CHAPTER 85: LEAVING

Nostalgically, he touched the plastic of the slide beneath him. Jake remembered how much he had loved this slide as a child.

He had just been adopted by Dad Alexon back then and had barely learned to walk before crying and begging Dad Alexon to take him sliding. This had even provoked jealousy and bullying from many older brothers and sisters.

Though he was young, Jake had started remembering things very early. In conversations reminiscing with Dad Alexon, Jake could always recall certain embarrassing things he had done at specific ages. Dad Alexon would proudly say that adopting Jake was the greatest blessing of his life.

Jake’s intelligence from a young age seemed out of place at Sunshine Orphanage.

He was the only one who easily got into a top high school and a prestigious university.

Before Sunshine Orphanage gained national attention, many media outlets had come to interview, all praising Jake’s extraordinary intelligence. Even at a young age, he spoke with remarkable eloquence.

Moreover, he was handsome, and his height was exceptional for his age group. Jake had heard Dad Alexon talk about him with friends more than once, and someone would always joke that Jake’s biological parents must have been highly intelligent, possibly even a pair of university professors.

Whenever someone said this, Dad Alexon would rudely interrupt, "No matter how smart the parents are, abandoning their own child makes them scumbags, unworthy of being called parents."

Being in a familiar environment and reminiscing about the past was also a happy thing.

Lying in the narrow passage of the slide, Jake watched the time on his phone change from 5:59 to 6:00, sighing at how fast time passed. He no longer felt like going back, so he simply lay there until dawn.

After the wet dream, Jake smoked half a pack of cigarettes in a row, feeling no drowsiness at all.

Watching the distant break of dawn, the dazzling morning sun rising from the east, Jake faintly heard the clear crowing of a rooster from a neighbor far away.

He stretched lazily and slowly walked back inside.

An hour later, Sunshine Orphanage returned to its usual liveliness.

Before breakfast, the children were led to the yard by staff to do some warm up exercises.

Their chattering voices were full of youthful energy.

Jake watched all of this through the window.

"Awake?" Mina, because of last night’s incident, had tossed and turned for a long time before falling asleep. She didn’t even know when Jake had returned, only that when she woke up, he was already standing by the bed.

"Yeah, maybe it’s because I’m home, so I slept soundly and woke up early."

"Oh." Mina didn’t expose Jake’s lie. A man’s pride still needed to be maintained.

"Go wash up. New toothpaste and a toothbrush are ready." Jake pointed to the brand new basin on the table, which clearly contained a cup, a new toothbrush, and toothpaste.

"Thank you." Mina didn’t mind showing her bare face to Jake at all. She stretched lazily, then picked up the sheer tights from the railing.

Jake realized the inappropriateness and quickly walked out of the room, leaving behind a single word: "Sorry."

"Tch, still kinda cute. Now I’ve got you hooked." Mina smiled faintly, so beautiful it could make flowers wither in shame.

After breakfast with Director Alexon, Jake and Mina prepared to leave.

Jake had said there was no need to see them off, but by the time he moved the car outside the gate, the children of all sizes and

Director Alexon had gathered to bid him farewell.

"Jake, if you’re busy during the New Year, don’t rush back. Everything here is under Dad Alexon’s care, so don’t worry!"

"Jake, next time you come back, I’ll have a gift for you."

"Brother, I’ll miss you."

...

Dad Alexon’s weathered voice and the children’s tender words fell on Jake’s ears, and this tall, strong man shed tears of reluctance, waving goodbye to everyone.

"I will, I will. Next time I see you, I hope you’ve all grown taller and chubbier."

"Dad Alexon, remember to send me the kids’ measurements. My WhatsApp ID is posted in your bedroom. If you don’t understand, ask Zev to help you. I’ll be back for the New Year. Take care of yourself. Well then, goodbye!" By this point, Jake was already sobbing uncontrollably. He turned around, covering his face as he wept.

What would the next meeting be like?

"Little one, remember the promise you made with Sister, okay? Next time Sister comes to see you!" Mina waved at the familiar little girl in the crowd, gently reminding her.

Their bond was so strong, no wonder Jake had been raised so well.

Mina couldn’t help but be moved by the scene, her eyes also moistening. She got into the passenger seat and reminded Jake that they could leave now.

Dad Alexon watched as the Audi A8 sped away.

The staff around him and the cook Ash all looked on curiously.

"Hehe, after breakfast, I’ll tell you all a story!" Director Alexon smiled kindly, leaning on his cane as he slowly walked inside, accompanied by the crowd.

The "fans" behind him were very supportive, chattering noisily as they crowded around Director Alexon, all disappearing into the doorway of the inner room.

...

In the VIP suite of Savannah Private Hospital, a male doctor in a white coat stood respectfully by the bed, reporting the physical condition of the handsome yet somewhat haggard middle aged man lying there.

"Director Brad, your body is recovering very well. You’ll be able to leave the hospital soon!"

"Oh? But I still feel a tightness in my chest, and my limbs lack strength."

As a senior director of the private hospital, how could he not understand the subtext of Director Brad’s words? He immediately waved, signaling his assistant outside to come in.

Taking the documents from the assistant, he said solemnly, "VIP Suite 001, patient Brad’s condition shows no signs of improvement and requires further rest and observation." With that, he quietly led the assistant out of the suite.

Brad gazed at the scenery outside the window, but his heart was turbulent, unable to calm down for a long time.

His phone was covered in sweat, and his lips trembled slightly as he murmured, "My son, bear with it a little longer... just a little longer..."

-----

Jake drove the Audi, speeding along the country road.

The tears in his eyes had not yet dried, lingering in his sockets, with bloodshot veins splitting across the whites.

The most genuine emotion in the world was nothing more than this. As an orphan, Jake was also fortunate to have met someone as selflessly kind as Director Alexon.

Mina couldn’t bear to look directly, afraid of being swayed by Jake’s emotions. She pulled a tissue from her bag and handed it to Jake.

There were no words, everything was understood without speaking.

Taking the tissue, Jake wiped away his tears and focused even more on driving.

The journey was silent until they neared Wonka District.

"Thank you, Sister Mina." After a long silence, Jake uttered a sincere phrase. Though the two hadn’t exchanged words during the trip, Sister Mina’s emotional shifts had genuinely registered in Jake’s heart.

It was a peculiar feeling, one of pitying others while being deeply entangled in it oneself. Unlike "inner voices," this was something Jake had to perceive on his own.

But Jake was certain that Sister Mina was absolutely sincere, and her fondness for the children at the orphanage was genuine!

"Hehe, consider it repayment for that night you drank with me." Mina, as always, didn’t follow the expected script.

Halfway through her words, Jake thought she would mention the favor of uncovering the company mole, but instead, she brought up this matter.

Sister Mina was indeed Sister Mina. Her ability to be the manager of "Shigella" was truly convincing.

His eyes fixed on the road ahead, Jake hesitated for a moment before saying, "Sister Mina, I’ve said it before. If you ever want to drink, I’m ready anytime."

Since Mina had put it that way, if Jake acted coy now, it would only make him seem pretentious.

Glancing at Jake, Mina turned her head to look at his reflection in the car window, a sly smile appearing on her face as she thought to herself, "I’m quite greedy, you know."

"What?" Jake, his attention too scattered, mistook Mina’s inner voice for a reply, though he didn’t catch it clearly.

"Hmm?" Mina was startled, almost thinking Jake had heard her "inner voice." But seeing how intently he was focused on driving, she quietly sighed in relief.