Chapter 2: Identity Confirmation

A knock sounded at the door.

Lu Qingqiang’s heart skipped a beat.

They were here. The people who had come to confirm her identity as the real daughter had arrived.

She opened the orphanage’s large, rusted black iron gate, its paint peeling from years of wear, and sure enough, a luxury car was parked just outside.

Standing next to it was a middle-aged couple.

“Hello, may I ask who you’re looking for?” Lu Qingqiang asked, her face full of confusion.

“It’s her, it has to be her!”

“Lin, this girl is definitely our biological daughter.”

“Look at her eyes, they look just like mine when I was young!”

“Qingqing, my Qingqing, you’ve suffered so much all these years!”

The elegant woman, who had been nervously taking deep breaths, looked up and met Lu Qingqiang’s eyes. In an instant, she rushed forward, tears streaming down her face as she spoke.

She was well-preserved, with a gentle and graceful demeanor, fair skin, and simple yet tasteful clothing.

In contrast, Lu Qingqiang, standing opposite her, had sallow skin, a thin and slightly dark complexion, dry hair, and wore clothes that altogether cost less than a hundred yuan.

“You’re saying… I’m your daughter? That can’t be right. I have parents.”

“Your parents are from Peach Blossom Village in Qingtan County, aren’t they?” asked the middle-aged man beside Madam Lu, Lu Shenlin.

“Yes, sir. Do you know them?” Lu Qingqiang replied.

“Well, you could say that.”

“About twenty years ago, my wife and I were traveling. We ended up in Qingtan County.”

“My wife went into premature labor and had to be rushed to the county hospital.”

“At almost the same time, a woman named Deng from Peach Blossom Village—your so-called mother—was also taken into the emergency room.”

“Back then, there was a sudden incident where a mentally ill patient set a fire and attacked people. During the evacuation, the hospital staff accidentally switched the babies.”

“We only just found out about this recently.”

“Lu Qingqiang, there’s a high chance you’re our daughter. If it’s convenient, would you be willing to come with us for a paternity test?” Lu Shenlin asked, looking at her.

“…Alright.”

“But could you wait for me a bit first?”

“Of course, of course. Take your time,” Madam Lu said quickly.

Lu Qingqiang had no objections to confirming her identity.

The sooner it was confirmed, the sooner she could secure funding to rebuild the orphanage. That would be a good thing.

But before that, she needed to reassure the children at the orphanage.

“Da Chengzi, come here!”

After spending the past three days with the children, Lu Qingqiang had memorized all their names.

The one she called out now was the oldest and most responsible child in the orphanage—Gu Cheng.

In the original story, seven-year-old Gu Cheng had been the backbone of the orphanage, the director’s right-hand helper.

After the director passed away, Lu Qingqiang had just stepped in to take charge and had barely finished handling the funeral arrangements when the wealthy Lu Shenlin couple arrived.

Just like today, Lu Qingqiang agreed to go for a paternity test.

She had excitedly and nervously told Gu Cheng that she needed to step out for a bit and would be back soon.

But after the test confirmed her identity as the real daughter, she never returned to the orphanage.

Instead, the Lu Family sent someone to take over.

The person assigned didn’t care about the rundown orphanage and eventually abandoned it altogether after a few incidents.

As a result, the children’s lives became increasingly difficult.

Gu Cheng, dressed in rags, eventually tracked down Lu Qingqiang’s information and confronted her, even falling to his knees to beg her.

But by then, Lu Qingqiang was locked in a fierce battle with Lu Fangyuan and had no time or energy to deal with Gu Cheng.

Eventually, she completely forgot the promise she had made to the director and the children waiting for her.

Years later, Gu Cheng became a serial killer with antisocial tendencies.

Anyone he caught lying—man or woman, regardless of reason—would be killed without mercy.

He hated liars with a passion.

By the time he was caught, he had already committed over a dozen murders, causing a major public outcry.

So now, Lu Qingqiang swore to herself…

No matter what happened in the future, she would never abandon the children at the orphanage.

She would keep her promise to Gu Cheng.

“I need to go out for a bit, but I’ll definitely be back before nightfall.”

“While I’m gone, I’ll have someone take care of you all in my place. Is that alright?”

“You… you’ll really come back?” Gu Cheng stood in front of her, clutching the hem of his shirt, looking up at her.

Lu Qingqiang crouched down and gave him a hug, then looked him in the eyes.

“I will. Let’s pinky promise.”

“Okay, pinky promise~”

After asking Madam Lu to temporarily assign a Lu Family servant to help out, and saying goodbye to the other children, Lu Qingqiang got into the car headed for the hospital.

Since it was an expedited test, the paternity results would be ready in six hours.

In the meantime, Madam Lu insisted on taking her out to eat and buy her some things.

Afraid she might refuse, Madam Lu even offered to buy gifts and supplies for the orphanage children as an excuse.

As expected, Lu Qingqiang agreed.

Seeing her nod, Madam Lu’s eyes, slightly red from emotion, lit up with joy.

Shopping, eating, chatting…

Soon, the results arrived.

The report stated: Based on DNA comparison, there is a 99.99% probability that the applicant and the tested individual share a parent-child relationship.

Upon reading this, Madam Lu broke down in tears.

“It’s true, look, Qingqing, you really are my daughter. My biological daughter.”

“My child, you’ve suffered so much all these years!”

She hugged Lu Qingqiang’s thin frame tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.

Even Lu Shenlin, standing beside them, looked at Lu Qingqiang with a newfound gentleness in his eyes.

“Qingqing, come home with us.”

“All these years, we’ve failed you.”

“Once you’re home, your mother and I will make up for everything you’ve missed.”

“We’d also like to hold a press conference to announce your identity to the public. Would that be alright?” Lu Shenlin asked.

“I’ll go home for a visit, but I have to return to the orphanage before dark.”

“And about the press conference… could we hold off on that for now?” Lu Qingqiang blinked and asked.

“Sure, we’ll do as you say.”

“By the way, Qingqing, how about letting Mom hire a professional to look after the orphanage…” Madam Lu probed gently.

“No need, Mom. I promised the director I’d take care of the children at the orphanage.”

“When you make a promise, you have to keep it.”

“But don’t worry, I’ll visit home often when I have time,” Lu Qingqiang said.

“…”

——

At Jiang City’s Loving Heart Orphanage.

Gu Cheng watched as the sky grew darker, and his anxiety deepened.

Most of the children here had been abandoned by their families.

They had very little sense of security.

He had overheard the conversation between Lu Qingqiang and those two important-looking people.

If nothing went wrong, Lu Qingqiang was the daughter of a wealthy family.

Even though she had promised to return, he was still scared—scared that she wouldn’t come back.

After all, who in their right mind would choose to return to a dilapidated orphanage where even food was a problem, when they could live a life of luxury as a rich heiress?

Let alone take care of burdens like them.

But if Lu Qingqiang really didn’t come back, then what would happen to him, to all of them?

The sky darkened further, and the chirping of unknown insects filled the air.

Gu Cheng’s small figure stood still, blending into the night.

He stared at the gate, his little fists clenched tightly without realizing it.

He always did this when he was nervous.

“Big Orange Brother, Aunt Liu made dinner. She cooked our favorite twice-cooked pork. Come eat!”

“Taozi, you go ahead.”

“Big Orange Brother, are you waiting for Mama Lu?”

“Aunt Liu said Mama Lu is a rich family’s daughter. She’s not from our world. She might… not come back.”

“She will. She promised me she would come back. We pinky promised,” Gu Cheng said instinctively.

However, the hand clenched inside his sleeve tightened even more.

“My grandma promised me too. She said she’d come take me home, but… she never did.”

“Grown-ups… sometimes they lie to kids.”

“Mama Lu’s only been at our orphanage for less than a month. It makes sense that she’d leave.”

“But honestly, I… I really liked her.”

“I… I don’t want Mama Lu to go either. Wuwu…”

Yeah. They’d only spent a month together. What right did he have to expect Lu Qingqiang to come back and take care of burdens like them?

Gu Cheng’s eyes dimmed as he gently stroked Taozi’s head.

And just then…

Creak!

The orphanage’s heavy iron gate swung open.

Gu Cheng and Taozi, standing in the dark courtyard, were suddenly bathed in the glare of headlights.

Along with the lights came a familiar voice, cheerful and bright.

“Kids, I’m back with presents!”