Chapter Twenty-Six: The Orphanage

Nian Xue curled her lips in disdain. "Have you watched too many horror movies, or are you really scared of ghosts? Isn’t this the perfect chance to toughen yourselves up?" She shouted to Zhenzhen, "Alright!" Then, turning to Liang Lingzhi and the others, she whispered, "Ye Dong’s luck with romance is burning hot; we have to help his fire blaze even brighter! Hehe!"

"Master, Miss is about to leave for the orphanage." Zhou Zhixing hurried over to Wan Tianze’s side and spoke. Wan Tianze set down the magnifying glass he was using to inspect the jade pendant, pondered for a moment, and said, "Take a few more people with you and accompany her personally." Zhou Zhixing agreed and soon followed Zhenzhen out the door.

Ye Dong learned from her that the Star Orphanage on the outskirts had a long history. The Galloping Horses Group had been funding it for years, helping homeless children and striving to equip them with the means to support themselves.

A door clanged open. Zhenzhen hopped out of the car with a leap. "The air out here is wonderful!" She looked around at the circle of black-clad bodyguards and couldn’t help but chuckle, "Brother Zhou Zhixing, isn’t bringing so many people a little over the top?" Zhou Zhixing replied, "It’s Master’s order. Please don’t mind, Miss!"

Ye Dong and the others stepped out and took deep breaths of the fresh air. "Not only is the air good, but the scenery is beautiful!" The children inside, seeing Zhenzhen, rushed out. "Sister Zhenzhen!" "Sister Zhenzhen! We missed you so much!"

"You brought so many friends this time, Zhenzhen?" A staff member, about fifty years old, came out to greet everyone.

Ye Dong noticed that after arriving, Zhenzhen was visibly happier and more adorable. Zhenzhen helped distribute gifts, then looked around and asked the staff member, "Aunt Zhen, why don’t I see Miaomiao?"

Aunt Zhen’s smile faded, her face troubled. "Miaomiao’s been acting strange these days, hiding alone in her room all the time." Xiaobao muttered quietly, "See, there’s definitely something wrong here." Dachun nodded, "This is starting to feel more and more like a movie script. Let’s hope it’s not something nasty."

Of course, their murmured conversation was out of Zhenzhen’s earshot.

Zhenzhen pursed her lips and asked again, "Is she alright? She was fine last time I visited." Aunt Zhen gave a bitter smile. "That child’s been so odd lately, I—" She hadn’t finished her sentence when a young voice came from behind, "Aunt Zhen, who are you calling odd?"

Aunt Zhen was startled, turning quickly to find Miaomiao standing behind her, glaring coldly.

A chill ran down Aunt Zhen’s spine. She hurriedly waved her hands, "No, no, I didn’t say anything! Sister Zhenzhen is here, Miaomiao, go say hello!" Miaomiao kept staring at her. "Don’t you always teach us not to talk behind people’s backs?"

Aunt Zhen thought, "Oh dear, how am I supposed to answer that?" Zhenzhen waved to Miaomiao, "Come here, Miaomiao, let your sister give you a hug!" Hearing Zhenzhen’s call, Miaomiao’s cold expression melted into a smile as she walked into Zhenzhen’s arms. "Sister Zhenzhen, I drew you a picture two days ago! Why did you only come now?"

Zhenzhen was delighted and surprised. "You drew a picture for me? Show me!" Miaomiao smiled, "It’s gone! Since you didn’t come, I tore it up and burned it."

Hearing Miaomiao’s strange reply, Zhenzhen’s face froze, staring blankly at Aunt Zhen, hoping for an explanation. But Aunt Zhen could only sigh, leading the group of children and Ye Dong’s party inside.

Liang Lingzhi whispered, "Nian Xue, doesn’t Miaomiao seem a bit odd?" The Miaomiao walking ahead turned suddenly, as if she had eyes in the back of her head. She smiled and stared at Liang Lingzhi for a moment, then took Zhenzhen’s hand and continued walking.

Liang Lingzhi swallowed hard, his brows furrowed. "That little trickster! This place feels uncanny to me." He instinctively pulled out the small compass Chen Yao had given his disciples, pretending to use it seriously.

Seeing this, Nian Xue immediately cursed under her breath, "Idiot, what are you doing? You’ll scare the kids! Put it away, put it away!" Chastised, Liang Lingzhi reluctantly put away the compass. Glancing back, he saw Xiaobao, shielded by Dachun, sneakily fiddling with a compass of his own. It made Liang Lingzhi smile to himself, "Xiaobao and Dachun really are quite clever."

"Miaomiao, where are you taking Sister Zhenzhen?" Zhenzhen asked, "I brought you lots of fun things. Want to try some?" Miaomiao shook her head. "Sister Zhenzhen, those aren’t fun. I’ll show you something better! Wait right here!"

She let go of Zhenzhen’s hand and skipped to her room, returning with some items, beaming as she approached Zhenzhen.

Curious, Zhenzhen asked, "What’s so mysterious? Is it for me?" Miaomiao grinned, "Close your eyes first! Then hold out your hands!"

"Alright, I’ll do as you say." Zhenzhen smiled, closing her eyes and slowly stretching out her hands, ready to receive whatever Miaomiao was giving her.

Miaomiao placed something in her hands—a box.

Zhenzhen was intrigued. "You little rascal, what’s inside?" Miaomiao pursed her lips and spoke slowly, "Just open it and you’ll see."

Zhenzhen, filled with anticipation, gently opened the box. Suddenly, she screamed, dropping both the box and its contents to the floor.

Inside, the box contained the dissected body of a gecko, its limbs and head separated, scattered across the floor.

Zhou Zhixing was shocked, instinctively shielding Zhenzhen with his body. Within seconds, other bodyguards had formed another protective circle around them.

Ye Dong and the others, playing with the children in another part of the orphanage, heard Zhenzhen’s scream and rushed over.

"Zhenzhen! What’s wrong?" Ye Dong asked anxiously.

Zhenzhen pointed at the gecko’s remains on the floor, trembling. "W-what is that?"

Ye Dong was puzzled and bent down to pick up the box.

Seeing Ye Dong reach for the gecko’s corpse, Zhenzhen panicked and pushed him away, knocking him to the ground. "Don’t touch it!"

Ye Dong was startled. "Zhenzhen, what’s wrong?! Don’t touch what? It’s just a pen!"

He picked up the object from the floor and handed it to Zhenzhen. "Look closely, it’s a pen!"

Zhenzhen took a deep breath, her eyes wide as she inspected it. Sure enough, what Ye Dong held was indeed a pen.

Aunt Zhen approached, looking at the frightened Zhenzhen and the confused Ye Dong. "What happened?" She turned to Miaomiao, who was smiling at Zhenzhen. "Miaomiao, what did you give Sister Zhenzhen?"

Miaomiao slowly withdrew her smile, rolling her eyes as she stared at Aunt Zhen. "I gave her something good!"

She walked over, grabbed Zhenzhen’s hand, and asked, "Sister Zhenzhen, what’s wrong? Don’t you like it?"

Zhenzhen tightly held the pen Miaomiao had given her, looking down at the girl’s innocent face, breathing heavily. "I do like it, Sister Zhenzhen likes it very much. Thank you, Miaomiao."

Miaomiao smiled sweetly. "No need to thank me! I bought it with my own pocket money. As long as you like it!"

Though Zhenzhen was puzzled, she felt touched by Miaomiao’s thoughtfulness. She hugged Miaomiao, praising her, "Good girl, Sister Zhenzhen likes it very much!"

Miaomiao grinned, hugging Zhenzhen’s neck tightly in a fit of affection.

From afar, an elderly man’s voice called out, "Zhenzhen, you came without greeting me?"

Zhenzhen gently released Miaomiao and turned around. "Director Zuo Leng."

Seeing Director Zhao approach, Miaomiao gradually withdrew her smile. Her eyes grew cold as she quietly let go of Zhenzhen’s hand and walked alone toward her room.

All of this did not escape Nian Xue’s watchful eyes.