"I haven't reached that point yet..."
"good!"
Before Chen Xiong could finish speaking, Xiao Liuzi readily agreed.
He wasn't stupid, nor did he think it was that damaging to his pride. For a ten-year-old child, having a place to eat and a place to stay was enough to keep him alive; what more could he ask for? Could wandering around like a stray dog and getting into fights really protect his so-called self-esteem?
Tang Wan was satisfied with his sensibility. If he insisted on leaving, she would never stop him. There was only one chance, and it was up to him whether to seize it or not. Forcing him to stay would be pointless.
Do you have your household registration booklet or similar documents?
Xiao Liu asked, puzzled, "What's that?"
Tang Wan frowned. Chen Xiong called her over and whispered a few words in her ear. Xiao Liuzi looked at the two of them, feeling inexplicably uneasy.
He didn't want to see expressions like 'pity' or 'sympathy'. He'd seen too many of them. People were always so self-righteous. He was doing just fine on his own and didn't feel pitiful at all, yet people always labeled him with all sorts of emotions they thought he would feel.
But Tang Wan never showed such an expression throughout. Her tone remained calm and businesslike, yet it didn't come across as forceful; instead, it made people feel relaxed.
"I'll take you to register your household in a couple of days and also handle your school enrollment procedures. If you're struggling with any of the lessons, I'll arrange for someone else to teach you."
"Go...to school?"
"Having a problem? If you need help, you at least need to be able to read. Don't worry, the investment we're making in you now will automatically extend the time you'll be working here."
"Zhou the Skinflint," Xiao Liuzi grumbled, but he was still very happy inside. Extending his work assignment meant he would have a place to live and food to eat, and most importantly, he could go to school.
"My surname is Tang, not Zhou."
Tang Wan's rare attempt at humor only made the atmosphere more awkward. Xiao Liuzi looked at her with some disdain, while she touched her nose and pretended to look towards the door.
Chen Xiong looked at the two children, chuckled softly, and then proceeded to fetch the medicine.
"Do you want to change your name?" Tang Wan asked before leaving.
"Anything is fine."
"If you don't have any ideas, would you like to take my surname?" Chen Xiong smiled, looking very kind. "Chen Liu seems like a good name, doesn't it? Six is auspicious, everything goes smoothly, and everything you do will be as you wish. Looking at it that way, it's a pretty good name."
“Chen Liu…”
“I have no wife, and naturally no children. If I had a wife, my grandson might be the same age as you. If you don’t mind, he can take my surname.”
Xiao Liu picked at his nails, head down, unusually shy. He sniffed, suppressing the stinging sensation in his nose.
"It's alright... thank you."
Tang Wan was very efficient. In less than a week, not only were all the relevant documents completed, but Chen Liu was also able to enroll in school smoothly.
Another day passed, and Tang Wan stepped into the clinic, only to see Chen Xiong holding an umbrella and about to leave.
"Master, where are you going?"
"Wan'er's here? It's going to rain today. Xiao Liu rushed off to school this morning without an umbrella, so I brought it to him."
"With your old bones and limbs, you might slip and fall on the road. I'll go help you."
"Old bones and limbs... but I'm still strong." Chen Xiong held the umbrella, pretending to hit her, but only lightly touched her. Tang Wan didn't dodge and just obediently took it.
"Yes, yes, you can jump and leap like a 20-year-old."
Chen Xiong chuckled and cursed, then handed her the umbrella.
"Be careful on the road, it's slippery!"
"Okay, you can go back and rest now." Tang Wan waved her hand and left without looking back.
Halfway there, it started to drizzle. Although it wasn't heavy, the light rain was still quite uncomfortable.
"Ah, it's raining."
"I brought an umbrella! Let's go together."
Students gradually emerged from the teaching building. Chen Liu stared blankly at the increasingly heavy rain.
"Chen Liu, didn't you bring an umbrella?"
"Hmm, I forgot."
"I didn't bring any, but my mom will come to pick me up. Let's go back together."
"No need." Chen Liu held his schoolbag over his head.
"Isn't your mother coming to pick you up?"
Chen Liu didn't speak; he didn't like talking about his private affairs.
"I'm leaving now." Just as Chen Liu was about to step out, a voice called out to him.
"Chen Liu!"
Chen Liu pulled back his foot and looked up. He saw Tang Wan holding an umbrella and carrying another one in her hand, walking towards him in the rain.
"Chen Liu, who's that? Is she your sister? She's so beautiful!"
"Hmm." Chen Liu followed Tang Wan's gaze and gave a somewhat perfunctory reply.
"Why are you here?" Chen Liu took the umbrella that Tang Wan handed him.
"I'll take you home."
Chen Liu pursed his lips, his pupils shrinking slightly. He hadn't heard the word 'home' in a long time.
Am I... a person with a family now?
"Let's go." Tang Wan took two steps forward, but found that Chen Liu was still standing there.
"Okay," Chen Liu replied and followed. After taking only a couple of steps, he stopped and looked at his classmate.
"My family has come to pick me up, so I'm leaving now."
"Okay, see you tomorrow." His classmate smiled and waved to him.
"See you tomorrow." Chen Liu waved back, a smile on his face.
The rain stopped just as Tang Wan reached the clinic entrance. She closed her umbrella and pushed open the door.
"You're back?" Chen Xiong came out.
Tang Wan took Chen Liu's umbrella and placed it in the umbrella stand next to the door. "Yeah, you're back."
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