Taking the bus going in the opposite direction from home, Yezhe arrived at the Children’s Welfare Home in C City.
“Excuse me, are you Mr. Yezhe?”
Yezhe had just reached the entrance when he saw an Auntie in her thirties walking toward him.
“Mm, yes, that’s me.”
“Well, the child you found yesterday hasn’t eaten since she got here. She even locked herself in her room and said that if she can’t go with you, she’ll jump off the building…”
Huh?
Yezhe only felt his ears buzzing, but he didn’t have time to think about that now.
He was led all the way to a bedroom on the fourth floor. Sure enough, the door was tightly locked.
“Liuyin?”
He knocked lightly on the door, but there was no response from inside.
“Liuyin? It’s me, open the door, please.”
He waited for a while, and finally heard a little movement inside.
There was a rattling sound from the lock, and a cute little head poked out from the gap in the door.
“Big brother, I don’t want to stay here, I want to be with you…”
Liuyin’s choked voice echoed in the corridor, and tears slowly streamed down her cheeks, soaking her collar.
“Don’t cry, don’t cry, Liuyin, be good, don’t cry.” Yezhe gently wiped away Liuyin’s tears with his hand.
“Listen to your brother. Come out first, let’s talk about anything else outside, okay?”
“No!”
Before Yezhe could react, Liuyin shut the door again.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Liuyin? Open the door and let’s talk properly, don’t do this, okay?”
“Liuyin?” The bedroom fell silent again.
After a moment of silence,
“Big brother…”
“Mm, I’m here.”
The lock clicked open again, and Liuyin opened the door.
She threw herself at Yezhe, clutching his clothes tightly just like she did yesterday.
“Mm, big brother is here… don’t cry, don’t cry.”
With his warm, big hand stroking Liuyin’s head, she nestled quietly in Yezhe’s arms like a little stray kitten who had been wandering for days.
“I don’t want to leave you, big brother…”
“Aren’t I here? Be good, no more crying.”
After all, Liuyin was just a strange girl, and he had only happened to pass by and helped her.
But why did it feel so painful?
It was like being betrayed by the person closest and most trusted to you, a pain as if someone was squeezing your heart.
Ever since the accident, he had been like a walking corpse.
Even when he got hit by a car, all he felt was pain; usually, he just sympathized with others, and playing games was just a way to kill time.
It was an indescribable feeling—clearly painful, yet his heart also felt a little warm?
He couldn’t figure it out, just couldn’t figure it out…
What exactly did the girl in his arms mean to him…
“Auntie, how about I take Liuyin home with me for a few days? Once Lei Feng Uncle has any new progress, I’ll bring her back to you.”
“I guess that’s the only way.”
The Auntie sighed.
“This child has been making a fuss all day about wanting to stay with you. She refused to eat, and in the end, locked the door and threatened to jump out the window… Sigh. You’d better just take her with you for now.”
After filling out the temporary guardian form, Yezhe took Liuyin’s hand and left the Welfare Home.
“Big brother, where are we going now?”
Although there were still tear stains on her face, Liuyin was obviously much happier than before.
She looked up at Yezhe with innocent eyes.
She really is adorable… Liuyin.
Her eyes were pure and clear, with those classic, extra-large cartoon-like pupils.
Her skin was frighteningly pale, maybe from malnutrition, or perhaps she was just naturally so fair.
About one meter fifty-something tall, how to put it… like… a loli.
A childish face, slender and frail limbs. If someone said Liuyin wasn’t cute, they must be blind.
No, no, shaking his head, Yezhe tried to clear his mind, but that famous picture from Electric Kid kept hammering at his thoughts.
No matter what, he couldn’t let himself think in such a way, like some internet joke about crossing the line.
“Big brother? Big brother? Are you spacing out?”
“No, it’s nothing.” To hide his embarrassment, Yezhe turned his head away.
“Alright, let’s go home. It’s late, and you’re dressed so lightly, plus you haven’t eaten yet.”
Yezhe quickly took off his own jacket and draped it over Liuyin’s shoulders, hurrying toward the bus stop.
What to do from now on? What will happen to Liuyin after tomorrow? What will happen to me after tomorrow? Who knows.
Yezhe just savored the feeling of Liuyin relying on him, enjoying this rare sense of peace.
“Big brother.”
“Aren’t you happy?” The little kitten head resting on Yezhe’s shoulder lifted up.
“Not really.” Yezhe shook his head.
“I’m just thinking about where you’ll sleep when we get back.”
“I want to sleep with big brother.” Liuyin clung to Yezhe’s arm and swayed it.
No way, this kid… she really knows what she’s doing.
“Hmm? Big brother, why is your face all red? Are you feeling unwell?”
“No… it’s nothing.” Yezhe quickly turned his head away in a fluster.
Why on earth is your face turning red like a tea kettle!
Although she did look extremely cute. Mm.
Definitely not some kind of lolicon or anything…
“Big brother, do you have a fever?”
Before he could react, a cold little hand was pressed against Yezhe’s forehead.
“Uu… big brother’s head is kind of hot.”
“I’m really fine, mm…”
He leaned back in panic, shaking off Liuyin’s hand, but then Liuyin was about to press her forehead against his.
“Does big brother not like me doing this?” That sweet, sticky voice was now laced with grievance and sadness. Seeing Yezhe retreat, Liuyin visibly wilted.
“No, no! It’s just… a bit sudden, that’s all…” Honestly, a beautiful girl suddenly getting so close to your face is kind of overwhelming!
Yezhe, never having encountered something like this, was completely thrown off his usual calm.
Hearing this, Liuyin’s face finally looked a little better, and she quietly leaned against Yezhe’s shoulder again.
He didn’t know how long they waited, but finally the bus arrived. Yezhe took Liuyin’s hand and got on.
Since it was the last bus, there weren’t many people. Yezhe found two window seats and had Liuyin sit inside.
After the little episode and now feeling calm again, Yezhe began to think about Liuyin’s future, left with nothing but confusion after the short-lived joy.
As for contacting her biological parents, they could only count on Lei Feng Uncle.
Come to think of it, how long had Liuyin been trafficked?
“Liuyin?”
No response.
Yezhe turned to look, only to see the girl leaning against the window, curiously gazing outside.
“Liuyin?”
“What is it, big brother?”
“Do you remember what your birth parents looked like?”
“I don’t know…”
…After a long round of questions, all he managed to learn was that Liuyin was abducted at a very young age.
She had been living deep in the mountains, and only recently did those two bad people contact some damned lolicon who wanted to buy her, so they brought her here.
After that, Liuyin found a chance to escape from the Reception Hostel and ran into Yezhe…
He couldn’t help but fall into thought, but he’d have to see if Lei Feng Uncle found any clues…
If they really couldn’t find her parents, he’d have to adopt her… but he didn’t seem to meet the requirements for adoption.
Forget it, everything can wait until they get home.
Who knows, maybe Liuyin’s birth parents will be found in a few days?
The future is truly unpredictable.