Chapter 125

After Su Ruo and her clothing company opened smoothly, there were many matters regarding hiring staff and preparing raw materials, and Li Zhaodi was busy from morning till night almost every day.

But she was always full of energy, as if as long as she could earn money she had inexhaustible strength, and even Su Ruo and Bai Xinya greatly admired her perseverance.

As the company's affairs gradually got on track, Su Ruo was also about to start school soon; that day she called the boy over.

After spending this time together, Su Ruo had already found out that the boy actually had a name; his name was Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao had not been homeless from the start; before the age of three he had been taken care of by an old scavenger, but the old man was elderly and physically weak, and ultimately died on a cold winter night.

After that, Qin Xiao began to grow up living on handouts, and during that period he had been temporarily taken in by some families, but in the end he could not escape the fate of being abandoned.

When he was five, Qin Xiao sneaked out of the home of the old bachelor who often beat and tortured him, and began his life of wandering.

After that, Qin Xiao did not know how many places he had walked; in his days of wandering, going hungry and being beaten were ordinary occurrences, until he was caught by child traffickers, met Su Ruo on a train, and his life finally stabilized.

Su Ruo took Qin Xiao to the Police Bureau to inquire, hoping to find his parents, but because too much time had passed, the chance of finding Qin Xiao's parents was minuscule; moreover, perhaps Qin Xiao had originally been abandoned.

On the way back from the Police Bureau, Su Ruo kept thinking about what to do with Qin Xiao; she was someone who disliked trouble and also feared taking on others' karma, raising a child was too difficult, especially since Su Ruo still had to go to school, she simply had no time to look after Qin Xiao.

These practical problems lay before her, leaving Su Ruo no choice but to consider them.

Qin Xiao lifted his head and asked her: "Do you want to send me away?"

Su Ruo looked at the boy's dark, bright eyes and for a moment did not know how to answer.

Qin Xiao said: "It's fine; I've grown up and can take care of myself, you don't need to worry about me."

A child of several years saying such words makes it hard not to feel heartache, and Su Ruo's heart was strongly moved.

Qin Xiao clearly knew what he would face after being abandoned, yet he still chose to endure it silently, without pleading, crying, or resisting, as if this were his fate; his maturity made people feel heartache.

A child without an umbrella can only run desperately; a child without anyone's love can only desperately strive to grow up…

Su Ruo's throat felt a little dry, and after a long while she said: "I am not a good mother, nor am I suited to be one; I have too many things to do, such as going to university, studying medicine, earning money—I simply cannot take care of you. An'an has Bai Xinya, but you only have yourself."

You can think it over; if you stay, I can provide you with food and lodging and also support your schooling, but nothing more than that.

If you do not want to stay, I can help you contact an orphanage and also help you find a suitable adoptive family; then you might meet a wonderful pair of parents who will give you a wholesome family and love and protect you wholeheartedly—these are things I cannot provide.

Su Ruo said a lot, but Qin Xiao seemed not to have heard her words at all.

Qin Xiao clenched the corner of his clothes tightly and nervously asked: "I really… can I stay?"

Su Ruo reached out and touched his head: "Yes, but have you really thought it through? Following me, you might never be able to enjoy parental love like other children."

Su Ruo knew how much a child like Qin Xiao lacked love, and also knew that not having a wholesome family and parental love like other children could become an irremediable regret for them in life.

But what Su Ruo did not know was that Qin Xiao might once have fantasized about having a home and parents who loved him.

But after enduring so much pain and torment and seeing so much darkness, he now could no longer trust anyone.

What Qin Xiao did not tell Su Ruo was that what he had experienced was far darker than she imagined, and the torment he endured was more cruel than she thought.

He had seen the ugliest side of human nature, whose cruelty is beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

Those experiences had once made Qin Xiao hate this world intensely, the hostility in his heart even making him want to destroy everything.

But Su Ruo's appearance was like a ray of light in the darkness, shining into his life that had seen no daylight.

In this world, he trusted only Su Ruo.

If Su Ruo abandoned him, he would rather wander like a lone wolf than force himself to integrate into a strange family, witness those ugly things, or wait for the fate of being abandoned again.

Qin Xiao said: "I can take care of myself, I won't cause you trouble, and I can also earn money to support myself, so I won't be a burden to you."

Qin Xiao did not answer Su Ruo's question but directly stated his choice.

"Alright, if you ever regret it, just tell me anytime!"

Su Ruo took Qin Xiao's hand; she did not think staying was a good choice for him, but she respected his decision, and if Qin Xiao ever wanted to leave, Su Ruo would also see him off.

Qin Xiao looked at Su Ruo, felt the warmth of her palm, and sensed a warm current flowing all the way to his heart, giving his long-frozen heart some warmth.

Su Ruo would not know that because of this tiny gesture of hers, she had gained a loyal dog for herself.

Even if one day Qin Xiao grew up to be a Soldier King, becoming the feared Cold Noodle Yama that everyone dreads, he would still be obedient to Su Ruo in an unbelievable way.

Even if they were both seventy or eighty, as soon as Su Ruo called out, he would immediately straighten his body.

Even if his hair turned completely white, Qin Xiao's body would remain sturdy; she would carry the already faltering Su Ruo to climb the Great Wall, to view Mount Tai and the sunset, the sunrise by the sea, and the splendid landscapes of the motherland…

He said: "Sister, when I was young I guarded the country; now that I am old, I only guard you…"

Qin Xiao devoted his life to helping Su Ruo realize the wish she had once spoken of—national peace and prosperity.

In the evening, Su Ruo found Bai Xinya to discuss with her the matter of An'an and Qin Xiao attending school.

Bai Xinya laughed and teased her: "How so, you've decided not to send that child away?"

Although Su Ruo had always appeared cold, Bai Xinya knew that in fact she was softer-hearted than anyone.

Su Ruo was not annoyed by the teasing, and helplessly said: "No, I won't go; since he wants to stay, let him stay for now! We'll take things step by step! Anyway, I'm not short on his meals now, though I might trouble you later."

Bai Xinya gave her a glance and said: "What's with the formality between us? But that child probably won't need my care either."

Su Ruo thought the same; these days Qin Xiao could take care of himself well, every morning he got up and even swept the courtyard, so he indeed did not need anyone to look after him.

Bai Xinya continued: "As for school, I've already found a place for An'an at City No. 1 Primary School; they can start when school opens, and since the two kids are about the same age, let them be in the same class!"

I'll talk to the principal then and see if we can add an extra spot.

However, there is one thing I want to discuss with you: although An'an has already mastered all the knowledge from grades one to three of elementary school, I still want her to start from first grade.

After all, An'an is too lonely; I want her to have more contact with peers of her age, and if she later wants to repeat a grade, I will arrange that for her.

Bai Xinya finished speaking and looked at Su Ruo inquiringly.

Su Ruo smiled and said: "Just arrange it as you see fit."

Su Ruo had to admit that, as far as being a mother went, Bai Xinya was indeed more qualified than she was.