Chapter 17: Little Angels at the Orphanage
It was the day of the mutual-aid event.
Gu Tang deliberately took out an extra-large backpack and stuffed it with snacks, toys, and even some of his old little clothes and shoes.
Su Mei loved dressing up children. Since her own grandson would not cooperate, she simply bought everything for Gu Tang instead.
The little darling was obedient and adorable. He wore whatever he was given, and whatever he wore looked cute on him.
Su Mei had gotten a little too carried away with shopping and completely forgot that children this age grow very quickly. As a result, quite a few clothes became too small for Gu Tang before he had even worn them once.
He was going to bring all of them to donate to the children at the orphanage!
After finishing his morning training, young master Gu came back and saw Gu Tang sticking out his little backside, desperately stuffing things into the bag.
That backpack was so huge it looked like it could fit the entire little milk dumpling inside.
“…”
Gu Qinian watched for a while, wanting to speak but hesitating, before finally asking uncertainly, “Can you even carry that?”
“I can!”
Gu Tang was extremely confident, completely assured of himself.
He had just earned quite a lot of life points from young master Gu, after all. It would be enough!
Whenever he thought about the suffering young master Gu had endured in the orphanage in the original book, he could not help but feel heartbroken for those children without parents. He wished he could bring over every good thing he had and give them some warmth.
But the facts proved that people should never overestimate themselves.
Gu Tang: “Wah… it’s so heavy…”
He was like a snail carrying that thick, heavy shell, crawling forward step by step…
No wonder snails do not have legs.
With that much weight on their backs, if they did not crawl, they probably could not move at all.
His life points were being consumed even faster than he had imagined. After only a few steps, they were already almost depleted.
A child’s body really was weak!
[Host, if your life points run out, you’ll croak!]
Gu Tang panted, “Your friendly reminders are getting more and more down-to-earth.”
[You flatter me.]
The system was shy for a brief moment, then saw Gu Tang’s health bar begin flashing an alarm.
[Ahhh, stop now, you’re about to be done for… huh?]
The system froze for a second, and Gu Tang paused as well.
All of a sudden, he felt the backpack on his shoulders become much lighter, and instead of continuing to fall, his life points started rising.
What was going on?
A final burst of energy before death??
[Congratulations, Host! The ‘Torment the Male Lead x100’ chain mission has been successfully completed! You’ve also received an extra reward of 100 life points!]
Gu Tang: “???”
But he had not done anything.
When had he tormented young master Gu?
Out of Gu Tang’s sight—behind that huge “snail shell” backpack—little Gu Qinian had both hands under the bag, silently helping him bear half the weight.
Gu Tang turned his head and only with difficulty noticed Gu Qinian.
“Thank you, Niannian!”
Hearing that soft, milky little voice thanking him, Gu Qinian said blandly from behind, “No need. Rub my arms for me tonight.”
“Okay! Then you rub my shoulders for me!”
“In your dreams.”
With the two of them together, it naturally became much easier.
Gu Tang and Gu Qinian were like two little ants moving house together, huffing and puffing as they walked forward side by side.
Seeing this, Jiang Yiyi turned and patted her brother. “Now do you know why you’re the eternal second male lead?”
Jiang Yiwen: “???”
Xinxin Orphanage was a privately run orphanage that took in more than twenty children.
Although the place was not large, it was managed in an orderly way.
After walking around and looking at everything, Gu Tang felt very confused. “Was there some kind of mistake?”
The children at Xinxin Orphanage were all plump and rosy-cheeked, and their personalities were cheerful and lively. They looked no different from children at an ordinary boarding kindergarten—if anything, they even seemed better off.
How did this look like a heartless orphanage?
Even if little Gu Qinian had ended up here, it did not seem likely that he would have been abused and bullied the way the book described.
Gu Tang was still full of questions when the system issued a mission in his mind.
[Host, the plot is here!]
[Hidden plotline ‘The Future of the Orphanage’ has been unlocked. Current mission progress: 30%. Reward for completion: skill points!]
Gu Tang said, “What kind of skill points? Can I choose, or is it random?”
[Hold on, let me check the database…]
Gu Tang: “…”
I knew it. You really are not very skilled at your job.
While the system went off to look things up, Gu Tang’s huge “snail shell” had already been taken away by the teacher.
At first, he had felt that carrying it together with young master Gu did not make it all that heavy.
Gu Tang said, “Brothers are supposed to share both blessings and hardships!”
But when the teacher said that carrying heavy things would keep children from growing tall, Gu Tang was so frightened that he threw the bag away even faster than if he were tossing a bomb, instantly abandoning his “brother” and leaving him alone holding the bag.
Gu Qinian looked coldly at the little milk dumpling who had run off faster than anyone else: “…”
From the distance, Gu Tang gave him a bashful smile.
Sorry, brother!
Not growing tall was absolutely a no-go!!!
Gu Tang had calculated it. In his previous life, his health had been so poor that he spent more time bedridden than awake, and he had still grown to 180 cm. In this life, with life points boosting him, should he not at least develop toward the build of a basketball player?
He especially envied people who could play basketball. In his previous life, he had never played it—not even once. All he could do was paint and play the piano.
Gu Tang thought guys who played basketball were unbelievably cool.
If he got the chance, he wanted to get on the court too!
Right!
If completing missions let him choose skill points, then—
He wanted to choose basketball!
Before Gu Tang could finish his pretty little dream, the system came back.
[Host! I found out what skill points are!]
Gu Tang was excited. “Can it be basketball?”
[Were you good at basketball in your previous life?]
Gu Tang answered honestly, “Nope!”
[…]
Gu Tang said, “Why aren’t you talking?”
[Uh… these skill points can only let you choose one skill you were good at in your previous life, and then stack an enhancement buff on top of it…]
How hateful.
So he still could not go show off on the basketball court!
[Host, forgive me for saying this, but your attitude toward basketball is wrong. How can it only be about showing off?]
Gu Tang replied righteously, “Then what else would it be for? I don’t even like sports!”
The system was speechless.
Humans truly were complicated creatures. They often wanted most what they themselves lacked.
Just then, a burst of applause broke out among the children.
Gu Tang stretched his neck to look.
Young master Gu had just made a perfect three-point shot on the little court the orphanage had built itself.
Beautiful!
The colorful little rubber ball being used as a basketball traced an arc through the air.
Swish—nothing but net. It dropped perfectly into the hoop.
Although the five-and-a-half-year-old young master Gu had short arms and short legs, his posture was standard and his movements elegant.
The children from Sunflower Senior Class and the orphanage children alike all cheered for him. A few little girls even blushed and walked up to give him little red flowers.
Was this what talent looked like?
So enviable, sob sob sob…
Gu Tang bit on his finger, his eyes filled with envy.
On the little court, Gu Qinian dribbled the rubber ball in his hands again and again.
Bang—
Bang—
The sound of the ball hitting the ground pulled his thoughts back to before his rebirth.
In his previous life, he had also liked dribbling the ball on this very court. When the old director saw him, he personally taught him how to shoot. He learned it in one try. The old director had been very happy and said that even if he was gone in the future, Gu Qinian could still practice according to that standard form.
Later, the old director really was gone.
And this little court became the children’s nightmare.
Being punished to kneel here and beaten was a common occurrence, because the ground of the court was hard enough and cold enough.
Gu Qinian took a deep breath.
At the hospital, he had actually failed to recognize the old director at a glance.
Because of illness and pain, the man had grown far too thin, and his appearance had already begun to change.
It seemed the day the orphanage changed hands was not far off now. He only wondered whether Gu Quan could be a little more capable…
“Niannian! Save me—”
At last, it was time to hand out the gifts.
The moment Gu Tang opened the bag, he was swallowed up by the children. Flustered and scrambling, he hurriedly called to young master Gu for help.
That soft little milky cry pulled Gu Qinian back to himself. He dropped the rubber ball and stepped forward, rescuing Gu Tang from the pile of little children.
“All of you sit down properly! Anyone who is not well-behaved gets no gift!”
Gu Tang had nearly gotten his pants yanked off. So angry that he planted his hands on his hips, he put on the air of a big brother and lectured the little beans in front of him.
Children all liked snacks and toys. This round-faced older brother had so many novel things in his bag that they had never seen before. Their excitement had turned into chaos, but when they saw that big brother was really angry, the orphanage children blinked their eyes and obediently sat down.
At first glance, each one looked more well-behaved than the last.
Gu Tang tugged hard at his pants. “Let me make this clear first! You can eat snacks, but you absolutely must brush your teeth properly, or else you’ll end up like me. Ah—”
He generously opened his mouth and showed off the half tooth he had lost through personal experience.
The orphanage children reacted just like Jiang Yiyi had. They immediately covered their mouths nervously.
“Scared now, huh!”
Gu Tang lifted his little chin proudly, full of accomplishment. “You’re all still little, so you can’t lose your teeth yet. But I’m different. I’m already grown up. I’m about to start changing teeth!”
Gu Qinian: “…”
What exactly are you so proud of?
But the orphanage children were very supportive and looked at him with admiration and wonder.
“Wow! Big brother is amazing!”
“Big brother, will we lose our teeth too in the future?”
“Big brother, does losing teeth hurt?”
“Big brother, big brother…”
Amid one “big brother” after another, and under the children’s admiring gazes, Gu Tang gradually lost himself.
So this was what it felt like to have younger brothers!
Filled with anticipation, he turned to look at Gu Qinian, blinking as he asked with his eyes: Couldn’t you call me big brother too?
Young master Gu’s eyes were deep as a black pool, and he gave him a merciless look that clearly said, Dream on.
Gu Tang: “… Hmph!”
Then, out of nowhere, someone shouted, “Grandpa Director is back!”
The children immediately swarmed toward the entrance.
Grandpa Director?
That was Grandpa Luo from the hospital!
Gu Tang and Gu Qinian exchanged a glance and followed them outside. To their surprise, they saw a familiar car parked at the orphanage entrance—
Father Gu’s multi-million limited-edition luxury car, the only one of its kind in all of Jiang City.
The driver opened the car door.
Gu Quan stepped out first with his long legs and personally helped the old director out of the car.
The old director trembled slightly, but his bearing was still strong as he snorted coldly. “You—and that assistant of yours in black too—need not waste your efforts on an old man like me. Driving me back here is useless. I will not sell these children to the Gu Corporation!”
The driver wiped sweat from the side of his face.
Aside from the late Elder Master Gu, no one had ever dared speak to President Gu like that.
Gu Quan truly lived up to being the head of the Gu family. He kept a proper smile on his face. “Elder Luo, you misunderstand. I only wanted you to see the Gu Corporation’s sincerity.”
“What sincerity, my foot…”
The moment Elder Luo raised his head, he saw a banner hanging over the orphanage gate—
“Warmly Celebrating the Successful Holding of the ‘Little Angels Mutual Aid’ Event Between Gu Corporation Affiliated Kindergarten and Xinxin Orphanage!”
The old man immediately became angry. “So this is why you brought me back?!”
Gu Quan smiled bitterly. “You were the one who said you missed the children, so I gave you a ride back. Running into the event was purely a coincidence.”
Elder Luo had just been about to start cursing when one of the orphanage children ran up to him, held up a piece of candy, and said, “Grandpa Director, welcome home! This is for you—it was given to me by big brother, and it’s really, really tasty!”
Hm?
That candy wrapper looked a little familiar.
At the hospital, the round-faced child had given him this same kind of candy.
It had been especially delicious.
He still had the wrapper in his pocket. He had specifically come back this time because he wanted to order a batch of this brand of candy for the children.
So in that case… it really had been his own idea to come back…
Elder Luo knew he had wrongly blamed Gu Quan, but he had no intention of apologizing. How many businessmen were actually good people? Why should he trust him?
He glared coldly at Gu Quan.
The dignified head of the Gu family could only return it with a smile for the sake of charity.
Only when facing the children did the old man’s expression soften kindly. He patted the child’s head. “You eat it. I’ve had this candy too. A little angel gave it to me.”
No sooner had he spoken than a soft, childish voice rang out—
“Hello, Grandpa! We meet again!”
Elder Luo looked up and saw two children standing hand in hand before him. One had a round, lovable, adorable little face, while the other still wore a taut little bun-like expression.
The old man’s face immediately filled with delight. “Little angel!”
Ignored off to one side, Gu Quan: “???”
***
Author’s Note:
Father Gu: My kids are this good at socializing?!
