Chapter 7 Returning Home
The police arrived quickly, their sirens piercing the chaotic scene. The driver was dragged from the truck, his face as pale as paper.
"The driver is drunk! Is anyone injured?" A policeman came over quickly to inquire about the situation.
Lele snapped back to her senses and, like a frightened little animal, twisted herself and scrambled out of the old man's warm embrace. She had been so close to him just now, yet she couldn't hear a single word from the old man.
This is so weird and so suspicious!
"You little bastard! You're asking for death! You're so troublesome!" At this time, the dean came over breathlessly, cursing viciously. He was so angry that he raised his rough palm and was about to slap Lele in the face.
Lele subconsciously closed his eyes and raised his arm to block the attack, but the expected pain did not come.
She opened her eyes and saw the old man's skinny but extremely powerful hand firmly clamped on the dean's wrist.
"The driver was wrong. How could you hit the child? Can't you tell right from wrong?" The old man frowned, scolded angrily, and pushed hard with his hand.
The dean was caught off guard and stumbled back several steps. She wanted to lash out, but her eyes swept over the old man's exquisitely tailored clothes, the material of which was obviously expensive. She immediately swallowed the curse words on her lips and could only mutter unwillingly in her throat.
"No one was hit! Police comrades, you just deal with the driver, we have urgent matters!" The dean grabbed Lele's arm and pulled her into the team as if dragging a piece of luggage.
The big boss who donated money to the welfare home is still waiting for a photo at the amusement park, and she can't afford to be delayed!
"Hey! You..." The police was stunned, but it was better to have less trouble than more.
Lele frowned, her arm aching from being pulled, but remained silent. She couldn't help but turn around and look curiously at the old man standing there.
She has no voice.
Over the years, Lele has figured out a pattern: no matter who they are, when they are silent, all kinds of thoughts are always churning in their minds.
For example, now, the dean is cursing her, the old man, and the truck driver's ancestors in his heart.
Why she didn't.
Lele looked back and thought, she couldn’t hear the old woman’s thoughts, so was she a special person?
With a hint of hesitation, she looked back again, and the white-haired figure had disappeared in the crowd.
An inexplicable feeling of loss brushed against my heart like a feather. Especially... so what?
I guess it’s another player.
The group finally arrived at the legendary amusement park. Standing at the entrance was a group of well-dressed, smiling people, accompanied by reporters carrying cameras.
"Boss Chen! Thank you so much! If it weren't for you, the children in our welfare home would never have the chance to come to a place like this!" The director faced the camera and exaggeratedly wiped away tears that didn't exist.
Boss Chen smiled even more amiably, as if radiating holy light from his entire body: "Of course, of course! The children in the orphanage deserve a happy childhood, too!"
The two put on a heart-warming "charity show" in front of the camera. After filming enough footage, Boss Chen took the children on a few symbolic rides.
Lele was also very curious about these projects. She liked the roller coaster the most. When she fell rapidly from a high place, she would feel like her soul was leaving her body and she got a moment of relief.
No matter how much she hated Boss Chen in her heart, or how fake he was, at least she was happy on this day.
When leaving, many children surrounded Boss Chen, sobbing softly and expressing gratitude.
Lele didn't move forward. She simply stood quietly at the edge of the crowd, once again looking around at this dreamlike place filled with color and bustle, trying to carve this fleeting happiness deep into her memory.
It was already dark when we returned to the welfare home. Lele was holding her old washbasin and waiting to take a bath.
Originally, everyone followed the order of the basins, but ever since someone cut in line by stealing, she could only stay by the bathroom door, waiting anxiously.
"LeLe! Come here!"
Lele turned her head when she heard the call. It was the dean. She looked at her seat and saw that it was her turn soon. She moved over reluctantly and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I told you to dawdle! You're rebelling!" The dean was furious and reached out to twist her ear again.
"Just try if you dare." A very majestic voice suddenly sounded.
The dean's hand froze in mid-air, his face still showing anger, but he forced a smile and put down his hand in disappointment.
Lele looked in the direction of the voice and it was her again, that special person.
What is she here for?
Lele lowered his head and unconsciously picked at the burrs on the edge of the worn basin, his heart beating inexplicably faster.
"Child," the old man walked up to her, squatted down, and looked at her at eye level, as gentle as the first melting snow, "I want to take you home. Will you come with me?"
Lele looked at her slender hands that bore traces of time. It was these hands that pulled her back and gave her another life.
She turned to her hand again, and suddenly her pupils shrank slightly. The old man had a mole on the lower side of his right thumb, just like hers, with a very similar position and size.
Is it... a coincidence?
Lele suddenly raised her head, and without hesitation, her small, calloused hand firmly grasped the warm and broad hand.
"I do." The voice was not loud, but very clear.
The adoption procedures were not complicated for the old man, and he completed all the processes before dark.
Now, she just came to take Lele home.
When she got into the beautiful car she had never seen before, Lele hugged her small schoolbag with the edges worn out and the cheap sponge inside showing, and felt like she had fallen into an unreal dream.
This was the first time she was brought home without hearing whispers from adopters and the system.
She cautiously glanced at the old man beside her.
Jiang Congyue's eyes were slightly closed, her elbows resting on the edge of the car window, her fingertips resting on her forehead. The light outside the window danced on her silver hair and graceful profile.
Lele pinched the strap of her schoolbag unconsciously and twisted her body uncomfortably. This old woman was more beautiful than all the older people she had ever seen. Time had not ravaged her face. If it weren't for her white hair, it would be difficult to tell her real age.
There was a quiet power in her that made Lele feel strange yet at ease. Lele's tense nerves gradually relaxed, and he felt drowsy, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
–
"Boss Jiang, we're here." The driver in front whispered.
The two of them were awakened at the same time. Without the inner voice that he usually used as a judgment tool, Lele instantly became nervous again and looked out the window.
She was completely stunned.
What stood before me didn't look like a house, but more like a beautiful castle from a fairy tale. Towering walls, a grand gate, and from within, a courtyard light shone brightly like a galaxy.
Lele pinched the bank card under the compartment of her schoolbag.
Can her money buy even a brick of this house? An innocent thought popped up uncontrollably.
"Le Le, we're home." Jiang Congyue had already gotten out of the car, walked around to Le Le's side, condescended to open the car door for her personally, and extended his hand.
Lele, in a daze almost like a sleepwalker, let the warm hand lead her into this dreamy mansion.
The moment she stepped into the tall foyer, warm golden light poured down from the intricate and gorgeous crystal chandelier above her head, illuminating the mirror-like marble floor, the thick and exquisite carpet on it, and the paintings hanging on the wall that she could not understand but felt were priceless.
Everything was so exquisite and luxurious beyond her imagination, making her feel like a little gray mouse that had accidentally entered a palace.
Lele tried hard not to look around, as that would make her seem impolite. She also wanted to observe this special person more, so she couldn't make him unhappy.
She kept her eyes on her nose and her nose on her heart, without looking away as the old man walked away, but she heard a low laugh from the person next to her.
Lele looked up when she heard the voice and met Jiang Congyue's eyes with a teasing smile, as if he had already seen through her forced calmness.
Her face suddenly turned red, even the tips of her small ears were stained crimson, and she quickly lowered her head again.
The old woman picked up the child and walked up the stairs while introducing in a gentle voice: "The first floor is where the aunts rest. The second floor," she said, holding Lele through an elegant archway, "will be yours from now on."
When the door was pushed open, Lele's eyes were instantly caught by the huge bed in the middle of the room. A bed so big that she could roll five times without falling off.
A small room in the welfare home had to accommodate more than ten children, so everyone's bed was extremely narrow. Sometimes Lele would fall off the bed just by turning over.
Therefore, when she saw such a big bed, she suddenly had a strong urge to jump on it and roll around a few times.
The old man happily put her on the bed, looked at her with a pair of eyes that could speak, and said in a voice as light as a feather brushing against the tip of her heart: "My name is Jiang Congyue, and from today on, your name will be Jiang Le."
Jiang Le.
She looked up suddenly, her heart beating wildly in her chest, thumping against her eardrums. Her nose felt strangely sour, and a complex mix of belonging, bewilderment, and disbelief instantly overwhelmed her.
Afterwards, Jiang Congyue explained to her how to use the facilities in the house and said, "If you have any questions, come to me."
Jiang Le hadn't recovered yet and nodded blankly.
Jiang Congyue smiled and tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear. Then he squatted down again, his eyes level with hers, and said seriously, "Jiang Le, remember, this is your home from now on. The aunties working downstairs, it is their duty to help you. If you refuse their help, it will make them feel that you have not done your job well, and they will feel embarrassed and uneasy. Do you understand?"
"Why adopt me?" Jiang Le almost blurted out, her voice carrying a hint of coldness that she herself didn't even notice.
After asking, she realized that such a straightforward question might be rude and embarrassing. But she desperately wanted an answer, one that was different from the purposeful answers given by the other players.
Jiang Congyue didn't get angry. Instead, he reached out his hand, and his warm palm gently rested on her head. He ruffled her soft short hair and smiled, "It's fate. I think you and I have a good eye for each other."
Fate. Jiang Le was stunned. She had imagined many answers: pity, sympathy, a spur-of-the-moment feeling, or even a mission like the players...
But the only thing I never thought of was fate.
This word is simple and ethereal, yet it carries a strange and irrefutable power.
"Okay," Jiang Congyue stood up, her tone a little lighter, "It's very late, go wash up and go to bed. Children who stay up late won't grow tall!" She smiled and pointed in the direction of the bathroom.
After Jiang Congyue closed the door and left, Jiang Le suddenly came back to his senses. He blankly opened the wardrobe, which was filled with all kinds of clothes, and closed the door silently.
Why are there all kinds of animal-style clothes in the wardrobe? Do they look good?
It doesn’t look good.
She took out the old pajamas from her worn-out little schoolbag. The pajamas were washed white and had frayed edges, but had long been tamed by her body and were extremely comfortable and fit.
This is the best clothes in the world!
In the bathroom, which was so spacious that one could roll around in it, Jiang Le studied the glittering knobs and faucets for a long time before he barely figured out the hot and cold water switches. He then stumbled through the most "high-tech" hot bath he had ever had in his life.
"Why make a hot and cold water mixer so complicated?" Jiang Le muttered, picking up the dirty clothes in a ball.
After searching for a long time, Jiang Le's world finally collapsed. There was no washboard! Nor was there the broken plastic basin she was familiar with! How could she wash the clothes?
She walked around the room several times with the clothes in her arms, even searching every corner of the bathroom to confirm that the traditional equipment she usually used was not there. Don't rich people wash clothes by hand?
After hesitating for a long time, she closed her eyes and stuffed them into her schoolbag.
Finally everything was over. Jiang Le could finally lie on the big bed she had been longing for. She jumped three feet high and threw herself onto the bed, but the soft bed bounced her upwards with great elasticity.
She rolled around happily, humming a few times with satisfaction.
I had too much fun during the day, and now my eyelids started to droop as I lay in bed, and soon I fell asleep.
In her sleep, she seemed to feel a few drops of rain on her. She wondered vaguely whether such a luxurious house could leak, but she did not have the energy to think about it and fell into a deep sleep again.
The next morning, she was awakened by the rustling sound of rummaging. Jiang Le rubbed her eyes and looked at the ceiling sleepily. It took her a while to remember where she was.
She looked in the direction of the sound and saw an aunt in a neat apron walking quietly around the room, as if looking for something.
Jiang Le asked somewhat bewilderedly: "Excuse me, what are you looking for?"
Her sudden voice startled the woman, who turned around with an apologetic smile: "Oh, miss, did I wake you up?"
Jiang Le quickly waved his hands, "No, no, I woke up on my own."
"Oh, that's good." Auntie breathed a sigh of relief and smiled gently, "Miss, where are the clothes you changed out of last night? I'll take them to wash."
Jiang Le widened her eyes, thinking of what Jiang Congyue said last night, and swallowed back the rejection that was about to come out of her mouth. Does she need someone else to wash her clothes too?
Is this the life of rich people?
Later, she quietly followed and took a peek, only to find out that the aunt had just thrown her clothes into the washing machine.
She thought rich people used washboards made of gold, but it turned out they used washing machines.
——
Jiang Congyue:10
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