Part 2
Wen Rong’s eyes became clearer in the darkness as he began to analyze. “You got in the car with me at the last minute; they didn’t know you were there at all. So the driver, and those people on the hillside, were coming for me.”
“…Mn?”
“I haven’t made any enemies in the Outer District. It must be some big shot in the Inner District who doesn’t want me alive.”
“…”
“I want to investigate clearly before leaving.”
Shi Ye finally came back to his senses. “Too dangerous.”
“Do you know why police look for the first crime committed by the killer when catching a serial killer?”
“…”
“Because the killer’s technique is unfamiliar during the first crime, inevitably leaving clues. once the number of crimes increases and experience becomes richer, it’s hard to find a breakthrough.”
“…”
Shi Ye discovered in despair that after lingering intimately with him, Wen Rong could instantly switch to work mode.
How was this scene any different from a scumbag saying not a single word of love after sleeping together and just wanting to leave?!
The next day was sunny.
Sunlight fell on the old sign of “Yangyang Orphanage,” the dark characters gleaming with gold.
Because they had to find their way based solely on the doctor’s description, the two wandered around all night and only arrived at their destination now.
Wen Rong was helped out of the vehicle by Shi Ye and carefully examined the place where he grew up in the novel.
It was completely different from where he truly grew up, but the twists and turns of the past two days gave this place a sacred status in his heart.
Wen Rong opened his mouth wide, inhaling the sunlight in the air. From the tip of his tongue to his throat, and even his lungs, it was warm and toasty.
Suddenly, gold rushed up and embraced his body entirely.
Wen Rong’s wound was pulled, and he sucked in a breath.
“What’s wrong?”
The blue close to his eyes was brighter than the sky of the Outer District.
He opened his mouth, but in the end shook his head silently.
…
The heavy rain had caused landslides, blocking many main roads. Leon and his group only arrived at the orphanage last night.
And because of the power outage in the Outer District, they could only rest for the night and prepare to set off this morning.
No one expected to see Wen Rong and Shi Ye standing disheveled at the orphanage gate early in the morning.
Shi Ye was covered in blood, and so was Wen Rong. Leon naturally assumed Shi Ye was injured, but didn’t expect the injured one to be Wen Rong.
He shot a blaming glance at Shi Ye in the distance. Shi Ye was uncharacteristically silent.
The bodyguards who came out to check the situation looked back and forth between Leon and Shi Ye. Wanting to speak but sensing the danger, they dared not utter a word.
“Luckily we brought a doctor. Let him check your wound first.”
Leon signaled the doctor to take Wen Rong to treat the wound, then turned to Shi Ye. “Let’s call Zhou Xie together.”
After the accident at the orphanage, there were no adults left here. The director’s office, the social workers’ lounge, and the living quarters had all been cleared out by the families. The children’s three meals a day relied on handouts from nearby residents. It was said that four or five children hadn’t returned for nearly a week.
Leon spent the night figuring out the overall layout of the orphanage, finding some eggs and rice the director usually stored, including the only telephone.
After connecting, Shi Ye described the events without holding back. It wasn’t until he mentioned Wen Rong saving Xiaochun that Leon finally glanced at Shi Ye.
Shi Ye continued to talk about the two riding the tricycle back to the orphanage last night, skipping the kissing part, and explained Wen Rong’s deduction and decision.
“Wen Rong’s deduction and decision are fine, but you need to be careful next. I just got news that the survivor of the orphanage accident died despite rescue efforts. I persuaded the family to do an autopsy and found that her throat was severely scalded, and there was charcoal residue in her stomach. It’s highly likely she was threatened.”
The telephone line transmitted the voice raspily.
This office that once belonged to the principal suddenly became eerie.
Zhou Xie spoke again: “Leon, did you wait for the bodyguards Shi Ye mentioned at the orphanage?”
Leon: “No.”
“I can’t judge if the bodyguards betrayed me like the driver did. Investigating this will take time. Until it’s investigated, treat the returning bodyguards as traitors.”
“Okay.”
“Leon, I specifically put a ginseng chicken packed in an ice bag in the trunk. Please add water and stew soup for Wen Rong.”
Leon pulled the corner of his mouth. “You specifically prepared it?”
“The original plan was to nourish the injured Shi Ye. Who knew he’d be jumping around alive and kicking.”
Shi Ye took another hit.
Patter patter patter.
Dark clouds had run over the orphanage again at some point. Raindrops knocked on the glass, making Zhou Xie’s voice start to stutter.
Or rather, this telephone line connecting to the outside world was experiencing signal problems due to the rain’s impact.
“Can’t connect anymore.” Shi Ye finally hung up the phone.
Leon: “Are you sure you’re not injured?”
The third time!
But Shi Ye had to swallow this grievance.
He responded sullenly, “All the injuries are on Wen Rong.”
“That’s good. Now take a car and go to the military station to get some people.”
“I—”
Leon interrupted him: “What about you? Isn’t the injury on Wen Rong?”
“Why don’t you go.” Shi Ye had a bit of a temper.
“Don’t be jealous at a time like this. Only you can mobilize people from the military station. Besides, can I drive as fast as you?”
Although Leon spoke righteously, and this critical moment was indeed unsuitable for jealousy, Shi Ye just knew Leon was deliberately sending him away.
For the first time in his life, Shi Ye tasted the bitterness of “the capable do more work.” He gnawed on a piece of bread and took a bodyguard to head for the military station.
The rain kept falling, dividing the world into three layers: pitch black above, vast white in the middle, and muddy yellow spatters on the ground.
After sending Shi Ye off, Leon returned and happened to meet the doctor. Learning that Wen Rong was resting in a small room on the second floor after receiving an anti-infection injection, he went upstairs.
Because of the wound on his lower abdomen, Wen Rong slept extremely straight, like an old monk.
Leon squatted down silently, hands resting on the edge of the bed.
The beautiful face was flawless from any angle, as lovely as a painted or sculpted work of art.
Shi Ye said the wound on his lower abdomen was stitched without anesthesia.
So brave.
Really want to…
Leon leaned close to Wen Rong. Long, steady breaths brushed against his face, tickling like a feather.
Want to kiss him.
If I kiss him, will he wake up?
A flash of conflict passed through his azure eyes, but finally, as if making up his mind, he returned to his original position.
Better to wait for him to wake up.
If Wen Rong didn’t react, what was the point of kissing?
Leon took great effort to leave the room. He happened to pass a group of orphanage children, whose eyes lit up immediately upon seeing him.
“Big Brother, are there any eggs left?”
“Big Brother, I can recite the book now. Can I have candy?”
…
When Wen Rong woke up, it was already dark.
It wasn’t power-cut time yet, but there weren’t many lights in the orphanage. The flashlight hanging on the utility pole in the large courtyard on the first floor was the only light source.
In the Federation, orphanages relied on government support. The buildings were better than those seen in Xiaochun’s town—a two-story building, long, like a Hope Primary School in a mountain village.
This place was indeed a primary school too. Wen Rong hadn’t walked a few steps when he saw a small room next door resembling a classroom, with a small blackboard on which only a blurred multiplication table remained.
Perhaps this was where the novel’s version of him first encountered mathematics.
Wen Rong’s heart stirred, wanting to fill it in, but he couldn’t find any chalk.
In the end, he helplessly held the railing and felt his way downstairs. Just as he reached the corner, he heard Senior Leon’s voice.
“Mn, this little friend recited it perfectly correct. Reward: one egg.”
“Big Brother, I can do it too!” A child’s voice.
“You can’t. You already took an egg just now.”
Wen Rong couldn’t help tilting his head and smiling. Out of the corner of his eye, he happened to look at the utility pole in the distance and found a seven-or-eight-year-old boy sitting under it.
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