Chapter 14

With Master Feng’s blessing, Chen Nian’s subsequent trips to the Welfare Institute went very smoothly.

She still headed straight there after school every day to see Fang Zhizhu. They’d spend a little time together, and then she’d go home.

Her parents didn’t place many demands on her. At her age, there wasn’t much they could ask for anyway.

A child’s main job was to grow, and a student’s was to learn. Chen Nian could handle second-grade elementary schoolwork in her sleep. All the daily back-and-forth had boosted her exercise, and her appetite had grown along with it.

She’d become clever and quick-witted too, her eyes sparkling with life, her hands nimble and busy, and her mouth especially sweet.

Every day, Chen Junjie was coaxed into high spirits by his daughter. Even his year-end work tasks didn’t seem so daunting anymore. It truly matched what Master Feng had said: good, very good, excellent!

Happy days flew by in a rush, and soon the one-month mark loomed.

Far from waning, Chen Nian’s enthusiasm only grew. Chen Junjie had pulled his wife aside for hushed discussions several times, but Liu Chunhua wouldn’t budge.

Fortunately, the agreement between Chen Junjie and his daughter wasn’t tied to a strict deadline. Their emotional benchmark—”Fang Zhi likes this family and wants to be with them”—wasn’t easy to measure. Chen Nian talked about Fang Zhi constantly, but she wasn’t pressuring the family to adopt her right away, so things dragged on once more.

After a snowfall, Anliang plunged into a cold snap. The weather turned bitterly cold overnight.

Chen Nian shivered her way through her final exam. As soon as she stepped out of the school gates, she spotted her mother.

She rushed over, shouting, “Mom, what are you doing here? It’s freezing!!!”

Liu Chunhua was bundled in a thick padded coat and wearing cotton gloves. She pulled them off and caught Chen Nian, who barreled into her like a cannonball.

“Taking you shopping for clothes,” Liu Chunhua said.

Chen Nian blinked. Mom had mentioned this before—down jackets for kids were all the rage this year. All the other children at the institute had them, so they should get one for her too.

Her mom was a seamstress, and Chen Nian had never gone without pretty clothes growing up. Mom had always been particular about dressing her up.

But Chen Nian wasn’t all that interested.

Her heart was stuffed full of other things. There was no room left for such trivial matters.

She pursed her lips and said cautiously, “But Mom, I promised to read with Fang Zhi…”

Liu Chunhua looked at her and fell silent for a few seconds. “Exams are over. Why read now?”

Chen Nian said, “We’ve been reading Water Child together lately…”

Liu Chunhua asked, “She can barely read yet. Does she even understand it?”

Chen Nian replied, “I’ll teach her the parts she doesn’t get.”

Liu Chunhua said, “………………”

Chen Nian insisted, “Mom, don’t doubt me. I’m doing great in school now.”

Liu Chunhua pursed her lips. “We’ll see when your final grades come out.”

Chen Nian whined, “Aww.”

Liu Chunhua took her hand. “Call Dean Su and tell her you’re not coming today.”

Chen Nian cried, “No way!!!”

It was one thing to miss a visit to Fang Zhizhu for something truly important, but shopping for clothes? That was no excuse.

It had been a full twenty-four hours since she’d seen Fang Zhizhu—and clothes could be bought anytime!

“Mom~” Chen Nian tugged at her hand, whining with all her might. “Fang Zhi stands by the window waiting for me every day. She can’t go to school right now and doesn’t know the other kids. She spends the whole day just waiting for me to come chat with her…”

Liu Chunhua said, “…………”

Chen Nian pleaded, “But school’s out now, so I have tons of time. We can go shopping in the morning or at noon…”

Liu Chunhua suggested, “And see Fang Zhi in the afternoon?”

Just thinking about all the extra time they’d have together during break made Chen Nian grin. “Yes!”

After a pause, she added, “And whenever I’m free otherwise, I can go too. We’ll just read books, play games. I’ll even bring my winter break homework…”

“Hoo…” Liu Chunhua let out a long breath and poked Chen Nian’s forehead. “You’ve really been bewitched.”

Chen Nian immediately pointed to the sky and swore, “It’s all my doing. Fang Zhi had nothing to do with it.”

Liu Chunhua finally tilted her head. “Fine. Go see Fang Zhi.”

“Yay!!!” Chen Nian cheered ecstatically. “Mom’s the best! Are you coming with me!!!”

Liu Chunhua said, “We’ll go together. We need to meet the girl—and buy those clothes.”

Chen Nian said, “Huh?”

Liu Chunhua clarified, “We’ll shop with Fang Zhi.”

“AAAAAHHH!!!” Chen Nian squealed in delight.

Chen Nian had dreamed of taking Fang Zhizhu out countless times.

Fang Zhizhu was like a fledgling bird with clipped wings, trapped in her drab little cage, cut off from the colorful world outside.

Chen Nian tried her best to bring those colors inside, but the joys she could share with Fang Zhizhu remained all too few.

She had asked Dean Su several times if she could take Fang Zhi out to play, but Dean Su had refused every time.

Fang Zhi had a history of running away from the Welfare Institute—not just once, but multiple times. Every search for the child turned into a massive operation. Su Li was already overwhelmed and exhausted; she had no desire for even the slightest additional trouble.

On top of that, Chen Nian was a child herself. Letting her visit the institute every day was already a special favor, one that carried its own risks. If these two girls slipped away together and anything went wrong—no matter how minor—Su Li would be the one held accountable.

Chen Nian understood Dean Su’s position and didn’t dare bring it up with her own parents. They were swamped with work and hadn’t committed to adopting Fang Zhi. They were already worn out from dealing with her antics; piling on more outlandish requests could easily backfire.

Who could have imagined that on this very day, opportunity would come crashing down from the heavens, landing squarely on Chen Nian’s head.

Her mother had volunteered to take Fang Zhizhu out—shopping, of all things. How could Chen Nian not be ecstatic?

She knew her mom wasn’t stingy or cold-hearted. As long as the outing went smoothly without any major mishaps, Fang Zhizhu could stretch her legs a bit, get to know their family better, and maybe even start building some affection.

If the atmosphere turned warm enough, they might even coax a few concessions out of her.

All upside, no downside!!!

Chen Nian spun in gleeful circles right there on the spot. She lavished her mother with compliments until she couldn’t wait any longer, then grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the bus stop.

Chen Nian knew the route so well she could navigate it with her eyes closed without missing a stop. All along the way, she chattered endlessly to her mom about Fang Zhi’s latest developments.

Mindful of her promise to her dad, she always made a point to emphasize Fang Zhi’s attitude toward her: She’s so good to me! She talks to me! Talks a ton!

She eats dinner with me now! We share a table! I snag bites from her plate, and she doesn’t even get mad!

She checks on the little flower seedlings every single day! Waters them religiously! No one else is allowed to touch them! Just me!

And the most important thing of all! She smiles at me! She cries in front of me! We’ve held each other and sobbed together!

In Chen Nian’s glowing account, theirs was an unbreakable bond of ironclad friendship. Liu Chunhua had to stifle a laugh.

She chuckled at how endearingly naive her daughter was—then started fretting.

How was Niannian ever going to handle falling in love when she grew up, simple-hearted as she was?

The two of them chatted the whole way, lost in their separate thoughts. When they arrived at the Welfare Institute, Chen Nian barreled through the gate first and immediately shouted up at Fang Zhizhu’s window: “Zhizhi! Zhizhi! Peep peep peep!!!”

Exams wrapped up far earlier than a normal school day, but Chen Nian had warned Fang Zhizhu yesterday that she’d be arriving early today. Sure enough, her shout brought Fang Zhizhu’s head popping out the window right away.

Chen Nian was thrilled beyond words, as if this alone proved their friendship was rock-solid. She waved her mom over frantically.

“Mom, look! Mom, look! Zhizhi! Zhizhi!!”

Liu Chunhua: “…”

She glanced over, locking eyes with Fang Zhi. If pressed, she’d admit the girl’s gaze toward them was noticeably softer than the last time they’d met. With her long hair and big eyes, the child was quite lovely despite her outdated, shabby clothes.

Liu Chunhua raised a hand and gave her a friendly wave.

Fang Zhi hesitated for a moment, then waved back.

Chen Nian nearly floated to the clouds at the sight.

But beneath it all, she was still a mature adult at heart. She took a beat to calmly weigh the idea of Fang Zhizhu joining them for a shopping trip—would she even go for it?

Truth be told, if Fang Zhizhu said yes, it would be a win for everyone. If she balked, though, that stubborn streak of hers might flare up and undo all their hard-won progress.

The risk was too high. Chen Nian decided to sound Fang Zhizhu out first. She turned to her mom. “Mom, why don’t you go chat with Dean Su? I’ll run up and fetch Fang Zhi!”

Liu Chunhua: “Hm? I’m not here for Dean Su.”

Chen Nian: “Ah! But grown-ups always have things to discuss…”

“I don’t.” Liu Chunhua kept walking. “I’m just here to invite Fang Zhi shopping.”

Chen Nian: “Aaaah!”

She scurried after her mom on her short legs—tall as her mother was, with those long strides, she moved fast.

“Mom, Mom, I think I’d better be the one to ask Zhizhi.”

Liu Chunhua: “Go ahead and ask. I’m not stopping you.”

Chen Nian: “Then you…”

Liu Chunhua: “Ask away. I’ll wait right here.”

Chen Nian: “You could wait in Dean Su’s office—it’s nice and warm in there…”

Liu Chunhua stepped right onto the stairs leading to the third floor. “Ah, missed the chance.”

Chen Nian: “The dean’s office is right behind you if you just turn around!”

Liu Chunhua: “Ah, I must’ve slept wrong last night—got a crick in my neck. Can’t turn it.”

Chen Nian: “…………”

Just around the corner was the staircase leading to Fang Zhizhu’s room. Chen Nian was utterly helpless and could only slide to her knees, hugging her mother’s leg as she cried out in distress:

“Mom!!!”

Liu Chunhua: “…”

Chen Nian gazed at her with reddened eyes, looking utterly pitiful: “Mom, we’re not ready yet…”

“What are you preparing for?” someone interjected.

The voice was clear and bright—also from a young girl, but its tone was far more pleasant than Chen Nian’s.

Chen Nian turned her head and met Fang Zhizhu’s gaze. Her emotions shifted rapidly, finally settling on an expression that mixed worry, terror, and miserable pleading.

Why are you so proactive today?

Normally, I never see you come out to greet me even a single step.

This is my mom—my mom! No, you’ve met my mom before, but this time it’s on a whole different level from last time…

Wuwuwu, please be magnanimous—for the sake of all my efforts over this time, at least pretend to be a little obedient and cute…

Chen Nian was about to kneel before Fang Zhizhu.

Fang Zhizhu avoided her gaze and looked up at the adult: “Auntie, did Chen Nian do something bad?”

Chen Nian: Ah! She called her Auntie—so obedient! So cute!

Liu Chunhua kicked at the thing clinging to her leg: “Ask her yourself.”

Chen Nian: “Ah… I might have… done… something…?”

Fang Zhizhu: “What did you do?”

Liu Chunhua: “What did you do?”

“Ah?” Chen Nian’s mind spun in a whirl. “I didn’t do anything!”

Fang Zhizhu waited quietly for her, but Liu Chunhua had no such patience and shook her leg again: “Are you going to say it yourself, or should I say it for you?”

“Aaah, oh oh.” At this point, Chen Nian had no choice but to steel herself. She scrambled to her feet, patted down her clothes, and said solemnly, “It’s like this…”

Fang Zhizhu: “…”

Liu Chunhua: “…”

“So… today after I finished my exam and headed out…” Chen Nian’s eyes started blinking uncontrollably. She began frantically signaling Fang Zhizhu with all sorts of hints and turned into a pitiful little puppy dog. “My mom, she… she wanted to take me… shopping…”

“I wanted to come find you… to play. So my mom said, said… we could…”

Chen Nian swallowed hard, her throat cramping from tension: “play… together.”

Fang Zhizhu: “Play what?”

Chen Nian flailed her fingers wildly: “Just, shopping, buy, buy clothes, just, casually look around, look…”

“Sure.” Fang Zhizhu cut her off. Her expression was calm, her tone relaxed—as if this were the most ordinary, perfectly normal thing in the world.

Chen Nian froze: “Ah…”

Liu Chunhua chimed in: “It might be late after shopping. Zhizhi, if you’re willing to come to Auntie’s house, I’ll talk to your Teacher Su and let you stay overnight at my place tonight. I’ll send you back tomorrow.”

Chen Nian: “Aaaah!”

Mom’s progressing way too fast!!!

Mom, don’t get greedy!!!

Mom, learn to be content!!!

Mom, why are you calling her Zhizhi too!!!!

Fang Zhizhu: “Sure, I’d like that.”

Chen Nian: “………………”

All the chaos in her head ground to a halt. Chen Nian rubbed her forehead, feeling like a fairy had dropped from the sky again, leaving her all dizzy and dazed.