After I Became Famous, the CEO Wants Remarriage

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: The Orphanage’s Visitor Log!

“Doudou, you’re awesome!”

Ningning acted as if she could already see all her future snacks secured.

Doudou smiled sweetly and shyly, decisively handing over her entire backpack to Ningning.

Chen Bao, being the most lucid and rational elder brother, glanced at his wristwatch and interjected, “Don’t eat too many snacks, we’re about to have lunch soon.”

“Heehee, brother, you’re so bossy~,” Ningning said indistinctly, not forgetting to stuff a handful of fries into her mouth.

The three little ones thus became a unique and independent spectacle amongst their peers in the kindergarten’s middle class.

Chengcheng encouraged the other children to ostracize them and refused to play with them, all insinuating that Ningning was a wild child.

However, the trio instead grew even closer, becoming inseparable.

On the other side, in the Li Group President’s conference room, a major annual meeting had just concluded, and it was evident the boss was in a rather good mood, for a significant mistake had been made in a document presented, and President Li did not fire the person responsible, merely instructing him to correct the error.

After the meeting ended, Li Lingyang dealt with some urgent documents, then called Special Assistant Xu into his office, starting straight away, “When Chen Bao was left at the orphanage door, was there any lead regarding the jade pendant he had with him?”

“We’re investigating. Judging by some of the external indications, it appears to be an old model carved twenty years ago. I’ve contacted a batch of jade sculptors in the hope of obtaining some clues, but…” Special Assistant Xu paused in thought before admitting, “After so many years, it’s a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

Li Lingyang of course understood the difficulty, but that jade pendant was related to Chen Bao’s lineage, and also to whether that woman was indeed the one he had drunkenly encountered.

He suddenly remembered, wasn’t Ning Yichu an exceptional jade sculptor?

Perhaps, she should have known long ago about the jade pendant left beside Chen Bao when he was abandoned.

Li Lingyang rose from his executive chair, his tall frame standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze slowly surveying the distance.

“President Li?” After waiting for a moment, Special Assistant Xu spoke tentatively.

Li Lingyang pondered briefly, then turned to pick up his coat, “You’ll preside over this afternoon’s meeting, I need to step out for a while.”

Li Lingyang drove straight to Baili Orphanage.

From a distance, the orphanage seemed rather dilapidated, but the laughter and noisy play of children echoed from the courtyard, bustling with energy.

Every so often, Mommy Zhuo’s voice could be heard, reminding the children to run slowly and be careful not to fall.

Li Lingyang parked his car by the roadside and entered through the main gate of the quadrangular courtyard.

Upon entering, he saw a small playground where boys and girls were mixed together, playing soccer…

Just as a boy kicked the ball towards the goal, it swerved off course, and the ball rolled towards the side, coming to a stop right by Li Lingyang’s shiny leather shoes.

The man’s long and straight legs stepped forward, firmly stopping the football with his foot.

“Ah… my ball!” The little boy yelled, then looking up from the squashed ball, he was met with Li Lingyang’s distinctly handsome face, which at the moment bore an indiscernible mix of pleasure and anger as he looked down upon him from above.

The boy had seen Li Lingyang at the orphanage before, but the powerful aura emanating from him still made the little boy quite intimidated.

But the other children in the yard were waiting for him to retrieve the ball!

He clenched his teeth and mustered his courage, “Uncle, that’s my ball, could you please give it back to me?”

Li Lingyang stared at the little boy in front of him, whose clothes were washed clean but the cuffs were severely worn, indicating they had been worn for quite some time. He raised an eyebrow, “Want it?”

The little boy’s clear, black and white eyes rolled, and he nodded vigorously, “Yes.”

“Uncle will teach you what it really means to play soccer.” Li Lingyang actually became interested, and even in leather shoes, his legs maneuvered the ball with nimble ease as if divinely assisted. Finally, he sent the ball flying neatly into the net under the boy’s dazzled admiration.

“Wow…” The boy was so astonished his mouth hung open, looking at his long legs with envy, “Uncle, you’re so cool!”

Li Lingyang’s thin lips curved slightly, “Go fetch the ball.”

The little boy tapped his head and scampered off with his short legs, pat-a-pat, running away and chatting with the other children. Chen Bao’s dad was so impressive!

It was then that Mommy Zhuo noticed an extra figure at the orphanage, a hint of unease flashing in her eyes, “President… President Li? You’re here?”

Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the stooped figure of the elderly woman before him.

“Please, come in, President Li… I didn’t know you were coming, and we haven’t tidied up the yard…” Mommy Zhuo was nervously inviting Li Lingyang inside.

Li Lingyang slightly softened his stern aura, trying to appear more approachable.

Inside the orphanage’s office sat a computer, a desk, and some children’s drawing books—everything was extremely spartan.

Mommy Zhuo made him a cup of tea.

Li Lingyang glanced at the chipped white porcelain cup with a slight frown, truly unable to drink from it, and set it aside. He then took out a check from his bag.

Mommy Zhuo almost didn’t count the zeros on the check!

“This is for your hard work in raising Chen Bao all these years, and the rest is to improve life for the other children.”

Originally, Mommy Zhuo didn’t want to accept his money; after all, Chen Bao had only been fostered with her for less than two months by Ning Yichu. But when she thought of all the other children who longed for a stable life, she selfishly accepted it, “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I need you to think carefully. After Chen Bao was adopted, did any strangers loiter around the orphanage or come to see him at a fixed time?” Li Lingyang’s examining gaze was fixed on Mommy Zhuo. If Chen Bao had been abandoned out of necessity, the child’s mother would surely have found it impossible to stay away and likely would have come to visit.

Mommy Zhuo’s eyelids twitched nervously. How could she explain this?

Li Lingyang spoke indifferently, “No rush, I’ve got time. Think about it.”

“President Li, Chen Bao was adopted several years ago. I really don’t remember if there were any strangers at the time. However, we keep a record of all visitors to the orphanage. Wait here, and I’ll get you the register,” Mommy Zhuo said with a strained expression.

Li Lingyang’s gaze flickered, “Okay.”

…

In the evening, Ning Yichu finished her work unusually early and left the office to pick up Ningning.

The entrance to the vast Saint Peter Kindergarten was filled with a dense array of luxury cars.

Ning Yichu waited for the teachers to bring the kids from each class to the designated gathering places…

The other parents had never seen her before, and noticing her in her work uniform, they looked at her curiously.

“I’m Ningning’s mom. I just transferred here less than a week ago. Hello, everyone…” Feeling everyone’s scrutiny, Ning Yichu quickly introduced herself.

“So you’re Ningning’s mom?” However, the look they gave her did not convey the warmth she had expected; instead, it carried a hint of faint disdain.