In an orphanage near the suburbs, an old woman nearly trembled in excitement after receiving a call. It appears that it was a very important call that brought good news.
"Yes! Yes, of course. Our orphanage is full of good children ah. Anytime is good!" The children playing at the sides had their interests perked up when they heard the auntie's enthusiastic response.
Guo Sichen who was quietly studying at the side suddenly looked up from the book he was reading.
The side of his lips rose to see the auntie so excited. At such an young age, he truly looked handsome ah! Guo Sichen was definitely blessed with good looks. He had deep and dark eyes, a tall straight nose, and thin rosy lips. In addition to that, he had such a cold and elegant demeanor! No trace of childishness could be seen on him. If this old auntie didn't know him, she might mistake him for a young master from an affluent family!
"People are coming to adopt?" He closed the book and sat properly.
The auntie nodded excitedly. "Yes! After the Sun Family's help, people have been paying attention to us and more people are coming to adopt. But an especially rich family is coming tomorrow!"
"That's good news." Guo Sichen nodded.
"It definitely is. They must be looking for a boy, a family that rich, not having an heir... Thinking about it, you might have a chance Sichen!"
Guo Sichen froze a bit, looking a bit surprised by the auntie's claim but recovered fast. He smiled gently at the auntie. "Auntie, I have not been adopted all these years. I'm already old." He slightly shook his head like it was ridiculous.
The auntie felt like he was being a bit silly, she didn't know whether she should laugh. "Ayo, look at this kid speaking like he's an abandoned old man..." she muttered to herself.
"You're only 13 years old tsk tsk." The auntie shook her head.
The auntie felt a bit sympathetic towards this mature child. She could understand why he thought that way. While the kids around him were slowly getting adopted, he remained. He didn't catch the parents' eyes simply because he didn't try to look or act cute like the other children. He was quiet and stood still in the background while the other children tried their best to get picked.
His parents died while he was a baby in a car crash. No one was left to take care of him since his parents were estranged from their families as both sides opposed the marriage.
The auntie watched him grow up, silently doubting himself on the inside. Even though he appeared self-confident and reassured, he didn't believe in himself. Her heart would ache every time she saw him like that.
Thankfully, The Sun Family Foundation had supported them recently. It was said that it was the young mistress who had insisted on supporting their orphanage in particular. They all felt thankful, a six-year-old little girl had such a thoughtful heart. (Note: Song Lan is now 10 years old, but this happened when she was just six years old and have only reincarnated.)
When morning came the next day, the orphanage was bustling with excitement. Children behaved and dressed their best. They lined up in front of the door with cute smiles.
Guo Sichen stood silently at the backside, staring at his shoes. He didn't really think the auntie's words were true.
"Mr. Ji, Madam Shen, welcome! It must be exhausting for you to travel such a long distance." The auntie welcomed amicably.
The middle-aged couple smiled warmly and stepped inside the orphanage. "Oh, it was not exhausting at all! My husband and I were quite excited to take a look so the long ride didn't matter. Old Master Sun recommend this orphanage to my husband." The lady smiled elegantly and took a long glance at the children, her gaze stopping at the boy whose height towered everyone. It appeared that he was older than anyone else in the orphanage.
Madam Shen was curious to see why a boy at his age still hasn't been adopted.
The auntie took her time introducing each child so that they could bond a little.
Madam Shen and Mr. Ji was a well-known couple in high society for not having an heir yet. They have been trying to conceive a child for so long but decided to give up due to Madam Shen's heart complications. It wasn't convenient for her to give birth.
The matter of the heir not being blood-related was not that well accepted within the Ji Clan but none could voice out their dissatisfaction with the Shen Clan backing up their daughter. They couldn't compromise Madam Shen's health just for an heir.
Throughout the introduction of children, Madam Shen couldn't help but take a glance at the child wordlessly standing at the back with a blank expression. His aura could be said as outstanding, why wouldn't he be adopted?
When it finally came to Guo Sichen's turn, Madam Shen smiled gently. "And this good child is?"
The auntie smiled and bashfully introduced him, "Oh this is Guo Sichen! He's already 13 years old and very hard working. He's studying very diligently. He even ended up at the top of his school!"
Mr. Ji at the side of Madam Shen raised his brows as if impressed and satisfied as he eyed the boy.
Madam Shen looked surprised. "Oh, well that's very outstanding of you."
Guo Sichen nodded politely and curtly said, "Thank you, Madam Shen."
"If you do not mind me asking, why is he still not adopted? He seems to be very outstanding!" Madam Shen exclaimed.
Mr. Ji thought so as well. Both of them didn't care for cuteness or joy that a child would bring. In reality, they need someone with potential and good temperament. The Ji family already couldn't accept that the heir would not be blood-related to them. They didn't want to bring an innocent and helpless child home for them to pick on.
The auntie smiled stiffly, "Our Sichen is such a good child. He isn't one to speak a lot or please elders. The parents who came before wanted very energetic children."
Madam Shen nodded understandably. It must be rare for a rich family to go to an orphanage to adopt, of course, they would want a sunny child to bring joy. But their Ji family wanted someone with outstanding qualifications.
Guo Sichen furrowed his brows when he saw how Mr. Ji seemed to be assessing him and Madam Shen questioned the aunt about him curiously and continuously.
They appeared to be interested in him... He was inwardly baffled and felt a bit of joy. It was the first time for him to be shown interest in. He felt really happy in his heart but he felt embarrassed to show it. They might not end up adopting him anyway.
The couple smiled at him after the sea of questions Madam Shen bombarded the aunt. "Well, Ah Chen would you like to visit our home?" Madam Shen asked.
Guo Sichen finally cracked a little and looked amazed he was being invited to their home. "M-me?" He stuttered surprisingly.
Madam Shen looked a little amused. So this adult child could also look a little silly, ha!
"To be honest with you, we want to adopt you. If you would like, you can visit our home first and see if you'd like it there." Madam Shen gently said.
Guo Sichen cautiously glanced up at Mr. Ji. All along it was only Madam Shen who looked like she was eager to adopt him. He didn't know whether Mr. Ji felt the same.
Mr. Ji laughed, seeing the boy look up to him cautiously as if checking if he approved. "Don't worry, Ah Chen. Whatever my wife says, goes." He playfully smiled.
Mr. Ji knew he looked intimidating with his stony face so he tries to lighten up. All those years in the business industry made him always project an aura that made people intimidated.
He truly liked the child. He was the most suitable for an heir. Before coming here, he already secretly investigated every child's background. His interest was piqued after seeing that half of his background was erased and hidden. The surname Guo...
Could it be that he was the grandchild lost from the car crash of his parents? How could he not know that the ever so stuck up Guo Clan and Yi Clan feud? Neither one of them wanted anything to do with the child. His father Guo Chenle was a good friend of Mr. Ji Shouren. And the child was his spitting image.
'Would the Guo and Yi Clan still not want him after seeing what he's capable of?' Mr. Ji mused in his mind.
But that wasn't really the case, would this child even bother with them in the future?