In broad daylight, two seventeen or eighteen-year-old boys sitting together hugging was quite shocking.

The journey was long, almost an hour. Lu Huai was afraid Niannian would get tired, so he stood close to him, allowing him to lean on him and have a nap.

Niannian sat in the chair, leaning against Lu Huai, but he wasn’t sleepy. He looked around before belatedly asking, “Brother, where are we going?”

Lu Huai originally wanted to tease him, saying they were going to sell the cat, but looking into the boy’s bright eyes, he couldn’t say it.

The kitten completely trusted him, entrusting everything to him.

Lu Huai lowered his eyes, whispering, “To where I used to live.”

The kitten thought for a moment, “It’s brother’s old home.”

But Lu Huai frowned, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes. He reached out and touched the kitten’s hair, “It’s not home, where we live now is home.”

Niannian came first.

Then came home.

The kitten said he wasn’t sleepy, but when they arrived, he was already fast asleep, softly leaning on Lu Huai.

Lu Huai gently patted him, seeing that he was still half-asleep, but the bus had already stopped, so he simply carried him off the bus with one arm.

Niannian rested his head on Lu Huai’s shoulder, his eyes not even open, “Brother, does your home have a bed?”

“…I said it’s not home.” Lu Huai looked up at the orphanage gate, subtly furrowing his brows, “There’s no bed, good boy, get down and walk yourself.”

The kitten was unwilling at first, but after Lu Huai coaxed him for a while, he reluctantly got down.

Lu Huai held his hand and went to the gate to register. The old security guard was still the same one, wearing reading glasses, looking again and again before smiling, “It’s Xiao Huai, haven’t seen you in a long time.”

His gaze fell on Niannian beside him, “This is?”

Lu Huai smiled faintly, “My younger brother.”

He didn’t say any more, leading Niannian through the gate.

The security guard looked at their backs and muttered, “He’s an orphan himself, yet he’s raising a younger brother.”

The orphanage gate was grand, but inside it was dilapidated and desolate. The yard was even the same as before, with only two broken swings.

Lu Huai pointed to the pavilion in front, “Baby, wait for brother there, okay?”

Niannian held Lu Huai’s hand tightly, “Can’t I go with you?”

“Brother has something to do, it’ll be quick, be good.”

Lu Huai handed him the small backpack, “There’s food and drinks inside, don’t run around, brother will come find you soon, and then take you to the amusement park.”

Offering a big carrot, the kitten naturally took a bite.

“Amusement park!” Niannian had seen it on TV, his eyes lit up immediately, happily saying, “Okay, I’ll wait for brother here.”

Seeing the kitten sitting obediently in the pavilion, Lu Huai withdrew his gaze and went upstairs from the stairs beside him.

If he could, he never wanted to set foot here again.

Lu Huai had always been the top student in his grade, but every year’s scholarship ended up in the director’s hands.

It wasn’t until high school that Lu Huai fell out with the director and finally moved out of the orphanage.

As expected, the conversation wasn’t smooth.

The director’s greed remained the same, asking for an astronomical figure that Lu Huai couldn’t afford.

…

When Lu Huai came downstairs, several children were surrounding Niannian. They were dressed in drab clothes and looked longingly at the snacks in Niannian’s hand.

Niannian had a big brother aura, making them line up and handing out lollipops one by one.

Lu Huai saw clearly that the kitten had specifically picked out the watermelon flavor he hated the most to give away.

Lu Huai didn’t approach, watching for a while. After the last lollipop was given out, he said, “Niannian, let’s go.”

The kitten looked up, his eyes lighting up when he saw Lu Huai. He hugged his backpack and ran over, like a small cannonball, rushing into Lu Huai’s arms.

Lu Huai firmly caught him, lifting him directly, “Why did you give away all your candy?”

The kitten smiled, reaching into his pocket and taking out one, “Strawberry flavor! For brother.”

Lu Huai’s originally gloomy mood suddenly calmed down, even curving his lips slightly.

“Good boy.”

Lu Huai carried him and walked out, “Let’s go to the amusement park.”

Not long after they left, a black car stopped at the orphanage entrance.

Zhou Le got out, carrying two bags in his hand.

He had been here twice, and the security guard remembered him, immediately bowing and scraping, “Young Master Zhou is here.”

“Please don’t be so formal, just call me Zhou Le.”

Zhou Le had only moved to this city two years ago. He was the director’s nephew, but he didn’t come often. This time, he probably came because he heard that the director was sick, so he brought some supplements.

Just as he was about to go inside, Zhou Le inadvertently glanced at the registration book at the entrance, his gaze pausing, “Lu Huai?”

He smiled, “What a coincidence, you also have someone named Lu Huai here.”

The orphanage was in the suburbs, close to the amusement park, but Lu Huai had never been there.

There were balloons for sale at the entrance. He bought one and tied it to Niannian’s wrist.

The kitten was very happy, playing with the balloon all the time.

It was the weekend, and the amusement park was crowded. Niannian looked around and finally pointed to the lonely haunted house in the corner, “Brother, that one has no one.”

Lu Huai paused, “That one is a little scary, are you sure?”

“It’s okay, brother is here.”

I don’t know why the kitten had such blind faith in Lu Huai, always feeling that he was omnipotent.

Lu Huai didn’t dare to dampen the kitten’s enthusiasm and agreed with a stiff smile.

They received two glow sticks at the entrance. Lu Huai repeatedly emphasized, “If you’re scared, close your eyes, or let me hold you.”

The kitten looked around, perfunctorily humming.

Lu Huai took a deep breath, feeling unusually nervous.

He wasn’t afraid of the dark.

But he was afraid of ghosts!

Unable to disappoint the kitten’s trust, Lu Huai held his hand and walked in. After a few steps, he heard the kitten hesitantly say, “Brother, you’re holding my hand too tightly.”

“…” Lu Huai coughed, “It’s too dark inside, I’m afraid you’ll get lost.”

The kitten nodded, “Okay, but it hurts a little.”

Lu Huai quickly loosened his grip, “Sorry.”

As he spoke, a female ghost suddenly hung upside down, directly facing Lu Huai. For a moment, Lu Huai almost stopped breathing, his whole body stiffening.

The female ghost was screaming heart-wrenchingly.

The kitten frowned beside him, politely reminding, “Sister, your voice is a little loud.”

The female ghost, “…”

“Niannian.” Lu Huai’s throat was dry, his voice hoarse, “Don’t be afraid, come here, brother will hold you.”

The kitten shook his head, “I’m not scared yet, brother.”

Lu Huai closed his eyes, ignoring the kitten, directly picking him up and striding forward.

The kitten turned around in his arms, waving his hand, “Goodbye, sister.”

With the kitten’s help, they went smoothly. Why hadn’t he noticed before how sweet-mouthed the kitten was, calling everyone brother and sister, greeting this one and saying goodbye to that one.

A social butterfly.

Lu Huai’s initial nervousness completely disappeared. He even took a water cup to give the chatty kitten some water when he got thirsty.

Coming out of the haunted house, Niannian’s two pockets were full of candy, and a bunch of male and female ghosts stood at the entrance, waving tearfully.

“Come again, little cutie.”
“Goodbye, sweetie.”

The kitten was held by Lu Huai, happily waving, “Goodbye, brothers and sisters.”

Lu Huai patted his butt, “Don’t wriggle around, you’ll fall.”

Niannian whispered, “But I said I don’t want to be held anymore.”

Lu Huai sneered, “You call everyone brother, how many good brothers do you have? You don’t want to be held now? Who was it who was clinging to me wanting to be held at home every day!”

Niannian was a little confused, “Brother, are you angry, because they didn’t say goodbye to you?”

Lu Huai said coldly, “No.”

The kitten thought for a moment, leaned over and kissed Lu Huai’s face, coquettishly, “Brother, I’m only pretending to be good friends with them, you and I are truly good friends.”

“…”

Lu Huai expressionlessly said, “What kind of nonsense have you been watching lately?”

But the kitten’s soft, wet touch when his lips touched his still made Lu Huai’s heart skip a beat.

He hugged the kitten even tighter, “You can’t kiss strangers outside, and you can’t call everyone brother and sister, understand?”

The kitten aggrievedly said “Oh.”

Lu Huai coughed, a little embarrassed, hesitating before whispering, “But when we get home, you can kiss me…”

“Brother!! They’re setting off fireworks over there!!”

The kitten’s attention had already been drawn away, clamoring to go over.

“…”

What a waste of charm.

Lu Huai took a deep breath, “Let’s go, see the fireworks.”

The park set off fireworks every night. Lu Huai took the kitten to a good spot, the fireworks exploding almost in front of them, then falling down like rain.

The light shone on the kitten’s face, making his eyes bright.

Lu Huai’s expression softened.

He wanted his kitten to be happy forever.

And the director’s call came at this moment.

Lu Huai saw the incoming call, subconsciously frowning in disgust, but he had to answer.

“Xiao Lu, I’ve considered what you said today, and it’s not impossible to help you. But I also have something to ask. I have a nephew who’s not doing well in his studies. Can you help tutor him?”

Author’s Note:

Niannian: Everyone! I’m only pretending to be good friends with them, you and I are truly good friends [star eyes] [star eyes]