Forced To Take Care Of The Protagonist, She Can't Leave [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 2

Gu Qingshi did not have time to observe the protagonist carefully because the favorability score had already plummeted to negative 120 just from looking at him for two seconds. If he stayed by the boy’s side any longer, the value would likely drop even further.

996, what is the lower limit for favorability? Gu Qingshi communicated in his mind while casting a glance at the second floor.

The floor was filled with bunk beds with unmade bedding, and the heavy curtains remained undrawn, making the space dim and stifling. Several children were curled up together, coughing. Gu Qingshi glanced away, his face showing no significant emotional fluctuation.

The woman, however, continued her complaints: “Ugh, taking over this orphanage was a huge loss. Who knew the investments would dry up completely? We were planning to sell this land this year anyway. Look at these kids; aren’t they just annoying?” She gestured with fat fingers toward the sick toddlers.

Gu Qingshi did not respond, listening instead to 996’s report.

The lower limit… host, let me check the update. Oh, the current lower limit is negative 500. Upon reaching the critical threshold, you will be logged out.

In plain terms, he would die again. Gu Qingshi adjusted his sleeve, observing the environment with his peripheral vision while probing 996 for more information. If he remembered correctly, when it first appeared, it had called itself 786.

996, how many hosts have you received?

Information access is restricted. The tone had reverted to a flat, emotionless mechanical voice.

Gu Qingshi raised an eyebrow, thinking that this was as good as telling him the answer. They reached the third floor.

Ah, you must be Mr. Gu. I saw your business card; what a lovely name! Please wait a moment while I call my husband, the woman said, leading him to a sofa and setting a bottle of purified water on the coffee table before clattering away in her slippers.

Gu Qingshi looked down at his fingers, thinking the Ordinary Person Barrier was quite useful. True to its name, it caused outsiders to perceive him as a completely ordinary person. Otherwise, acting in his capacity as a famous actor would have made his tasks much more complicated. Continuing his profession from his previous life was quite a thoughtful design. After all, he was only skilled at putting on a show.

Xiao Li peeked around, letting out a long sigh only after the woman had disappeared through a door. This floor is quite a bit cleaner, he muttered, frowning and fanning the air in front of him. The woman’s perfume was far too strong and pungent.

Gu Qingshi’s thoughts were pulled back. He guessed that this orphanage was almost certainly a private, family run operation. Situated on the outskirts of Beijing and still operating despite such decay, it clearly was not completely unprofitable. Could a child really be bought for five thousand yuan? Gu Qingshi thought of the protagonist in the corner, his little finger twitching as he sighed softly. The novel had been conservative; in his own world, he had not even fetched a price as high as five thousand.

He did not have to wait long before a man of similar age emerged from a door. He was also stout and rotund, the polar opposite of the withered children in the orphanage. They were indeed a married couple.

Five minutes later, Gu Qingshi sat with his legs crossed, speaking with complete composure: We need to investigate for a few days. After all, three million is not a small sum. Since he was in a book, this was just a massive film set. The scenes shifted constantly: the old orphanage, the tattered children, the stereotypical villains and bystanders. It was like a situational drama.

When Gu Qingshi mentioned an investigation, the couple’s expressions shifted instantly. They looked quite dissatisfied. Why investigate? Think of how much effort we have poured into the Sunshine Orphanage over the years. Things might not be as good now, but does that not just meet your requirements, Mr. Gu?

If you go looking elsewhere, those places are all directly run by institutions or the government; they are not as flexible as we are! The director spoke sharply. He had heavy bags under his eyes, looking like someone prone to poor health.

Gu Qingshi did not hesitate; he stood up, ready to leave. If he could not negotiate, he would not. His expression remained as calm as still water. Xiao Li, standing behind him, did not dare to breathe. That business card had been printed by Gu Qingshi this morning, even if it shared a name with a real foundation, his heart was pounding. Oh my god, this is too thrilling.

Hey, Mr. Gu, do not be in such a rush! We have not finished talking! The couple clearly had not expected someone to walk away so easily. They had not even discussed the split!

Gu Qingshi rubbed his fingertips. You said this is not institutionally managed… He slowed his tone deliberately, frowning. How can there be any guarantee? This three million has to be audited. Tsk, you just reminded me of that.

Gu Qingshi was already tall, and in his trench coat, his presence was overwhelming. He squinted his long, narrow eyes and smiled. I do not engage in high risk transactions.

The director turned pale. He had not expected to shoot himself in the foot. Then, what do you suggest.

Gu Qingshi sat back down, speaking with practiced courtesy: I said I need to investigate for a few days. The foundation has its own procedures. Do not worry, I will handle the internal operations, and the evaluation report will pass quickly.

The couple’s expressions eased, though they still looked worried. How will you investigate? Our conditions here are rather poor…

Gu Qingshi remained composed. Do not be nervous. My assistant and I will just take a look, and he will write an evaluation report later.

Xiao Li, suddenly called upon, straightened his chest and tried to look professional.

And the split, the man asked quietly.

Three million was not a small sum, but it was only the amount applied for at the top level. He had no idea how much would actually reach his own pockets.

Gu Qingshi smirked, tapped the table, and leaned back into the sofa in the most comfortable posture possible. We are not engaged in anything shady, so why talk about a split? Every cent of the funds will be clearly allocated to the project.

His tone was smooth and natural, sounding perfectly convincing. The couple breathed a sigh of relief and smiled heartily. Yes, yes, we can discuss that later.

Xiao Li was trembling, not daring to move. Brother, your acting is top tier.

The investigation period is just three days. Do not worry, it is just me and Xiao Li. Gu Qingshi repeated this, leaning forward slightly and making a habitual gesture with his fingers.

The man immediately noticed and eagerly pulled out a cigarette to offer him. Smoking often bridged the gap between strangers. Gu Qingshi smiled, took it, narrowed his eyes, put it to his lips, and asked, Got a light?

Soon, the living room was filled with smoke.

Have you two eaten? Why do not we go out for a meal? Meeting you today is a stroke of luck, the man said, slapping his thigh. His face was a mass of bulging flesh, and he puffed on his cigarette aggressively.

Gu Qingshi smiled. Oh, can not we just eat at the orphanage? That will be fine.

The man wanted to invite him again, but the young man tilted his head sideways, asking, The children here are quite interesting. Tsk, there is one who looks very fierce.

Nicotine swirled in the air, blurring the youth’s specific features.

Oh, I know the one. That is the one old Lady Zhang took in; her son sent him. A real troublemaker! What is his name… Huo Chen? The woman poked the air with her finger, her tone shrill.

Reminded, Gu Qingshi replied casually, Oh, Huo Chen.

They chatted for a while longer. Xiao Li sat stiffly, wanting to play with his phone but not daring to. Is my brother here for a character study? But this looks really dangerous. I am scared.

Is that so? Then I suppose we have done a good deed. Gu Qingshi stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, having gathered enough information. The children here were divided into two categories: the physically healthy ones, whom the couple spent money to keep so they could be easily sold through adoption, and the sick ones, who were dumped there by parents under the guise of a daycare to avoid charges of abandonment. The orphanage had originally been a kindergarten.

So that is it.

The other party would not admit it so directly, but Gu Qingshi understood the logic perfectly. A private orphanage… how could there be any guarantee of safety?

Exactly! But it has not been easy these past few years. Some parents do not come back for their kids. They used to pay, but later they just disappeared, the woman complained. What can we do? My husband and I are soft hearted, so we keep raising them, but sometimes… She trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

Gu Qingshi could guess. Mentally disabled children only had issues with their minds; their other organs were fine. Whether the couple had crossed any red lines, he was not sure.

Host, host, favorability is currently negative 150.

Gu Qingshi’s expression did not change. How far away?

Five meters.

Look, the kid is eavesdropping.

The corners of his lips curled up involuntarily. Having gathered the necessary information, Gu Qingshi stubbed out his cigarette and said familiarly, My assistant here just graduated from college. He needs to gather some material, so the boy can stay here and write some reports this afternoon while we check things over. Is that all right?

The three of them laughed. Only Xiao Li remained stiff and inexperienced, looking exactly like a college student.

That is fine. It is only three days. Mr. Gu, our conditions are poor, and I am worried the kid will not handle it. Hey, Mei Ye, when is Teacher Xiao Cui coming back? the man asked, turning his head.

The woman did not seem pleased, whining, Why are you so eager for her? She will be back at two to cook.

Right, right. Teacher Xiao Cui’s cooking is decent. Mr. Gu, if it is too much trouble to go back, you can eat here. She makes quite good food. Her tone was suggestive.

Gu Qingshi’s smile did not reach his eyes. Good.

After pushing the door open, there was no one outside.

He had run.

Gu Qingshi understood. He led Xiao Li downstairs. The third floor looked like a reception area, but it was actually the couple’s private domain. It was not appropriate for them to stay there. They headed to the first floor. As he walked down, Gu Qingshi sent Xiao Li a message on his phone. Xiao Li looked down at the phone, his expression still filled with terror.

Understood, brother, I will do it well.

Gu Qingshi frowned but kept his smile. Does this kid watch too many spy movies? It was not that he was intentionally bullying the boy; it was just that Xiao Li was young, nineteen and a dropout. Gu Qingshi had been twenty-seven in his previous life. Even though he had mysteriously become twenty-one, his mental age had not changed, so he handled things with ease.

He typed a few words for the unlucky kid to see: Already reported to the police.

The boy believed him. Gu Qingshi thought to himself, So young. It is actually a bit early to call the police. There was no substantial evidence yet; they needed to find some. He walked downstairs, eyes lowered, scanning the corners.

Where is the little protagonist?

996, how far is Huo Chen from me?

Three meters, 996 reported.

Gu Qingshi turned and saw the boy standing by a bookshelf on the first floor, his expression icy.

System prompt: Favorability negative 200.

He had only looked at him three times, and the boy hated him this much. Gu Qingshi stood with his hands in his pockets and walked several steps toward the boy. The system began to prompt again:

System prompt: Favorability negative 200.

Gu Qingshi raised an eyebrow. He thought he was not far from being logged out, but at least he had reached the right spot.

Huo Chen was curled up in the corner of the bookshelf, blood on his face already dried, his vigilance at its peak. If this person dared to take another step closer, he would—a sharp object was hidden in his sleeve.

Rustle. A book was pulled out. The young man walked past without looking, showing no intention of talking to the child. Huo Chen screamed in terror; panicked emotion replaced all his dark thoughts, and a blade tip even slid out from his sleeve. In the end, he was still just a child.

Mine! Mine! a childish voice cried out, as if a treasure had been stolen. His book, his book!

Gu Qingshi stopped and looked back, asking playfully, Yours? He squatted down to look at the child at eye level, his expression natural, and tucked the book under his arm.

Huo Chen could not reach it.

Did you write your name on it? The tone was light but gentle. Gu Qingshi smiled.

Huo Chen instinctively wanted to snatch it back, but when he reached out, he realized his hands were filthy. The man’s clothes were so clean, his face so… he hesitated for a moment.

I did not! The child tightened his molars, his expression indignant. He hid his dirty hands behind his back and turned his face away.

System prompt: Favorability negative—beep—favorability unchanged.

Gu Qingshi waited for a moment, but since he did not hear a specific value, he was surprised. It had not dropped. He had thought he looked like a demon and that the boy would hate him even more for a single glance.

Gu Qingshi looked at the little protagonist and thought, He really is just a child, only eight years old. But he could not talk to him for too long.

Someone was coming.

His expression shifted from gentle to indifferent, his curled lips flattening. Huo Chen saw this tiny change clearly. The couple had arrived.

Mr. Gu, did this little brat act up again? Did he bother you? The woman walked up, her face twisted in a look of genuine disgust.

Gu Qingshi placed the book slightly behind his back, blocking it from view, and passed it to the boy while the others could not see. He even tapped the spine of the book up and down, as if saying, Why have you not taken it yet?

Huo Chen was surprised, but he hurriedly shoved it into his chest. His book!

No, but is there not someone outside? I thought— Gu Qingshi reminded them kindly.

Someone really had arrived; children were making noise in the yard. The couple was immediately distracted, turned their heads, and said, Hey, Xiao Cui! Why are you only coming now!

They had finally walked away. Gu Qingshi looked back at the boy. The boy was still watching him with deep vigilance, his favorability still stuck at negative 200.

He still hated him.

I also like Flowers for Algernon, the youth said to the child with a smile, his eyes curving like a beautiful fox.

Huo Chen leaned against the cabinet, watching him with beast like, unblinking eyes. He did not respond.

Believe it or not, I am only here for three days. You can treat me as… what was that person’s name, Alice? The youth’s expression was peaceful, his eyes filled with soft emotion.

Huo Chen felt strange; the man did not seem to be looking at him. He seemed to be missing something. He watched the man, his lips dry, but said sarcastically, Only three days? Just get out after three days—

He could not finish the curse. Huo Chen gripped the handle of his blade, staring at the man’s hands. They were so clean.

Gu Qingshi raised an eyebrow and, ignoring the prompt from the system in his head, said, Right.

Three days pass. If he did not finish the mission, he would probably die. Death meant he would be gone anyway.

Host, you must not be negative toward the mission! Host, you must not be negative toward the mission!

The child seemed to sink into a brief moment of thought but quickly snapped out of it, saying in a harsh tone:

But how are you sure you are not Professor Nemur?

Back to the content of the book.

The youth was slightly stunned by the question. He tilted his head, seemingly recalling the contents of the book, and then said in a relaxed, cheerful tone: Maybe because I was once Charlie Gordon?

Huo Chen stared at the man’s expression. Although he was smiling, the smile did not look genuine at all; it looked rather perfunctory.

He was leaving.

And indeed, the youth lowered his smile and turned to leave, heading toward the courtyard gate.

Huo Chen watched him with great vigilance, then turned, took the book out, and wiped the dust off the cover. A sharp nerve pain shot through his wrist. He gritted his teeth and endured it. He looked at the cover of the book very seriously.

Flowers for Algernon.