Has The Live-in Alpha Stepped Up - Chapter 21
21: Don’t Come Back Again
Director An opened up and couldn’t help reminiscing about the past. Back then, she had only run a small daycare center, but someone had abandoned a child at its doorstep.
Later, her reputation inexplicably spread, and more and more children were sent to her.
At that time, a major hospital sought her out because of her reputation, and she took the opportunity to establish an orphanage.
Government subsidies poured in steadily, and some of the more successful children would occasionally return to send gifts or contribute financially.
But as time passed, although Jiangcheng developed rapidly, people’s hearts grew colder. Donations dried up, subsidy application conditions became stricter, and funding gradually dwindled. The orphanage’s original plan to be absorbed by a larger institution failed.
This was no longer something an individual could easily sustain.
Director An had initially sprinkled her stories with amusing anecdotes, but by the end, her tone turned sorrowful. Looking around, all she could do was sigh.
An Yizhu had one more question: “Then… why not allow adoptions?”
Director An frowned at her but remembered that An Yizhu had lost her memory.
She continued, “Adoptions have always been open to the public. But with technological advancements nowadays, financially stable Beta couples mostly choose to go to hospitals for assisted reproduction to have their own biological children. The waiting period might be longer, but the success rate is quite high. As a result, fewer people want to adopt, and even fewer meet the adoption criteria.”
Still, after saying this, she managed a faint smile. “It’s fine. Once this batch of children grows up and graduates, my task will be over. No more taking in new children, no more… I’m tired. It’s time to rest.”
But An Yizhu saw the bitterness in Director An’s smile.
This wasn’t about being tired and wanting to rest—she was simply at her limit and ready to let go.
Yet if Director An were the kind of person who could turn a blind eye to abandoned children, she wouldn’t have struggled to keep the orphanage running for so long.
Without a second thought, An Yizhu pulled out the bank card Yu Guqiu had given her and handed it to Director An. “Old Mom An, you’ve worked hard all these years. There isn’t much money here, but it should help you through this difficult period. Consider it a small token of gratitude from us as a couple.”
Yu Guqiu glanced at An Yizhu.
An Yizhu smiled back, hoping she wouldn’t mind that she had just given away their entire living allowance to the orphanage.
But Yu Guqiu wasn’t bothered by that at all.
For one, Director An was genuinely a responsible and loving caretaker of the children.
More importantly, even in the orphanage’s most desperate moment, despite knowing Yu Guqiu’s identity, Director An hadn’t once thought to ask for money. That alone earned Yu Guqiu’s respect.
Yu Guqiu simply corrected her, “We’re a married couple, not just partners.”
An Yizhu raised an eyebrow.
Is that really what you’re focusing on, Yu Guqiu?!
Do you know how cute you look right now?!
“Right now, I’m ‘Mrs. Yu,’ and you’re my wife. ‘Mrs. Yu’ and ‘wife’ still make a married couple, don’t they? I really like the title ‘Mrs. Yu’—it sounds so luxurious.” An Yizhu didn’t hold back at all.
When Lin Meng had mentioned grooming her to be a proper “Mrs. Yu,” she had taken an instant liking to the idea.
Yu Guqiu merely snorted. “Suit yourself.”
Again with the “suit yourself.”
But An Yizhu could tell she wasn’t angry this time.
While the couple bickered, Director An’s heart was in turmoil.
Clutching the bank card, she stood up, shaking her head vehemently. She shoved the card back into An Yizhu’s hands and began pushing her toward the door. “No! Xiao An, if you’re going to be like this, take your card and leave right now. And don’t ever come back!”
An Yizhu was stunned. Director An could have refused or accepted just a portion, but how could she kick her out without even checking how much was in the account?
“Old Mom An, what are you doing?”
An Yizhu didn’t dare resist too hard, afraid her Alpha physique might accidentally hurt Director An.
But Director An, hardened by years of physical labor, wasn’t someone to be underestimated. Soon, An Yizhu found herself at the front gate.
Director An was resolute. “I said, leave! And don’t come back! You’re an Alpha now, and you have a wife. Stop worrying about us! I’ve always told every child who leaves this orphanage—they don’t have to come back. Even if they forget me, it’s fine. But they must live their own lives well!”
Based on Director An’s understanding of high society,
An Alpha married to the CEO of the Yu Group could be a mysterious figure of unknown origins—but not someone from a rundown orphanage.
Director An believed her existence would only become a burden on An Yizhu’s future.
At that moment, however, An Yizhu planted her feet firmly, unmovable by Director An’s pushing.
Though the original owner of this body was gone,
An Yizhu had once considered severing ties if the original owner had come from an orphanage.
But seeing Director An’s kindness and sincerity, she wanted to maintain the bond between “Xiao An” and “Old Mom An.”
Originally, An Yizhu had thought the original owner was a rebellious girl who had neglected her studies after getting into college.
But from the fragments of memories pieced together, it seemed she had always worked hard to support her “Old Mom An.”
Even with depression, even if she had impulsively given up treatment in the end—it was all because she had been trying so hard to live.
You did great.
An Yizhu patted her own body.
Then she said firmly, “Old Mom An, I will live my life well—but that doesn’t mean cutting off my past. The path I’ve walked is what made me who I am today.”
Director An stopped pushing.
Yu Guqiu, who had been watching everything, made her decision. “Director An… Since Yizhu and I are married, I’ll also call you ‘Old Mom An.’ I know the orphanage is at risk of losing this building. Coincidentally, I have a vacant property—an old factory school with dormitories still intact. If you don’t mind, I’ll send people tomorrow to help you relocate.”
An Yizhu looked at Yu Guqiu, her eyes shining with delight.
This is the CEO’s style—decisive and efficient! She had pinpointed the orphanage’s biggest problem and offered a concrete solution, far more effective than An Yizhu’s words.
Director An was stunned. Flustered, she waved her hands. “How could we? This is too much!”
Yu Guqiu replied sincerely, “The Yu Group is a prominent company in Jiangcheng, and the Yu family has a reputation for philanthropy. If I knowingly ignore an orphanage on the brink of collapse, if I turn a blind eye to these children in need of food and a better living environment—wouldn’t that tarnish my name?”
Director An fell silent.
Of course, she wished for support from a major corporation, but all her past attempts—phone calls, letters—had been in vain.
Some might offer token donations, but most responses were dismissive. No one wanted to bother with a small, shabby orphanage that held no publicity value.
That was why, when An Yizhu arrived with the legendary CEO Yu, Director An had resolved not to ask for help.
She could endure hardship, but Xiao An had suffered enough. The responsibility of running the orphanage shouldn’t fall on her shoulders.
“Old Mom An, just accept it. I have everything I need now—I don’t need this money.” An Yizhu pressed the card into her hands again.
Yu Guqiu adopted a businesslike tone. “Once you’ve moved, I’ll provide regular supplies and funds, but you’ll need to keep detailed records. Every month, you’ll submit reports to be included in the Yu Group’s charity announcements.”
With things put this way, Director An could no longer refuse. She clasped both An Yizhu’s and Yu Guqiu’s hands, holding them together. “Alright… alright… I’ll keep running this orphanage well. This is wonderful… truly wonderful…”
The children gathered around. “Old Mom An, what’s wrong?”
They were puzzled by her tearful yet smiling expression—was she happy or sad?
“I’m happy.” Director An said, patting their heads.
And she was happy.
An Yizhu had found herself an amazing partner!
Though Yu Guqiu was a lofty CEO, she was nothing like those money-grubbing elites!