Chapter 3: I Wasn’t Waiting for You

“Mama Lu, you’re really back!”

Taozi, who had just started tearing up, suddenly shouted in delight.

“I promised the director and Gu Cheng that I’d come back, so of course I did!”

“Gu Cheng, sorry for the wait. There was some traffic on the way back.”

“I wasn’t waiting for you.” Gu Cheng suppressed the strange feeling in his chest and gave a cold snort.

“Right, right, you weren’t waiting. You were just standing in the courtyard, basking in the moonlight.”

As Lu Qingqiang spoke, she reached out to ruffle Gu Cheng and Taozi’s hair, then continued.

“Come help me out.”

“Okay.” Gu Cheng nodded and followed after her.

The night sky hid the flush at the tips of his ears, and also the small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Wow, Mama Lu, what are all these?”

Taozi’s eyes widened in wonder as she watched Lu Qingqiang and the driver unload bag after bag from the car.

“These are gifts I brought for everyone. There’s something for each of you.”

“Wahaha! Mama Lu, let me help carry some too!”

“Sure, you can take this small one.”

“Got it!”

By the time they returned to the orphanage, arms full of bags, Aunt Liu—who had been trying to coax the children into eating—froze in surprise.

“Miss Lu, you… you’ve come back?”

“The orphanage is like half a home to me. Of course I had to come back!”

“Besides, I promised the director I’d take care of them as they grow up.”

“Until then, I won’t abandon a single one of them.”

As soon as she said that, the children who had refused to eat until she returned lit up with joy.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. You must be hungry, right? Let’s eat first.”

“After dinner, there’ll be gifts!”

“Yay!”

Seventeen children and three adults gathered around a long table made from three small tables pushed together.

Above them hung a bare lightbulb.

The room was dim and run-down, but everyone ate heartily.

The food was delicious: twice-cooked pork, braised fish, white-cut chicken, stir-fried baby bok choy, and more…

After the meal, Lu Qingqiang began handing out the gifts.

Gu Cheng received books. Taozi got handmade candies and cookies.

Song Li got a set of 24 colored pencils. Zhou Yang received a longsword. Xu Kai got a gaming console, and so on.

In the end, every child received a gift that made them perfectly happy.

If she didn’t know the children well, there was no way Lu Qingqiang could have chosen gifts so precisely.

Realizing this, the sensitive children of the orphanage grew even fonder of her.

The next morning.

Lu Qingqiang woke up early.

She had a full day ahead and a lot to get done.

The only reason she had agreed to return to the Lu Family the day before with Madam Lu and the others was to raise funds.

To be fair, the Lu Family wasn’t bad.

They gave her a beautiful room and even a 60-square-meter walk-in closet.

It was stocked with designer clothes, bags, and shoes.

Madam Lu kept urging her to come home, saying they wanted to make up for lost time.

Lu Qingqiang politely declined.

After a thorough discussion, the Lu Family agreed…

To support her orphanage project.

Lu Qingqiang explained that the orphanage’s infrastructure was severely lacking. Lu Shenlin—no, her father—waved his hand and immediately approved five million yuan for her.

With money in hand, what couldn’t be done?

Not to mention, she had connections.

Renovating and upgrading the orphanage required professionals.

She didn’t know anyone in that field.

But that was fine. She had the Lu Family behind her.

All she had to do was call her father’s secretary, Liu An.

Sure enough, less than an hour after the call, the construction crew arrived.

Jiang City Loving Heart Orphanage was located on the far western outskirts of Jiang City, backed by a mountain.

The area was remote, the environment harsh, and the population sparse.

The surrounding shops and residents were all ordinary folks.

When Liu An arrived with the construction crew for the first time, he was at a complete loss.

He simply couldn’t understand.

Why would Lu Qingqiang, the recently found heiress of the Lu Family, insist on renovating this shabby orphanage in such a rundown place?

Wouldn’t it be better to follow President Lu’s suggestion and relocate the orphanage to the southern part of the city?

Land there was expensive, and the environment, education, and medical resources were all far superior.

And the Lu Family would foot the entire bill.

Such a time-saving, effort-free solution, and yet Lu Qingqiang refused?

If the orphanage moved south, she could return home and enjoy a comfortable life anytime.

But no, she insisted on doing things her way.

Sigh. Hard to understand.

Though Liu An had his doubts, when he saw Lu Qingqiang, he still greeted her with a warm and respectful smile.

“Miss, I’ve brought the people you asked for.”

“If you have any requests, feel free to speak up.”

“Secretary Liu, could you help me lease the mountain behind the orphanage?”

“And this area, this one, and this one too. It’d be best if we could buy them outright.”

“This is the blueprint for the orphanage’s future layout. Take a look and let me know what you think.” Lu Qingqiang handed over a drawing.

She had pulled this blueprint from the system the night before.

Since she was going to improve the orphanage, she might as well go all the way.

The location may have been poor and remote, but that was exactly what made it ideal for her.

Because it was so impoverished and spacious, it had great potential for development.

The land was cheap, the environment good, and the space full of possibilities.

“This… this is the orphanage?” Liu An was stunned after seeing the blueprint.

“What’s wrong? If you have something to say, don’t hold back.”

“No, no, the blueprint you drew… it’s amazing.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll arrange to purchase the mountain and the land you need as soon as possible,” Liu An said.

“Good. For the renovation, use the best and most eco-friendly materials.”

“Buy the best of everything we need.”

“If the money runs out, let me know. I’ll ask my parents for more.”

“…” Liu An.

Well then, she sure stepped into this role fast.

After handling all that, Lu Qingqiang finally went to have breakfast.

Breakfast was millet porridge, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables, all made by Aunt Liu.

Aunt Liu and the driver, Xiao Zhang, had both been assigned to assist Lu Qingqiang.

Of course, their salaries were paid by the Lu Family.

When Lu Qingqiang arrived at the dining area, she found all seventeen children sitting properly, waiting for her.

No one had touched their food.

Even little foodie Taozi, whose eyes had gone green staring at the buns, hadn’t made a move.

When she walked in, Taozi called out.

“Mama Lu, you’re here?”

“Yes. From now on, don’t wait for me to eat. If it’s time to eat, then eat, got it?”

“Got it, Mama Lu.”

The other children all nodded.

“Alright then, let’s eat!”

“After breakfast, I’ve got missions to assign to everyone!”

“Okay!”