Forced To Take Care Of The Protagonist, She Can't Leave [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 16

When Gu Qingshi approached, Huo Chen stood there like a hollow doll, staring blankly at the photograph.

“Are you finished?” Gu asked, reaching out to gently pat the boy’s head.

Huo Chen looked up. His overwhelming sense of grief dissipated slightly. He began to pack his belongings, preparing to leave with Gu. However, before he could finish, Gu said gently, “Stand up first.”

Huo Chen was confused, but before he could react, he felt himself being lifted by the waist. He watched, stunned, as Gu Qingshi knelt before the tombstone and bowed his head in respect.

Huo Chen felt his body stiffen. His pupils trembled uncontrollably, and he could not help but take a step back.

“It is truly presumptuous of me,” Gu said to the grave. “To you, I am merely a stranger, and by all logic, I should not be here to disturb you.”

Huo Chen did not dare to look. He turned his head away, his eyes clouding with mist, his throat too dry to speak. The sky was bleak, and the wind had not ceased, making it feel as if the world were ending. His wrists began to ache, a pain so sharp it felt as though they were breaking.

Through the howling wind, he heard Gu’s intermittent voice.

“But Huo Chen is now a child under my care, and it is only right that I bring him to see you. I will raise him to be safe and healthy. I hope you can rest in peace.”

Gu Qingshi had never formed a close relationship in his past life or this one, which made Huo Chen his very first. Even though the system, 996, insisted this was just a mission, Gu still felt this should not be the case; the boy was, after all, just a child. Debating the truth of the situation no longer held any meaning.

Gu Qingshi did not say much more. Any more words, and he would have had to take the boy to see an eye doctor. He still did not understand why the child was such a crybaby.

Huo Chen’s eyes were red, but he was now perfectly docile. He helped pack everything and even insisted on carrying one of the bags, choosing the heaviest one. Gu Qingshi glanced down at him, feeling a wave of helplessness. After a moment of thought, he switched the bags with the boy, giving him the one filled with paper plates, and lightly tapped his face.

Little puppy.

Things did not go as smoothly as planned. As they walked down the hillside, they ran into a middle-aged man coming in their direction. He had a square face and thick, sharp brows, but his eyes were less intense, looking strangely familiar.

“So it really is you, you little bastard!” The man’s voice was abrasive, laced with a string of profanities that made Gu Qingshi frown repeatedly. The man suddenly swung a broom at them.

“People told me, but I did not believe it! Who the hell gave you the right to come to my mother’s grave, you lowly wretch? You are tainting my mother’s resting place!” The middle-aged man’s neck turned red with rage as he swung the broom toward Huo Chen. “You are only worth five thousand bucks, not even enough to cover my gas money for the year!”

Gu Qingshi blocked the blow, firmly grabbing the broom and pinning it down with a cold expression.

“Who the hell are you?” The man did not hesitate, letting go of the broom to shove Gu Qingshi, his eyes scanning them up and down. “Are you the fool who adopted this piece of trash?”

Huo Chen could not help but kick the man’s kneecap with all his might. The man stumbled back, his face twisting into a hideous snarl.

“I am going to beat you to death today!” He lunged forward, ready to strike again.

Gu Qingshi, who despised people who caused scenes, stepped in front of Huo Chen. He grabbed the man’s fist, jerked him forward, and delivered a knee strike to the abdomen before pinning him to the ground. The man’s face pressed against the concrete, leaving scrapes and bloodstains. Gu Qingshi pressed his wrist against the man’s throat, his face filled with irritation.

“Shut up.”

Dust filled the air.

My clothes are dirty.

Huo Chen took the coat, stunned, listening to Gu’s instruction: “Call the police.”

The local police arrived quickly. After understanding the situation, they gave the man a stern lecture on political education.

“Zhang Zheng, right? You have some nerve, trying to hit a child!”

Gu Qingshi, looking weary, realized his hunch was correct: this man was Zhang Suping’s only son, the very person who had sold Huo Chen to the orphanage.

“Let’s go,” the officer said, waving his hand to have the man taken away.

The man, Zhang Zheng, remained defiant even in handcuffs, frequently looking back with a vicious expression. He was not looking at Gu Qingshi; he was looking at Huo Chen. He muttered a few words. Although the sound could not be heard from a distance, the meaning was clear: F your mother, you little wretch.*

The hatred ran deep, but Huo Chen showed no reaction. He simply held Gu Qingshi’s coat, looking troubled. It is all dirty. What will he wear now?

Gu Qingshi felt disgusted by that man’s gaze. He knelt down and asked, “He was the one who sold you to the orphanage, was he not?”

Huo Chen paused.

“If it is necessary, I can have him put in jail,” Gu said calmly, seeking the boy’s opinion.

The case regarding the orphanage had concluded fairly well, as the ringleaders had been caught quickly. However, most of the children there were orphans, and those who had been abducted had been gone for years, leaving the trail mostly cold. Further investment of manpower and resources would be futile. The reason this man had not been caught earlier was that it had been a private transaction among fellow villagers. But that did not mean they could not find evidence.

“There is no need,” a small, immature voice replied.

Gu Qingshi frowned.

Huo Chen just clutched the coat, looking distressed. “How should I wash this for you?”

“Huo Chen.”

Nearly three hours had passed since the altercation, and the wind had stopped. The eight-year-old’s expression was calm, his thoughts unreadable. “Grandma only had him as a son. If it were not for Grandma, I would have died.”

That memory belonged solely to the protagonist; the plot data Gu received had not contained more than a few lines about those three years.

“Alright. Let us go.”

Around 3:30 PM, Gu Qingshi found a small wonton shop nearby. He ordered a large bowl for Huo Chen. Since the boy had only eaten breakfast at eight or nine in the morning, he must have been hungry.

“Do you want cilantro?”

Huo Chen shook his head like a bobblehead.

996: [No taste! Zero taste!]

Gu Qingshi told the shopkeeper to add cilantro to his own bowl but leave it out of Huo Chen’s. Huo Chen pulled an apple, one that had been offered at the grave, out of the bag. He first offered it to Gu Qingshi, and seeing that he did not want it, he took a bite himself. His hair was curled, but his eyes were still red-rimmed.

“Are you not going to ask me anything?” The boy looked up, his tone downcast.

Gu Qingshi paused. “If you want to tell me, you can. If you do not, you do not have to.”

“Oh.” The boy lowered his head and started eating.

Gu Qingshi found it strangely amusing. He had only been testing him; he had not truly expected the boy to spill his secrets. Little thing.

After eating, Huo Chen’s mood improved. He followed behind Gu, carrying the bag. Gu checked his watch and decided it was time to head to the car, carrying his dusty coat over his forearm.

“Come up,” Gu gestured for the bag.

Huo Chen reached out and grabbed his hand again.

“I meant give me the bag,” Gu reminded him, though he could not help but sigh. Why does he always misunderstand?

Huo Chen handed over the bag with a dejected look, then climbed into the backseat, watching Gu. Half a minute later, the door opened, and Gu Qingshi sat in. His bangs were slightly ruffled. Huo Chen stared at Gu’s chin, feeling an unusual sense of annoyance that the bruise he had accidentally caused was still there. This man did not even get hurt during the fight.

“Yes, let us go now,” Gu said to the driver, and the car started moving.

Huo Chen thought they were going home, so he curled up under Gu’s coat and fell asleep, only waking up when he felt a gentle tap on his cheek.

“Get out,” Gu said, reaching to take his coat back.

But Huo Chen was quick; he grabbed hold of it.

“Oh, right.” Huo Chen climbed out of the car, still holding his hand, his expression unchanged.

996 remarked: [The protagonist is the second-best person I have seen at taking advantage of every opportunity!]

This must be a new idiom it learned.

[Who is the first?] Gu Qingshi occasionally humored 996, even though it usually just yammered in his head.

996 exclaimed: [Obviously that guy named Fu!]

Li Xu also got out of the car, looking slightly nervous. Huo Chen did not understand. He tugged at Gu’s fingertips, about to ask something, but noticed Gu frowning at him.

“Hold on properly.”

Huo Chen felt a surge of grievance, but he did not dare push his luck. He stopped scratching Gu’s palm and whispered, “Why are we not going home?”

“To see your Sister Cui.”

Upon hearing this, Huo Chen’s brain buzzed, and his hands turned cold. How is it her again? Does he really like her? He was already acting strange at the orphanage.

Huo Chen instinctively assumed the subject of “seeing Sister Cui” was Gu Qingshi. Gu was going to see Cui Kewen personally. Does Gu Qingshi really like her? He admitted she was pretty, but he could not hide his anxiety and irritation. He did not want Gu Qingshi to get married. In other words, had Gu Qingshi not already adopted him? He already had himself; there was no need to marry and have more children!

Huo Chen’s heart pounded, and he could not help but scratch at Gu’s fingers again.

Gu Qingshi found it strange. He had tried to push Huo Chen away more than once, but the boy would always latch back on as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It is uncomfortable. Why is he scratching?

Fortunately, Cui Kewen appeared soon after. Gu Qingshi led the boy into the café and repeated, “Go see your Sister Cui,” while pulling his hand away and patting Huo Chen on the back, signaling him to move forward. The subject of his sentence had always been Huo Chen. Although the intention was simply to fulfill the world’s requirement to increase activity levels, Gu felt a meeting was appropriate. After all, Cui Kewen had helped Huo Chen a lot; the boy needed to learn to be grateful.

Cui Kewen was wearing a pink plaid dress and a single braid. She had put on makeup, looking youthful and bright. Huo Chen’s anxiety was so heavy that he was stiff when he approached her. “Sister, long time no see.”

Is she really going to be with Gu Qingshi? No, she cannot. But why cannot she?

Huo Chen fell into a complicated loop. Cui Kewen treated Huo Chen like a little boy. Seeing him approach, she knelt down and took his small hand, giving him a gentle smile. “Chenchen, you are getting more and more beautiful.”

Huo Chen’s expression hardened. How can she call me beautiful? I am a boy.

“You are the one who is beautiful,” he said solemnly.

Cui Kewen burst into laughter and hoisted him onto a chair, not realizing his stiffness. Gu Qingshi walked over and offered a simple greeting.

“Is school going well?”

“Thank you, Mr. Gu. You helped me so much. I have been trying to contact you, and I feel so guilty. Please rest assured, once I graduate, I will definitely return the money. It was just too precious,” Cui Kewen said earnestly.

Gu Qingshi only smiled gently. “We will see. How is your family?”

Huo Chen listened secretly, watching Gu Qingshi’s profile. The man was once again chatting and laughing, acting so considerately. He had not explicitly refused the money, as that would hurt the other person’s pride, but by asking about her family, he had seamlessly changed the subject.

This man is really kind to everyone.

Huo Chen began to harbor a silent grudge. Nobody talk to me, nobody pay attention to me. Let those two talk!

Gu Qingshi had originally thought this mission would be easy to complete, but 996 kept emitting warnings.

[Activity level dropped to -10.] [Activity level dropped to -20.] [Activity level dropped to -30.]

“Huo Chen,” Gu said, his tone cooling.

Huo Chen finally got the attention he wanted, and he slowly looked up, but upon making eye contact, his heart skipped a beat. Is Gu Qingshi angry?

“Sister Cui has taken good care of you.”

Cui Kewen was slightly taken aback and laughed. “Not at all, Chenchen is very well-behaved.”

“I know.”

Gu Qingshi never held grudges against children, but seeing Huo Chen’s reaction, he still could not understand it. You know, yet you keep dropping the activity level.

“What is wrong?” Huo Chen became anxious, reaching out to grab Gu Qingshi’s hand, his expression dazed.

Gu Qingshi did not want to become an annoying adult, so he just said, “Talk to your Sister Cui more,” then turned to Cui Kewen, said he would be at the restroom for a moment, and walked away.

“Gu.” Huo Chen wanted to call out to him. He instinctively wanted to follow, but he did not dare. His heart was in his throat. Can he even tell when I am sulking? He was terrified.

After Gu Qingshi turned the corner, he spoke to 996 in a cold tone: [Why is the activity level low? I brought him to meet her.]

996 hesitated: [Activity level is determined by the protagonist; it reflects whether the protagonist is willing to socialize and build relationships.]

Gu Qingshi did not understand why it had dropped so suddenly. To prevent it from falling further, he decided to walk away to cool off.

Huo Chen sat in his seat, brows slightly furrowed, waiting for Gu Qingshi to return. Why did he talk like that? Did he think I was impolite? He was so uneasy that he had no interest in talking to Cui Kewen. If she got together with Gu Qingshi, would his legal mother not become her?

Sister Cui is very nice, but it is better if she just stays a sister.

Cui Kewen noticed Huo Chen’s abnormality, so she probed, “How is life at Mr. Gu’s place?” She was still worried about this child; he was the oldest, yet he never liked playing with others in the orphanage. Although Gu was a good man, Cui was still worried that Huo Chen would not be well-liked.

“It is good.” Huo Chen finally snapped out of it, his mind clearing slightly.

“Mr. Gu is a very good person. When he knew I could not afford tuition, he gave me a watch, and he threw away over a million as bait. He really is a good person,” Cui Kewen whispered to him.

Huo Chen paused. A million?

“Chenchen, you must be obedient. The adoption procedures for Mr. Gu were very complicated. Because he was so young, the ‘Morning Sunshine’ orphanage did not want to let you go, and the Civil Affairs and Red Cross departments took a long time to investigate. It seems he even signed some no-marriage agreement to get you. You must behave,” Cui Kewen emphasized again in a low voice. Although she could not understand why someone so young would adopt a child, everything about him pointed to him being a good man with a certain social status. It was a stroke of luck many orphans could only dream of.

“Okay.” Huo Chen was stunned. He had not been back to the orphanage since he was taken away; he had just stayed at home. So that is what was happening back then. No marriage? Really?

Huo Chen’s heart never stopped pounding.

[Activity level rose to 10.] 996 suddenly announced.

Gu Qingshi was leaning against the bathroom sink, rolling up his sleeves, his face showing a hint of hesitation. It is fixed? It turned positive. That was fast.

[Mission successful! Congratulations, Host!] 996 cheered.

Gu Qingshi could not quite describe the feeling. Was it really my fault all along? He thought about it and decided to wait a little longer. It seemed Huo Chen did not like having him hovering nearby. Gu Qingshi’s expression remained unchanged, calm as ever.

Meanwhile, Cui Kewen was still carefully instructing him: “Do not make Mr. Gu unhappy. Be sensible, do you know? Know how to act sweet, understand?”

Although it sounded a bit blunt, her intentions were good. Huo Chen lowered his head, fidgeting with his fingers, thinking to himself that he had truly misunderstood Gu Qingshi. He really had just brought him here to see Sister Cui.

That was the meaning of it.

“By the way, why do you not call Mr. Gu ‘Dad’?”

Huo Chen felt like he had been struck by lightning. His throat felt as if it were clogged.

“You should call him Dad. You are on the same household registry now. And why did he not give you his surname? It should be Gu Chen.”

Huo Chen’s face turned red enough to drip blood.