A rollback after death? Then let them offer their loyalty!

Chapter 12 Adoption

Lin Yu turned to look at Anna.

The girl was still covering half her face, staring blankly at him, when finally tears fell.

Lin Yu walked over, squatted down, and picked up the scattered items one by one, putting them back into the bamboo basket.

Then he picked up the old cloth that had been used to cover his stall, wrapped the bamboo basket up, and tied a knot.

"Five hundred ghost coins, right?" Lin Yu said.

Anna nodded blankly.

Lin Yu took out a money pouch from his pocket, counted out five hundred ghost coins, and placed them in her hand.

"Come with me."

Anna looked at Lin Yu, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

She didn't speak, but simply placed her small hand into Lin Yu's palm, very gently, as if placing a fragile treasure.

Lin Yu pulled her up, turned around, and squatted down with his back to her.

"Come up."

Anna hesitated for a moment, then climbed onto Lin Yu's back.

Lin Yu carried her on his back and, with the cloth bag in one hand, walked out of the black market.

The surrounding crowd automatically parted to make way; no one spoke, and no one dared to stop them.

Lin Yu walked out of the black market street and came to a relatively quiet alley.

Anna, clinging to Lin Yu's back, whispered:

"Uncle...where are we going?"

"My home," Lin Yu said.

"Your home?"

"Um."

"So...you really want to take care of me?"

"Otherwise what? You've already spent five hundred ghost coins, are you trying to renege on your debt?"

Anna shook her head and wrapped her arms tightly around Lin Yu's neck.

"I won't renege on my promise." She buried her face in Lin Yu's shoulder, her voice muffled.

"I'm just... just a little scared."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid you'll regret it and won't want me anymore."

Lin Yu paused for a moment: "No."

"real?"

"real."

Anna remained silent for a while, then spoke again: "Uncle, what's your name?"

"Lin Yu."

"My name is Anna..."

Inside, Lin Yu...brother?

"Um?"

I'm eighteen this year.

Lin Yu was taken aback: "Eighteen?"

"Hmm," Anna said softly, "She's short and skinny."

Lin Yu didn't speak; he was eighteen years old.

He should have been of college age before the disaster.

Here, however, one has to set up a stall in the black market, be bullied, and sell oneself for 500 ghost coins.

Seeing Lin Yu's silence, Anna hesitated for a moment, then leaned close to his ear and whispered:

"Owner....."

Lin Yu paused, "What did you call me?"

"Master," Anna repeated, her voice still soft, but earnest.

"If you raise me, then you are my...master? Or owner?"

Lin Yu remained silent for three or four seconds.

"Fine, whatever you want..."

......

Lin Yu lived in an old mobile prefabricated house on the edge of the western district.

These types of houses are common in areas awaiting development; they are cheap, can be built quickly, and are easy to dismantle.

His room has two bedrooms and a living room, with a small kitchen and a bathroom. Although it is simple, at least it is clean.

When they reached the door, Lin Yu put Anna down first.

He carefully checked the door locks and windows to make sure there were no signs of tampering before taking out his key to open the door.

"Come in."

Anna timidly walked in, carrying the cloth bag.

The room was very simple.

The living room contains an old sofa, a folding table, and two chairs.

The bedroom has a bed and a wardrobe, and the kitchen has a simple stove with several cooking utensils hanging on the wall.

"That's the room you'll be staying in," Lin Yu said, pointing to the second bedroom.

"The bedding is in the closet; make your own bed."

Anna nodded and went into the second bedroom.

Lin Yu walked into the kitchen, opened the cabinet, and took a look.

There was still half a bag of rice, some dried vegetables, and several cans left inside.

He rarely cooks and usually eats at the police station canteen, where the rice and noodles are provided monthly.

"Can you cook?" Lin Yu asked.

"Yes." Anna peeked out from the second bedroom.

"Alright then." Lin Yu smiled slightly.

"From now on, you'll be in charge of cooking."

"Um!"

Anna's eyes lit up, and she quickly ran into the kitchen to check the ingredients.

There was rice, meat, and vegetables; it was much better than the coarse grains she used to eat.

That kind of food is hard to digest, so she didn't dare eat too much of it.

As Lin Yu watched Anna's slender figure busy in the kitchen, a strange sense of irritation welled up in his heart again.

He walked to the window, lit a cigarette, but didn't smoke it; he just watched the smoke slowly dissipate.

Adopting a girl from the black market was not part of the plan.

But he did it anyway.

There's no particular reason. If I had to say, it's because she's cute and she calls me "master."

In this world where everyone is scheming and everyone wants to take advantage.

Having a little creature that doesn't want anything, just wants to survive, seems pretty good.

At least, she can cook.

Lin Yu smiled and stubbed out his cigarette.

After lunch, Lin Yu took Anna to the police station.

The household registration office was on the first floor. The officer in charge was a middle-aged policewoman. She was taken aback when she saw Lin Yu leading a little girl in.

"Detective Lin, what's this?"

"I adopted her." Lin Yu pushed Anna forward.

"Complete the adoption procedures."

The policewoman glanced at Anna, then at Lin Yu, her expression somewhat strange.

"Detective Lin, is this girl an adult?"

"You're eighteen now, and you have an ID card."

Anna pulled a crumpled ID card from her pocket and handed it over.

The policewoman took the card and swiped it on the machine.

A message pops up on the screen:

Name: Anna

Age: 18 years old

Place of origin: Jiangcheng, a planned development area

Parents: An Ming (deceased), Wang Xiulan (deceased)

Note: Orphan, no criminal record

The policewoman glanced at Lin Yu.

"Detective Lin, the adoption procedures need to be reviewed, which will take at least three days."

"Let's register first," Lin Yu said. "Is it okay if she stays at my place during the verification period?"

"No problem." The policewoman worked on the computer for a moment, printed out a temporary certificate, and handed it to Lin Yu.

"Take this. We'll notify you once it's approved."

Lin Yu accepted the certificate, thanked Anna, and left with her.

As Anna walked out of the household registration office, she asked softly:

"Master, is this alright?"

"That's fine for now. Once the application is approved, you'll be officially adopted by me."

"Then... I can follow you around forever from now on?"

"Um."

Anna lowered her head and didn't speak, but Lin Yu felt her hand tighten a little.

The two walked out of the police station building.

The sun was shining brightly. Lin Yu looked up at the sky and then at the petite Anna beside him.

"Let's go home."

"Go home?" Anna looked up at him.

"Isn't Master going to work today?"

"Nothing important, let me take you shopping first."

"Buying something?"

"Buy clothes, buy shoes, buy food."

Lin Yu ruffled Anna's hair:

"You can't wear this all the time."

Anna nodded vigorously, hugged Lin Yu, and rubbed against his chest.

"Um!"

Immediately afterwards, Lin Yu took Anna to the market in the West District.