It was Wen Mingyu’s roommate, a quiet and shy boy. The couple who adopted him had chosen him the moment they first laid eyes on him.
They had previously lived in the same dorm and got along very well. So after Chen Liang greeted the teachers and children at the orphanage, he sat down separately with Wen Mingyu for a chat.
They sat on a bench beneath the dormitory building, a peaceful spot perfect for conversation.
“Are you doing well there?” Wen Mingyu’s foremost concern was this.
Chen Liang smiled. “Mm. My mom and dad treat me really well. They ask what I like to eat and take me shopping for new clothes. They said they worried I might feel lonely or miss my friends here, so they let me visit for a bit. They’ll pick me up later.”
Wen Mingyu relaxed at his words and felt genuinely happy for him. “That’s great.”
Then he suddenly remembered something and added, “Oh, right. You used to share your candy with me. This time, it’s my turn.”
Chen Liang quickly waved his hands. “No need. You love candy, right? You go ahead and eat it. If I want some, I’ll just ask my parents to buy it.”
There was no hint of showing off in his words. He was just happily sharing his joy with a friend. Wen Mingyu didn’t read too much into it, but he did start to worry. Children in new homes were like kittens in strange places, anxious and fearful. He instinctively wanted to behave well, afraid of being rejected and sent back.
Chen Liang clearly shared this fear. As soon as he finished speaking, he scratched his head and gave a nervous chuckle. “Actually… I don’t really dare to ask. I’m afraid they’ll think I eat too much and am hard to raise.”
Wen Mingyu stuffed the candy into his hand, clasped his small palm, and said earnestly, “I don’t think they will. They really like you.”
“Really?”
Chen Liang immediately beamed with delight, revealing his tiny tiger teeth. His shyness gave way to a burst of vitality and confidence.
Wen Mingyu nodded firmly, and he grinned even wider.
He truly liked playing with Wen Mingyu. Leaving the orphanage, Wen Mingyu was the one he had missed most.
Chen Liang unwrapped the candy and popped the sweet ball into his mouth. It was very sweet.
He took Wen Mingyu’s hand and said earnestly, “My dad’s relative wants to adopt a kid too. Should I recommend you to them? Then we could be brothers and play together forever.”
Wen Mingyu paused abruptly…
Neither of them noticed that someone was hiding behind a tree not far from the bench.
Mu Zhan had come out to look for the dog hole, hoping to find a way back. That was his intention, but when he saw Wen Mingyu from upstairs, talking to an unfamiliar boy of the same age, alarm bells went off in his head. His feet seemed to take control of him, and he ran straight downstairs.
Hiding behind the tree, he watched intently, feigning calmness as if merely passing by. Yet his ears were already perked up, eavesdropping.
Thus, he heard that Chen Liang was Wen Mingyu’s roommate and that they had once been close friends, and he also heard:We could be brothers and play together forever.
Mu Zhan’s body tensed, his expression shifting.
Why?!
sI QwtEQwvEQAISN MkItEQJwIH aQhtISY, LGwEQwV IAIw hJbI EJ taJkE QE JkE SJkH EJ EaGE rIbtJw.
So, in the end, was it just about wanting a little brother?
It didn’t have to be him. Anyone else would do.
He heard that boy, Chen Liang, call Wen Mingyu “brother.” Wen Mingyu even gave him a candy.
Mu Zhan pressed his lips tightly together, his face clouded with displeasure. He walked away stiffly and silently.
After chatting with his friend, Wen Mingyu returned to the dormitory. Glancing around, he didn’t see Mu Zhan anywhere. He hurriedly called out, “Mu Mu, Mu Mu.” Getting no reply, he almost went downstairs to look for him. Fortunately, he found him curled up in bed, huddled like a wounded little cub licking its wounds, looking pitiful. Though his face showed little emotion, Wen Mingyu still felt his heart ache.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Mu Zhan didn’t respond. He reached out to his forehead. No fever. He gave a sigh of relief, softly coaxing Mu Zhan while recounting some amusing stories about Chen Liang.
Mu Zhan was not listening at all. But then Wen Mingyu mentioned his friend’s idea to recommend him to a relative for adoption. Mu Zhan instantly held his breath, waiting intently for what followed.
Wen Mingyu said, “I turned him down. I don’t really want to be adopted. I’m scared I won’t live up to their expectations and get sent back again. That would be too embarrassing. I’d rather stay on my own and earn money someday.”
He had never shared these thoughts with anyone, not Chen Liang, and not even the headmistress. Yet somehow, in front of Mu Zhan, the words flowed effortlessly.
“So… you’re not leaving.”
Mu Zhan couldn’t help asking, his uncertain tone seeking confirmation.
Wen Mingyu nodded without hesitation.
Mu Zhan instinctively loosened his tense nerves. But in truth, whether Wen Mingyu was adopted or not had nothing to do with him. He shouldn’t have been so tense, but he just couldn’t help it.
That night was New Year’s Eve.
The orphanage and a charity group jointly hosted a reunion dinner and performances.
Wen Mingyu secretly brought Mu Zhan to watch. The lights were off, leaving the venue in complete darkness except for the stage lights. They couldn’t see the faces of those beside them, and everyone’s attention was focused on the show, watching with excitement.
Two small figures slipped in unnoticed. Holding hands, they watched until nearly the end. Mu Zhan returned to the dorm first, while Wen Mingyu stayed behind to help the teachers take attendance and organize everyone for bed.
Each child received a red envelope.
The teacher patted their heads and wished them good health, good grades, and all the happiness in the new year.
The children bowed their hands in return, giggling in their babyish voice, “Happy New Year, Teacher! Wishing you prosperity and joy every day!”
These red envelopes, known as “lucky money,” symbolize elders’ blessings for children, which carry auspicious meanings. Though the sums inside were modest, the children were overjoyed to receive them.
At this time, most children would be happily imagining what they would buy with the money, but Wen Mingyu didn’t—because this year he was a big brother who had to look after his little brother.
In his heart, Mu Zhan was just a poor little thing who needed to be protected. With parents so unreasonable, they probably would not even give him any New Year’s money. Thus, Wen Mingyu wanted to give half of his share to Mu Zhan.
Just as he was about to secretly split the twenty yuan into red envelopes, Wen Mingyu changed his mind. He handed the entire red envelope to Mu Zhan and simply used last year’s envelope as a prop for himself.
“Happy New Year, Mu Mu! Grow up healthy, and may all your wishes come true!”
Wen Minggyu mimicked his teacher, gently ruffling Mu Zhan’s hair.
Mu Zhan paused but didn’t flinch. Though ancient red envelopes differed slightly from those here, he understood their meaning well enough.
Clutching the red envelope, he asked out of the blue, “Did you give this only to me, or did everyone else get one too?”
He remembered clearly how Wen Mingyu had handed candy to Chen Liang that day.
Wen Mingyu answered in a beat, “Of course, it’s only for you.”
Everyone else had red envelopes. Besides, he didn’t have enough money to share with the other children.
Hearing this, Mu Zhan couldn’t suppress a corner of his mouth lifting slightly. It was small, barely noticeable, but it was indeed a secret smile of delight.
Wen Mingyu, worried he wouldn’t know how, took his hand, and together, they placed the red envelope under the pillow. It was believed it could ward off ghosts and evil spirits, and although science had long dispelled the notion of the supernatural, the custom persisted as a blessing for children, hoping that sleeping with the red envelope beneath them would ensure a safe and peaceful new year.
That night, they slept very well, quietly ushering in the new year.
But unexpectedly, something wrong happened the next day.
The bully who picked on Wen Mingyu went to the teacher in front of everyone and said he had discovered an unfamiliar child hiding in Wen Mingyu’s room.
The teacher found this unlikely, but out of duty and fairness, an inspection was necessary. This was to uphold the orphanage’s responsibility and show the children they were taken seriously.
Thus, the teacher turned to Wen Mingyu and gently asked, “May I go take a look? I believe you, but I need to prove it to the other children. You must come with me. I won’t rummage through your things; I’ll just take a glance and then leave.”
Wen Mingyu couldn’t refuse, as doing so would show he was guilty, and the accuser wouldn’t let it rest.
So he nodded.
As the group approached his room, Wen Mingyu deliberately spoke loudly to alert Mu Zhan inside, hoping he would get the hint and hide to avoid being discovered.
Then they opened the door and stepped inside.
Bed, balcony, bathroom, behind the door, but no one was found.
The bully even lay flat on the floor to check under the bed.
All that remained were the closets.
One was empty; the other was Wen Mingyu’s.
The teacher had Wen Mingyu open it himself, without interfering.
The closet was small, its contents visible at a glance.
As Wen Mingyu’s hand rested on the closet lock, tension made a thin sheen of sweat break out on his forehead even in the cold winter air, and he forgot to breathe.
Because Mu Zhan was likely hiding inside, and opening it would reveal him. How could he explain it? How could he protect Mu Zhan from being sent back to those terrible parents?
But he couldn’t delay. The bully behind him was already urging him on, even trying to step forward to open it himself, insisting that the outsider kid was definitely hiding in the closet. Only the teacher stopped him, leaving him standing there unwillingly.
Wen Mingyu finally opened it.
Inside, however, only a few clothes hung on the rack, with some miscellaneous items on the shelf above. No one was hiding there.
The teacher clapped her hands, declaring the case closed. She scolded the bully, telling him never to lie or falsely accuse other children and that he must sincerely apologize to Wen Mingyu.
Wen Mingyu didn’t care about his apology. He just wanted to find Mu Zhan quickly, so he nodded perfunctorily to get them to leave faster.
Once the room was empty except for him, he hurried to prepare to go out searching. Suddenly, he felt the hem of his clothes tug gently.
He instinctively turned to look and saw Mu Zhan. His eyes widened with surprise, and he threw his arms around him.
“Where were you hiding? You scared me to death!”
Wen Mingyu thought Mu Zhan was amazing at hide-and-seek.
But in reality, given how rushed everything was, he had no time to think clearly. Ideally, he should have slipped out of the dorm and hidden at the end of the hallway. But by the time he heard the warning call, the group was already close to the door. There was simply no time left.
So Mu Zhan frantically glanced around the room before finally ducking into the closet.
When the closet door opened, it was not just Wen Mingyu who felt tense. Hidden behind the hanging clothes, Mu Zhan curled into a ball, clenching his fists so tightly his palms were sweaty with anxiety.
With a creak, the doors swung open, flooding the space with blinding light.
He saw Wen Mingyu, and he saw the others.
But.
They seemed unable to see him, as if he were invisible, their gaze not even focusing on him.