HuMing looked around. The ce was deste; its surroundings were empty for several kilometers and devoid of signs of human presence.


    Wild grass, yellow and withered, swayed violently in the strong wind. Thorn and wild vine tangles clogged the roads, making travel difficult and hazardous.


    If one insisted that this is an orphanage, another person could as effortlessly describe it as an abandoned outskirts. Despite this, the words "Sunshine Family" still hung prominently above the entrance.


    HuMing stood at the doorway, his mind upied by various thoughts.


    Soon, an aged woman emerged from a nearby wooden door, clutching a collection of keys. She hunched and hurriedly approached him.


    "Oh my, Ah Ming, you''re here!"


    After opening the door, she patted HuMing''s shoulder.


    "Today is Monday. Shouldn''t you be in school? Wouldn''ting here dy your studies?"


    "N...No."


    The woman''s wrinkled hand enveloped HuMing''s, radiating aforting warmth that made HuMing feel as though HuMing were her own grandson.


    HuMing found himself deep in thought. There were numerous problems left behind by the original. In this world, it appeared that most people were against him.


    However, looking at the person before him, HuMing realized that perhaps the original owner wasn''t as bad as everyone said.


    Although HuMing had been aware that certain things were not true, he couldn''t help but wonder about the cause and effect when they urred.


    At the very least, the original was not beyond redemption as he had imagined.


    "Those children are really looking forward to seeing you! They kept asking me when you woulde."


    The woman said as she led HuMing inside.


    KangXin followed behind him, remaining silent throughout. But as she looked at the backs of the two in front, her eyes inexplicably softened.


    ...


    As HuMing had anticipated, the surroundings in this ce were far from ideal.


    There were novish decorations, or rather, no decorations at all: white walls, green chalkboards, a few old electric fans, and some bright lights.


    The ce they reached was a very ordinary ssroom, but it carried the weight of too many things. Forty children sat neatly in pairs, with yellow desks and chairs, lifting their heads to see the dark green chalkboard ahead.


    In the ssroom, an elderly teacher carried on with his lesson with a thermos sitting on the podium, its lid unscrewed and ced on the opening.


    The children, dressed inly, stared intently at the ckboard, their eyes brimming with a hunger for knowledge.


    HuMing was utterly captivated by this scene. With an indescribable emotion bubbling inside, HuMing couldn''t help but understand why the original hade to this ce.


    How could he not be moved by these children?


    As if linked by an invisible bond, the children instinctively turned their gaze towards HuMing. Their previously serious expressions instantly turned into pure excitement.


    A child nudged hispanion with his elbow, causing an annoyed expression. But when he saw HuMing, his eyes lit up!


    The teacher behind the podium seemed to have noticed themotion in the ssroom. He squinted towards the door while adjusting his sses with his finger. And when he saw HuMing, his cracked lips curled into a smile.


    "Alright, alright, I understand you all want to see HuMing. ss dismissed."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the entire ss rushed to HuMing. HuMing suddenly felt as if he were in the depths of the ocean. The children called out his name, their smiles barely contained.


    "Brother HuMing, my grades have improved this time!"


    "Brother HuMing, give me a hug!"


    Some children sought praise from HuMing, while others tugged on his clothes, hoping to be lifted by him.


    HuMing lifted the child and gently ced him on his neck, a warm smile gracing his face.


    KangXin stood aside and watched the scene, her hands tidily folded before her.


    The teacher who had just stood on the podium approached KangXin and expressed his gratitude.


    "Miss Kang, I''m sorry to trouble you again. Those people have no intention of leaving, and I''m afraid they might threaten the safety of the children."


    "No trouble at all, as long as the Young Master is happy."


    KangXin shook her head and continued to watch HuMing surrounded by the children.


    The man teaching the children was the director, and the woman who greeted them at the doorway was his wife.


    The couple were retired city teachers, but after their sorry excuse of a son squandered arge amount of their savings, they, in a fit of rage, severed his economic ties and moved to the outskirts, adopting and teaching these children.


    As for how the original HuMing became acquainted with them, it goes back a long way.


    Back then, a child in the orphanage became ill and required immediate medical attention. The original had happened to meet them halfway while on his way to buy a gift for SuLiu.


    Seeing the child''s serious condition, HuMing thought for a moment and decided to take the child to the hospital. However, because of this incident, HuMing missed the time to buy a gift for SuLiu, which made SuLiu quite angry with him for a long time.


    However, regrly visiting these children became a consistent part of HuMing''s routine. And KangXin was the only one who knew about this.


    Whenever Hu Ming visited, she would be there to keep himpany.


    HuMing, although generally good-natured, had a somewhat careless temperament, which made him bad at handling things. KangXin was the one who always cleaned up after him.


    "Ok, let''s go eat first, and we can yter."


    HuMing led the children to the cafeteria, promising to y together with themter.


    Watching the backs of the children, HuMing smiled sincerely from the heart.


    "Ah Ming, are you hungry? Grandma made some dumplings. Do you want to eat?"


    Despite his age, the old director, dressed in schrly attire, still exuded vigor.


    He patted HuMing on the shoulder, their rtionship reminiscent of a grandfather and grandson.


    "I know you''re not good at studying and don''t truly like it, but you must understand that studying is important for your future."


    The man was well aware of HuMing''s academic situation. That''s why he wanted HuMing to try harder.


    "I understand." HuMing nodded, saying nothing more.


    But looking at theughter from the cafeteria not far away, he seemed to recall some deep memories.


    ...


    The old director and his wife also joined the children for dinner.


    HuMing and KangXin strolled across the lush, untamed grass, their footsteps hushed by the serene surroundings.


    "KangXin, what do you think of me as a person?"


    "...Young Master, do you want to hear the truth or lies?"


    "Aren''t they the same? Can''t I tell?"


    "Arrogant, proud, absent-minded, doesn''t understand the atmosphere..." The list of ws seemed endless.


    HuMing quickly stopped her, his hand scratching the tip of his nose.


    "Why are you saying it as if reading from a menu?"


    "Sorry."


    KangXin apologized sincerely, approaching everything with a serious attitude.


    "Ah, seems like I''m really useless."


    HuMing couldn''t help but sigh.


    "You''re kind, Young Master."


    HuMing, taken aback by KangXin''s words, wanted to ask whether she was mocking him, but when he gazed into the girl''s pure and genuine eyes, he found himself unable to utter a word.