Outside the door.
Yan Heqing hesitated briefly, but driven by curiosity, he stood up and slowly moved towards the door.
Hearing the familiar melody, he was no longer afraid; his heart pounded with curiosity, and he opened the door.
The stairwell lights suddenly came on, casting a small beam of light that stretched across the corridor, allowing Yan Heqing to find the source of the melody.
Upon seeing the stranger, Yan Heqing cautiously tried to close the door.
But at the same time, he smelled a familiar sweet scent.
He stopped and stared at the bag of fried cakes hanging from Lu Lin's arm. He hadn't eaten all day, and his stomach was flat from hunger.
At this moment, Lu Lin finished playing " Slow, Slow Song." He tilted his head, put away his harmonica, took out a fried mini cake, and handed it to Yan Heqing, saying, "Eat."
Yan Heqing's cheeks flushed red. He swallowed hard and shook his head. "I don't eat food from strangers."
He's still just a child; his eyes are still fixed longingly on the little cake.
Lu Lin smiled and squatted down to look Yan Heqing in the eye. "I'm not a stranger. Your name is Yan Heqing, right?"
Yan Heqing's pupils widened, but he still whispered, "But I don't know you."
"Now that we know each other," Lu Lin said, extending his hand. "Hello, my name is Lu Lin, Lu as in land and Lin as in resolute."
Yan Heqing knew the "Lu" in "Ludi" (land), but he didn't recognize the other character. He repeated softly, " Lu Lin." He suddenly remembered what the aunt at the orphanage had said about college student volunteers visiting them, and he cautiously asked, "Are you a volunteer?"
Lu Lin smiled and shook his head, "No."
Yan Heqing was no longer afraid of Lu Lin. This person gave him a very warm and friendly feeling. He carefully reached out and shook Lu Lin's hand, saying, "Hello, brother." He then withdrew his hand and asked curiously, "Brother, aren't you a volunteer? Why are you here?"
"I'll take you away."
Before Yan Heqing could even ask questions, Lu Lin took out a small cake and fed it to him, gently stroking the top of his head. "I won't change your name; you'll always be called Yan Heqing. So, are you willing to come home with me?"
With a sweet taste filling her mouth, the cake was delicate and soft, and still warm. As she ate it, Yan Heqing stole glances at Lu Lin.
The light strip in the corridor lengthened Yan Heqing's shadow.
He ate the small cake in small bites, and after a moment, the shadow nodded in accompaniment to him.
"Willing."
--
The next morning, the Lu Family's old butler completed the adoption procedures for Yan Heqing.
Yan Heqing was adopted by him and lived with him in the Lu Family.
Lu Lin also arrived. He had the driver take the old housekeeper home first, and then he rode his grandmother's pink bicycle.
"Sit in the front or the back?" He put the prepared scarf, hat and gloves on Yan Heqing, covering his face completely, leaving only a pair of bright eyes showing.
Yan Heqing's mother also had a similar bicycle, and his voice came through his scarf, "Behind!"
Lu Lin then picked him up and sat him in the back seat, telling him, "Hold on to me."
When Lu Lin came up, Yan Heqing obediently hugged him, but his arms were still too short, so he could only hug half of him. Lu Lin was still worried and turned back, "You absolutely can't let go, understand?"
Yan Heqing nodded, "Mmm!" Her short hands gripped Lu Lin's coat tightly.
Lu Lin checked it several times, then stepped on the pedals and set off.
The destination was the busiest shopping mall.
The winter wind was cold, but Yan Heqing felt warm all over. Having not been outside for so long, he happily observed the receding street scene.
"Are you cold?" Lu Lin suddenly asked him.
Yan Heqing shook his head, then realized Lu Lin couldn't see him, so he immediately replied, "I'm not cold, are you cold, brother?"
Lu Lin smiled, "I'm not cold either."
The mall wasn't far. Lu Lin parked the bicycle, and without him carrying her, Yan Heqing jumped to the ground first, jogged ahead, and looked up to wait for Lu Lin.
Lu Lin quickly got out of the car, squatted down to check his leg, and asked, "Did you hurt yourself?"
Yan Heqing is only five years old now. In Lu Lin's mind, he is like a crystal bottle, easily broken and damaged.
Yan Heqing corrected him, "Brother, I didn't fall, I jumped down by myself."
Lu Lin was amused by him. "Yes, Yan Heqing is the most powerful person in the world. He's afraid of nothing."
No one dislikes being praised, Yan Heqing's eyes crinkled with laughter. Even though they had only known each other for a day, he wasn't afraid of Lu Lin at all and took Lu Lin's hand as they entered the mall.
This wasn't Yan Heqing's first time at the mall. In the past, his parents would take them out to play on weekends, and sometimes they would just come to the mall.
However, this was the first time he had ever seen so many toys.
With toys piled high and Ultraman even taller than him, Yan Heqing could no longer move.
Lu Lin noticed and immediately called over a shop assistant to pack it up. Although Yan Heqing was still young, he knew that this big toy would cost a lot of money. He tugged at Lu Lin's hand, signaling Lu Lin to squat down. Lu Lin squatted down, and Yan Heqing climbed into his ear and whispered, "Brother, let's get a smaller one. The big one costs a lot of money."
Lu Lin also whispered to him, "This is what I like, but my room is full, so I'll have to put it in your room for now, is that okay?"
Yan Heqing immediately nodded, "Okay!"
Using the same excuse, Lu Lin bought all the currently popular toys for Yan Heqing, wrote down the address and had the mall deliver them to the Lu Family. He then took Yan Heqing to a bookstore.
When they arrived at the bookstore, Yan Heqing didn't know many words yet, but he liked the colorful covers and finally chose a set of Superhero comics.
It was the same set that Lu Lin gave to 18-year-old Yan Heqing.
Lu Lin's dark eyes were full of smiles as he led Yan Heqing to the checkout. After the bags were packed, Yan Heqing wanted to carry them himself, but they were too heavy, so he had to let Lu Lin carry them. He kept staring at the bags longingly the whole way.
Lu Lin couldn't help but chuckle, and took out a book for him, saying, "Take one."
Yan Heqing was overjoyed and hugged Lu Lin tightly. He looked up and asked, "Brother, where are we going now?"
"Go home."
Grandma wore a cheongsam today, as Lu Lin told her that Yan Heqing's mother often wore cheongsams.