Chapter 116: Should I Call You… Uncle?

“Childhood sweethearts?” Luo Qianyun asked, slightly confused. “Weren’t you unfamiliar with them when you were in City A? How does this suddenly involve childhood sweethearts?”

Lu Yunzheng replied, “I met them before in City A, but I hadn’t thought about their background. The Meng family is an established noble family. My mother and your grandmother have known each other since childhood. My mother even said once, if the Su family’s child hadn’t gone missing, perhaps they could have paired us together.”

“I’m skeptical about that,” Luo Qianyun said.

Hearing this, Lu Yunzheng couldn’t help but chuckle. “How are you so sharp? You can even see through a casual fib.”

“Well, it’s because we’re from different generations,” Luo Qianyun said, resting her chin on her left hand and lightly tapping the table with her right. “Now that I think about it, if we had met as kids, I’d have to call you… Uncle?”

This brought another memory to Lu Yunzheng’s mind. “Speaking of which, you’ve actually met two people from the Meng family.”

Luo Qianyun paused, quickly realizing, “Wouldn’t that be Meng Chi and Meng Xirou?”

It wasn’t surprising she thought of them. Among the people she had met, few bore the surname Meng, and the only ones connected to Beijing were those two.

“They are technically the children of your uncle’s family, which makes them your cousins,” Lu Yunzheng clarified.

Recalling Meng Xirou, who had asked for her WeChat at a seminar, Luo Qianyun couldn’t help but feel a little anticipation.

As the day wore on, the rain began to subside, but everyone knew that stopping the rain was just the first step.

The subsequent draining of floodwaters would only make things busier. Meanwhile, progress was being made regarding the orphanage incident.

The falsely accused janitor, who suffered a brain hemorrhage, underwent surgery but was still in critical condition. The delay had been too long, and no one knew if he would survive.

On the other hand, Cheng Dabiao had confessed everything—not just the crimes committed at the orphanage but also his involvement in a trafficking ring.

It turned out he had escaped during the orphanage raid and had been intentionally getting close to the place again to resume his old activities.

As for Lu Shanni, she had indeed been murdered by him. He had dumped her body in the dry well behind the orphanage. The well had long been abandoned and covered with a wooden plank and a heavy stone to prevent accidents involving children.

According to Cheng, the incident happened because Lu Shanni’s pregnancy threatened to expose him. Originally planning to sell her to someone, she resisted fiercely that day, and in the struggle, he accidentally killed her. He then threw her body into the dry well.

The children at the orphanage were all examined. Thankfully, although five or six girls had been molested, only Lu Shanni, who had died, seemed to have suffered sexual assault.

Cheng’s accomplice, who was also arrested, turned out to be a human trafficker as well.

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After the typhoon passed and floodwaters began to recede, disaster recovery efforts formally commenced. From rescue searches, clearing roadblocks, restoring electricity and communication, to medical aid and public health measures, every task was critical.

Two days later, Dean Geng and Grandma Liu returned to the orphanage. With the help of the rescue team, they retrieved Lu Shanni’s body from the dry well.

Her body, severely decomposed and waterlogged, was unrecognizable. However, the dean and others identified her by her clothes.

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At the safety camp, Xiao Pingguo sat on the steps, holding an unopened cupcake. Amid the hustle and bustle of people passing by, she looked lonely.

When Luo Qianyun finished her tasks, she saw the child sitting alone, seemingly lost in thought.

“Little Apple, why are you sitting here?” Luo Qianyun asked, walking over and lightly patting her shoulder.

“Sister, I’m waiting for Sister Lu Shanni,” Xiao Pingguo replied softly.

Hearing this, Luo Qianyun froze, suddenly recalling that Dean Geng and the others had gone back to the orphanage earlier.

But she hadn’t expected they’d gone to bring Lu Shanni back.

“Little Apple, with so many people here, it’s easy for someone as small as you to get stepped on. Let’s find a better place, okay?” Luo Qianyun said gently.

But Xiao Pingguo shook her head, raising the cupcake in her hand. “I want to give this to Sister Lu Shanni.”

“Your Sister Lu Shanni…” Luo Qianyun hesitated. “She might not come back.”

Xiao Pingguo looked down, her voice tinged with disappointment. “I know. Sister Lu Shanni was adopted…”

Realizing the dean and others had told a kind lie, Luo Qianyun went along with it. “Yes, your Sister Lu Shanni was adopted. She won’t be able to eat this cupcake.”

“Grandma said she could ask Sister Lu Shanni’s new parents…” Xiao Pingguo murmured, staring at the cupcake.

Looking at her, Luo Qianyun couldn’t tell if Xiao Pingguo had already guessed the truth.

Did a child her age understand the concept of death?

Luo Qianyun didn’t know, and Xiao Pingguo couldn’t answer. But the dean’s excuse was clumsy. Even if she didn’t understand now, she would in a few years.

At that moment, Meng Xian walked over. “Why are you daydreaming on the steps?”

Xiao Pingguo looked up and sweetly called, “Auntie~”

Meng Xian pinched her cheek. “Such a sweet talker! But I’m old enough to be your grandma.”

Xiao Pingguo shook her head. “Grandma has white hair.”

Meng Xian chuckled. “You’re thinking of Dean Grandma, right?”

Xiao Pingguo nodded.

“You’re adorable, but with all these people here, it’s not safe for someone as small as you. Let’s find a better spot, okay?” Meng Xian said gently.

After thinking for a moment, and glancing at Luo Qianyun, Xiao Pingguo nodded. She then stretched out her arms, asking for a hug.

Meng Xian picked her up and carried her inside, with Luo Qianyun following them to a children’s play area.

After settling Little Apple, Meng Xian turned to Luo Qianyun. “Qianyun, I never got the chance to ask. How were those years at the orphanage?”

“Don’t worry, the orphanage I was in was good. Nothing terrible happened. Dean Grandma cared about us, too. If I’d grown up there, I think I’d have turned out fine, though I probably wouldn’t have pursued medicine,” Luo Qianyun replied.

“When we return, I’d like to visit your dean to thank her,” Meng Xian said with a smile.

“No need. She passed away three years ago,” Luo Qianyun said.

“Then the Luo family should at least make a visit,” Meng Xian suggested.

Thinking of her adoptive parents, Luo Qianyun’s expression dimmed. “We could go, but unnecessary things shouldn’t be forced.”

Meng Xian grew curious. “Did the Luo family not treat you well?”

“It’s complicated. They raised me, and I’m grateful for that. But beyond that, they tried to marry me to my brother and even drugged me.” Luo Qianyun’s frankness left Meng Xian pale with shock.