I will be leaving first. See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow, Gu Yan.”
After saying that, Shao Jun bounced away again.
Watching the interaction between the two children, Yun Su pressed her lips together in amusement.
Children really were interesting.
At the same time, inside a hotel.
Fang Minghui accepted the briefcase from her husband’s hand as she said, “Gu Zhou, someone contacted me today.”
Gu Zhou had just returned from work.
As he removed his suit jacket, he asked, “Who contacted you?”
Fang Minghui placed the jacket aside without answering immediately.
Gu Zhou wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders and guided her over to the sofa.
Only then did Fang Minghui say, “Someone contacted me through Sunshine Welfare Institute. They said there’s a little boy around five or six years old…”
Gu Zhou understood immediately.
This was something his wife had been concerned about for the past two years.
They had been married for eight years without having children. Although it had never affected their relationship, Fang Minghui had always wanted a child to raise by her side.
Two years ago, she had suggested adopting one.
Naturally, Gu Zhou had supported her decision.
However, over the past two years, they had visited many welfare institutes without finding a child who felt like the right fit.
As a result, the matter had been postponed for quite some time.
This time, Gu Zhou had come to this third-tier city on a business trip.
They had arrived in Dongping County less than two weeks ago, and Fang Minghui had already visited several local welfare institutes a few days earlier.
She had gathered basic information, made charitable donations, and left behind their contact details.
Perhaps they might encounter a child they connected with here.
In truth, they had not held much hope.
Yet unexpectedly, someone had contacted them so soon.
“Then we can learn more first. Have you arranged a meeting?” Gu Zhou asked.
Fang Minghui nodded.
“It’s already scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at two.”
Gu Zhou looked surprised.
“That quickly?”
“Yes! Since I don’t have much to do here anyway, I’d like to understand the situation as soon as possible.”
Having accompanied her husband on his business trip, Fang Minghui had been enjoying a rather leisurely schedule.
Gu Zhou looked at his wife apologetically.
“But I have an important business engagement tomorrow at noon. I might not be able to go with you. Will you be alright on your own?”
Fang Minghui looked at him helplessly.
“How old do you think I am? Why wouldn’t I be fine by myself?”
Then she added reassuringly, “Besides, judging from her voice, the other party seems to be a fairly young woman.”
Patting Gu Zhou on the shoulder, she comforted him.
“If I think it’s suitable, I’ll ask you to come meet them afterward. Just focus on your work.”
“Alright. Then remember to send me a message tomorrow.”
After a moment’s thought, Gu Zhou said, “Minghui, don’t place too much hope in this. We can continue taking our time. We need to find a child you truly get along with. You’re still young. We have time.”
Over the years, Fang Minghui had frequently volunteered at welfare institutes.
Gu Zhou worried that she might be overly eager to adopt a child.
Fang Minghui replied, “I know, I’m not rushing things. We still have some time before returning to An City. I’ll continue learning more while we’re here.”
The following afternoon, Yun Su arrived at the agreed-upon café right on time.
The moment she entered, she recognized Fang Minghui.
Just like the woman she had seen at the amusement park, Fang Minghui exuded a gentle elegance. Dressed in a light-colored dress, she sat by the window sipping coffee.
Yun Su approached and stopped in front of her.
“Hello. I’m Yun Su. We spoke on the phone yesterday.”
Fang Minghui stood up immediately, surprise written all over her face.
“You… you’re…”
Yun Su smiled faintly. “We’ve met before, at the amusement park.”
Fang Minghui instantly remembered.
It was the young woman who had given her medicine that day.
“So it’s you, Miss Yun, isn’t it? Please, have a seat.”
After sitting down and ordering a drink from the waiter, Yun Su looked up to meet Fang Minghui’s puzzled gaze.
“The five or six-year-old boy you mentioned…” Fang Minghui hesitated before asking, “Could he be the younger brother who was with you that day?”
Yun Su decided not to beat around the bush.
“Mrs. Gu, it’s him. But… he isn’t my biological younger brother.”
Fang Minghui was startled. “Then what exactly is your relationship?”
Once again, Yun Su found herself confronted with the same difficult question.
After all, they were not related by blood, and it truly was not easy to explain their connection to others.
Yun Su first introduced Gu Yan’s family situation to Fang Minghui, including the recent imprisonment of his uncle’s family.
“After he was rescued, I temporarily took him in. But this Friday, his household registration situation will have to be addressed.”
Taking a sip of coffee, she continued, “After all, I can’t raise him forever.”
After listening to everything Yun Su had said, Fang Minghui fell silent.
She had never imagined that the little boy who had appeared so well cared for at the amusement park had actually come from such a terrible family background.
Because Fang Minghui frequently interacted with children from welfare institutes, hearing about Gu Yan’s experiences stirred sympathy within her heart.
At the same time, she developed a newfound admiration for the young woman sitting before her.
She could not help but sigh.
“Miss Yun, that child was truly fortunate to have met you.”
Yun Su smiled helplessly.
“But I can only protect him for a while, not for his entire life. That’s why… I reached out to you.”