Chapter 21: The Fallen Child Star (21) part 2

“I brought gifts for everyone too.”

“What gifts?” Qin Lele’s eyes widened as she pointed at the large suitcase. “Is it this?”

“Yes, I bought comic books and sun hats for everyone. Can you help me gather them to line up?”

Qin Lele patted her chest confidently.

“Leave it to me!”

She dashed off with quick, light steps.

Five minutes later, Qin Lele had indeed organized a small queue of children.

She moved through the crowd like a little disciplinarian, instructing the kids to behave and stay still.

In reality, though, she was the most animated one there.

There weren’t many children at the orphanage; Xu Weiheng had previously asked Mr. Qin about the numbers, so he had bought just enough gifts.

After all the children received their gifts and happily left, Qin Lele crouched beside the suitcase and said to Xu Weiheng, “Oh, there’s still one set left. Did you buy too many?”

“I didn’t buy extra.”

Xu Weiheng gently picked up the last rabbit-shaped sun hat and placed it on Qin Lele’s head.

“You’re a child too, so of course there’s a gift for you.”

Qin Lele touched the hat, grinning sweetly. “Thank you! I’m going to play hide-and-seek with the other kids now.”

“Go ahead, don’t forget to take your comic book.”

Xu Weiheng waved goodbye to Qin Lele and started picking up the plastic packaging from the ground to throw away.

The orphanage director came over to help.

After tidying up for a while, the director took Xu Weiheng to her office for some water.

An old fan spun lazily on the ceiling, bringing a hint of coolness to the hot summer day.

Xu Weiheng, holding a cup of water, said to the director, “Lele is so considerate.”

The director smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes showing kindness and gentleness carved by time.

“Did you know Lele is one of the children from the orphanage?”

Xu Weiheng hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I know.”

The day Qin Lele invited him to the Summer Orphanage, she had called the director “Mom Director.’

Only the children from the orphanage would address the director that way.

The director sighed, “It’s not always good when children are too considerate.”

“Is she…”

“Cleft lip. She was abandoned at the orphanage door. Half a year ago, her adoptive parents took her in and paid for her surgery. You can’t tell now.”

Xu Weiheng pressed his lips together, feeling a twinge in his heart.

Leaving the director’s office, Xu Weiheng stood in the shade of a tree, watching Qin Lele still playing hide-and-seek.

For a moment, he saw his past self reflected in Qin Lele.

— Observing others’ moods, trying hard to please adults.

No child is born understanding everything; more often, it’s because they haven’t been loved that they’re forced to be understanding.

But now…

Xu Weiheng looked towards Mr. Qin.

Mr. Qin had a pink Hello Kitty children’s water bottle hanging around his neck and a Mickey Mouse backpack on his arm, looking every bit the doting father.

Now, little Qin Lele was certainly being loved.

Just as he was being loved by Ms. Yao.

Yao Rong had been busy at her computer all day. When she finally shifted her attention from the screen, she realized Xu Weiheng hadn’t returned home yet.

It was almost dinner time.

Just as Yao Rong was about to call Xu Weiheng to ask where he was, the half-open courtyard door was pushed open.

Xu Weiheng walked in from outside.

“I’m home!”

Yao Rong asked, “Why are you back so late?”

Xu Weiheng pulled two lollipops out of his hoodie pocket.

He imitated Qin Lele’s gesture, opening his palms wide towards Yao Rong.

Yao Rong, confused, followed suit and opened her hands.

Xu Weiheng placed one lollipop in Yao Rong’s hand, smiling as he said, “Lele gave these to me. I’m sharing one with you.”

He unwrapped the other lollipop and put it in his mouth, speaking with a muffled voice, “I was learning about the donation process for the Summer Orphanage. I didn’t realize time had passed so quickly.”

Seeing him enjoying the candy, Yao Rong also unwrapped hers. “Donation?”

“Yes.”

Yao Rong looked at him steadily for a few moments. “Why the sudden interest in donating to the orphanage?”

“Because I’m a caring citizen,” Xu Weiheng joked, then became serious. “I just want to do something for those children.”

“Of course, I don’t have an income right now, though I still have some savings. But I’ll act within my means.”

As he spoke, Xu Weiheng began to feel self-conscious under Yao Rong’s gaze.

He raised his hand to scratch his head, trying to hide his nervousness.

“I won’t keep you. I’m going to my room to change clothes.”

Just as Xu Weiheng took a step, Yao Rong’s smiling voice floated from behind him.

“Count me in too. I’ll join you in this charitable work.”

Xu Weiheng paused mid-step but didn’t turn around. He just raised his hand and waved at Yao Rong.

Yao Rong stood in the courtyard, biting into the lollipop and swallowing.

She could guess what Xu Weiheng was thinking.

— When a person experiences a lot of kindness and love in this world, they can’t help but want to return that kindness and love to the world.

This young man, who once wallowed in self-pity, had not only learned how to love himself but was also slowly learning how to love the world.