Chapter 73

Chapter 73

The director had initially intended to brush them off.

“Well, most of the children here are awake now. Would you like to see them?”

Shen Muyun smiled at the director. “Director, you clearly know why we’re here.”

“Director, we’re not trying to make things difficult for you. We just want to know what happened back then.”

Seeing there was no way to evade their persistent questioning, the director could only invite the two back to her office to discuss the matter in detail.

Shen Muyun reached for a teacup, about to take a sip, but Lu Huainan stopped him.

“Your health condition isn't suitable for tea. Just drink water.”

Shen Muyun reluctantly picked up the water glass instead.

The director observed everything, taking it all in.

“You two seem to have a really good relationship.”

“Yes, indeed we do.”

Lu Huainan drew Shen Muyun close, and the two appeared deeply in love.

The director produced an accident investigation report. “Actually, this is the truth.”

Shen Muyun took the report. It clearly detailed an incident that had occurred on a rainy night over thirty years ago.

At the time, on the mountainous highway in Jiangcheng, the Shen couple were returning from a trip. It was raining heavily, and the sky was dark. Although they were driving slowly, something still happened.

The Shen couple hit someone—a woman with a two- or three-year-old child. She pushed the child out of the way but was hit herself, leaving no chance to ascertain her identity.

A fugitive from justice? Shen Muyun frowned.

“As you can see, that file was actually fabricated later, claiming Shen Liuyun was abandoned at two or three years old. In truth, he was raised in the Shen family from birth. But our orphanage has always kept this secret for them, and we always welcomed you brothers when you came to play.”

In fact, when Shen Muyun transmigrated, his memories were incomplete. He had only just vaguely recalled some things about this place, let alone the events that followed. As he grew older, the memories became even fuzzier.

“At the time, weren’t the Shen couple called in by the police?”

The director shook her head. “The couple had a good attitude about admitting their mistake. Plus, back then, how to put it… there was a third person in the car, so…”

The two were startled—there was a third person in the car at the time…

“Who was it?”

The director smiled. “It was the Shen family butler. He took the blame for the couple, so…”

Did this count as the whole truth being revealed? But something felt off, strange.

“Huainan, is it really that simple?”

Lu Huainan knit his brows tightly, as if pondering something.

Shen Muyun massaged his temples as memories slowly flooded into his mind.

“Muyun, see this badge? Make sure to wear it properly. Don’t forget—it’s very important.”

Shen Muyun tried to see clearly what the badge was, but a blinding white light passed, and he couldn’t make it out.

Something about the director’s words wasn't entirely convincing. It felt off—his sixth sense told him the director was definitely lying.

But the two couldn’t question further, so they simply thanked her.

After leaving the office, they saw that the children had indeed started moving about, and the orphanage had become lively.

The two walked along the edge, but why was it that Shen Muyun ultimately became disliked, while Shen Liuyun, as the foster son, received all the attention?

“Ouch…”

Shen Muyun was bumped by a child, directly on his wound. It hurt.

“Be careful!”

Lu Huainan crouched down and spoke gently to the little girl in front of him.

“Be careful…”

Shen Muyun recalled that these words seemed familiar, as if he’d heard them somewhere before. His head throbbed strangely, an inexplicable pain that felt truly uncomfortable.

“Brother Yun, are you feeling unwell?”

Shen Muyun shook his head, but his face was pale.

Seeing Shen Muyun’s condition, Lu Huainan didn’t dare hesitate. This was unacceptable—absolutely.

Lu Huainan immediately pulled Shen Muyun into the break room.

“Brother Yun, what’s wrong? Why are you suddenly so unwell?”

Shen Muyun shook his head. “Some forgotten childhood memories are suddenly piecing themselves together in my mind. It just feels… off.”

Even the orphanage director seemed suspicious, hesitating and hiding something.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember. Shen Muyun’s head still ached.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

A series of knocks sounded at the door.

“Mr. Shen, Mr. Lu, we have an event today. Would you like to join?”

Lu Huainan initially wanted to decline the director’s offer, but when he saw Shen Muyun shake his head, he understood—they would participate.

“We’ll be there in a moment.”

“Brother Yun, should I go out and check first? You rest here for now.”

Shen Muyun was truly unwell and could only accept Lu Huainan’s suggestion. “Alright, I’ll join you after I wake up.”

Shen Muyun lay down on the bed and fell asleep immediately.

Lu Huainan watched, unable to help but admire that ability.

Shen Muyun slept restlessly, his soul seeming to detach from his body. Where was this?

All around was a thick, white fog. Shen Muyun wanted to call out, but he couldn't make a sound.

He only saw Shen Liuyun alone in the orphanage's records room.

He even smiled in this direction, a bit eerie, and suddenly rushed over, scaring Shen Muyun awake.

Looking at the time, he hadn't slept long, but his head did seem to hurt less now.

Shen Muyun pushed himself up and got out of bed.

Just as he reached the door, cheerful laughter and voices could be heard.

Lu Huainan stood amid a group of children, truly the leader of the children.

"Brother, you're so handsome! When I grow up, can I marry you?"

Lu Huainan picked up the little girl and pointed toward Shen Muyun. "See, that's the person brother likes. Brother already has someone he likes, so..."

The little girl looked unhappy, even about to cry.

As soon as Shen Muyun came out, he was also surrounded by a crowd.

"Brother, you're so handsome!"

Shen Muyun glanced over at Lu Huainan. Really, it seemed like this was also a kind of trouble.

Nearby, a couple stood.

"Brother, brother, look, those are the people who want to adopt me, but I don't like them."

Lu Huainan gently pinched the girl's cheek. "Why not?"

"I've been used to being alone since I was little. If someone suddenly comes into my life, I don't think I'd adapt..."

Lu Huainan put the girl down and knelt down. "Actually, you would be very happy."

"Exactly, Mr. Lu. These two have come here several times, each time leaving empty-handed. This child is quite determined, but what can we do?"

Shen Muyun walked over. "How about considering others?"

"This couple has looked at many children—they just really like her. And with recent adoption policies becoming stricter, if this drags on, who knows what the outcome will be."

Lu Huainan bent down and tapped the girl's nose with his finger. "Little one, is there another reason?"

"Well... of course, I’d miss my friends here. We’ve grown up together since we were little. Being separated suddenly..."

Lu Huainan understood—she was worried about leaving her friends. "How about if you could come visit them often? What do you think?"

The little girl lowered her head, wringing her hands. It seemed like this could be a good idea.

"So, big brother, can it really be like that?"

The couple, hearing this, also walked over.

"If you’d like, we can bring you here to play every day. It’s not far from home. What do you think?"

The man spoke up.

The little girl immediately hid behind Lu Huainan; she looked very reluctant.

Shen Muyun knelt down. "Is there something else bothering you?"

"I... I’ve heard that before, there were cases where after adoption, children were hit or yelled at. I don’t want that."

Shen Muyun frowned. Had something like this happened at this orphanage?

"Director, what’s going on here?"

The director sighed. "Actually, it’s my fault. When we screened potential families back then, that couple qualified. But who would’ve thought? In the first month after adoption, they conceived. It happened naturally..."

Lu Huainan held the little girl and patted her back.

"Here’s our proof. We can’t have children."

The woman handed the hospital certificate to Shen Muyun. It was true—low sperm count. How could they possibly have children?

"Will you only adopt her?"

"Yes," they answered in unison.

What Shen Muyun and Lu Huainan were concerned about was whether the child would be treated well.

Not a major issue, but they still needed to observe further.

"Little sister, how about trying to spend some time with them? If you’re unhappy, you can leave. How does that sound?"

Lu Huainan’s gentle, soft-spoken manner was incredibly gentle.

The little girl looked at the director, then at Shen Muyun.

"Okay, then... you have to pinky swear with me."

The little girl held out her pinky.

The man quickly hooked pinkies with her. "Then it's settled. But I’ll still be watching you."

Shen Muyun and Lu Huainan smiled. So today’s special matter was this.

The director, happy to see a good outcome, smiled. "Well, we’ll go attend to other matters."

"Thank you. Sometimes, the children here really don’t like the idea of being adopted, mainly because there have been bad apples who got through. But fortunately, it wasn't too serious."

Shen Muyun and Lu Huainan nodded.

"Regardless, since the outcome is good now, that’s what matters."

Was this considered a good deed? Would there be any reward points? Hmm... It seemed like the system hadn’t shown up for a while. Could it really be on vacation?

"Brother Yun, why are you so distracted today?"

Lu Huainan waved a hand in front of Shen Muyun’s face. "Maybe... maybe I didn't sleep well yesterday. Really."

Lu Huainan was skeptical—this wasn't like before.

"Huainan, believe me, that's really all it is."