Yin Huaiyu looked at the litter of dogs "transitioned" into his arms and stared in shock at Cheng Taotao,
"I said one! Do you know how to count?"
"But... your house is big, your family is rich. You keep one, and help me with the other four! When I am as grown up as you, I’ll take them back!" Cheng Taotao looked at Yin Huaiyu, speaking as if he made perfect sense.
At this moment, Yin Huaiyu truly understood the meaning of... giving an inch and taking a mile!
Regretting his impulsive words.
These little puppies in his arms, honestly, weren’t very clean. Yin Huaiyu cradled them in his arms, and the puppies snuggled into him.
"Thank you, big brother! You’re so kind! You’ll be their mommy from now on!"
Cheng Taotao wiped away his tears, grinning as he spoke to Yin Huaiyu.
Facing Cheng Taotao’s clownish face, Yin Huaiyu wanted to throw the bunch of dogs onto his face!
"Why are you so confident leaving them with big brother?"
Zhou Guangren asked Cheng Taotao with amusement. She refused to send the dogs to a pet hospital or adoption center, yet handed all five to Yin Huaiyu at once when he spoke.
Cheng Taotao scratched her head, unable to think of a reason, and just grinned.
Yin Huaiyu turned to Yin Shixiu, wearing a desperate expression. Su Xiaomeng found it hard not to laugh!
What was initially difficult and troublesome became much more lighthearted due to the interaction between the two children.
Director Qi stepped back, "Let’s keep one at the orphanage... The volunteers and children can care for it together."
"Really?" Cheng Taotao looked at Director Qi with surprise.
Director Qi nodded, "Yes, but as big brother said, once we have a dog, we must take responsibility. It may cause many troubles, but since we’ve decided to keep it, we must overcome difficulties and not fear trouble, right?"
Cheng Taotao nodded repeatedly and immediately ran to Yin Huaiyu, "I’ll just take this one."
She chose a white dog with yellow fur on its back, carefully stroking it in her arms, muttering, "From now on, I’ll call you Huang Huang!"
"Pfft—"
Su Xiaomeng couldn’t hold back this time. She quickly covered her mouth, looking at her son whose face turned all green, struggling to keep it together.
She turned around, her head buried in Yin Shixiu’s shoulder, unable to stop herself from chuckling, almost convulsing from suppressed laughter!
The group of adults and children seemed baffled until Shuangshuang blinked and said, "Isn’t Huang Huang brother’s name?"
"..."
Everyone immediately looked at Yin Huaiyu and then at Cheng Taotao.
Hearing Shuangshuang’s words, Cheng Taotao looked up meeting Yin Huaiyu’s cold gaze...
Not knowing whether it’s Shuangshuang’s fearless young attitude or Yin Huaiyu’s angry aura not quite hitting the mark, Cheng Taotao broke into a smile, "You’re called Huang Huang too? What a coincidence!"
"...Hahaha! Hahaha!"
Su Xiaomeng was about to suffer internal injuries from holding her laughter, suddenly clutching her belly and falling over in laughter!
Fortunately, Yin Shixiu supported her, looking helplessly at Su Xiaomeng, "Our son’s name is the same as a puppy’s, why are you so happy as a mom?"
Su Xiaomeng waved her hand, words failing her, just finding it too funny!
Cheng Taotao giggled foolishly along.
"I want one too." Shuangshuang stood in front of Yin Huaiyu, picking out a white puppy, "You’ll be called Little Bu from now on!"
Little Bu...
Su Xiaomeng looked at Shuangshuang... She didn’t expect after all these years, Shuangshuang still remembered Ah Bu.
Shuangshuang held Little Bu close to Su Xiaomeng, "Mommy, can we give one to Great Grandpa? Great Grandpa loves dogs, right?"
Su Xiaomeng patted her head, "Great Grandpa is old, taking care of a dog takes time and effort. Just take care of Little Bu yourself, and once it’s a bit older, we can take it to see Great Grandpa."
Shuangshuang nodded,
"Okay."
Su Xiaomeng guessed Shuangshuang was holding back for a long time, having wanted to rush over and cuddle one.
In that case, Yin Huaiyu still had three in his arms...
"Aunt Director... Can I have one too?"
At this point, Qin Huai cautiously spoke.
Director Qi pressed her lips together, actually finding it difficult. Although agreeing to let Cheng Taotao keep one, these adults couldn’t truly believe the children would take good care of the dogs.
If Qin Huai kept one too, the orphanage would have two dogs...
She wanted to refuse, but since Qin Huai asked.
Director Qi felt bad about rejecting Qin Huai, reluctantly nodded and said, "Then the orphanage will keep two. Once they’re grown, they can guard our home!"
Qin Huai immediately broke into a smile, but instead of rushing forward to hug the dogs, she said, "I’m going to change my clothes first, otherwise they’ll get dirty."
Yin Huaiyu still had two in his hands... counting them up, if they all went home, there’d be three dogs in the house, which is really...
Su Xiaomeng looked at Yin Shixiu...
Yin Shixiu raised an eyebrow, glanced at Guan Su, "Does Teacher Guan like dogs?"
Guan Su actually wanted to refuse instinctively, but before he could, Zhou Guangren gave him a signal, and the conversation immediately changed,
"I do!"
"Then Teacher Guan, take one home; this way, the puppy problem is solved."
Guan Su smiled, "Alright, alright, as long as the children are happy."
However, this litter of puppies was really too young, so the group discussed and decided to invite a vet from the pet hospital to take the puppies away first in the afternoon. Although Cheng Taotao was still worried, after what happened earlier, she felt somewhat at ease.
After all the fuss, everyone was hungry, and the volunteers at the orphanage had already prepared the food.
Director Qi led everyone to the cafeteria, all the while speaking politely with Yin Shixiu and Su Xiaomeng, "The food isn’t very good, just some simple home-cooked dishes, so..."
"We’re all hungry! Even steamed buns with pickles would taste delicious to us. Don’t think we’re too fancy; didn’t we all grow up eating rice?"
"Haha! Mrs. Yin is so approachable."
Director Qi dared to speak informally with Su Xiaomeng, but with Yin Shixiu... she still felt a significant distance, even though the man always wore a gentle smile.
People who speak less often instill an inexplicable sense of awe.
Lunch wasn’t particularly sumptuous, but it was a balanced mix of meat and vegetables. Director Qi was an author uninterested in fame, maintaining the orphanage with support from charity organizations and personal donations.
Once lunch ended, the vet from the pet hospital arrived, Yin Shixiu had Chen Lan reach out to them, and fortunately, they were reliable, taking all the puppies away to return them in two months.
In just that time, Cheng Taotao and Shuangshuang wore expressions of reluctance, the two stood at the door with almost identical looks, watching the pet doctor get in the car and drive away until it vanished from sight.
With the dogs gone, both sighed spontaneously.
After the sigh, they exchanged glances and unconsciously broke into laughter. Then Shuangshuang pointed at Cheng Taotao’s clothes and said, "Why are you dressed like that? It doesn’t look good..."
Cheng Taotao glanced down, seriously examining her outfit, and after a moment of silence, seemed to ponder before grinning and showing her teeth to Shuangshuang, saying, "Yeah... I’m dressed really ugly!"
"Hahaha!"
"Miss, you look great! Your clothes do too!"
"Ah! Come on, my brother brought lots of clothes today, all mine..."
Shuangshuang grabbed Cheng Taotao’s hand and took her to the study room, most of the clothes brought by Yin Huaiyu were already taken, but there were still a few pieces left on the large round table.
"Hmm... wear this and this! But these two are a bit old..." Shuangshuang murmured, seemingly feeling embarrassed.
Yet Cheng Taotao was already overjoyed, "I like them! Miss, are these your clothes?"
Shuangshuang turned her head, looking at this plain but spirited girl, saying she was a girl yet she really didn’t know how to dress up, her short hair making her appear more like a boy at first glance.
But...
Shuangshuang felt she really liked Cheng Taotao.
"Yes, let’s go change!"
After saying that, Shuangshuang took the clothes, acting like an older sister, and led Cheng Taotao by the hand to their bedroom to change clothes.
Once changed, Cheng Taotao felt like a little girl, although Shuangshuang’s clothes were a tad big for Taotao, it made Taotao seem daintily adorable.
Wearing a light gray sweater, a black and gray plaid skirt, paired with leggings and little leather shoes.
Shuangshuang also helped Taotao wash her face and comb her hair. Su Xiaomeng stayed by their side the whole time, not interfering, surprised to see the usually pampered Miss taking such good care of another little girl. This truly astonished Su Xiaomeng.
It seems bringing the children to a completely different environment occasionally really helps in understanding them better.
Shuangshuang, Huang Huang... so many sides to them that were different from their usual selves.
"Taotao?"
Qin Huai walked in, nodded slightly in greeting Su Xiaomeng and Shuangshuang, "Hello Auntie, Miss..."
"Is your name Qin Huai?"
"...Yes. I’m here to find Taotao, Grandpa Zhou is looking for her, she and her brother are going to start their music practice."
"Oh! Grandpa Zhou is waiting for me? I’ll go right away!"
After speaking, Cheng Taotao dashed out in a hurry, Shuangshuang blinked, still a bit stunned!
Su Xiaomeng chuckled softly.
With just that subtle smile, Qin Huai couldn’t help but be mesmerized...
"Brother’s going to have music class! Mom, let’s go watch!" Once Shuangshuang realized, she also pulled Su Xiaomeng along as they rushed outside! As if she didn’t even see Qin Huai.
Su Xiaomeng wanted to say a few words to Qin Huai, but was already being pulled away, and throughout the long times afterward, the scene of the Yin Family’s young lady "ignoring" her as she ran by often replayed in her mind.