Chapter 323 The Orphanage's Lies: The Handsome Flower Boy 23

The days of hardship grow harder to endure, but the days of enjoyment pass by faster and faster. Once you start living comfortably, you realize how quickly time flies.

In the blink of an eye, summer vacation is coming to an end. For Lu Jinnian, this summer was like a beautiful dream that she never dared to imagine.

In just one summer vacation, he became a completely different person, living a life that was worlds apart from his previous one!

Having escaped the hardship of the orphanage, he was found by his biological mother and moved into a luxurious villa, where he could eat meat at every meal.

He no longer had to run around selling flowers to pay for his upgrades and tuition, nor did he have to deal with those who were interested in his good looks.

Throughout the summer vacation, he spent most of his time at the library and the orphanage. Besides burying himself in his studies, he also frequently went back to the orphanage to help Director Lu with his work.

Chopping wood, cleaning, and tutoring younger children.

Every time Dean Lu saw him come back, he was always dressed neatly and presentably, with no patches on his clothes, and his complexion was much rosier than before, unlike his previous pale complexion.

Dean Lu felt a sweet warmth in his heart, simply because this child had finally overcome his suffering and would definitely have a better life with his biological mother than in the orphanage.

They also admired him for being a good child who didn't forget his roots and had a conscience. They knew that there were children in the orphanage who were eager to sever ties with the family after leaving it.

Dean Lu took all of this in stride, saying that each child was like a different flower, some flowers were meant to bloom red, some were meant to bloom yellow, and some didn't want to bloom at all; she couldn't interfere with that.

With the start of the school year fast approaching, Shen Ci, like most parents in later generations, began to worry about what to prepare for her child's schooling.

Although these days, fifteen or sixteen-year-old boys are already considered half adults, and in many places they are treated like adults.

In this era, 15 years old is a very special age. Of course, this is true in any era. People of the same age can have vastly different fates.

Some children are already parents at 15, some have already shouldered the burden of a family at 15, some have just entered high school at 15, and some are traveling the world at 15.

The first watershed moment in life is the amniotic fluid; everything changes after that.

If a student's family is well-off, they might buy them a new schoolbag if they can afford it; otherwise, they'll just have to make do.

But Shen Ci always felt indebted to Lu Jinnian, wishing she could make up for the maternal love she had missed for more than ten years.

To help her complete the task better, the system adjusted her perception abilities, allowing her to immerse herself more fully in the role and more realistically see herself as Lu Jinnian's biological mother.

Love is a constant feeling of indebtedness, so she wanted to prepare more things for Lu Jinnian.

Love can also make people grow flesh and blood like crazy, so Lu Jinnian gained five pounds in one summer vacation.

The school is very close to home, just across the street, less than a ten-minute walk, but Shen Ci still decided to buy him a means of transportation.

Children can't be confined to just going from home to school, right? Buying a bicycle can also help them get healthy.

"Xiao Nian, come on, Mom will take you to buy a bicycle! It will be convenient to go to and from school, and you'll be more free to go wherever you want."

At that time, although bicycles were no longer as scarce and required ration coupons as they were in the 1960s and 70s, they were still a major household item. A good one cost more than 100 yuan, equivalent to three or four months' wages for an average worker.

However, at this time, the number of people riding bicycles on the streets has doubled compared to the previous ten years.

The most well-known bicycle brands today are Flying Pigeon, Forever, and Phoenix.

Shen Ci led Lu Jinnian to the bicycle section of Wangfujing Department Store, where all kinds of bicycles, both men's and women's, were on display.

Shen Ci took a fancy to a Forever brand manganese steel bicycle. It looked sturdy and durable, and the appearance was also quite nice. However, it was not cheap, costing 168 yuan.

When asked for Lu Jinnian's opinion, he had no objections. He felt that anything given to him now was good and a bargain, so he wouldn't dare to be picky.

"Comrade, we'll take this Forever." Shen Ci made the decision.

"Alright! This bike is sturdy and durable, perfect for the young man!"

The sales clerk quickly issued the invoice.

Shen Ci went to pay, leaving Lu Jinnian to wait at the bicycle counter to familiarize himself with the new bike. Lu Jinnian was already used to his mother's habit of spending money like buying groceries.

The handlebars were icy cold. Lu Jinnian had ridden bicycles before, but he had never owned one, so he was quite curious.

At that moment, a mocking voice rang out from behind.

"Hey! Isn't this Lu Jinnian, the famous person at our school?"

Lu Jinnian turned his head and saw three boys wearing t-shirts and acting nonchalant. The one in the lead was named Zhu Yan, who went to the same school as him and came from a well-off family, but the two had a bit of a grudge.

Zhu Yan likes a girl who likes Lu Jinnian, even though Lu Jinnian doesn't like her.

Because she was also poor, from an average family, and not his type.

But you can't prevent yourself from being too outstanding; you'll be liked by many, and easily become the target of jealousy.

A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.

Zhu Yan looked Lu Jinnian up and down. His face was still the same, but his clothes were completely different.

The brand-new Dacron shirt and polyester trousers, judging from the styles, were all new models from the last few months. To be honest, although he didn't like Lu Jinnian, he actually looked quite good in this outfit.

It's the clothes that are nice, not the person!

Zhu Yan's tone was sour.

"Well done, Lu Jinnian. You've upgraded your equipment in just a few days?"

This outfit must have cost a fortune! What, did you snag a rich patron this time?

Or did you find a "god-sister" who's willing to spend money on you?

Lu Jinnian's face darkened, and he lowered his voice.

"Zhu Yan, watch your mouth!"

Seeing that he was nervous, Zhu Yan became even more enthusiastic. You see, in the past, when Zhu Yan tried to tease him with these kinds of words, he would always act like a dead pig that wasn't afraid of boiling water.

How am I unclean?

Everyone knows you; you rely on your looks to mooch off women!

You used to have the most snacks and treats at school, and now it's even worse. Is this the kind of place an orphan should be in?

Tell me, which sucker did you fool this time?

The other two henchmen chuckled and looked at him with disdain.

Lu Jinnian clenched his fist, then forced himself to relax it.

He didn't want to cause trouble here, nor could he, and even more so, he didn't want his mother to hear these foul words.

He was afraid that if Shen Ci knew about his past, or heard these rumors, what would she think of him? Would she still think he was an unclean person and despise him?

At the very least, she'll feel that this child has disappointed her.

"I have other things to do, and I'm too lazy to waste time talking to you."

Lu Jinnian pushed the new car and wanted to leave.

Zhu Yan stepped in front of him.

"Don't go! You think you can run away now that I've hit the nail on the head?"

A gigolo is a gigolo; he dares to do it but not admit it!