Chapter 51 Adoption: 1
Su Zhiluo only found out about the incident at the Liu family several days later.
Her coworkers had all witnessed those two bullying her, and they thought that no matter what happened there, it had nothing to do with Su Zhiluo, so they avoided talking about gossip with Su Zhiluo.
Su Zhiluo overheard something while getting water: the Liu family couple had failed in their business, swindled money from their relatives to pay off other debts, and then ran away, abandoning their child.
Su Zhiluo was very surprised to hear this. She had been to Liu Jinhuan's house before. Their house was a high-end single-level apartment with a floor area of 200 square meters.
She was surprised and asked, "Didn't you take Liu Chengxu with you?"
Seeing that she had talked too much, her coworker became a little annoyed and said, "No, that child went to a relative's house and was kicked out. That couple is really wicked; they don't even care about their own daughter. Zhiluo, don't think too much about it." Seeing her absent-minded look, the coworker helped her fill up her water bottle.
Since Liu Jinhuan's unexpected death and the subsequent disturbances at her family's home, Su Zhiluo has become even more withdrawn, always silently going about her own business. Normally, everyone got along well with her; Su Zhiluo's character was impeccable, and seeing her like this, everyone felt a pang of sympathy for her. They would offer her help in varying degrees.
Su Zhiluo stood in the tea room for a while, holding her cup. She got thirsty and wanted to drink some water, but then scalded her mouth with boiling water.
Back at her workstation, she asked the woman next to her, "If the relatives don't care, where is Liu Chengxu?"
"It seems she's sleeping in her doghouse now, but the debt collectors have found her. Her parents also borrowed some high-interest loans and were almost caught by those thugs. The kid is quick-witted, though; she ran away as soon as people came."
Su Zhiluo said "Oh," feeling a little sad. She couldn't concentrate at work afterwards. At lunchtime, she didn't go to the cafeteria for lunch and took a taxi directly to the cemetery. The cemetery was chilly, which was frightening even in broad daylight.
She walked to Liu Jinhuan's tombstone, looked at the photo, and her nose stung with tears. She couldn't bear to imagine a little child spending the night here…
She asked the administrator.
The administrator said they did see a child here, who had left this morning with his schoolbag.
Su Zhiluo glanced back at the cemetery, her nose stinging from the indifference, and tears streamed down her face. She wondered if she should call the police.
Su Zhilu walked back anxiously. She went home; the apartment Liu Jinhuan rented was due to expire at the end of the month. Chang Ruyin had been urging her to move into a dormitory, where everyone could live together and she would have company, which would make her feel much better.
After much deliberation, Su Zhiluo finally decided to go to the police station. As soon as she went downstairs, she saw Liu Chengxu, carrying a schoolbag, with messy hair, chapped lips, and red eyes looking at her.
She gripped her schoolbag tightly with both hands, stubbornly refusing to let her tears fall.
Su Zhiluo kept looking at her, but she didn't say anything, appearing very indifferent.
All the way, Liu Chengxu was thinking about how to talk to Su Zhiluo. Should he say confidently, "You are my sister's girlfriend, you will support me," or "Please, let me be with you, I'll collect scraps, I'll work hard to earn scholarships and study," or should he kneel down and beg her?
Su Zhiluo was wearing a gray coat, her brows furrowed, looking at her with an expression that seemed both "disdainful" and "confused"—her emotions were hard to decipher.
Liu Chengxu was in pain every single second. She didn't know what Su Zhiluo was thinking, and she was also afraid of this scrutiny.
Su Zhiluo was dressed very thinly, her face was pale, and she looked bloodless. She was still a little adult herself, and she didn't seem very reliable. Liu Chengxu thought that she would definitely pretend not to see him, and even if she did see him, she would make sarcastic remarks.
Little did she know, Su Zhiluo was heartbroken. Her memories of Liu Chengxu were still of her home, of the two of them eating grapes together, of Liu Chengxu secretly watching her. Now she felt so sorry for him and annoyed. She should have asked him something when she knew something had happened over there, but she didn't know what to say for a moment.
Su Zhiluo lowered her eyes and put her fingers into her coat pocket. Liu Chengxu initially thought she was going to hit him with something, and instinctively wanted to cover his head, saying, "Don't hit me." But after seeing what it was, he reached out and cupped it in his hands.
The key landed in her palm, still faintly warm.
After throwing away her keys, Su Zhiluo lowered her head and walked out quickly, hurrying to work.
Liu Chengxu, clutching the keys, turned to look at her, tears streaming down his face.
Su Zhiluo walked to the outside of the alley, then stopped and jogged back, still not having made anything for Liu Chengxu.
Liu Chengxu stood in front of the refrigerator and was startled by the sound. She felt ashamed for touching Su Zhiluo's things without permission, and felt like a thief who had touched the owner's things without permission.
She pursed her lips, unsure how to explain.
Liu Chengxu said nervously, "I didn't take your things." She hurriedly explained that she was just looking, but then she couldn't help but choke up, "I'm just a little hungry, I'm sorry."
Liu Chengxu was filthy, not much better off than those stray dogs outside.
Su Zhiluo picked up the kettle and placed it on the stove to boil a pot of water.
Liu Chengxu was overwhelmed with shame.
She used to be a proud princess, but now she's a stray dog. She wanted to cry but didn't dare. With her lips pursed and her eyes red, she muttered, "Give me a reply."
Su Zhiluo shifted her gaze and asked, "Can't you cook?"
Liu Chengxu hummed in agreement, then whispered, "I won't make a mess of your house, don't worry!"
Su Zhiluo said, "Whatever you say."
Liu Chengxu still stood with his arms crossed, pressed against the wall.
Su Zhiluo went to the bedroom, brought out two packs of cookies and handed them to her, but Liu Chengxu clenched his hands tightly and did not reach out to take them.
Su Zhilu guessed that she was arrogant and wouldn't eat cheap snacks, so she directly handed one to Liu Chengxu and said, "We don't have any expensive ones, so this is fine."
Liu Chengxu remained silent.
As soon as Su Zhiluo turned around, Liu Chengxu pressed his forehead against the wall, clutching the bag of biscuits and crying.
Su Zhiluo took the eggs out of the refrigerator, went to the kitchen, heated the oil in a pan, quickly fried two eggs, added some salt and soy sauce, put them on a plate and placed them on the table, saying, "Come and eat."
Liu Chengxu stared blankly at her.
Su Zhiluo said, "Aren't you hungry?"
Liu Chengxu immediately went over, and Su Zhiluo pulled out a chair for her to sit down and poured her a glass of water.
Su Zhiluo wanted to remind her to wash her hands, but Liu Chengxu looked like she was starving, her face was pale.
Su Zhiluo took out the marinated meat from the refrigerator, chopped the tomatoes, stir-fried them in oil to release their juices, added hot water, cooked noodles, cracked an egg into the lean meat, added lard, gave it simple seasoning, and then served it out, saying, "It's hot, eat slowly."
Liu Chengxu hadn't expected there to be food. His face was wet with tears, and after holding back for a long time, he choked out a thank you.
Su Zhiluo didn't stare at her. She went to the bedroom and found a set of her own pajamas, which she put in the bathroom. "I'm going to work. Lock the door. After you finish eating, check if the water is hot and take a shower."
Liu Chengxu nodded vigorously.
Su Zhiluo placed her phone next to her. "Call Ruyin's number if you need to contact me. If someone knocks on the door, just call Aunt Zhang from inside the house. She lives next door and will come over to check."
Liu Chengxu nodded even more vigorously.
Su Zhiluo said, "You can also get your hair washed."
She went back to her bedroom, took out five hundred yuan, and said, "If you have other relatives and want to visit them, use this for transportation."
After saying that, Su Zhiluo left. She definitely wouldn't have time to go to the factory, but if Liu Chengxu wanted to live with her, she had to go to work today to earn her afternoon's wages.
Liu Chengxu cried for a long time. The noodles were delicious, and she even drank all the broth. She felt that her parents were lying to her; Su Zhiluo wasn't that bad at all. The first time she cooked for her, she even gave her three eggs.
Liu Chengxu felt scared but also safe being alone in the house.
She wiped away her tears repeatedly, and after finishing her meal, she went to wash the dishes. Liu Chengxu was still unwilling to give up; she picked up her phone and called her parents, but their phones were both switched off.
Su Zhiluo's work ended at 8 PM, and at 6 PM Chang Ruyin came over and asked her, "You really adopted Liu Chengxu? My God, do you know how old you are? You don't have much money!"
Su Zhiluo said, "You'll have it eventually if you save it up slowly."
You're only 20 years old!
"Yeah, I'm an adult and can work, but she's only 14, she has nothing, she's just a little kid."
"I... I really don't know what to say to you! You'll have to support her clothing, food, and education from now on!"
"I know, that's why I've thought about it for a long time."
"how long."
Two hours.
Su Zhiluo was quite serious. During the two hours she was absent-minded, she kept thinking about what would happen to Liu Chengxu if she didn't take care of him. What would happen to Liu Chengxu, a little girl, if she was left outside freezing cold, without food or water, unable to go to school, and with a low level of education?
There was no solution for those two hours.
She felt the best solution was for her to adopt her.
Su Zhiluo was also conflicted. Raising a child is not an easy task, and it takes many years to shoulder the responsibility. She couldn't give Liu Chengxu a good life, and she worried that Liu Chengxu might become spoiled.
She decided to report it to the police first and see if they could contact any welfare institutions. If Liu Chengxu wanted to stay with her now, she could afford to raise him if she gritted her teeth; she'd deal with it when she couldn't afford it anymore.
Chang Ruyin talked to her for a long time, trying to get her to think it through, but Su Zhiluo was incredibly stubborn and completely unyielding. Chang Ruyin said, "Fine, I really can't do anything with you. But if you're having any difficulties, tell me, I can give you money. I don't need any money right now. Don't force yourself; I really can't stand you like this."
"Thanks."
"Here." Chang Ruyin handed her the phone. "She sent you a message."
Su Zhiluo took it out to look at it.
The above is a text message.
Thank you for adopting me. I will repay you in the future. The noodles were delicious. I've showered and washed my hair. I'd like to sleep in your bed. I'm very sleepy. If you mind, I can wash the sheets for you tomorrow.
She reflected on it and realized there was something she hadn't done well.
She replied to the message.
Check your temperature; do you have a cold?
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I wrote about them during this time [shy][shy]
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