“Congratutions, Mr. Su.” The doctor who had been treating the little boy adjusted his gsses and offered Su Bai a polite nod.

  Su Bai opened his mouth to express his gratitude, but before he could, the female officer standing nearby handed him a new task with a small smile.

  “Alright, Mr. Su, all the formalities are completed. Now, there’s just one thing left—you need to give the boy a new name. We’ll also visit the address you provided to ensure he’s adjusting well.”

  Su Bai nodded solemnly, fully understanding the implication. Too many times, children were adopted only to face neglect or abuse, eventually finding themselves returned to the orphanage. He knew this was a responsibility he would never take lightly.

  The group then made their way to the boy’s ward, their steps filled with purpose.

  Knock. Knock.

  Inside the room, the little boy sat cross-legged on his bed, his small brows furrowed in concentration. His notebook y open on his p, filled with scribbles, as he tapped the end of his pen against his soft cheek absentmindedly. He was seriously considering what else the kitten might need. He’d already written down all the necessities he could think of, but what if he forgot something?

  Hearing the knock, he softly called out, “Come in.”

  The orphanage head was the first to enter. His gaze immediately fell on the little boy, who still had his pen poking at his rosy cheeks. The sight tugged at something in the old man’s heart, and for a brief, ridiculous moment, he wanted to pinch those cheeks.

  Ah, so cute, he thought.

  But he quickly composed himself, slipping into his serious demeanor as if the squealing voice in his head didn’t exist. “What are you writing there, erzi?” he asked, his voice gruff but kind.

  The rest of the group entered the room behind him, and seeing the boy’s clueless but focused expression, they all have one thought so cute.

  “Beautiful gege told me to write down what we need to buy for the kitten,” the boy replied earnestly, holding up his notebook.

  “Oh? Which kitten, erzi?” the old man asked, his interest piqued as his eyes scanned the messy, childlike scribbles in the notebook.

  “The kitty I saved! Beautiful gege said I can take him home.” As the boy spoke, his eyes lit up naturally, glowing with joy as he looked at Su Bai. They all felt reassured—they had made the right choice.

  He wanted to show Su Bai the list immediately but hesitated, feeling shy in front of so many people.

  The old man observed the interaction with a knowing smile. In all his years, he had seen countless children come and go, but something about this boy told him he was finally on the path to happiness.

  Unable to resist any longer, the old man reached out and pinched the boy’s soft cheeks gently. They were just as squishy as he imagined, and he couldn’t help but think of his own grandson. With a satisfied nod, he sat down in a nearby chair, his heart lighter.

  Su Bai approached the boy’s bedside, his movements calm and unhurried. He sat down gently, so as not to startle him. His voice was soft, almost like a lulby, as he began to expin the purpose of their visit.

  “Baby,” he said with a small smile, “these people are here to make sure everything is alright. Now, there’s one important thing we need to decide together—your name. Do you want to keep your old name, Li Ke?”

  Li Ke tilted his head, deep in thought. He loved his name; it was a gift from his parents. But at the same time, he wanted to make Su Bai happy too. What if gege wanted to give him a new name?

  Su Bai watched the boy’s reaction closely, noticing the hesitation in his eyes. Gently, he scooped the boy into his p, cradling him as though he were the most precious thing in the world.

  “Baby, are you hiding something from me again? We are a team remember”.Su Bai asked softly, his lips forming a pyful pout. “How will I understand you if you don’t tell me?”

  Li Ke’s small face flushed, and he quickly spilled out his thoughts.

  “Hmm,” Su Bai said thoughtfully, exaggerating his expression as though he were pondering a great mystery. “This is a difficult problem. I do want to give you a name too.”

  As expected Li Ke's expression turned chagrin, thinking he made a mistake.

  Su Bai tapped his chin dramatically before snapping his fingers as if he’d had a brilliant idea. “I’ve got it! We’ll keep your name, but we’ll add my surname. From now on, you’ll be Su Ke. And at home, I’ll call you baby, baobao, or Keke—whatever I like! That way, I can call you so many names. What do you think, baby?”

  Su Ke’s eyes widened, sparkling with wonder as though Su Bai had just revealed the secrets of the universe. His awe-filled gaze fixed on Su Bai, his milky voice filled with excitement. “Wow, gege, you’re amazing! I agree!”

  Su Bai chuckled softly, his heart swelling at the boy’s enthusiasm. He reached out to caress Su Ke’s pink cheeks, his touch gentle and full of affection.

  The old man and the female officer watched the scene with warm smiles, their hearts moved by the bond forming between the two.

  With deliberate care, Su Bai took the adoption document and neatly wrote the boy’s new name: Su Ke.

  This boy was no longer just an orphan. He was now his baby, his family.

  They were carefully packing Su Ke’s belongings. There wasn’t much—just a few pieces of his parents’ memories that had survived the accident. Among them was a slightly scraped wristwatch and a delicate pearl neckce, both items radiating a quiet, heartbreaking significance.

  As Su Bai gently folded the st of the boy’s clothes, the female officer handed him a file and began expining the situation regarding Su Ke’s parents’ house.

  “Mr. Su,” she began, her tone professional but warm, “since Su Ke is not of legal age, the custody documents for his parents’ house will remain with you for now. When he turns eighteen, they can be transferred into his name.”

  Su Bai nodded thoughtfully. He wanted Su Ke to have his parents’ home—it was his right, a connection to the life and memories that had been so cruelly taken from him. Yet, a flicker of concern crossed his mind as he thought about the boy’s extended family.

  “What if his retives cause trouble?” Su Bai asked, voicing his dilemma with a trace of worry. He had seen too many cases of greedy retives fighting over property, leaving vulnerable children with nothing.

  Officer Li offered him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Mr. Su. Legally, as their only son, Su Ke holds full rights to the house. His retives have no cim to it, especially since they abandoned him. If they attempt anything, it would be considered a criminal offense. You can rest assured that the w is on his side.”

  Her words eased Su Bai’s mind somewhat, but he still felt a lingering sense of protectiveness. He would make sure no one dared to take away what rightfully belonged to his baby.

  Officer Li continued, her voice softening. “When we visit the property with the orphanage dean, I’ll personally hand over the house keys and necessary documents to you. Since you’re expecting, I don’t want you to overexert yourself. I’ll take care of the arrangements to make this as smooth as possible.”

  Su Bai’s expression softened with gratitude. “Thank you, Officer Li. This means a lot to us,” he said sincerely.

  From the corner of the room, Su Ke had been listening intently, his small figure perched on the edge of the bed. Hearing Su Bai’s gratitude, he climbed down carefully and toddled over to Officer Li. He stood before her, his rge, earnest eyes looking up at her with unspoken appreciation.

  “Thank you, auntie,” he said in his soft, milky voice, his tiny hands csped together as if in prayer.

  Officer Li’s heart melted on the spot. She crouched down to his level and gave him a warm smile, gently patting his head. “You’re very welcome, Su Ke. Be a good boy, alright?”

  Su Ke nodded enthusiastically, his cheeks tinged with a faint pink as he stood there, his innocence and sweetness lighting up the room.

  Watching the interaction, Su Bai’s chest swelled with a mix of pride and affection. No matter the challenges ahead, he knew one thing for certain—he would protect this little one and the precious memories his parents had left behind, no matter what.

  (Erzi means son)