Chapter 191: Amusement Park
Xu Youyou paused upon hearing those words. She had thought she had been very discreet in doing these things, believing no one had noticed, yet it turned out they had seen everything clearly.
“Your Aunt Xu said that even though you’re still young and often struggle to feed yourself, you’re willing to take responsibility for a stray puppy. That’s a good thing—it shows a sense of responsibility. She told us not to interfere unnecessarily,” Dean He explained with a smile.
Xu Youyou sighed inwardly. Aunt Xu was always so considerate of others.
Unfortunately, the puppy she had raised back then never grew up. At the time, Xu Youyou was scavenging for trash, unintentionally taking away business from a few local troublemaking kids.
Instead of taking their anger out on Xu Youyou, those kids vented all their frustration on the puppy, ultimately abusing it to death.
Xu Youyou was devastated for a long time, to the point where she didn’t dare to get close to any stray cats or dogs, fearing she would bring them bad luck.
Now that she had bodyguards with her at all times, she no longer had to worry about her little companions being bullied.
After breakfast, five tour buses drove into the orphanage yard one after another.
“The buses are here! The buses are here!” The children in the yard cheered excitedly.
Dean He sighed helplessly. “Youyou, it’s okay if the kids don’t go to the amusement park.”
But Xu Youyou shook her head firmly, determined about this matter. “Aunt He, you don’t know how much I wished to go to an amusement park when I was little. Just think of it as fulfilling my childhood dream.”
Dean He’s heart ached at those words. Children in orphanages always had many regrets, as if it would take a lifetime to heal the wounds of their childhood.
The children had been looking forward to this trip for a long time. Just like the day they welcomed Xu Youyou back home, today they all wore their best clothes. Some even put on their red scarves.
Even the usually rowdiest kids were uncharacteristically well-behaved today. Without needing any prompting, they lined up in an orderly manner under the guidance of the older children and boarded the buses one by one.
“This trip was arranged by Sister Youyou! Sister Youyou is amazing! When I grow up, I’ll take everyone to the amusement park too!” a child shouted excitedly.
The other kids didn’t fully understand, but they all looked at Xu Youyou with admiration, as if a seed had been planted in their hearts, hoping that one day they could be like her.
Xu Youyou didn’t take her private car today. Instead, she randomly picked a bus and sat with the children.
Kids make friends quickly. Xu Fang’s two daughters had only been there for a day, yet they were already giggling and whispering secrets with a group of other little girls.
Xu Fang didn’t even need to pay extra attention to her daughters. She had naturally blended in as a volunteer, helping other staff members guide the children in games and activities on the bus.
The orphanage was over half an hour away from the amusement park, but Xu Youyou never experienced a quiet moment along the way.
The kids were like an endless source of energy, singing one song after another. Any passersby who heard their cheerful voices might have mistaken them for a school on a field trip.
The amusement park was also unusually quiet today.
Most of the orphanage children had disabilities, and Xu Youyou didn’t want them to be stared at by ordinary visitors. To ensure they had the best experience, she had simply rented out the entire amusement park.
“Kids, line up properly and take turns enjoying the rides. No pushing or fighting. Always follow the staff’s instructions, fasten your seatbelts, and prioritize safety, okay?” Dean He instructed repeatedly through a loudspeaker.
But the children’s minds had long flown toward the enticing attractions.
“Merry-go-round!”
“The little airplane ride! My classmate told me it’s so much fun!”
“I want to play the balloon-shooting game! My deskmate won a stuffed toy last time, and I want one too!”
Yet, just when they thought Dean He’s nagging was over, she continued through the loudspeaker, “Have fun today, but when we get back, don’t forget to write—”
Xu Youyou suddenly grinned, snatching the loudspeaker away. Then, she cheerfully announced to the kids, “Go play, everyone!”
A wave of cheers erupted. “Sister Youyou is the best!”
Dean He patted her thigh in frustration. “How can they not write about their trip? Otherwise, it’s like they played for nothing! The older kids even have to write in English!”
Xu Youyou laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. “I knew you’d bring this up, Aunt He! That’s why I took your loudspeaker in advance.”
Dean He was both exasperated and amused. “Writing about it will help them remember this day in the future. They’ll know it was because of you that they got to enjoy this special day.”
Xu Youyou shook her head. “Aunt He, I took them to the amusement park for their happiness, not to make them grateful to me. When I was little, I hated writing diaries. There was nothing worth recording, but I still had to rack my brains to make things up for the sake of so-called writing practice.”
“But this time, they actually have something to write about,” Dean He insisted.
Xu Youyou smiled. “I just want this to be a beautiful childhood memory for them. I don’t want writing about it to cast a shadow over their happiness.”
Dean He sighed, unable to argue with her. “You spoil these little rascals too much.”
Since Xu Youyou had rented out the park, all the rides were now free for the children.
Even lunch was taken care of inside the amusement park. From the moment they entered, every child wore a bright, beaming smile.
They played until the sun began to set, reluctantly following the adults back to the buses.
“I wish we could live in the amusement park forever.”
“I’m so jealous of my classmate. Every time he gets good grades, his parents take him to the amusement park.”
Children’s thoughts are always simple and direct. Hearing this, Xu Youyou couldn’t help but chuckle. She also noticed that after the trip, the children clung to her even more.
Some even treated her like a wish-granting fairy. But Xu Youyou didn’t fulfill all their requests. Strangely enough, none of the kids complained—they just became even more attached to her.
Back at the orphanage, time seemed to slow down. Xu Youyou hardly used her phone anymore, nor did she pay much attention to the outside world. She could spend entire days playing with the children, from sunrise to sunset, as if she had become a child herself.
Then, on the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, Xu Youyou woke up early to help Dean He make fried glutinous rice balls with the children. Just as the freshly fried treats were ready, a bodyguard rushed in.
“Boss, Mr. Lu has arrived.”
Xu Youyou was taken aback.
She knew Lu Jingyao was coming to Huangshan, but she thought it would be after the New Year. She couldn’t understand why he had arrived so early.
The bodyguard added, “His parents are here too.”
