The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 147

Since the ambitious development of paved roads in Zhiyuan County, the region’s economy had improved significantly. Still, when they entered Hongning Mountain and saw the luxurious four-story orphanage in the middle of the mountainside, everyone was stunned.

It wasn’t just better than the welfare homes in Linshi; it was leagues ahead of those in A City. If they hadn’t known it was an orphanage, they might have mistaken it for a high-end private preschool.

Building such an impressive facility in the mountains required more than just money.

No wonder some people in Shen Gui’s chat group had suggested leaving their children at Xiaochengxiang Orphanage’s doorstep. To be blunt, a child living in this orphanage would likely have a better life than staying with them.

Li Rong rolled down the car window, gazing at the orphanage’s opulent exterior. He murmured, “It seems Zhai Ning has indeed repaid Sui Wanjun.”

Sui Wanjun herself might not have had great capabilities, but as the director of Jiajia Central Hospital, Zhai Ning was a different story altogether.

Cen Xiao pushed open the car door and stepped out. The mountain mist instantly enveloped him, and the coolness seeped through the gaps in his clothes.

“If it’s just about repayment, that would be good.”

Li Rong followed him out of the car. He exhaled the warm air he had been enjoying inside, only to shiver as the mountain breeze struck him. Cen Xiao instinctively moved to block the wind for him.

Thankfully, Li Rong adjusted to the chill quickly. He lightly pressed against Cen Xiao’s shoulder, squinting his eyes slightly. “What a picturesque place.”

The scenery of Hongning Mountain was indeed stunning. Verdant mountain ranges stretched out in the distance, their undulating curves covered in dense greenery. The midday sunlight spilled over the peaks, fragmented into golden slivers by the thick branches. Standing on the hillside, one could faintly hear the sound of streams flowing in the distance.

The villagers in Zhiyuan County weren’t particularly affluent, so only a few vehicles passed by on the newly paved asphalt road, which remained smooth and unmarred by heavy use.

Hongning Mountain seemed ready for tourism, just waiting for the right moment to be developed.

The upcoming variety show recording was a perfect opportunity. Fans, viewers, and media outlets would flock here, bringing attention to the region’s unique culture and driving economic benefits.

For now, though Xiaochengxiang Orphanage retained its usual appearance.

As they approached, they could see children playing on the large plaza through the ornate wrought-iron gates. 

The plaza was covered with rubber flooring, and the fitness equipment was wrapped in foam to prevent the children from getting hurt.

A closer look revealed that some of the children moved differently from healthy kids, but at least here, they seemed carefree.

During the show’s recording, all the orphanage staff would likely be present, and Sui Wanjun herself would certainly make an appearance. They had chosen this timing precisely because they feared she might avoid them. The elderly woman was frail and sickly, and though she fiercely protected the orphanage like a mother hen guarding her chicks, she was ultimately limited by her declining strength.

Jiang Xunwei smoothed down his windblown hair, gazing at the orphanage that had been built into a veritable Eden. He couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

Who would’ve thought that the sacrifices made by Zhou Hong and Zhai Ning would all come down to the children here?

Jiang Xunwei scanned the area and then turned to Li Rong. “Do you want me to start asking around now?”

Li Rong remained silent for a moment before replying calmly, “No need to rush. Let’s take a look first.”

He tugged on Cen Xiao’s wrist, taking a couple of steps forward, then suddenly stopped. Turning back, he asked, “Did you bring your student ID?”

Cen Xiao shook his head. He only carried credentials from District Nine and never bothered with his student ID since it wasn’t regularly checked.

Li Rong patted himself down. He didn’t have a student ID either, but luckily, he had his university cafeteria card, which had his photo and student number. It would suffice to prove his identity.

Jian Fu poked his head out of the car, curiosity written all over his face. “Hey, what are you two doing? Should I come along?”

Without turning back, Li Rong replied lazily, “If you want to join, follow us.”

A lover of excitement, Jian Fu wouldn’t miss this chance. He quickly got out of the car and trotted after them.

The Xiaochengxiang Orphanage had a gatekeeper who had noticed the private car parked nearby early on. Though he wasn’t sure what these visitors were up to, he remained vigilant.

Li Rong knew they couldn’t avoid being noticed, so he walked straight up to the gatekeeper.

Smiling, he handed over his cafeteria card. “Hello, we’re from A University’s youth association. We’ve had a lot of student sign-ups this year and are looking to collaborate with more nursing homes and orphanages. Could we meet with the person in charge here?”

The name A University was prestigious, evoking respect just by being mentioned. On top of that, Li Rong had a naturally appealing demeanor that made him easy to trust.

The gatekeeper hesitated for a moment, holding the cafeteria card, but his tone softened noticeably. “I don’t quite understand, but I’ll go let someone know.”

Although he said he’d check first, he also unlocked the gate and let Li Rong, Cen Xiao, and Jian Fu inside. 

After all, it didn’t seem appropriate to leave students from such a renowned institution waiting outside.

Standing in the back, Jian Fu stuck out his tongue and blinked. 

His face wasn’t as thick-skinned as Li Rong’s, who could spin tales without batting an eye—something Jian Fu felt he’d never master.

Once the gatekeeper left, Cen Xiao glanced at Li Rong. “What are you trying to find out?”

Li Rong tilted his head slightly and sighed. “I want to see what kind of person Sui Wanjun really is. Has she been corrupted by time and greed, or has she stayed true to her original intentions, nurturing these children with care?”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Sui Wanjun who arrived but a young administrator.

The administrator appeared to be in her thirties, her complexion sallow and pores prominent. She wore a ponytail and a work uniform, with a name tag pinned to her chest that read Hong Ru, Deputy Principal.

Hong Ru scrutinized Li Rong, Cen Xiao, and Jian Fu, who stood slightly hunched in the back.

Li Rong was indeed strikingly handsome, his brows delicate and picturesque, with eyes like blossoming peach flowers. Even older women couldn’t help but feel a bit softened at the sight of him.

In contrast, Cen Xiao exuded an inexplicable sense of pressure. Though he looked youthful and had remained silent, simply standing beside the charming young man, his presence carried an undeniable aura. Hong Ru, being no naive young girl, could immediately sense it.

Her gaze swept between the two of them before she asked, “Are you from A University? Here as volunteers? Are you looking to take photos? How can we coordinate with you?”

Li Rong smiled and explained, “We’re not here as volunteers today, just conducting an inspection to see if this place is suitable. This isn’t just a token activity to meet some evaluation criteria. We want to do this seriously. If both sides are interested, A University’s students can come here about eight times a month to teach the children, read with them, or play together—whatever is needed.”

He spoke with a calm, patient demeanor, occasionally casting a scrutinizing look at Hong Ru, as though he was also evaluating her.

Oddly, this made Hong Ru relax her guard. Her expression softened slightly as she replied, “I see. I can’t make that decision alone. It’ll need to go through a meeting.”

A partnership with A University’s Youth Volunteer Association would undoubtedly be beneficial for Xiaochengxiang Orphanage.

Though the orphanage received government support, it was located in the mountains—remote and desolate. Good teachers were unwilling to work here, so having students from A University come to teach would provide the children with access to new and valuable learning opportunities.

Li Rong hesitated for a moment before asking, “Is the headmaster of Xiaochengxiang around? Perhaps we can speak with her directly?”

Hong Ru, interpreting this as a doubt in her authority, immediately clarified, “Principal Sui is unwell and resting at home. For now, I’m the one in charge of the orphanage temporarily.” She emphasized the word “temporarily.”

Li Rong and Cen Xiao exchanged a glance, Li Rong raising a brow slightly. “Alright, no rush. Could we see the children first?”

Hong Ru didn’t stop them. “Some of the children are in a craft class, and others are at the playground for activity time. You can go take a look. By the way, it’ll be lunchtime soon. Would you like to stay and eat?”

Sure enough, from the small row of houses on the east side of the playground came the sound of cooking in a large pot. Smoke wafted from the chimney, blending into the mountain mist.

Li Rong declined politely, “We’ve already eaten, but thank you.”

Observing Hong Ru’s straightforward demeanor and catching the faint aroma of stewed meat, Li Rong was almost certain that Xiaochengxiang wasn’t a place where children were mistreated.

The children weren’t hard to find, especially those playing on the rubber playground.

The mountain wind had reddened their cheeks and left their skin dry, but it was clear they were well-fed and warmly dressed. Their laughter was pure and carefree, showing no signs of fear or sadness from abuse.

Li Rong crouched down to observe them better.

Looking at children from a lower perspective is entirely different from looking down at them; the former makes you more approachable.

He rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a piece of chocolate, holding it in his palm as he smiled brightly at the children. Playfully, he said, “I have a piece of chocolate here. Whoever kisses me gets it!”

The children froze mid-play, curiously eyeing both Li Rong and the chocolate in his hand.

Some of the boys seemed tempted but hesitated, glancing at each other nervously. Finally, a bold little girl hopped over, planted a loud kiss on Li Rong’s cheek, and grabbed the chocolate.

Her hair was disheveled from wild play, but standing in front of Li Rong, she suddenly became shy. Clutching the chocolate, she bit her lip and whispered, “You’re really good-looking.”

Li Rong was momentarily stunned, then murmured, “Thank you.”

The girl earnestly counted on her fingers before saying, “You’re the second most good-looking person I’ve ever seen. The most beautiful is our principal. She’s the prettiest of all.”

With that, she flashed a sweet, gap-toothed grin, clutching her chocolate tightly as she ran back to play.

Li Rong pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Perhaps he was overthinking it. If Sui Wanjun really mistreated the children or used them for personal gain, how could she risk allowing a reality show to film here? Once the fans and media gathered, any abnormal behavior from the children would inevitably raise suspicion.

The fact that she was open to scrutiny indicated Sui Wanjun believed she had nothing to hide.

Cen Xiao had anticipated this outcome but didn’t interrupt Li Rong, waiting instead for him to confirm it himself.

This was, in some ways, a cruel realization. Deep down, Li Rong had hoped Sui Wanjun was complicit with Zhai Ning and Zhou Hong in their schemes. That way, when setting a trap for her, he wouldn’t feel a shred of guilt.

Li Rong was undoubtedly ruthless, never hesitating when it came to achieving his goals.

He could turn the tables, using Huang Baikang’s weakness to incriminate Xu Wei, leaving Xu Wei destitute and unable to return to the country.

He could deceive He Changfeng into handing over the cross, mentally defeating He Dayong and crippling Meijiang Pharmaceuticals, which manufactured substandard medication.

He could exploit the past between Jiang Zheng and Han Ying to guide Jiang Zheng into becoming a hidden weapon against Han Jiang.

He owed no one anything, nor did he feel the need to apologize for anything, because he himself had endured immense suffering and injustice. No one had the right to demand he always remain a good person.

Only Li Qingli and Gu Nong wanted him to stay kind, to remain as pure and upright as he once was.

That was why Li Rong occasionally struggled with these contradictions. Of course, he wished for a clear distinction between right and wrong, but the world rarely allowed for such simplicity—black and white did not exist in absolutes.

Cen Xiao had once hoped to shoulder all the dirty and immoral deeds himself, leaving Li Rong free to focus on his research.

But it was impossible. They were walking an incredibly perilous path. Cen Xiao couldn’t shelter Li Rong like a kept lover; they had to be comrades who could trust each other with their lives.

Cen Xiao crouched beside Li Rong, tilted his head to look at him, and said softly, “I’d give you a piece of chocolate too, but I’m all out.”

Sweet things can lift the spirit.

Li Rong’s eyelashes fluttered lightly. He curved his lips slightly, rubbing the rubber granules from the playground between his fingers before tossing them away and letting them scatter.

He tilted his face up, squinting as the sunlight fell fully on him, turning his soft, delicate strands of hair a golden hue.

He muttered under his breath, “You don’t need to trade chocolate for it.”

Jian Fu, watching from the side, felt his heart skip a beat. Suddenly, he thought his brother and Li Rong shared a kind of intimacy—an intimacy that exceeded mere friendship.