Wen Mingyu never knew who his parents were. For as long as he could remember, he had lived in an orphanage.
Apart from the fact that the other children had parents while he didn’t, he felt he lacked little else. His basic needs were met, and the headmistress was a kind soul, like a benevolent grandmother to them who always wore a smile. The children in the home all liked her very much.
Given the town’s remote location and limited resources, the fifteen children initially squeezed into a single dormitory. While the bustle brought liveliness, it also bred friction and discord. To adults, the children’s quarrels might seem trivial, yet at the time, they were a significant source of distress.
Among the children, Wen Mingyu was arguably the best-looking and appeared well-behaved. Thus, he had a strong advantage in being adopted, which resulted in some children resenting him, fearing he would snatch away their opportunities.
But in truth, he harbored little desire to be adopted, as he had been returned twice after being adopted. The first time, it was because the originally childless family’s mistress unexpectedly conceived. The woman, fearing he might compete for attention or even harm her child, fabricated an excuse about his tendency to lie and sent him back. The second time, a couple sought a son to look after them in old age but later realized they couldn’t afford to raise him. Their own enjoyment and spending had to be curtailed, and they reasoned that money spent on a foster son who might not even be filial in the future wasn’t worth it, so they also returned him.
If being adopted meant seeing hope, believing that one could have a family, only to have that hope shattered, then he would rather not be adopted at all. He could manage on his own.
Although he was feeling down when the headmistress came to comfort him, assuring him it was not his fault, he smiled optimistically and said, “Headmistress Mom, don’t worry. It’s just a couple of failures. I will do better next time.”
The headmistress offered a few more gentle words. Relieved that he was not wallowing in self-doubt over being rejected, she went off to attend to other matters.
When no one was around, Wen Mingyu’s radiant smile slowly faded, a shadow crossing his eyes. He quietly turned and walked away.
It was activity hours, and the other children were still gathered outside playing games. Wen Mingyu didn’t feel like joining and chose to return to the dormitory. A year prior, a large corporation had undertaken a charitable initiative, selecting several welfare institutions to donate to, one of which was theirs. As a result, their dormitory conditions had improved a lot. They now occupied double rooms, each with an en suite bathroom, eliminating the need to queue outside for shared facilities.
Wen Mingyu intended to return for a nap, hoping that everything would be better when he woke up.
Just as he rounded the corner leading to the dormitory building, he suddenly heard a faint rustling from the grass. He instinctively looked in the direction the sound came from, wondering if a nearby stray pet wandered in. He had heard rumors about a dog hole appearing here, though he had no idea who might have dug it.
Wen Mingyu was very interested in small animals, especially now that he was in low spirits. He particularly craved the comfort of stroking something soft and fluffy.
He went closer to the grassy patch and unexpectedly locked eyes with a boy.
The child appeared frail, clad in loose-fitting long sleeves of an unusual style he had never seen before. Period dramas weren’t popular in this era, so Wen Mingyu knew nothing of such attire. Even if he had seen it, he would never think to associate it with time travel.
The boy’s long hair was tousled, his face smudged with dirt. His hands were bracing against the ground as though he had just taken a tumble. His expressionless face showed shock and bewilderment as he stared blankly around him.
Upon meeting Wen Mingyu’s gaze, his eyes suddenly widened. His entire body tensed up as he backed away warily.
ldkn rfvw g pwCgr kgP wOkMdOPwCfOx g ndJgO, nw kCMdknwt rMb, pdC YCfTPrfOx, nfT wjwT pfmwt bgCfrj MO Pnw pfxdCw YwpMCw nfJ.
cDm mCJ gOe zfzy’m NyIEJt. vyImJNz, CJ XJRm gNhXfyq NENe ECfLJ IJhtJmLe IhNyyfyq CfI IDttODyzfyqI, RDppLJz Nm COE CJ IDzzJyLe JyzJz DR fy IDhC Ny DyANofLfNt RLNhJ. TDIm N oOoJym NqO CJ ENI fy mCJ RNLNhJ, ICOFJz mCtODqC N zOqCOLJ fymO mCJ kOLz BNLNhJ. jJm mCJ gDfLzfyqI gJAOtJ Cfo EJtJ mOO ImtNyqJ mO gJ fm, Nyz mCJ RJtIOy fy AtOym OA Cfo ENI JUDNLLe ImtNyqJ—ImtNyqJ hLOmCJI, ImtNyqJ ICOtm CNft, Nyz hOyImNymLe Jzqfyq hLOIJt.
Mu Zhan’s youthful face strained to maintain composure, unwilling to show weakness, but as he backed away, Wen Mingyu advanced steadily, forcing him back against the wall and leaving him nowhere left to go.
At that moment, if Wen Mingyu had placed one hand against the wall, it would have been a textbook example of a “kabedon”.
But that was not Wen Mingyu’s concern. The short proximity revealed the injuries on Mu Zhan’s body. The exposed skin was marked by numerous bruises and scratches, clearl evidence of abuse and mistreatment.
Wen Mingyu instantly flared with anger. “I’ll take you to the headmistress! She’ll help you!”
He reached out to grab Mu Zhan’s sleeve to lead him away, but Mu Zhan swiftly dodged his grasp.
Mu Zhan, having endured a period of hardship, had little trust in others. He grew even more cautious when someone approached him so abruptly, as was happening now.
Wen Mingyu was taken aback by Mu Zhan’s evasion, and that anger that had surged to his head cooled down a little. He realized he had been too impulsive. Although he wanted to help him, that did not mean the other party had to accept it. After all, they were mere strangers.
So he could only tentatively ask, “Do you need my help?”
Mu Zhan shook his head coldly.
Wen Mingyu hesitated, feeling it rather wrong to leave him alone. He crouched down and said, “Then I will stay here too. If you have anything you want to say, you can tell me. If not, that’s fine too. I’m very quiet. Just pretend I’m not here.”
Mu Zhan couldn’t fathom what he was trying to do, but it was best not to interfere. He turned around and started searching the grass for the dog hole he had come through, hoping to return to where he had been. Although the palace wasn’t much better, at least it was a territory he was familiar with. And he knew where the dangers lurked and could dodge or fight back. Here, however, everything was unknown, which left him deeply anxious and unsettled.
And so, the grassy patch now housed two children, their faces still round with baby fat. At first glance, one might have thought the grass not only grew tall but also sprouted two cute little children.
Before long, voices drifted from the distance. Wen Mingyu recognized them in an instant. The voice belonged to the ringleader of a small group in the orphanage. Since learning of the A/B/O differentiation, this boy had convinced himself he would be a powerful Alpha. He looked down on the weak, often bullying thin or delicate boys.
Wen Mingyu, being fair-skinned and cute, was often targeted as well.
The voices drew closer. Wen Mingyu thought about what might happen and immediately seized Mu Zhan’s hand, dragging him along as they sprinted back toward his room, intending to hide him first.
The situation left no time for him to think; he acted purely on instinct. Mu Zhan, who had been searching for the dog hole, was suddenly whisked away.
Wen Mingyu ran like the wind, closing the door behind them before collapsing against it. He gasped for breath, utterly spent.
Mu Zhan was abruptly pulled inside. He surveyed his surroundings impassively. Almost everything was new to him. His wariness deepened, and he wanted to leave.
But Wen Mingyu was pressed against the door. To leave, he would have to pull Wen Mingyu aside.
He reached out and gripped Wen Mingyu’s wrist, trying to move the obstacle blocking the door. Yet when Wen Mingyu stepped aside, he just stared at the door, somewhat confused. There was only a round object on it. How was it supposed to open?
Before he could try, Wen Mingyu pulled him away from the door and whispered, “Don’t go out yet. Those kids like to pick on people, and you’re still injured.”
Speaking of which, Wen Mingyu remembered that he still had some ointment left from the last time he was injured. He turned to rummage for it. Mu Zhan seized the moment to study the door, hoping to escape. But before he could try to turn the lock, Wen Mingyu found the medicine, tugged at his sleeve, and led him to a chair by the desk to sit down.
Mu Zhan, unfamiliar with the surroundings, dared not act rashly and complied with Wen Mingyu. But he remained on high alert, like a little hedgehog bristling with quills, barring anyone from drawing near.
When Wen Mingyu tried to lift his hand for the ointment, he recoiled, as though it were poison.
Wen Mingyu mistook his reaction for fear of pain, so he voluntarily showed him his old scar on his arm and reassured him, “Don’t be afraid. This ointment doesn’t hurt. Look, mine’s all healed.”
To prove it, he even dabbed a little on his own hand.
Mu Zhan stared at it for a moment. It seemed better than the ointment in the palace, but he still shook his head, unwilling to apply it. To prevent Wen Mingyu from touching him, he even tucked both hands behind his back.
Wen Mingyu saw the stubborn refusal etched across his slightly grimy little face and suddenly understood the headmistress’ feeling when faced with a disobedient child.
How could he not apply the medicine just because he was afraid of pain?
Observing Mu Zhan, he noted that the boy seemed slightly shorter and skinnier than himself, wearing clothes that hung loosely on him. He must be two years younger. Thinking so, Wen Mingyu felt his nine-year-old self ought to be more understanding. He coaxed gently, “You will get better faster if you apply the ointment on. Be a good boy and do it, and I will share my candies with you.”
Mu Zhan didn’t know what candy was, nor did he have any interest in trying something offered by a stranger.
The candies had been distributed to the children at the orphanage by volunteers from a charity organization. Each child received only a few pieces. Wen Mingyu couldn’t bear to eat them all. He carefully hid the rest away after eating one. If it weren’t for seeing the injuries on this little boy, he would never have given them away.
But even with candies as a bribe, Mu Zhan stayed silent and stubborn.
Wen Mingyu couldn’t believe it. In his experience, no child could resist the allure of sweets. He blurted out, “Can’t you speak?”
Mu Zhan’s head snapped up. His face was taut as he coldly replied, “I can.”
The voice was childish and crisp, clearly not that of a mute child.
Wen Mingyu regretted his words as soon as he spoke. He bowed his head apologetically, murmuring, “… I’m sorry.”
Mu Zhan didn’t respond with an ‘it’s alright’, as he had read in books. Instead, his gaze fixed intently on the doorway. Wen Mingyu noticed this and, sensing the group of children had passed by, saw no reason to hold him back. Opening the door, he intended to let him leave. Then he handed him one piece of candy.
A brightly wrapped round ball rested in his pale, delicate palm. Without waiting for a response, he stuffed the candy into Mu Zhan’s hand and urged, “You must tell your parents if anyone bullies you, so they can help you.”
At the mention of ‘parents’, not a trace of warmth flickered in Mu Zhan’s eyes. He even let out an involuntary, cold snort before turning to leave.
“Wait—did your parents inflict these injuries?”
Wen Mingyu’s expression shifted abruptly, eyes widening in disbelief. Mu Zhan offered no reply, but his silence seemed like an admission.
Wen Mingyu hurried forward and wrapped his arms around his waist to pull him back, exclaiming, “Then you can’t leave!”
The thought of letting him go only to suffer further injury made Wen Mingyu dared not release him.
For the first time in his life, Mu Zhan was held like this. Stunned, he even forgot to struggle. He could only feel the warmth and softness enveloping his back, as if sinking into clouds.
His body stiffened like stone.
ChiFu: thinking of getting a friendly budget tablet for my studies. I have really wanted one since forever hahah but need to save up first TT