Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Rong Chen took Shen Juanjuan to collect a large bag of food, watching him struggle to carry it with both hands as he walked out of the building.

"Shen Juanjuan." Rong Chen called out.

"Hey."

"Don't be afraid, we'll find a way."

Shen Juanjuan turned back with a smile, "I'm not scared. I can take all this food with me."

Shen Juanjuan dragged the bag away from the Angel Welfare Home, walking for a while and resting for a bit on the main road. Just as he reached near the waterfall, he saw Chu Ya sitting in a wheelchair, waiting beside a small hill in the open field.

Shen Juanjuan excitedly shouted his name, and when Chu Ya saw him approach, he took the bag and backpack, helped him put on a raincoat and rain boots, then let him sit on the wheelchair to go home together.

"Those officers came to your place to select people, didn't they choose anyone?" Chu Ya asked.

Shen Juanjuan replied, "They did choose someone."

"What?" Chu Ya stopped in surprise.

He had clearly sent a message to Rong Chen, who was also prepared after being returned by the Black Wolf. How could someone still be chosen? And he had just watched those two officers leave the playground without any children, which made him feel relieved enough to hide elsewhere.

"Wang Zhusheng was chosen to go to Cloud Peak."

Shen Juanjuan began recounting what happened earlier, and Chu Ya listened attentively, asking detailed questions where he didn't understand. Eventually, he figured out the whole story: Wang Chengcai had climbed through a window to take Wang Zhusheng and personally put him on the military vehicle.

Chu Ya fell silent, only gazing ahead with a heavy expression.

He had passed the message to the welfare home, and they had taken measures, but by some twist of fate, a child was still taken away.

Although the two brothers had bullied Shen Juanjuan, and he himself had dealt with one of them, he knew what White Castle was like and what those children might face, making him feel uneasy.

The situation at the welfare home was becoming increasingly dire, with so many children facing survival crises. Hiding was not a long-term solution. Today, Wang Zhusheng was taken; perhaps in a few days, it would be other children.

As more and more children were separated and faced greater danger, he could escape with Shen Juanjuan, but what about the other children? What about the welfare home?

Shen Juanjuan stopped talking, staring blankly ahead.

"Why did you stop?" Chu Ya came back to his senses and asked softly.

"I saw Wang Zhusheng's brother crying," Shen Juanjuan paused and continued, "I saw him standing on the playground, crying." He turned and hugged Chu Ya's waist, pressing his face against his chest, whispering, "I don't want to cry. I definitely won't go to Cloud Peak. I want to stay with you."

Chu Ya stopped the wheelchair and hugged Shen Juanjuan, patting him gently, "No matter where we go, we will always be together."

At night, Chu Ya was awakened by the sound of heavy rain. Although it had been raining for a while, it had never been as intense as it was now. He got up and went to the window, seeing the sky densely lit by the lights, the sound of raindrops hitting the ground deafening.

Shen Juanjuan was still asleep beside him, his mental energy still lingering in Chu Ya's mental domain. Chu Ya did not wake him, only leaning on his cane to open the door and slowly walked out.

He stood under the eaves, looking up and said, "The rain is getting heavier, come inside."

There was no movement on the roof, but as he turned to go back into the room, the Black Wolf leaped down from above, shaking off the rainwater from its fur under the eaves, then casually entered the house and lay down on the sofa.

Chu Ya then closed the door and returned to the bedroom to continue sleeping.

At this time, Cloud Peak was also drenched in heavy rain. Although it was already ten o'clock at night, the three-tiered roads were still crowded. Vehicles stuck in traffic honked continuously, and pedestrians on the lower level hurried along, their faces showing unmistakable fatigue.

A taxi descended from the third-level ramp to the ground floor, stopping at the Morna government forces headquarters. Director Liu got out, paid the fare, and hurried toward the gate.

"Please show your pass, unauthorized personnel cannot enter."

"I am Director Liu Hong of the Abyss Angel Welfare Home, I have urgent matters to discuss with Chief Executive Meng. Here is my identification."

The soldier glanced at the ID and returned it to him.

"Director Liu, I haven't received any notification that Chief Executive Meng wants to see you, so you cannot enter."

"I have urgent matters, very important matters."

"Chief Executive Meng is in a meeting. You can wait until tomorrow—Hey! What are you doing? What are you doing? Director Liu, come back!"

...

The meeting room was quiet. Meng Heguang finished reading the document in his hand and turned to look at Jiang Xian, seated on the left, "Chairman Jiang, what do you think?"

Jiang Xian put down his cup and glanced up indifferently, "It's fine."

Meng Heguang looked at Gu Lin on the other side, "We've discussed this all day. Since Major Gu received the most votes and Chairman Jiang has no objections, we will proceed according to the voting results—"

Bang!

The meeting room door was suddenly pushed open, and someone strode in, followed by several soldiers shouting, "Director Liu, you can't barge into the meeting room, Director Liu!"

Director Liu, panting, looked around the room, first calling out to Chief Executive Meng, then to Chairman Jiang and Councilor Wu. His gaze paused on Gu Lin, and he also called out to Major Gu.

Chief Executive Meng looked at him in shock, "Director Liu? What are you—"

"Chief Executive Meng, I have tried to see you several times, but you were busy. However, the matter is urgent and involves the children at the welfare home, so I had to rudely intrude. Only by doing this could I meet Chief Executive Meng and save those children from the welfare home."

Hearing Director Liu's words, the other attendees in the room showed various expressions. Meng Heguang glanced at them and smiled, "What are you saying, Director Liu? I haven't heard that you were looking for me, it must be a mistake by my subordinates." He raised his hand to stop the guards who were about to rush into the room and said to Director Liu, "Director Liu, please wait in the next room. I'll finish the meeting and come over."

"Chief Executive Meng, this matter concerns Chairman Jiang and Major Gu, and everyone here is a high-ranking officer of the three armies. Since the Angel Welfare Home is jointly run by the three armies, the welfare home's affairs are everyone's concern. Why don't I just say it here, and everyone can give me some advice?" Director Liu insisted.

Meng Heguang's expression turned slightly sour, while Jiang Xian only looked down at his cup, and Gu Lin raised his head to look at Director Liu, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Director Liu ignored the reactions of others and continued, "In the past year, nine children have been taken from the welfare home in Cloud Peak, and I haven't seen any of them. I went to the military academy to inquire, but there was no news of these children. Major Gu said they were sent to Linya City. Sending them to Linya City for training is acceptable, but as the director of the welfare home, I have the responsibility to know how they are doing in Linya City. Even if I can't see them, I should at least talk to them, hear their voices, and know their whereabouts. Don't you agree?"

"Standing here today, I represent all the children of the welfare home to make two requests to Chief Executive Meng, Chairman Jiang, and everyone present." After catching his breath, Director Liu continued: "First, we request to be in contact with those nine children, even if it’s just one phone call. Second, the military took another child from the welfare home today. Until we have contact with those nine children, I am concerned for his safety and demand that he be returned to the welfare home."

After Director Liu finished speaking, the meeting room fell silent, only the sound of his heavy breathing from agitation could be heard.

"Director Liu, calm down," Meng Heguang said with a smile, shaking his head. He then addressed the others, "Director Liu is a good man, very responsible for the children. The Angel Welfare Home really can't do without him. But he does have a rather impetuous temperament. Look, look, he must have heard some rumor again and come here to make accusations."

Everyone chuckled in agreement, but Director Liu did not join in. His hands, hanging at his sides, trembled slightly, his nails digging into his palms as if using the pain to maintain his composure.

"Whether it's a rumor or not, Chief Executive Meng, is another matter. Since I'm here today, I intend to get a resolution for these two requests," Director Liu's tone and demeanor made it clear he was determined to achieve his goals.

"What if you don’t?" Gu Lin, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

"What if I don’t?" Director Liu pushed his glasses back up his nose. "If I can’t get a resolution here, I can tell the public and let them judge, to help me find the children."

This statement elicited a range of reactions; some fidgeted uncomfortably, others seemed gleeful, and a few pretended to doze off.

Jiang Xian remained silent, while Meng Heguang's expression changed repeatedly. Just as he was about to speak, Gu Lin slowly interjected, "Director Liu, you have an acquaintance in the media, what’s his name? I forget, but I know he’s surnamed Li."

Director Liu's expression shifted, and he instinctively stepped forward half a pace. Gu Lin continued, "If you’re thinking of having him publish something, that might not work. It seems he will be involved in a car accident in ten minutes."

He was not referring to ten minutes ago, but ten minutes from now, the implication was clear. Director Liu's eyes flared with rage, and he pointed at Gu Lin, "In front of Chief Executive Meng, Chairman Jiang, and so many officials and generals, you dare to commit violence openly?"

A nearby officer quickly stood up, pressing his hand down and guiding him towards the door, "Director Liu, calm down, come on, come on..." Then, in a voice only they could hear, he added, "He’s the chairman of the Morning Star Club now, be careful what you say."

But Director Liu shook off his hand and walked back to the conference table.

"I was holding a meeting when Director Liu barged in and threatened us. How can you accuse me of violence?" Gu Lin spread his hands, feigning helplessness. "I’m not a prophet, I was just saying. Why did Director Liu take it seriously? Do you really think I have prophetic abilities? But Director Liu, don’t act rashly. Even though nothing has happened yet, what if your impulsiveness makes my words come true? Let me think, I also predicted that you won’t be able to release any information, after all—" Gu Lin tapped his head, "Who would believe a man with a troubled mind?"

Director Liu was momentarily stunned, then immediately realized Gu Lin was threatening him.

But he also knew this wasn’t just a threat. If he were to go public, Gu Lin wouldn’t give him any chance; the information would be cut off before it could spread.

"Gu Lin! You took the children away, I want them back now!" Director Liu was more agitated, his eyes red, his voice trembling. "Have you already harmed these children? What are you doing to them? Have you killed them all? You hypocrites—"

"Liu Hong! Do you know what you’re saying?" Meng Heguang shouted, standing up abruptly.

The meeting room fell silent, even those pretending to sleep opened their eyes wide.

Jiang Xian also looked over coldly, "It seems Director Liu is not quite lucid and unaware of his position. Anyone in this room outranks you. You barged into the meeting, and we’ve been polite because you’re the director of the welfare home. Don’t continue this disturbance, or it will be embarrassing later."

Director Liu opened his mouth, his gaze sweeping across everyone’s faces, the anger in his eyes slowly turning to sorrow, his expression filled with desolation.

He reached out to support himself on the back of a chair, his voice hoarse, "Every child in the welfare home, I remember each one, many of whom I watched grow up. A tiny baby in a crib, learning to stand, to walk by holding onto the wall, to pick themselves up when they fall. They are like weeds, needing just a little water and light to grow through the cracks in the rocks. They want to grow, to live, to reach for the light, to have a better life. They are so small, growing in those cracks, it’s already so hard, why must they be cut down?"

"The child chosen today is Wang Zhusheng, six years old, who was sent to the welfare home at four, having wandered for a year with his brother. He was as thin as a bean sprout. I gave him a piece of bean cake, which he ate in three bites, almost choking. Because of his long time on the streets, he had many health issues, but the last time I went to Keke Town, he gave me a few pieces of bean cake, saying he had saved them for days to ask me to give them to an old lady on Wencheng Street, who had once given him food."

"Our children at the welfare home are not lowly, nor are they tools; they are living, breathing individuals. They are growing, and even if there are flaws, we need time and opportunities to correct and guide them. I don’t know what they will become in the future, but right now, they are children under my care, not evil-doers. None of them should disappear from this world, none should be deprived of the chance to grow, and none should be slaughtered by people like you. How can you, how can you—"

Tears streamed down Director Liu’s face, his voice hoarse from the effort, as if he had exhausted all his strength, stumbling a couple of steps before being supported by someone beside him.

"Director Liu, sit down, talk while sitting," Meng Heguang extended his hand, his tone softening. "Don’t say things in anger. We take the Angel Welfare Home very seriously and value the upbringing of those children. All these claims about us thinking the welfare home children should disappear, using them as tools, or slaughtering them, are completely unfounded."

The room fell silent, Meng Heguang looking awkwardly at Jiang Xian, waiting for his decision. Jiang Xian kept his eyes lowered, unmoving, before finally glancing at Gu Lin.

Gu Lin sat in his chair, one hand supporting his chin. Meeting Jiang Xian’s gaze, he stood up, picked up his hat from the table, and began walking out of the room.

Passing by Director Liu, Gu Lin paused, leaning down to whisper in his ear, "Director Liu, some of the children are staying in Linya City and may never be able to contact you again. As for the child brought here today, if you insist on bringing him back to the welfare home, wait for news, and our decision."

Director Liu looked up, his pale face streaked with tears. He knew the other children were likely gone, and getting one back would mean he had achieved his goal.

As for the future... he would find a way.

Gu Lin patted Director Liu’s shoulder, adjusted his hat, and strode towards the meeting room door. Others followed suit, leaving the room until only Director Liu remained.

The lights in the room and the corridor gradually dimmed, leaving only the figure still seated. Director Liu slowly turned his head to look out the window, where tall buildings and neon lights flickered, their vibrant colors flowing over the structures.

But those lights couldn’t penetrate the room, nor pierce through the thick darkness.

In the following days, Shen Juanjuan didn’t visit the welfare home and continued living as usual with Chu Ya. When he did homework, Chu Ya would sit beside him and do other tasks.

Shen Juanjuan would peek every few seconds, and Chu Ya, without lifting his head, would say, "You’ve only written for two minutes."

He dared not look again, pretending to focus on his homework, but his eyes would sneak glances.

Chu Ya, keeping his eyes lowered, said, "Look at your own notebook."

He quickly retracted his gaze.

"B-i-g..."

Shen Juanjuan hurriedly focused on writing but couldn’t resist asking, "How do you know I’m not writing without looking at me?"

Chu Ya replied, "Even without looking, I can tell what you’re doing, so don’t misbehave behind my back."

Shen Juanjuan’s expression turned serious, "I’m not misbehaving."

"Then write faster."

"Okay."

Chu Ya was sewing a child’s undershirt, and in his peripheral vision, he saw two small feet in slippers.

Those feet were planted firmly on a stool, the toes stretched straight, indicating their owner was concentrating on writing. If they relaxed and swung idly, it meant the owner was distracted.

Shen Juanjuan wrote for a short while, but soon his attention wandered, fidgeting and scratching his head. He wrote a few wrong characters, trying to erase them with his fingernails and saliva-coated fingers, which Chu Ya quickly stopped.

"I don’t want to write anymore, I’m so tired. My hands hurt, my feet hurt, my back hurts, my head hurts, my eyes hurt..." Shen Juanjuan sighed.

Chu Ya took his notebook and glanced at it, seeing only four lines written. The first part was neat, but the latter became increasingly sloppy, with small characters smudged into black blobs and large ones sprawling across two lines.

Chu Ya remembered that when he was Shen Juanjuan's age, he could sit for hours to paint a picture, while Shen Juanjuan could barely concentrate for more than ten minutes.

"Ouch... My bottom hurts too." Shen Juanjuan frowned, holding his bottom, and looked at Chu Ya with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Chu Ya only sighed. "Go on, play under the eaves."

Chu Ya went to the bathroom to wash clothes, while Shen Juanjuan rode his steel ball car back and forth under the eaves. When he passed by the main house entrance again, he saw a black shadow flash on the sofa, and his brother's silver wolf quantum beast suddenly appeared.

Shen Juanjuan often saw the Black Wolf now, so he wasn't surprised and continued riding his car. As he passed by the main house entrance, he would sneak a glance at it and speak loudly to himself.

"Ding ding ding, da da da, ding ding ding..."

"Why do some people, no, why do some quantum beasts make themselves hard to see? Is it carrying a table or not?"

"Ding ding ding, da da da."

"This steel ball car is really great, the one my brother made for me is really great. Many people have never seen such a small car, and many quantum beasts haven't either."

The Black Wolf lay on the sofa, seemingly dozing with its eyes half-closed, but two green slits beneath the eyelids were secretly locking onto Shen Juanjuan.

When Shen Juanjuan passed by the door again, the Black Wolf suddenly stood up and let out a powerful low growl. Shen Juanjuan pedaled his feet frantically, riding the car towards the bathroom while shouting in panic for his brother.

"What's wrong?" Chu Ya sat in his wheelchair, wringing out a pair of pants.

Shen Juanjuan pointed at the door and complained, "Look at it, look at it."

"What's there to look at?"

"It, it moved."

Chu Ya hung the pants on the iron rack to dry. "If it moves, just ignore it."

"It also growled."

"You're talking too, so it didn't come to complain, did it?"

"Hmph..." Shen Juanjuan twisted his body in dissatisfaction but didn't dare to go near again. He stayed by the bathroom door, lying on the handlebars of his car and looking at the cracks in the stone floor.