Sponsorship and Inspection

After a three-and-a-half-hour drive through Da Teng City, they finally arrived beneath a stretch of winding mountain shadows.

Five Old Mountains was a protected mountain region under Da Teng City's key conservation efforts. There were no dense clusters of steel structures here, and the mountain road was not rugged; on the contrary, it had been built wide and spacious, with the soft chirping of birds echoing overhead. But a fine drizzle drifted across the sky, as though an oilcloth had been draped over their view. No matter how hard they strained to look into the distance, they could see only the hazy outlines of several peaks.

"Tourist attractions have a really hard time doing business these days," Gu Shen said. "The signal here is bad and the internet is slow. Most people would hate it, thinking it's some uncivilized wilderness... when it's really just a mountain region. We always have to leave something behind."

"An uncivilized wilderness..."

"I don't see it that way."

Nan Jin turned off the music and rolled down the window. She took a deep breath of the fresh air. "This is what nature should be like. Living here, you can breathe the most natural, freshest air. Although the Great Capital District is prosperous, and there are high-powered air purifiers everywhere, the air over there... always smells a little different from the air here."

"What you can't have is always the best."

Gu Shen shrugged. "The people who occasionally come to places like this for a vacation are all upper-class types who think the air in the Great Capital District isn't that good. But if we're talking about any real difference, air filtered by purifiers is only cleaner. Ever since Deep Sea connected the whole world, artificial scenery has become more beautiful and smarter than natural scenery. If the terrain here weren't so poor, this place probably would have been shut down long ago."

As they neared the enormous mountain shadow at the edge of their vision, the car picked up speed. This broad mountain road was not climbing upward, but sliding downward... At the foot of the mountain lay a basin, low in the middle and high on all sides, forming a ring. No wonder so much water collected here when it rained.

"Alright, alright, we're almost there."

Gu Shen took a deep breath and straightened his shirt collar. After checking the balance in his card, he had begun considering the matter of returning home in glory. To that end, he had gritted his teeth and bought a new outfit.

In truth, it was just a Simple and Unadorned white shirt beneath a work jacket. He had not replaced his pants or shoes.

The car stopped in front of the Welfare Institute. The iron gate creaked in the wind, rainwater striking it and splashing outward. Inside stood several small red-brick buildings painted snow white. Compared with the Large Flat Apartments in the city center... this style of decoration truly felt dated.

The sign over the entrance bore the two characters "Morning Light." Crooked crayon graffiti surrounded it—balloons, white clouds, the sun, and children running.

Nan Jin looked thoughtfully at another black sedan parked Not Far Away outside the Welfare Institute.

"Senior Sister, you don't need to get out later."

For some reason, Gu Shen was feeling nervous. He took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself.

He got out of the car and opened the trunk. In his left hand, he carried two large cartons of milk and a big basket of eggs. In his right, he carried a jumble of heavy gift boxes and bags. Just as he was about to dash through the rain, an umbrella opened over his head.

"I'll walk you over and take a look while I'm at it."

Nan Jin spoke softly. She carried a large bag of vegetables, held the Orange Cat in the crook of her arm, and used her other hand to hold the umbrella over Gu Shen. Perhaps because she had traded her sunglasses for black-rimmed glasses, the fierce aura on her face had faded considerably.

"Oh, oh, oh..."

Gu Shen was somewhat flattered. He squeezed beneath the umbrella with Nan Jin, keeping his head down as he hurried forward in small steps. The moment he pushed open the iron gate, a loud bang erupted, startling him.

Streamers from handheld party poppers burst out and fluttered down onto the umbrella. The children who had been hiding by both sides of the courtyard wall, waiting for who knew how long, all sprang out at once and ran in circles around the umbrella.

"Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome—"

"Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome—"

Gu Shen was surrounded by children running circles around him in the rain, leaving him at a loss for what to do. Looking at those familiar yet unfamiliar faces, he felt a bittersweet swell of emotion in his heart.

When he had left, they had not been this tall. The little ones who had once only been able to hug his legs had now shot up, several of them reaching his chest.

They had changed so much in two years.

Yet what had not changed was the innocence in their eyes and the childishness on their faces.

No matter how much they grew, they were still children.

"Welcome home, Shen Ge!!"

After making a fuss for a while, the children each took away one of the things Gu Shen was carrying.

Beneath the eaves, an elderly woman in a knitted cardigan waved at Gu Shen. Her hair was completely white, and her face was full of kindness. "When they heard you were coming back, they were overjoyed. These party poppers were leftovers from someone else's wedding. San Pao and the others had saved them for a long time and couldn't bear to use them. Today, they brought them all out."

Party popper streamers hung from Gu Shen's hair, making it look as though he had a chicken nest on his head. He shook his head and laughed. "You even brought out your treasured stash? At least these little brats have a conscience."

San Pao was the smallest among the children, but he had been the first to set off a party popper and the first to take something from Gu Shen's hands.

At that moment, he eagerly tore open a "gift box" and let out a wail. "Shen Ge! Why is it all meat?!"

The gift boxes were packed to the brim with Simple and Unadorned meat, eggs, and milk.

He had left in too much of a hurry and forgotten to buy toys. Gu Shen coughed. "Next time, definitely next time."

"Meat is already pretty good! It shows Shen Ge cares about your height!" Another child laughed. "It's been two years, and you're the only one who hasn't grown."

San Pao spat and raised a cured chicken drumstick as though he were about to hit him.

Several children opened the gift boxes, having the time of their lives.

"And this is...?"

Grandma looked at the girl holding the umbrella, surprise in her eyes. Such a gentle, graceful beauty could only be seen on television.

Gu Shen wanted to introduce Nan Jin, but for a moment, he did not know how to explain her... Was he supposed to tell Grandma that she was his great benefactor who had saved his life, and was now practically his sworn elder brother?

He scratched his head, not yet having spoken.

"Hello, Grandma. I'm Gu Shen's senior from school. We're currently working at a research institute in Da Teng City. This is my work card." Nan Jin smiled gently and handed over a card. "Gu Shen's grades are very good. He's outstanding, and my mentor took a liking to him. You can think of it as... a direct admission."

"Direct admission?" Grandma took the card and stood stunned, looking at Gu Shen in disbelief.

"Y-yes... direct admission..." Gu Shen hurriedly said. "I accidentally got into a research institute..."

Orange Cat lounged lazily in Nan Jin's arms, watching the show. Seeing this, it couldn't help but snicker.

Gu Shen, who had always been such a good actor, had nearly blown his cover over something like this.

"I can't make heads or tails of business cards..."

Grandma narrowed her eyes and carefully looked it over. She couldn't understand the complicated job title, but she remembered the name "Nan Jin."

"Thank you, miss. Gu Shen must have caused you a lot of trouble, right?" Grandma returned the business card with both hands, then said meaningfully, "Little Gu, I know that after leaving this place, you'll definitely be able to live well out there. But it isn't easy to meet someone who treats you well... You have to cherish her."

"Grandma, what are you talking about..."

Gu Shen let out a long sigh, powerless to explain.

He completely understood what Grandma was thinking.

Who wouldn't like such a considerate, gentle, intelligent, and beautiful elder sister? And who could have imagined that this beautiful elder sister was usually someone who wore three long blades at her waist and would start fighting at the slightest disagreement?

"I came back this time because of the house repairs."

Gu Shen took out the card and said seriously, "That teacher at the research institute has been very good to me and gave me a large scholarship. Grandma, didn't you say the house often leaked? And San Pao and the others need to go to school. Besides the government subsidies, there are all sorts of miscellaneous expenses. In short... I'll cover all of it!"

He spoke with the air of someone flush with money.

The feeling of returning home in glory... was amazing.

But Gu Shen didn't receive the reaction he had expected. Grandma merely smiled at him, without much response.

"Huh..."

Gu Shen raised the card, looking surprised and somewhat dejected. "Grandma, why are you reacting like that?"

Grandma smiled apologetically at Nan Jin. "Miss, I need to have a little private talk with Little Gu... There's fruit and freshly brewed tea in the hall. Sorry to keep you waiting for a bit."

"You're too polite." Nan Jin smiled. "Perfect. I'd like to look around anyway."

The moment she turned to leave, Orange Cat meowed and darted out of her arms. Nan Jin was a little surprised, but Orange Cat slipped away too quickly, vanishing in an instant.

Grandma pulled Gu Shen upstairs.

"Grandma, why are you being so mysterious..." Gu Shen was a little confused.

"Little Gu, it's been a long time since I've seen such a beautiful girl. That senior of yours is as pretty as a movie star." By the time they reached the second floor, Grandma's eyes were full of amusement. "You have to treat her well. Don't bully her just because she's a delicate, helpless girl."

Gu Shen: "???"

Delicate and helpless?

That delicate, helpless girl beat him up a hundred times every day!

A hundred times. A hundred times.

"She really is just my senior," Gu Shen tried to explain solemnly, but the smile in Grandma's eyes clearly said: Keep making excuses.

What kind of senior would drive all this way just to bring you here?

"I already have a girlfriend!"

An idea struck him. Gu Shen put on a completely serious expression and boasted, "She's even prettier than those stars on TV. I'll bring her to meet you next time I get the chance."

"Oh-ho-ho-ho... So I misunderstood."

Grandma immediately got it. Both surprised and delighted, she beamed. "Little Gu, you really... have surprised me so much. Then I can rest easy."

He had finally explained it clearly.

Gu Shen let out a breath, laughing bitterly inwardly. He had thought the money on the card would make Grandma happier when he came back this time. He hadn't expected her to care more about his "lifelong matter."

"As for repairing the house... you don't need to help. I can handle it myself."

A proud smile appeared in Grandma's eyes. "A gentleman contacted us a few days ago. He said he wanted to sponsor us and help the Welfare Institute renovate and repair the place. He happened to come today to inspect it. Who still does such serious on-site inspections these days? He must be someone who truly gets things done. If we can Take Down this deal, we won't have to worry about the Welfare Institute's expenses anymore."

"Also..."

At this point, Grandma lowered her voice. "You can tell just by looking at him that he's very rich. You'll see in a moment."

"Sponsorship... inspection..."

Gu Shen was Stunned. Only now did he recall that there had indeed been a second car parked outside the Welfare Institute. He had been so nervous about the upcoming meeting that he had overlooked that detail.

"This gentleman is on the Rooftop. I'll take you to meet him."

Grandma smiled as she lifted her skirt and led Gu Shen upstairs.

The red-brick building had four floors in all, and flowers and plants were usually grown on the Rooftop.

The rain fell in dense sheets.

A Suit Man carrying a Briefcase stood at the entrance to the Rooftop. Holding an umbrella, he stood alone in the middle of the Rooftop, gazing out at the distant, rolling mountains and mist.

Grandma's laughter came from behind him.

"Little Han, sorry to keep you waiting, sorry to keep you waiting."

Suit Man slowly turned around. Reflected in the glint of his gold-rimmed glasses were the figures of one old and one young.

He smiled. "It hasn't been that long."