Chapter 26 I'll send another message to get someone to deal with you!

Why is Gu Lin getting up so early on his hard-earned holiday?

Ji Tong turned over, lay face down on the pillow, and went back to the messages one by one.

[JT: Why do you get up so early?]

[JT: See? I told you the hat would easily fall off, but you didn't believe me.]

JT: Got it.

[JT: It's sprouting? Why didn't it sprout when I was at home?]

[JT: After breakfast and morning snack, I'll be back around 10 AM.]

After Ji Tong finished replying, thinking that Gu Lin should be doing something else, she planned to get up and wash up first. However, before her feet even touched the ground, Gu Lin's avatar flashed again.

Reply instantly.

Ji Tong: "...?"

Is he that free today?

Ji Tong had no choice but to lie back down, and only put down her phone when her grandmother knocked on the door.

They had to return to Haiyuan around 10 o'clock, and the elderly couple were reluctant to part with their beloved grandson, so they put a lot of effort into preparing food. The nanny prepared a table full of food, but that wasn't enough, so the two of them also cooked steamed fish and boat congee themselves.

Grandpa Song Xutang served Ji Tong a bowl and then served his wife a bowl.

Ji Tong took a sip, put down the spoon, and gave a thumbs-up with both hands: "Grandpa's porridge is the best."

With his emotional appeal at its peak, Song Xutang grinned from ear to ear: "If you like it, stay a couple more days."

“I’m going to the welfare home this afternoon,” Ji Tong continued drinking her porridge. “Grandpa is waiting for me to start my winter vacation.”

Song Xutang knew he was busy, so he nodded and said, "Perfect timing. Your uncle is also back from Kenya during the winter break. Let him keep you company."

On the 30th, Ji Tong already learned from Ms. Song Jiahe that her uncle had returned.

Song Xutang had three children, and Song Jiahe was his only daughter.

She is the second oldest child, with an older brother and a younger brother, who is Ji Tong's maternal uncle, Song Zhenshu.

Song Zhenshu is only 16 years older than Ji Tong, and is 34 this year. They are probably related by marriage, as Ji Tong has been attached to Song Zhenshu since childhood.

However, when Ji Tong was 10 years old, Song Zhenshu suddenly went abroad and has been traveling all over the world ever since. One day he is picking up trash for penguins in Antarctica, and the next day he may be in Tanzania watching the Great Migration. He only returns to China once a year during the Spring Festival, which is Ji Tong's birthday.

Even though Song Zhenshu travels all over the world, Ji Tong is still very close to him, and there is even a room in Haiyuan specifically used to store his little uncle's gifts.

The gift that Song Zhenshu gave was also an example of the Song family's ancestral "artistic aesthetics".

I've given away crystal collectibles worth over a million, as well as several batches of Amazon rainforest fruit ornaments.

There are also those without physical objects. For example, in the year Ji Tong entered high school, Song Zhenshu adopted a baby elephant in Kenya that shared the same birthday as Ji Tong. The following year, he adopted a baby rhinoceros that shared the same birthday. Every week, Ji Tong would receive a "growth email" from the baby elephant and the baby rhinoceros. In addition, with the 25 cats he kept, Ji Tong was already "full of children" at a young age.

"What day is your uncle's flight? Did he say? I'll go pick him up."

Lin Shiyu picked out a spoonful of fish for him: "He's unpredictable. He might come back for your birthday. Don't worry about him."

"Okay, I'll contact him then."

Ji Tong was very impartial, praising Song Xutang's porridge and then Lin Shiyu's fish.

As soon as breakfast was over, Song Xutang went into the kitchen to tinker with his casserole, saying he wanted to let Ji Tong have some whelk stewed chicken before he returned to Haiyuan.

After two meals, Ji Tong almost fainted from hunger when Song Jiahe came to pick her up.

"I told you not to make him so much." Song Jiahe looked at the table full of dishes, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Song Xutang: "What's a little too much? Studying is so demanding, even busier than senior year of high school. What's wrong with eating more?"

Ji Tong swallowed a spoonful of chicken soup and pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth: "Grandpa isn't that busy, so it'll definitely be easier than senior year of high school."

"Relaxed? Grandpa saw it all. He was just looking at the PPT. It's about your project, right? I saw a note that said something like 'monitoring,' four characters long."

Ji Tong suddenly stopped wiping her mouth.

PPT?

Did Grandpa see him chatting with Gu Lin?

Ji Tong clenched the tissue, feeling inexplicably guilty.

"...Yes, the project team's affairs are under our supervision..."

Four words, four words...

"Supervise...supervise the teacher." Ji Tong buried his head and took a big gulp of chicken soup.

"You're already looking for me at lunchtime?" Lin Shiyu said with concern. "How busy must you be at school on weekdays?"

Song Jiahe also sat down: "Which supervising teacher is it?"

"Ultimately, it's the higher-ups who are in the wrong; they gave us too little time," Song Xutang said. "I saw this teacher sending messages while I was having breakfast."

Ji Tong covered the phone.

Song Xutang: "It hasn't stopped all morning."

Ji Tong put his phone in his pocket.

"Universities these days really don't treat their students well..."

Grandpa—

"What's wrong, baby?"

"...I'd like to have another bowl of soup."

"Alright, alright, you must be exhausted after a busy morning," Song Xutang instantly forgot about being the "supervisor teacher," picked up Ji Tong's bowl to serve him soup, but then thought the bowl was no good. "This bowl is too small. Wait a minute, Grandpa will get you a bigger one."

"…good."

In the two minutes that Song Xutang went to the kitchen to pick out bowls, Ji Tong angrily took out her phone and sent three messages and an emoji to a certain "supervising teacher" with lightning speed.

Gu Lin, who was making tea in his apartment, had his phone vibrate four times in a row.

He clicked on it and saw—

[Everything you said is correct. Listen carefully: That's all.]

[Everything you said is true, listen carefully: today's chat quota is full.]

[Everything you said is true, listen carefully: if you send it again, someone will get you.]

[Everything you said is true, listen carefully: a kitten with a knife.jpg]

-

On the way back to Haiyuan, Ji Tong was so exhausted that she was afraid of vomiting if she said even one more word.

Song Jiahe patted Ji Tong's stomach: "Is whelk and chicken soup really that delicious?"

Ji Tong nodded listlessly.

Song Jiahe: "Then I'll have Aunt Yang stew it for you tomorrow too."

Ji Tong covered her mouth to stop herself from spitting it out.

I don't want to drink chicken soup for at least three months.

Song Jiahe's original plan was to pick up Ji Tong, go back to Haiyuan for lunch, and then go to the welfare home. However, since lunch had already been taken care of, he simply had the driver drive directly to the welfare home.

Song Jiahe rarely contacts the media when she goes to welfare homes or mountainous areas. Not to mention the media, even the welfare home's own official website rarely features her. She doesn't take photos, doesn't display banners, and even the delivery trucks are the most common box trucks on the road, without any logos such as company names or "welfare supplies". Apart from the donation signature, she is almost never public.

Because the signature was Ji Tong, Song Jiahe wanted some peace and quiet.

The welfare home that Ji Tong is going to today is the first one that Song Jiahe sponsored; it's called "Little Sun Welfare Home".

—Undeniably, this name was indeed the original intention behind Song Jiahe's sponsorship.

Ji Tong was familiar with this place and would come several times a year. The children at the orphanage obviously recognized him as well.

When Ji Tong arrived, it was lunchtime, and he was immediately surrounded by people.

Ji Tong stroked each head one by one, like petting a kitten.

As I was touching it, I looked up—

A strange little child.

Oh no, it's a strange little kid.

It was a little boy, sitting alone at the end of the long dining table, taking small bites of his rice.

He didn't look up, so Ji Tong couldn't see his face clearly.

"Dean, I don't recognize that little kid over there. Is he new?" Ji Tong asked.

The dean herded the group of little kids to his seat: "Not really, the police station has temporarily arranged for them to stay here for a few days."

“The child is pitiful. His parents work in another city and have not come back. The child lives with his grandfather, who has a bad temper and beats the child. This time he beat him badly, and his back is bruised. The police station discussed with the Women’s Federation to arrange for him to stay with us for a while.”

"The child has a good personality, but he's a bit introverted. He's new here and a little shy around strangers. The other children are also shy around strangers and don't play with him much, so he's often alone."

When the dean noticed that Ji Tong was staring at him, he beckoned to the child: "Linlin, come here."

Ji Tong was taken aback.

“It’s alright, Dean. Don’t call him. Let him eat properly,” Ji Tong said, then paused and suddenly asked, “Is his name ‘Linlin’?”

Dean: "Hmm."

Ji Tong: "Which 'lin'?"

Dean: "Shuangmulin, surnamed Zhou."

Ji Tong nodded, not saying much, and sat in the cafeteria with the little ones until they finished their meal, occasionally glancing at that corner.

After Zhou Lin finished eating, there was someone next to him. He subconsciously moved to the side before looking up.

It's that really handsome older brother.

His older brother glanced down at his plate and said, "You're not picky about food, you're such a good boy."

Zhou Lin pursed his lips.

Ji Tong squatted down at the end of the table, keeping the same height as Zhou Lin: "Your name is Linlin?"

Zhou Lin was silent for half a minute before replying, "Hmm."

Ji Tong smiled and said, "I call him 'brother'."

Zhou Lin's ears slowly turned red, and it took him a long time to speak: "...Brother."

Ji Tong: "Yes, you can call me that from now on."

Ji Tong noticed a small airplane pendant hanging on Zhou Lin's pants. It was a bit dirty, looked like a keychain, and the wings had been worn smooth from being touched so much.

It's clear that she's very cherished.

Ji Tong squatted down, his hands resting on his knees in a very relaxed posture. He pointed to the keychain and asked, "Do you like airplanes?"

Zhou Lin nodded quickly this time: "Mm."

"Okay," Ji Tong finally touched the last little one, "Eat your dinner properly and don't be picky. You'll get a little airplane after you finish eating."

Zhou Lin didn't understand, but he nodded.

After touching his head, Ji Tong touched his face before getting up and walking to the director of the orphanage.

"Dean, let's take the child for a check-up in a couple of days. We'll supplement whatever's lacking and apply any necessary medications. I'll cover the cost."

"I'll send over a batch of toys later, and I'll distribute them to them after dinner tonight."

"Just say... it's a gift from little Linlin to everyone, and he hopes everyone can become good friends with him."

The dean paused for a moment, then smiled and agreed.

It was already afternoon when we left the orphanage.

Ji Tong opened the car door and got in; Song Jiahe was already in her seat.

A large box of fighter jet models had just been delivered. Fearing that some of the girls might not like airplanes, Ji Tong also ordered a Moon Castle model from the same brand.

Along with the model, a box of pop-up toy books was also sent in, the heaviest of which was called "The Great Encyclopedia of Airplanes".

As the vehicle drove out of the welfare home, Song Jiahe finally spoke: "Do you like that child?"

Ji Tong just happened to open Gu Lin's WeChat.

"It must be fate," Ji Tong said.

Like Gu Linlin.

-

It was night when we returned to Haiyuan.

The family was having dinner when an overseas phone call came in.

Song Jiahe answered the call.

They were speaking Spanish.

Ji Tong heard a name that he had heard frequently during this period.

—A rising artist from Barcelona whom Ms. Song Jiahe has always wanted to acquire the agency rights for.

The phone call lasted for more than ten minutes before Song Jiahe hung up, put down her chopsticks, turned around, and gave Ji Tong a familiar look.

Ji Tong understood: "What time is the flight?"

Song Jiahe: "Eleven o'clock."

Ji Tong: "Then you have one hour to pack your luggage, ma'am."

Song Jiahe cupped Ji Tong's face in her hands: "I'm sorry, baby. I promised to stay with you until the 6th. Mommy will bring you a gift when I come back."

Ji Yuanfeng: "And what about me?"

Song Jiahe and Ji Tong spoke at the same time.

"Of course you should spend time with your son."

"Of course you should stay with your mother."

Ji Yuanfeng: "?"

Do they all need me, or do they all not need me?

“It’s too late, I’m worried about you being alone. Dad will stay with you,” Ji Tong said, pushing Song Jiahe and Ji Yuanfeng upstairs. “Hurry up.”

Ji Yuanfeng looked at his wife, then at his son who resembled her, unable to decide between them: "How about..."

Ji Tong interrupted him directly: "Dad, whose husband are you?"

Ji Yuanfeng: "..."

Under Ji Tong's supervision, Song Jiahe and Ji Yuanfeng were on their way to the airport in just half an hour.

Thanks to the bowl of whelk and chicken stew I had this morning, Ji Tong wasn't hungry until evening.

In the afternoon at the welfare home, Ji Tong opened Gu Lin's WeChat five times. Gu Lin probably reached his "chat quota" and didn't send any more messages.

Ji Tong put down her phone, went back to her room to take a shower, changed into her pajamas, went downstairs, told Aunt Yang and Uncle Kang that she was going to feed the cats, and headed towards the "cat house".

Ji Tong's cats are all kept "next door" to the villa.

It's called "next door," but it's actually just a small detached house partitioned off in the southeast corner of the villa for "unified management."

Ji Tong was surrounded as soon as she entered the room.

It was exactly the same as in the orphanage in the morning, except that in the morning there were children and at night there were kittens.

"Gu Erlin, did you bully Xiao Ba today?" Ji Tong pointed at the nose of a blue-eyed white cat, "I saw it on the surveillance. You didn't eat your own food, but went to steal your brother's. How can you be so shameless... Let me tell you, showing your belly won't help. Stop grinning all the time."

"Why are you looking at the floor? Look at me."

“I can hear you meowing the loudest in the whole house, even from my doorway.”

"All the kittens will get cat treats later, except you."

In the end, Gu Erlin still managed to eat the cat treat.

Ji Tong fed them one by one, and tore off a packet of dried duck meat, sharing the food evenly. To prevent them from overeating, he only gave each kitten a small piece the size of a fingernail.

After feeding the cat, Ji Tong grabbed a cat toy, nestled on the sofa, and finally picked up her phone.

A group called “Keep playing music (5)” suddenly popped up.

Ji Tong: "?"

Which group is this?

[The music continues (5)]

[Li Yuan: Xinjiang food is so delicious, waaaaah!]

[Li Yuan: He eats everything with gusto; the moment he opens his eyes, all he thinks about is food.]

Seeing Li Yuan's profile picture, Ji Tong realized it was a dormitory group chat.

But isn't the group chat for room 411 called "Graduate and drive a Rolls-Royce (4)"?

Where did these five people come from?

Ji Tong flipped up another page—

That afternoon, Li Yuan added Gu Lin to the group chat and then changed the group name.

[Li Yuan: Hand-grabbed rice.jpg]

[Li Yuan: Sichuan Pepper Chicken.jpg]

[Li Yuan: Xinjiang Fried Rice Noodles.jpg]

[Li Yuan: Hand-pulled noodles.jpg]

[Li Yuan: And this lamb skewers place is so delicious, it makes my mouth so happy!]

[Li Yuan: I'm eating Gobi-style grilled fish right now. Have you eaten yet? What did you eat?]

The first to reply was Cui Mingying, who directly posted a picture of the banquet.

Zhou Tian was also traveling and sent me a photo.

It's a pretty famous hot pot restaurant.

[Zhou Tian: There are too many people, we're still waiting for a table.]

[Li Yuan: Where's Tongtong? Where's Lin Ge? Why have you been so quiet these past few days? The holiday is already halfway over, and you haven't posted a single thing on WeChat Moments.]

[JT: I ate braised chicken with whelks and congee.]

Gu Qilin nestled on Ji Tong's lap, and Ji Tong stroked its head, waiting for Gu Qilin to send a message.

Gu Lin did send it, but not in the group chat; it was a private message.

[Child under guardianship: Are there any more chat quotas available today?]

Ji Tong's lips unconsciously curved into a smile.

Gu Qilin, nestled in her arms, seemed to be enjoying the touch and began to snore softly with his eyes closed.

[JT: I'll give you a little extra since it's a holiday.]

[JT: Ten sentences, use them sparingly.]

[The ward: Requesting a video.]

Ji Tong: "..."

It's impossible to guard against.

How could someone only say ten sentences when they're on video?

[JT: Application rejected.]

[JT: Don't try anything funny.]

Originally, the "ten sentences" quota was just a joke, but once the topic was raised, Ji Tong became a little curious about how Gu Lin would use it if he could really only say ten sentences, so she started to wait.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Three points —

[JT: Where is everyone??]

[Gu Lin: Save it. 】

Ji Tong: "..."

Ji Tong couldn't wait any longer.

[JT: My question and your answer don't count as metrics.]

[JT: Have you eaten?]

[The person under guardianship: Eating.]

[JT: Late-night snack?]

[Guardian: Dinner.]

dinner?

Ji Tong slightly raised her eyes and glanced at the time on the screen.

[JT: It's past 10 PM, are you having dinner? Why are you eating so late?]

[The child under guardianship: I just finished the test.]

Ji Tong: "..."

Ji Tong knew that Gu Lin wasn't lying, and it was precisely because he wasn't lying that Ji Tong wasn't in a good mood.

[JT: What did you eat? Send me a picture.]

Gu Lin didn't reply this time.

It wasn't until Ji Tong tapped his profile picture that a picture was sent from the other end.

Ji Tong didn't even need to click to see it.

Because it's obvious at a glance.

A bowl of oatmeal, soaked in some milk, and sprinkled with a few blueberries.

Ji Tong even suspected that those few blueberries were just scattered there at the last minute.

Gu Lin has never been particular about food. In the first two months after he transferred to No. 1 High School in the first year of high school, he would work late on competition papers and occasionally eat like this. In the words of Li Yuan and others, it was a "bad habit of international students".

Ji Tong propped himself up from the sofa chair.

The kitten in the room ate until its belly was round. He drank the stewed chicken with whelks. Cui Mingying was eating at her wedding banquet. Zhou Tian was queuing up for hot pot. Li Yuan was very happy. Gu Lin was the only one who was on vacation at home doing test papers. After finishing the test papers, he started eating the meal to maintain his vital signs.

Ji Tong placed the kitten on the cushion and paced around the sofa, again and again.

After circling around for what seemed like an eternity, Ji Tong picked up her phone and, with the force of smashing a keyboard, sent her final message.

[JT: Gu Lin, you did this on purpose.]

They deliberately acted so pitiful.

You think he'll fall for that, huh?

Let me tell you, I—

"Uncle Kang, do you have time now?"

Ten minutes later, Ji Tong dialed a number with a blank face, "Take me to the Peninsula."

"What's wrong? Of course we have time," Uncle Kang said, completely bewildered. "It's just that we suddenly have to go to the peninsula. Didn't we say we were going to feed the cats?"

“We’ve finished feeding them all here,” Ji Tong said through gritted teeth, enunciating each word clearly, “and there’s only the dumbest one left on the peninsula!”