The Beautiful CEO's Personal Mad Doctor

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Can You Adopt Me?

Cheng Yuan gave the security guard a faint smile. ”Friend, could you take me to see the old Dean?”

The security guard’s eyes flickered slightly. ”Sir, are you also here because you’ve heard of our reputation? Unfortunately, the Dean is not feeling well and has already gone to sleep. You can discuss your donation with Vice Director Zhu!”

”The Dean is already asleep? It’s alright, I can wait until he wakes up.”

The security guard continued to persuade him, ”The Dean has been sleeping almost constantly lately. It’ll be a good day if he even wakes up tomorrow. Discussing your donation with Vice Director Zhu is just the same.”

”Alright then. I’ll leave my number. Call me anytime the Dean wakes up.”

”You got it.”

After leaving his number, the guard made a guiding gesture with one hand. ”Vice Director Zhu’s office is this way.”

Cheng Yuan nodded slightly and followed the security guard toward Vice Director Zhu’s office.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

The guard knocked gently on the door. ”Vice Director Zhu, there’s a gentleman here to make a donation. Can you see him?”

CREAK.

The door to the director’s office was pushed open, and a kind-looking middle-aged man walked out.

The middle-aged man had a gentle smile on his face, beaming as he looked at Cheng Yuan.

”Welcome, a warm welcome! Sir, please, come into the office to talk.”

Cheng Yuan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. ’This middle-aged man seems very kind, but something about him feels a little off.’

”Sir, I am Zhu Wenhu, the vice director of the Hope Welfare Institute. Dean Li has been unwell recently, so I am overseeing everything. Are you planning to make a targeted donation or a general donation to the institute?”

Cheng Yuan glanced around but didn’t notice anything out of place. He said in a calm voice, ”I’d like to see the welfare institute’s environment first, and the children. I’ll decide after that!”

”Of course, of course. It’ll be mealtime in another twenty minutes. Why don’t we see the children in the cafeteria? There are so many of them, and the institute’s funding is insufficient. They can only eat until they’re half-full each day. It’s so hard on the children!”

Cheng Yuan frowned. ”The children can only eat until they’re half-full? That can’t be right. Doesn’t the Municipal Government Office allocate funds to the welfare institute every year? How could the children not have enough to eat?”

”It’s mainly because Dean Li is so famous that more and more children end up at our Hope Welfare Institute. The funding we get from the Municipal Government Office... well...”

The security guard at his side chimed in, ”Actually, the funds from the Municipal Government Office are enough to feed the children. But after it passes through layer after layer, only thirty percent of the funding reaches the institute. Vice Director Zhu often sets up a stall at the night market to supplement the welfare institute’s expenses!”

”Old Zhou, why bring that up? It’s all for the children. Haven’t you also gone several months without a salary?”

Cheng Yuan’s gaze turned cold. ”They even dare to skim money meant for children? It seems they don’t want their jobs anymore! I’ll have someone look into this. Starting next month, you’ll receive your full funding!”

”Really? Thank you so much!”

”Sir, I didn’t get your name.”

”No need for formalities. The name’s Cheng.”

”Mr. Cheng, we will never forget your great kindness! Allow me to bow to you here!”

”No, please, don’t. It’s really nothing.”

Cheng Yuan quickly helped Zhu Wenhu up. As he touched Zhu Wenhu, Cheng Yuan’s pupils contracted slightly.

This Vice Director Zhu was actually a Practitioner, and he seemed to be at the Peak of Earth Realm.

The Peak of Earth Realm was nothing to the great Noble Families, but in the eyes of ordinary citizens, it made him a supreme expert—the kind of person who could take on a dozen men at once.

After a moment of polite refusal and insistence, Vice Director Zhu looked at his watch. ”Mr. Cheng, it’s mealtime. Shall we head to the cafeteria?”

”Mm.”

Hope Welfare Institute had a total of over sixty children, the youngest not yet one year old and the oldest sixteen.

Under the security guard’s direction, they formed two lines, waiting for Cheng Yuan and Zhu Wenhu to arrive.

Seeing Zhu Wenhu approach with Cheng Yuan, all the children bowed deeply in unison toward Cheng Yuan. ”Welcome, Uncle, to the Hope Welfare Institute for your inspection! We wish you good health, success at work, and great fortune!”

”Thank you, thank you, children. Please, everyone, sit down.”

Cheng Yuan gestured down with both hands, but the children didn’t sit. Instead, they all turned to look at Zhu Wenhu in unison.

Zhu Wenhu was very satisfied with the children’s obedient performance. He grinned. ”Why are you all looking at me? Uncle Cheng told you to sit, so sit.”

SHUFFLE.

The children sat down neatly, their postures impeccably straight. There wasn’t even a single whisper among them.

Everything seemed normal, and very orderly.

But Cheng Yuan frowned again.

’Children this young should be innocent and carefree, but their every move is strictly by the book.’

’These children have almost completely lost their childlike innocence.’

What Cheng Yuan didn’t notice, and what was even more abnormal, was the vacant, numb look in the children’s eyes, as if they had no hope for the future.

Among them, some of the older children’s eyes even flashed with a well-hidden trace of fear and resentment.

This was especially true for a few of the older girls, whose fists were clenched so tightly it seemed they were desperately holding something back.

Only when they received their food did a brief flicker of light appear in their eyes. Even though it was just plain steamed buns and vegetables, the children ate with great satisfaction.

Zhu Wenhu very attentively got a meal for Cheng Yuan. ”Mr. Cheng, please try the food at our welfare institute. The children have you to thank today—we added an extra dish because you’re here!”

Cheng Yuan: ”...”

Cheng Yuan tasted the food, his heart filled with a mixture of emotions.

Cheng Yuan came from an ordinary background and had always thought his own quality of life was average, but compared to these children, he was incredibly fortunate!

”Vice Director Zhu, the children’s living conditions really do need improvement. I’ll donate one hundred thousand to start. That should be enough for this month. Next month, you’ll be able to receive your full funding, and you must feed the children better from now on.”

”On behalf of all the children, thank you, Mr. Cheng!!”

Zhu Wenhu bowed again. Cheng Yuan stopped him and said with some hesitation, ”Vice Director Zhu, there’s something I want to say, but I’m not sure if I should. The children are at an age where they should be innocent and carefree, but they’re too regimented. They’ve lost their youthful vitality. I suggest you don’t demand such strictness from them in the future.”

Zhu Wenhu gave a bitter smile. ”Mr. Cheng, you noticed? To be honest, implementing this military-style management was a last resort. There are so many children, and with only Xiaozhou and myself, we simply can’t watch over them all. We can’t squeeze out the money to hire more help either, so military-style management is our only option.”

Cheng Yuan didn’t doubt Zhu Wenhu’s words. ”How about this: I’ll donate another twenty thousand. Vice Director Zhu, please hire two more people.”

Zhu Wenhu was so moved he was on the verge of tears. ”Mr. Cheng, you’re the best, kindest person I’ve ever met! Heaven will surely bless you!”

”That’s all for today. I’ll take my leave now. Please call me anytime Dean Li wakes up. I have some business with him.”

”Of course, I will. Let me see you out!”

As Cheng Yuan was about to leave, a girl who had been sitting with her head hung low, her face hidden by her hair, suddenly stood up. She rushed over to Cheng Yuan, grabbed his sleeve, and pleaded, ”I’m very obedient. I can cook and do laundry. I can take care of myself. I don’t eat much. I won’t be any trouble for you. Uncle, can you adopt me?”