Chapter 501: A Change of Heart

Ever since he last saw Teacher Xiao Lu’s frightened expression, Lu Xin hadn’t set foot in the orphanage for ages.

On several occasions, he felt he should go, but always found excuses to stay away.

Reasons like being busy at work lately or not having enough cash at hand.

Even after buying this villa, Lu Xin casually discussed renovations with Han Bing.

Once the renovations were finished, he even felt it wasn’t enough—he wished they could go on a few more days.

Perhaps it was because deep down he wasn’t keen on seeing her?

……

But since he could no longer find any valid excuse, Lu Xin finally decided to make another trip to the orphanage.

After making up his mind, a surprising excitement welled within him…

A sense of urgency he couldn’t quite explain.

He found the mix of nervous anticipation and urgency rather intriguing.

Originally, he planned to head over after work the next day, but the day dragged on. Lu Xin, fed up with playing Tetris and even calculating his earnings from those accounts, found it all rather dull.

So by mid-afternoon, he finally left the company under the pretext of delivering materials to a client.

When he told Director Liu about it, the man blinked a few times, clearly puzzled why Lu Xin felt the need to mention it.

“If you want to go, just go. Why even fake a delivery? No one would mind if you skipped work…”

Why did he feel compelled to mention it to me?

Lu Xin couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty; it was his first time ditching work under the guise of a delivery.

Luckily, Director Liu hadn’t figured it out.

……

……

The motorcycle had long been returned from Central City. Lu Xin mounted it and rode through the lazy afternoon streets of Second Satellite City, headed toward the Security Hall. After some serious thought, he even stopped to buy a sack of apples from a roadside stall.

He tossed the sack onto the back seat of his bike and continued on his way with a sigh of relief.

He first arrived at the small building beside the Security Hall, then climbed the stairwell. On the third floor, he couldn’t find Uncle Guard, which made him jump. Hastily, he rushed to the fourth floor, only to be stunned. The floor was nothing but an empty corridor and an open iron door. The old classroom, once cluttered with tables and chairs, was now deserted.

It felt as if his blood was being squeezed into his head, and the scene before his eyes made him slightly dizzy.

Where is everyone?

What about the kindergarteners?

……

“Cackle, cackle, cackle…”

Lu Xin could even hear the crisp sound of bones lightly moving within his body.

The muscles on his face seemed to take on a life of their own, twisting into various expressions on his cheeks.

Then suddenly, it hit him.

Something was off…

The Special Cleaning Department had long assigned warriors to watch over them. It was impossible for something to go wrong without his knowing.

So…

Lu Xin raised his hand to his face and began massaging it slowly.

He gently wiped away the expressions, restoring his face to a calm, natural look.

A self-mocking smile even played on his lips. ‘Am I really getting too old for my own good?’ he wondered.

Perhaps Teacher Xiao Lu and the others had simply moved back…

……

He then headed back downstairs, hopped onto his slick, silver ride, and set off for South City, lugging the sack of apples along.

Gradually, weaving through the intricate maze of small roads, he arrived once more at that desolate area.

Everywhere around him were walls splattered with abstract, vibrant graffiti, and in between the walls lay a path scattered with broken cement fragments.

Lu Xin rode past this scene, heading toward the Red Moon Orphanage he’d frequented so many times in the past.

Before joining the Special Cleaning Department, he had visited this orphanage countless times.

This visit felt even more emotionally complex than his previous trips near the Security Hall.

A place you know too well can make even the ordinary seem laden with different meanings.

The rusty, entangled barbed wire, the weather-beaten sign of the ‘Red Moon Elementary School’—all had been eroded by time and rain.

Lu Xin eased off the throttle and slowly parked in front of the elementary school, his heart sinking a little.

He could already hear the joyful laughter of children coming from the orphanage.

Inside the Security Booth, Uncle Guard—wearing his reading glasses and intently reading the newspaper—glanced up at Lu Xin.

A brief expression of gravity flashed across his face before he quickly returned to normal.

He waved his hand and said, “Just go right in!”

After that, he lowered his head back to his newspaper, too lazy even to step outside.

Lu Xin got off his bike, untangled the barbed wire, and swung open the big door before mounting his bike again and slowly riding inside.

The courtyard was bustling, with dozens of children cramming into the small space.

Some were kicking a ball, some throwing sandbags, others playing marbles, while one chubby little girl sat on the back of a skinny, monkey-like little boy, pressing down on his head to stop him from getting up… such delightful innocence!

“Eh?”

Noticing Lu Xin riding in on his motorcycle, a group of sharp-eyed kids immediately spotted him.

“My rival’s here…”

Among them, a self-important little bald kid, a snotty kid, and a kid sporting thick glasses reacted the most strongly. While the other kids fixated on the sack of apples on the bike’s back seat, guessing whether it held potatoes or sweet potatoes, these three exchanged glances and strode over with determined steps.

“Hey, pull over.”

Little Bald, at the forefront, pointed at Lu Xin and demanded, “Why haven’t you shown up in so long?”

Lu Xin paused, one hand braced on the ground as he looked at the three aggressive little ones.

He could only explain, “I’ve been a bit busy lately.”

Little Bald wasn’t buying it. With a dismissive wave of his little hand, he said, “Then why did you make Teacher Xiao Lu cry last time?”

Lu Xin was genuinely taken aback. “I did?” he asked.

“Yeah, you did.”

The snotty kid added indignantly, “You only left after making Teacher Xiao Lu cry last time.”

“Uh, well…”

Recalling the awkwardness of their last meeting, Lu Xin felt a twinge of guilt. “I honestly didn’t know…”

“Then…”

Little Bald shook his head, pondering aloud, “Even we had to sneak over to see, only to find her crying…”

“Maybe you really don’t know—women are probably just like that…”

Casting a sideways glance at a plump kid, who was wildly punching someone else not far away, Little Bald shook his head and continued,

“But that’s no excuse. You can’t keep upsetting Teacher Xiao Lu, got it?”

“Or next time, we’ll mess up your tires!”

……

Lu Xin was dumbfounded.

That threat carried surprising weight.

“Oh man, seriously…”

After Little Bald and Glasses Monkey swaggered off with their arms crossed, Snotty stuck around. Not only did he not leave, he stepped forward two paces and patted the front axle of Lu Xin’s motorcycle, saying, “You’re grown up, yet you still haven’t figured out how to date properly, have you?”

With a look of reproach, he continued, “When it comes to girls, you need to be gentle, caring, and know how to cherish and forgive.”

He added, “I don’t know what you talked about with Teacher Xiao Lu last time that made her cry redden her eyes, but no matter what, it’s always us men who mess things up. You shouldn’t argue with her. Control your temper, set aside your pride, and focus on being good to her. Even if she’s in the wrong, treat it as if she isn’t—only then will you truly touch her heart. Understand?”

……

Lu Xin stared at Snotty in astonishment for a long moment before he finally, sincerely said, “I understand. Thank you.”

……

“Sigh, pity I’m still ten years away from being grown-up. Otherwise, I’d have to school you on that,”

Snotty remarked as he left with a look of frustrated resignation on his face, leaving Lu Xin to wonder about the kid’s future.

This kid certainly had the makings of a gentle soul…

But it was just such qualities that made finding a partner so complicated…

……

……

Lu Xin unloaded the sack of apples and opened it up so the children could help themselves.

He then turned and entered the classroom, passing through rows of neatly arranged desks to a small, dim office at the far end.

After a brief pause, Lu Xin gently pushed open the slightly ajar door to see a slender figure in a wheelchair, seated with their back turned and slowly grading a stack of homework. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a warm glow.

Lu Xin didn’t want to disturb her, so he quietly stood by the door and watched.

Teacher Xiao Lu scribbled brief comments in the exercise book at a measured pace until, finally,

Lu Xin smiled and said, “I’ve been busy before, so I haven’t had a chance to come over.”

Teacher Xiao Lu paused in silence before setting down her pen, slowly turning the wheels of her chair to face him.

She wore a short down jacket, a blanket covering her legs, and thin, rimless glasses that she only donned when grading homework. Her slender, fair fingers intertwined gently as her warm eyes studied Lu Xin. After a long moment, a smile spread across her face as she softly said, “I thought you were so angry last time that you wouldn’t come back…”

……

Lu Xin also studied her carefully before suddenly saying, “I really don’t plan to come here again.”

“Eh?”

Teacher Xiao Lu suddenly lifted her head, looking at him in alarm.

Lu Xin then laughed and added, “Because I’m going to take all of you away.”

“Huh?”

Teacher Xiao Lu’s expression shifted from confusion to something resembling…

…fear?

“This place is falling apart. I found us a better spot,” Lu Xin explained with a mischievous glint in his eye.

He seemed genuinely pleased with his witty remark and said, “Let’s go. I’ll show you the new place.”

Teacher Xiao Lu’s face changed from bewilderment to nervousness, then to surprise, before finally settling into a conflicted smile.

She appeared a bit at a loss, but after a moment of silence, she raised her head and asked with a smile, “Where are we going?”