Chapter 527: Smiles and Cries
South District, Little Lotus Orphanage
The first rays of the rising sun began to pierce the horizon, casting a gentle light over the quiet streets.
The Little Lotus Orphanage, nestled within the heart of the South District, began to stir with life.
Inside the building, a heartwarming scene shone the morning with brightness.
"Hehe~"
The sweet chuckles of children filled the air, mingling with the soft laughter of Chen Yulan as she played with them, her hands busy passing out the breakfast that Zhang Wei had brought along the way.
The children's smiles were infectious, and Chen Yulan's own disappointment from earlier seemed to fade in their presence.
She had expected this outing to be a date, a romantic moment just for the two of them.
But now, watching her interact with the children, one could hardly tell she had been disappointed at all.
She had quickly made peace with the change of plans, embracing the joy of the moment.
As for Zhang Wei, he had brought her here because he felt she was getting too bored alone at home.
Now, seeing her laugh and play, the sunlight gently caressing her face, he was certain he had made the right decision.
Her happiness, so genuine and pure, lit up the place as brightly as the morning sun itself.
Watching her effortlessly connect with the children, Zhang Wei felt a deep sense of contentment.
She was a natural with them, and in that moment, he knew he had nothing to worry about when it came to her raising their future child.
[Host, I have an idea,] the system suddenly proposed.
'What idea?' Zhang Wei asked, a little intrigued.
On a normal day, he would have brushed it off, but today he was in a good mood.
After hearing the system's suggestion, a smile tugged at his lips.
It was a clever idea, and he couldn't help but think it might just work.
As Chen Yulan approached a group of little ones, her hands full with warm buns, Zhang Wei quietly stepped up behind her. Without a word, he reached out and gently caught her hand, halting her movements.
Startled, she turned to him, her brows raising in question. 'What is it?' her eyes seemed to ask.
"Nothing for me?" he asked softly, his voice carrying a depth she hadn't expected.
"Eh?" Her confusion deepened, and she searched his eyes, trying to understand his meaning.
Did he want one of the children's buns?
That couldn't be right.
She knew he wasn't the type to do something like that.
But then, as she noticed the children waiting, something within her seemed to freeze, as if an icy wind had swept through her, turning her body cold and stiff.
The cheerful noises of the children faded into the background as his words echoed in her mind.
In that moment, the strong and composed image of Zhang Wei she had always known softened, revealing a side she had never seen before.
It was as if the mask he usually wore had slipped, showing a part of him that was raw and exposed.
Her heart constricted painfully, as if it were breaking into a thousand pieces.
She had known she liked him, perhaps more than she had been willing to admit.
But now, seeing this hidden side of him, that affection deepened into something far more profound.
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It was as if her heart recognized a kindred spirit in him—someone who had endured the same loneliness, the same longing for connection.
Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over before she could stop them.
She dropped the remaining buns onto a nearby table, her hands trembling as she freed them to wrap around him in a fierce, protective embrace.
Pressing her face against his chest, her tears flowed freely, soaking into his shirt.
"You're not an orphan," she whispered through her sobs, her voice trembling with emotion. "You're not... you have me. I'm your family now."
"!"
Her words were filled with such conviction and desperation that they startled Zhang Wei.
He hadn't expected such a powerful reaction, and for a moment, he stood there, stunned.
"Never say that again..." she pleaded, her cries sending a wave of guilt through him.
Zhang Wei found himself taken aback by the intensity of her response.
What was supposed to be a sweet, tender scene had turned into him needing to comfort her, wiping her tears and soothing her.
As he held her, gently patting her back, a bittersweet smile formed on her lips.
She was still shaken, her heart aching for him, but there was a warmth in her eyes that hadn't been there before.
Even as she clung to him, she tried to smile, though it was laced with sadness.
Zhang Wei sighed inwardly, perhaps he had underestimated the depth of her feelings.
He realized that perhaps he shouldn't try something like this again.
While he wasn't angry with the system for suggesting it, the unintended consequences it caused made him rethink his approach.
In that moment, Zhang Wei made a quiet decision.
He would buy this orphanage for her.
It was originally owned by the Song Family, but that detail didn't concern him in the slightest.
What mattered was giving Chen Yulan something meaningful, something she could care for and call her own.
Turning to her, he asked if she would like to look after the orphanage.
Confused by the sudden question, she looked at him, searching for the meaning behind his words.
He simply told her that he owned it.
Her eyes widened in surprise, but after a brief pause, she nodded and agreed, her heart swelling with a mix of gratitude and love.
Zhang Wei nodded with satisfaction, pleased with her response.
After spending a little more time at the orphanage, ensuring everything was in order, he dropped her back home.
As he watched her walk inside, a gentle smile touched his lips before it faded into the focused expression he wore when handling more serious matters.
He turned the car towards the Riverfront District and drove away.
The Song Family had already fallen according to his latest information, but there were still loose ends to tie up.
If everything had gone according to plan, Rose should have taken control of the Waterfront District by now, crushing the Red Scorpion Gang in the process.
However, Zhang Wei couldn't shake the lingering feeling that something might go wrong.
Despite Rose's considerable strength and skills, he knew the man she was up against—her former Godfather, the one who had raised her.
The emotional ties and the history between them made the situation far more complicated than a simple power struggle.