Ch 152: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

Adoption?

Mu Xing never expected it would be about this.

He asked in confusion, “He’s only met me once. How could he be thinking about that?”

Director Mei looked at him helplessly. “Do you have some misunderstanding about yourself? Little Xingxing, you’re such an outstanding child, there are countless families who would love to adopt you if they could. Your adoptive parents really were an anomaly.”

Realizing she had spoken out of turn, she quickly glanced at Mu Xing’s expression. Fortunately, the child didn’t seem to care much about her slip referring to those scumbags.

She softened her tone. “Director Lin meant that he wanted to first ask for your opinion. If you’re willing, he would bring that couple over to meet you. He said they’re his long-time friends, both very kind people with good family circumstances. Years ago the wife had a miscarriage and was never able to have children again.”

Mu Xing thought about it, then shook his head. “Better not.”

Director Mei said, “Don’t be so quick to decide. You could take some time to think, or at least meet them first. What if you happen to feel a connection?”

She patted Mu Xing’s head and sighed. “You haven’t been here long, but I can see clearly that staying in the welfare home is actually holding you back. With your talent, if you had better resources, your future achievements would be so much greater.”

Mu Xing thought to himself that his identity carried huge risks.

The Zhao family wasn’t a concern, but his biological parents—the cold-blooded couple—would they really be willing to see him adopted by a well-off family?

If they did something insane, he’d end up dragging innocent people into it.

He shook his head again and looked earnestly at Director Mei. “Director Mama, I’ve thought it through clearly. I don’t want to leave here. I’ve never felt the warmth of family before, but here I’m happy. I don’t need wealth or luxury. Having your love, and the care of the uncles and aunties, and being able to play with the other kids, teach them reading and writing—I’m very happy.”

“Here, I can do so much more.”

Director Mama didn’t say anything further.

The next day, a television crew arrived at Hope Welfare Home.

The reporter was a young woman, brisk in manner. She began filming as soon as she entered, and the atmosphere of the home surprised her.

She had been to several similar institutions, where the atmosphere was always heavy, the children either lifeless or temperamental, refusing to cooperate at all.

But here, a group of children were happily playing hopscotch in the courtyard.

Some of the younger ones sat on little stools, holding cloth dolls in their arms, obediently watching the older kids play. Sometimes they clapped to cheer them on. Read more at HololoNovels dot com. A couple in their forties watched them with warm smiles.

Everything was peaceful and harmonious.

The female reporter felt her own mood calm down. She didn’t speak immediately, instead quietly observing.

She also looked over the welfare home: the buildings showed their age, some paint peeling off the walls, but the grounds were swept clean. Everything was tidy. The children’s clothes were neat and fresh.

One child at play noticed the strangers, froze for a moment, and then called out, “Uncle Li!”

He pointed toward the visitors. “There are guests!”

The children turned to look. Some who were shy hid behind others, peeking curiously with wide eyes.

Uncle Li, a middle-aged man, stood up and came to greet them. The woman reporter and her crew walked inside.

“Hello, you’re from the TV station?” Uncle Li asked politely, noticing their equipment. “My wife has gone to fetch Director Mei. Please wait a moment.”

The reporter had assumed he was just a caretaker. But his refined manners and articulate speech were unexpected. He didn’t seem like someone without an education.

She asked curiously, “Are you a staff member here?”

Uncle Li smiled. “Yes, I take care of the children here.”

The reporter couldn’t help saying, “Forgive me, but you don’t seem like a typical welfare home staff member.”

Uncle Li only smiled again, without answering.

Director Mei soon arrived.

The reporter set aside her curiosity about Uncle Li and greeted Director Mei, explaining her purpose.

She was here for Mu Xing.

The interview had been suggested by Mu Xing’s homeroom teacher, Teacher Chen, whose younger brother was a small leader at Donghai TV. Since there was a summer emotional program planned, Teacher Chen thought of Mu Xing.

“Xingxing is in the classroom drawing with the children,” Director Mei said proudly as she led them forward.

“Classroom?”

She smiled with pride. “Yes, Xingxing isn’t just a good student—he’s also our little teacher! Every night he gives basic lessons to the younger kids who haven’t started school yet. On weekends, he tutors the older ones.”

The reporter had read some background on the interview subject: an orphan, abused by adoptive parents before being sent here. She knew he excelled in school, always placing first in exams.

But that was all she knew.

Soon they reached the classroom door.

From the doorway, the reporter saw a child bent over his desk, absorbed in drawing.

He wore a slightly worn but clean T-shirt. His half-visible face was delicate and beautiful, like a doll.

Sensing eyes on him, Mu Xing looked up. The cameraman, quick on the trigger, captured several close-up shots.

The young female reporter was struck head-on by the little boy’s stunning looks, and her heart instantly overflowed with affection.

She walked over with a kind smile. “Hello, little friend Mu Xing. My name is Jiayin, I’m a reporter from Donghai City TV. I’d like to do a short interview with you.”

Mu Xing stood up. “Hello.”

Jiayin’s eyes fell on the drawing on the desk. Read more at HololoNovels dot com. It was already more than half finished: in a forest, sunlight poured through gaps in the leaves, and a little girl in a red dress was running happily.

It was just an ordinary colored pencil drawing, but the technique was skillful and the foundation deep.

She asked in surprise, “Did you draw this yourself?”

Mu Xing nodded.

Still doubtful, Jiayin asked, “Can you finish it? That’ll be part of today’s interview.”

Mu Xing sat back down and resumed his drawing. The cameraman captured the moment.

His speed was incredibly fast. Jiayin then noticed that in front of the paper lay a page from a book—the very same picture he was reproducing.

But he was copying it without a single mistake! He had even enlarged it several times over.

Jiayin hid her shock and asked, “Have you studied drawing before?”

Mu Xing shook his head. “I just copied it myself.”

He lifted the picture carefully and placed it on the podium.

Host Jiayin looked at the drawing, identical to the original, and felt shaken. If she hadn’t seen it herself, she would have thought it was staged.

But she didn’t know that for Mu Xing, photographic memory was something he’d had for a very long time.

Jiayin asked, “When did you discover you had this gift?”

Mu Xing replied, “When I was little, I think. My memory is very good. As long as I look at something once, I can remember it. Drawing is the same—just one glance, and I can copy it one-to-one.”

Jiayin: “…”

So this was what a genius was.

Her excitement surged.

Originally she had expected just an ordinary interview about an orphan and a typical top student. By contrast, it might have stirred some sympathy and attention.

But this was different.

This was no ordinary top student.

He was a genius!

If this interview aired, it would definitely explode in popularity!

—

The interview, originally planned for two hours, stretched into five.

Besides the extended time with Mu Xing, Jiayin became fascinated with the welfare home he loved so much. She filmed a lot of extra footage, even capturing the children having lunch.

She left the Hope Welfare Home completely satisfied.

On Sunday evening at eight o’clock, middle-aged viewers in Donghai City tuned into the Donghai TV urban channel.

Young people no longer liked watching TV. On holidays, they went out with friends to eat, shop, or stayed home gaming and binging dramas or variety shows.

But for the older generation, TV was still a vital form of entertainment, and the urban channel was a must-watch.

“The Genius in the Welfare Home.”

That was the theme of this episode.

The title wasn’t exactly eye-catching, but it piqued plenty of curiosity.

The opening shot was a wide view of the Hope Welfare Home.

Outside, the area looked remote, with hardly any neighbors. The camera zoomed in on the big sign reading “Hope Welfare Home.”

As the camera went inside, the sound of children’s laughter was clear.

The cameraman captured the children playing hopscotch.

After the host introduced herself and chatted with the director, the camera followed her into a classroom.

The moment many viewers first saw Mu Xing, the same thought flashed through their minds: What a beautiful child!

The footage then showed various people speaking about him.

Homeroom teacher Chen: “Mu Xing is a very obedient and good child. His grades are excellent—several times he’s taken first place across multiple schools.”

Classmate: “Xingxing is great. We all like him.”

Even the corner shop owner knew him: “Mu Xing? I know him. That kid is pretty! What? Buying things? No, no, he hardly ever bought anything. I know him because I heard a few teachers talking. His parents? Not good people at all!”

Director Mei: “Xingxing is such a good child. All the kids here love him. He tutors them, draws, plays piano. He’s so sensible it breaks your heart.”

The camera switched to Jiayin, who smiled at the lens. “Today, let’s get to know this little genius from the welfare home, Mu Xing.”

From that moment, the audience’s eyes never left him.

They watched him face the camera calmly and unflinchingly. They saw him demonstrate his inhuman drawing talent. They heard him say he had photographic memory. The host tested him on the spot with a random book—he glanced at it once and recited it flawlessly.

Finally, the host asked if he had any wishes.

Mu Xing looked at the camera. “If everyone has extra books, please donate them to the welfare home. I hope we can all go to school properly, and later earn lots of money for the welfare home. It’s very hard for Director Mama to raise us. Uncle Li, Aunt Zhao, Uncle Wang—their salaries are very low. Taking care of us is almost like doing it for free.”

Then he thought for a moment, and made a little plug: “Good Friends Amusement Park is super fun! Director Lin is such a good person. He heard we’d never been to an amusement park and took us all there for a whole day. He also gave us lots of books and clothes, and this!” He picked up a dinosaur plushie from another stool, hugged it to his chest, and smiled brightly. “That day I overheard a staff sister saying Happy Friends Amusement Park doesn’t have many visitors, and Director Lin has been losing money running it. So I hope Director Lin doesn’t lose money anymore!”

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