Chapter 530: Having Nothing Better to Do Than Raise Someone Else’s Child
Chapter 530: Chapter 530: Having Nothing Better to Do Than Raise Someone Else’s Child
Renee relayed Fifi’s words, which instantly resonated with the viewers in the stream.
[Ahhh, my grandpa’s dog was the same way. He stopped eating for a few days, and then we couldn’t find him. He must have snuck off to find a place to...]
[Boohoo, I’m gonna cry. I just got a new puppy, and it makes me so sad to think that he’ll leave me one day.]
[I’ve never dared to get a pet. I can’t handle the pain of saying goodbye.]
Joy’s eyes were red. She looked at Fifi, her heart aching, and choked out, "You silly thing. You silly, silly thing."
She walked over to Fifi, gently stroking its head, and said softly, "Fifi, after you, Grandma isn’t getting any other dogs."
"Woof... Grandma, but you’ll be all alone and bored. What will you do?" Fifi fretted.
Hearing that Fifi was worried about her, Joy chuckled. "But Grandma has you, Fifi. As long as you’re doing well, Grandma won’t be bored."
"A-wooo... But Fifi’s not going to get better." Fifi knew in its heart that it would only get worse day by day.
’Renee sighed softly.’
Joy flipped her camera, a kind smile appearing on her aged face. "Young lady, thank you. I see everyone is leaving tips, but I don’t have a bank card linked. Can I add you on WeChat and transfer the money that way?"
"Ma’am, there’s no need to tip or send me money," Renee said softly. "But you can definitely add me on WeChat. If anything happens with Fifi, you can message me."
"Thank you so much, young lady!" Joy was incredibly grateful.
Renee said, "You’re welcome, Ma’am. I’ll send you my WeChat ID in a private message. Please remember to add me."
"Okay, okay, I’ll remember," Joy quickly agreed.
When the call disconnected, many viewers in the comments started making mischief.
[Renee, send me your WeChat in a PM too~]
[Share the wealth! I want to add you on WeChat too!]
[Boohoo, Ms. Jennings, you have to treat everyone equally!]
Renee glanced at the comments, feeling both exasperated and amused. "Alright everyone, stop being cheeky. Let’s continue with the calls."
The number of viewers in the stream had already reached fifty thousand.
Renee started another random call.
The call with "Daisy Chapman" connected, and a girl in a work uniform, wearing a face mask and sunglasses, appeared on the split screen.
"Oh my god." Daisy Chapman, sitting in a coffee shop, couldn’t help but exclaim, "It really connected to me."
Renee raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled. "Hello, Daisy Chapman."
"Hello, streamer." Daisy Chapman waved. "I’m slacking off during work hours, so I’m worried about being recognized."
Renee nodded. "No problem."
"Um..." Daisy Chapman scratched her head awkwardly. "Streamer, can I request to connect again a little later? My pet is at home, and I need to rush back first."
"Sure," Renee said with a raised eyebrow. "Just send a comment in the chat to remind me when you’re ready."
"Okay, okay." Daisy Chapman put her hands together as if in prayer and thanked her profusely. "Thank you, streamer. You’re such a good person."
A faint smile touched Renee’s lips. "Thank you."
Daisy Chapman disconnected the call.
For the third random call, she connected with another young woman whose ID was Susan.
"Hello, Susan," Renee said, waving.
Susan gave a shy smile. "Hello, Ms. Jennings. Hello, everyone watching the stream."
Renee smiled. "Susan, is there something I can help you with?"
"Ms. Jennings, there’s something I find very strange," Susan said softly. "I was hoping you could help me."
Renee nodded. "Okay, go ahead."
Susan pursed her lips and began slowly, "I’m in college. When I came home for summer break this year, I suddenly discovered there was a little boy living in our house."
[Did your parents have a second child without telling you?]
[Are you an only child?]
The comments were already getting antsy.
Susan shook her head and explained, "It’s not that my parents had a second child. I’m an only child."
"Then whose son is the little boy?" Renee asked.
"My cousin’s." Susan’s brow furrowed. "My cousin is a year younger than me. He’s been rebellious since he was little, dropped out of high school to work, and brought a girl home a couple of years ago, saying she was pregnant."
"My cousin was too young to get a marriage certificate at the time," Susan continued. "Later, the girl gave birth to a baby boy, but then something must have happened between them, because the girl ran off."
"Then why are your parents raising the boy?" Renee’s brows drew together slightly, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "What about your cousin? And his parents?"
"My aunt and uncle are divorced," Susan said, her tone tinged with helplessness. "But they both still live in the county. I just think it’s so weird. Why do my parents have to be the ones to raise this child?"
Renee asked, "Have you asked your parents?"
"I did. My parents said it’s because my aunt and uncle are busy and don’t have time to look after the child, so they asked my parents to help."
"Are both of your parents retired?"
"My mom is a teacher; she just retired at the end of last year. My dad is still working. He’s a doctor."
Renee pressed her lips together and asked, "Susan, what is it that you want to know?"
"We have a kitten at home, so I was hoping you could ask it for me, Ms. Jennings. Why are my parents *really* raising this child?" Susan hesitated for a couple of seconds before adding, "I just feel like it’s not that simple."
Renee’s mind stirred. She ventured a guess, "Did your cousin’s son say something to you?"
"Yes." Susan nodded gravely. "The other day, my mom went out to buy groceries and left me to watch him. He was misbehaving, constantly messing with my computer, so I scolded him a bit. But then he told me to leave, that I shouldn’t be in his house."
[Damn, just imagining that makes me furious.]
[That little brat doesn’t know his place! Spank him!]
[I have a theory... Is it possible that Susan’s parents want to adopt this little boy?]
Renee’s own thoughts happened to align perfectly with that comment.
’If they didn’t have that in mind, who would go to all this trouble to raise someone else’s child for no reason?’
When Susan saw that comment, her expression grew even graver. "Actually... that’s what I’m worried about too."
During her break at home, she’d seen how her parents treated her cousin’s son. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they acted like his real grandparents.
No, that wasn’t right. Some real grandparents couldn’t even dote on a child as much as they did.
They treated him like he was the most precious thing in the world, making sure he had the best food, clothes, and toys.
Her mother was even worried about the boy’s sensory integration development and spent nearly ten thousand yuan to take him to special classes.
’They’re just supposed to be helping out for a little while. Is it really necessary to be so invested?’
The whole situation gave Susan the feeling that the boy was going to be living in her house permanently.
After listening to Susan’s story, Renee couldn’t help but furrow her slender brows. Her expression turned serious as she asked, "How long has this boy been living at your house?"
"A few months, I think," Susan said. "I remember he was brought over just a couple of days after I went back to school for the semester."