Chapter 556 True to Form, Daddy
Ryan cried even harder at the question!
Benjamin started to feel flustered. He wondered if the kid might be trying to scam him.
It was the peak hour of office workers leaving work, and many from the nearby office building stopped to observe the strange scene, murmuring to each other.
The onlookers made Benjamin's face turn a steely shade of frustration, but he couldn't very well throw the crying little boy out of his arms as Ryan seemed to be enduring a profound injustice.
He took a deep breath and resigned himself to his bad luck.
Being watched by so many made Ryan a bit embarrassed, and he began to calm down, yet his hands clung to Benjamin's shirt without letting go.
Despite being slightly annoyed, Benjamin didn't find the messy child in his arms repulsive.
Amidst the speculations of the onlookers, he asked reluctantly, "What happened, anyway? Stop crying and tell me, I'll help you."
That was exactly what Ryan had been waiting to hear!
He sniffed, pulling out a flyer he had prepared earlier from his pocket.
Benjamin's eyes paused on the flyer. "What's this?"
Ryan wiped his face with his hand, spreading wet tears everywhere. His expression was pitiful and woeful, evoking sympathy. "Sir... this is where I work."
"Work?"
'So young?'
"Yes!" Ryan nodded vigorously.
His voice was filled with helplessness and sorrow. "I'm an orphan... Thankfully, this go-kart track took me in, but it hasn't been able to find a sponsor for a long time... If this continues, the track will close down, and I'll starve! I finally found a place to stay, I don't want to be homeless again..."
Some of the onlookers were moved to sympathy by his tearful plea, while others, in a hurry, hastened away.
There were too many unfortunate souls in the world, and if one stopped to pity each one, who could bear all that sorrow?
Benjamin was at a loss for words, partially because he hadn't expected this turn of events, and partly because he found it surprising that such a young orphan could speak with what seemed like a cultivated manner.
As he quickly scanned the flyer in his hand, he realized it was advertising a prominent racetrack. Interest in racing was somewhat niche, and even with a savvy business mind, one wrong move could send a business spiraling toward bankruptcy. This situation was not uncommon.
Ryan watched his father's face for reactions. Upon sensing the gravity of the moment, started his pitiful crying again.
"I really didn't have a choice," he said through tears. "The people at the racetrack said that this building is full of rich folks..."
Benjamin hummed in acknowledgement and helped Ryan to his feet.
Just then, Daniel, who had been returning with the car and failed to spot his boss, was drawn to the crowd gathered around. Coming closer, he took in the scene with alarm. His own boss was at the center of the commotion!
He wondered, 'Why does my boss have a dirty child with him?'
The pressing query took a backseat to a more immediate concern: With so many onlookers, Benjamin would explode in fury.
Daniel broke into a cold sweat at the prospect and hurried over, prepared to intervene.
"Sir… Should I take over?" he offered.
Benjamin turned to look at him, his inscrutable gaze a tangle of emotions, and said nothing, nor did he release the child from his grasp.
Daniel fidgeted, unsure of what to do, and stood aside.
Benjamin's scrutiny returned to Ryan. "You're saying, without new investment, you won't have food to eat?"
His tone was neutral, his intent, unreadable.
Ryan's eyes filled with tears as he looked up at the man he thought of as his dad, his lips quivering and his plight undeniably real. "Yeah! No one knows what to do... I had to come out and help. I got low blood sugar because I was so hungry… That's why I passed out on the street."
As Benjamin looked into those large, round eyes, he felt an unexpected pang in his chest. He didn't want to see the boy cry.
"Stop crying," he said, though he wasn't quite sure why he spoke so quickly. "I'll invest in you."
Ryan responded with delighted surprise. "Sir! Really, really?"
Benjamin nodded, his gaze shifting away from the boy's face, from that look of absolute trust.
Investing in a racetrack was a trivial matter for Benjamin, but to think that such a small act could potentially change the fate of a child, it seemed worthwhile—it was akin to charity.
After surviving a car crash and regaining consciousness, Benjamin occasionally donated money as a way to accrue good karma in hopes of recovering his memory sooner.
Ryan could barely contain his excitement upon hearing this news; he literally jumped for joy. His plan was now halfway to success!
At home, he had always been the quietest one, rarely expressing his feelings directly to Antonio and Sarah.
But this time, with his dad being away for so long, Ryan realized the importance of cherishing the people around him and not holding back his love.
Thus, when his siblings asked him to undertake this mission, he accepted it gracefully. If this had been before, he might have worried about failing.
But now, having almost lost his dad once, what was there to fear?
With that thought, Ryan clung to Benjamin's neck and wouldn't let go. "Sir, you're the best! You're the greatest person in the world! My lifesaver!"
Meanwhile, Daniel watched this scene with his heart practically leaping out of his chest!
He knew all too well that while Benjamin wasn't exactly a germophobe, he maintained impeccably high standards in his life. The sight of the grimy child clinging to him seemed perilous, as if it could lead to a dire outcome at any moment!
Strangely though, Benjamin made no move to push the child away.
His brow furrowed only slightly in resistance. He gently pulled the small hands from his shoulders. Though his demeanor wasn't the best, there was no sign of disdain. "I promised to invest for you, and I always keep my word. Can you stop crying now?"
"Yeah! No more crying!"
Ryan shook his head with a smile, his goal having been accomplished and even receiving a hug from his dad—what reason did he have left to cry?
Not only did Benjamin promise to invest for Ryan, but he even took the boy to a nearby store and bought him some snacks. The little guy ate voraciously, thoroughly satisfied.
"Now that the investment is settled and you've had your snacks, is it time to go?"
His face remained expressionless, but he had been patient enough.
Ryan was very pleased with how the day was going; the first battle was easier than he had anticipated!
He thought it would take a lot of effort, but it turned out to be quite simple.
'That's Daddy for you—amnesiac or not, he is still good to his son!'
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