“Then... as long as Mr. Ye Feng presses his fingerprint on this document, it means you agree to become Shen Mengli’s guardian.”
Facing the document filled with various clauses, Ye Feng skimmed through the contents. Aside from being responsible for ensuring the physical and health safety of the ward, the guardian was required to have no criminal record or improper moral values. If any issues arose during the guardianship period, the ward had the right to terminate the agreement. Moreover, if the guardian’s actions endangered the ward’s well-being, legal action would be taken in accordance with the law.
The regulations in this world seemed quite different from those in his original world...
Ye Feng dipped his thumb into the red ink pad and pressed it firmly onto the document.
“Xiao Feng... here.”
Shen Mengli watched his decisive movements with warmth in her heart and handed him the wet wipe she had prepared.
“Ah... thank you, Mengli.”
Just as Ye Feng was about to wipe the red ink off his thumb, the director unexpectedly placed another document on the table.
“Mr. Ye Feng, this next document is the reverse of the previous one. Would you like to sign it as well?”
“The reverse? What do you mean?”
Ye Feng quickly scanned the contents and realized the director’s point—the previous document was designed to protect the ward, whereas this one safeguarded the guardian’s interests.
The clauses were largely similar but reversed. For instance, the ward was prohibited from harming the guardian and could not leave the designated guardianship area without the guardian’s knowledge.
“This... this document needs to be signed too?”
Ye Feng found it rather odd. While it protected the guardian’s interests, was it really necessary? After all, Mengli was such a sweet, well-behaved girl—did this document even matter?
“Hmm...”
Shen Mengli pressed her fingerprint onto the document Ye Feng had just signed and glanced curiously at the one in his hands. Yet she remained silent, her thoughts unreadable.
“The guardian can choose not to sign this, but Mr. Ye Feng, I still recommend you do. Having a standard in place is meaningful.”
“Xiao Feng, here.”
Shen Mengli pushed the ink pad toward Ye Feng. All he had to do was reach for it, but instead, he set the document aside.
“Mr. Ye Feng?”
“Let’s skip this one. Mengli is a sensible girl. I don’t think we need these rules as so-called regulations.”
As he wiped the red ink from his fingers, he handed the tissue back to Shen Mengli.
“Since Mengli trusts me so much, I should trust her too.”
“Xiao Feng...”
Shen Mengli’s voice softened, touched by his words.
“But... maybe you should still sign it?”
“It’s alright, Mengli. This is enough.”
Ye Feng handed the initial document back to the director.
“Director, is this all that’s needed?”
“Sigh... Mr. Ye Feng, it seems you didn’t take my earlier advice to heart...”
The director sighed and took back the unsigned document.
“Very well, Mr. Ye Feng, you are now officially Mengli’s guardian. I hope you’ll take good care of her. I truly appreciate your kindness.”
The director knew Ye Feng was acting out of goodwill. After all, who else would willingly take in someone like Mengli, given her physical condition? That she had met such a kind-hearted person was already a stroke of luck.
“Not at all. Don’t worry, Director. I’ll take good care of Mengli, and we’ll visit when we can.”
Ye Feng then turned to Shen Mengli, who was wiping the ink from her fingers.
“Mengli, is there anything else you need? Like saying goodbye to everyone?”
“Hmm? That won’t be necessary. Disrupting the children’s class isn’t something an older sister should do. I’ll just leave quietly.”
Shen Mengli placed her hands on the wheelchair’s armrests.
“X-Xiao Feng, let’s go.”
“Alright. Director, we’ll take our leave now.”
“Goodbye, Director Mom~”
“Goodbye, Mengli.”
As Ye Feng and Shen Mengli left the room, the director didn’t have the courage to follow. Instead, she took out a tissue, covered her eyes, and wept softly.
“Child... please stay safe...”
......
“Mengli, is there anything in your room you’d like to bring along? I can go get it for you.”
As he pushed Shen Mengli toward the orphanage gates, Ye Feng suddenly spoke up.
“To bring? I don’t think there’s anything left.”
Shen Mengli hugged the small bear in her arms and looked up at Ye Feng, who was gazing at her.
“Mm... I have everything.”
“Then let’s go?”
“Okay.”
Just as they were about to exit the orphanage gate, Wenwen’s voice called out from behind them.
“Big Brother! Sister!”
“Wenwen?”
Ye Feng and Shen Mengli turned in unison, only to see the hallway now packed with children, all watching Shen Mengli with bittersweet smiles and eyes full of reluctant farewells.
“Everyone...”
“Sister, you have to be happy! We’ll miss you!”
“Yeah! Sister Mengli, we’ll miss you!”
“Big Brother, you have to come back with Sister Mengli to visit us!”
The children poured out their hearts, bidding Shen Mengli farewell. Overcome with emotion, she covered her mouth and finally burst into tears.
Every time a child left the orphanage, it meant they had found a home—a real family. And now, Shen Mengli had finally found hers.
......
“Mengli, do you need anything? I can go downstairs later to buy it for you.”
On their way home, Ye Feng pushed Shen Mengli’s wheelchair along a quiet, smooth path, avoiding crowds for her comfort.
“Actually, I’m not sure what I need... I just feel like having Xiao Feng by my side is enough...”
Shen Mengli fiddled with her bear’s tiny paws while secretly watching Ye Feng. She used to dislike the outside world, but somehow, as long as she was with him, nothing else mattered.