Chapter 104: Wha… What’s Going On

Xu Ming: That Pang Jiajia from your orphanage has pretty impressive hands-on skills.

Xu Ming: This afternoon she was learning Bamboo Weaving at a stall, and she picked it up after just two tries.

Xu Ming: You might want to keep an eye on her talents in this area going forward.

【A Deer’s Safe Journey】: Got it. Jiajia’s always been great with her hands—whether it’s molding clay or doing crafts, she’s always the MVP wherever she goes.

【Shen Shen You Shen】: Sis, I think Little Star has a real gift for dancing.

Huang He: Speaking of that, I think the kid in my group has a real knack for music.

Zhou Sicong: Which kid? What kid?

Huang He: That little boy who had surgery. Doesn’t talk much, a bit shy.

Lu Qingqiang instantly understood.

Oh, he’s talking about Xiao Hui.

Without saying a word, Lu Qingqiang directly sent a short video to the group—the one she had taken earlier in the car of Xiao Hui imitating Xiong Da, Xiong Er, and Bald Qiang¹.

A minute later, the group chat exploded.

Zhou Sicong: Damn, this kid is amazing! A voice acting prodigy!

Huang He: This little guy is insane!!

【Shen Shen You Shen】: Oh, now I remember. Isn’t he the one who mimicked a rabbit’s voice to lure another rabbit into crashing into a tree?

Feng Xiao: ??? Brother Shen, what are you even talking about? Explain.

Xu Ming: .

…

Before heading back to the orphanage, Lu Qingqiang had Driver Xiao Zhang stop in front of a restaurant she had reserved.

After treating everyone to a meal, they took a short stroll through the nearby night market.

Only then did they return to the orphanage.

By the time they arrived at the orphanage gates, the sky was completely dark.

The kids who had been full of energy during the day were now yawning one after another, their eyes drowsy and half-closed.

“We’re home, we’re home! Wake up, everyone. Once we wash up, it’s bedtime~” Yuan Yuan’s voice rang out.

As soon as the bus doors opened, Zhang Qiang and Yan Fang were the first to get off and head to open the orphanage gates.

However, before they could reach the gate, Yan Fang suddenly spoke up, her voice full of caution.

“Who… who’s there?”

“That big lump over there—don’t tell me some heartless jerk dumped their trash at our doorstep?”

Zhang Qiang echoed the suspicion, though his eyes were just as wary as Yan Fang’s.

Worried there might be danger, he reached out to stop Yan Fang and cautiously approached the mysterious bundle.

“Waaah—”

Just as Zhang Qiang got close, a loud baby’s cry suddenly erupted beside his ear.

The sound hit him like a shockwave, leaving him completely stunned.

Wha… what’s going on?

That black plastic-wrapped bundle turned out to be a baby?

Who could be so heartless as to stuff a child into a plastic bag and dump them here?

While Zhang Qiang stood frozen in shock, Yan Fang had already rushed over and crouched down.

With gentle hands, she peeled away the black plastic bag and tenderly scooped the wailing baby into her arms.

“What’s going on?” Lu Qingqiang got off the bus and walked over.

Doctor Feng followed closely behind.

“Director, there’s an abandoned baby at the gate.”

“In this day and age, someone’s still dumping babies? Absolutely heartless!”

“If you don’t want a child, then don’t have one in the first place!”

Doctor Feng was furious as she ranted, then reached out to take the baby from Yan Fang’s arms.

“Here, let me take a look.”

“Doctor Feng, let’s take him inside first. It’s dark and cold out here,” Lu Qingqiang said.

“Mm, let’s go. Back inside.”

Soon, Doctor Feng carried the baby into the infirmary. After soothing him for a while, she began a physical examination.

The others stood around, watching curiously.

During this time, Lu Qingqiang tossed her car keys to Zhang Qiang and had him drive out to buy infant formula.

The orphanage’s kitchen did have milk.

After all, the children at the orphanage were still growing, so Lu Qingqiang had long arranged for fresh milk to be delivered daily for them to drink in the morning or before bed.

But for a wailing infant like this one, whose digestive system was still underdeveloped, drinking milk too early could easily cause digestive issues.

Without breast milk, formula was the only safe option.

“Sigh, what a tragedy,” Doctor Feng sighed after finishing the examination.

“Doctor Feng, what’s wrong with him?”

“Guess how old this child is?” Doctor Feng didn’t answer Lu Qingqiang directly, instead tossing the question back.

Lu Qingqiang took a look and ventured a guess. “About three months old?”

“Here, there’s a birthdate in the bundle. Take a look.”

Lu Qingqiang took the paper and glanced at it, then spoke in disbelief.

“He’s almost six months old? No way!”

“He looks way too small for that!”

Doctor Feng let out another sigh and began explaining.

“This child’s body is limp and underweight. His anterior fontanelle² closed too early, which suggests delayed growth and development. He might also have brain development issues or hypothyroidism.”

“On top of that, he has a congenital deformity in his right arm.”

“From the looks of it, he’s already undergone one or two surgeries, but the results weren’t great.”

“My guess is, his family gave up on him.”

“If you ask me, is it really that hard to get a premarital checkup or prenatal screening³?”

“Now look what’s happened. It’s the child who suffers.”

“Xiao Lu, Xiao Yuan, you young people need to remember this.”

“Whether it’s getting married or having children in the future, you can’t be careless.”

Doctor Feng couldn’t help but lecture Lu Qingqiang and Yuan Yuan.

“…” Lu Qingqiang.

Honestly, all she wanted right now was to complete her missions and build up the orphanage.

Once that was done, she’d cash out and go home to live the rich life.

She had zero interest in using someone else’s body to fall in love.

It just wasn’t right. Not at all.

“Doctor Feng, I only just graduated. I’m not looking to date anyone yet,” Yuan Yuan said, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She was having the time of her life working at the orphanage.

Unless she met someone truly special, she had no interest in dating.

After all, men were complicated. Pick the right one, and everything’s great. Pick the wrong one, and it’s hell.

And that hell? Anyone who wants it can have it.

“Director, what should we do about this child?” Aunt Liu asked from the side.

“I’ve asked Yan Fang to check the surveillance footage at the gate.”

“And I’ve already reported it to the police.”

“In the meantime, we’ll take care of the baby here at the orphanage.”

“We’ll see what the police say when they arrive,” Lu Qingqiang replied.

In cases like this, where an abandoned baby was found, the proper procedure was to report it immediately.

Once the police arrived, they would photograph the scene, file a report, take the child back to the station for a medical checkup, and contact the local welfare institute⁴ for temporary care.

They would then publish a notice in the newspaper to search for the parents and confirm the child’s identity.

If no one came forward and the baby was officially deemed abandoned, the local welfare institute would take over responsibility, register the child, and begin what was considered a “normal” life.

However, abandoned babies with congenital conditions like this were usually left at the gates of a welfare institute.

That’s because orphanages typically only took in orphans and children, operating as charitable organizations.

Welfare institutes, on the other hand, were established by the state, society, or organizations to assist people in need—such as the elderly, the disabled, or the sick. They were divided into elderly welfare homes, disability welfare homes, and children’s welfare homes.

Children’s welfare homes could take in orphans, disabled children, and children with disabilities whose families paid for their care.

Forget it, forget it. Let’s not dwell on this for now.

We should take care of the child first.

Such a tiny little one… truly pitiful. Sigh.

Several people tried to soothe the child for a long time, but the crying continued in all sorts of ways.

The cries, which had been loud and piercing at first, had now quieted down quite a bit.

“Director, the formula is back!” Just then, Zhang Qiang came running in, panting heavily.

“Mama Lu, I’ll go make the formula!” Xu Wei jogged in quickly, looking up at Lu Qingqiang as she spoke.

Back when she was in the orphanage, it had always been her and Big Orange Brother—those a bit older—who prepared the formula for the younger brothers and sisters.

She was really good at making formula.

Translator’s Notes