Chapter 689: A Mysterious Reunion

Number Eight…

Even though the person at the podium had changed so greatly from the memory he held, Lu Xin still recognized him by his features and the familiar aura he exuded.

He remembered the one who, as a child, always loved spraying hair gel, who would cry when hit, and who constantly complained to teachers and guards only to be ignored.

Number Eight, who was about his own age.

On his way back, Lu Xin had wondered if this mysterious visitor might be a fellow orphan from the orphanage.

Yet seeing him in person still took him by surprise.

The classmate from the orphanage he had longed to find had in fact just appeared out of the blue?

Moreover, the impression was completely different from what he had felt when he saw Number Seven and Number Two before.

After a hectic journey, unexpectedly spotting Number Eight at Qinggang’s Red Moon Elementary School filled Lu Xin with an indescribable sense of closeness, yet strangely accompanied by an unsettling premonition…

For a moment, staring at Number Eight teaching so earnestly at the podium, Lu Xin was at a loss for words.

…

…

“Lu Xin, you… you’re back…”

Amidst his inner turmoil, a trembling yet slightly delighted voice sounded from beside him.

Turning around, Lu Xin saw Teacher Xiao Lu.

She had just hurried down the custom-made stairs, looking rather flustered and a bit breathless.

She stared at Lu Xin with a mix of shock and joy—as if a drowning person had just clung to a strand of straw—eager yet embarrassed by a trace of guilt as she approached.

Beside her stood the old security guard from the elementary school, his face equally stricken with alarm.

After a brief pause, Lu Xin glanced at his sister and signaled her to keep an eye on Number Eight in the classroom.

Then, he quietly turned and walked over to Teacher Xiao Lu and the old guard, joining them on the other side of the lobby.

Only then did he cast a quick look into the classroom, asking, “What’s going on here?”

“You mean Xu Jing, right?”

Teacher Xiao Lu, taken aback by Lu Xin’s composed inquiry, hurriedly replied, “I—I’m not really sure…”

“He… just suddenly appeared…”

“He said he was passing through Qinggang on a business trip and felt nostalgic for the place he grew up, so he decided to come take a look…”

“…”

As she spoke, a strand of hair on Teacher Xiao Lu’s forehead was damp with sweat. Looking up at Lu Xin with an anxious, almost fearful gaze, she added, “After he arrived, he acted completely normal, but I clearly remember…”

At that, a flash of terror crossed her eyes, but then she hesitated, as if holding back further words.

“I remember you once killed him, right?”

Picking up on her cue, Lu Xin continued, “I remember too. Back then, I tore open his chest.”

“…”

Teacher Xiao Lu suddenly fell silent.

It was hard to tell whether her eyes held fear, worry, or even guilt.

Lu Xin lowered his gaze, his peripheral vision catching the myriad of emotions in her eyes.

Without even resorting to Mom’s ability, he could read all the complex feelings swirling in Teacher Xiao Lu’s gaze.

There was fear—because she’d just heard him speak so candidly about the past…

Worry—because she feared that these memories might trigger him to lose control and act unpredictably.

And guilt…

…Lu Xin couldn’t quite understand why Teacher Xiao Lu felt guilty towards him.

…

“Are you… are you alright?”

While Lu Xin pondered that question, Teacher Xiao Lu mustered her courage and said:

“Last time, when you mentioned the old days, you left so abruptly…”

“I truly regret how I acted back then. I know my behavior hurt you.”

“Honestly, I didn’t intend to… but I just couldn’t hold back…”

“Later, I went to your place to find you, but no one was home…”

“…”

At that, she could only look up at Lu Xin with a face filled with remorse.

In that moment, Lu Xin’s heart suddenly cleared.

So that guilt in Teacher Xiao Lu’s eyes meant…

She was worried that her fear during their last encounter had somehow triggered something in him?

“I was on a business trip back then,”

Lu Xin shook his head and explained softly, “I got assigned a task by the higher-ups and went to Heichao City. I stayed for a while, but then other matters kept me busy, and before long I had to head off to the South again…”

When she heard him mention the South, Teacher Xiao Lu offered no further comment.

However, the old security guard suddenly looked up at Lu Xin. He quickly recovered and bowed his head again.

“By the way…”

With that, Lu Xin chuckled and said to Teacher Xiao Lu, “During my recent trips, I bumped into many folks from the past.”

“I ran into Little Seventeen in Central City, then met Number Seven and Number Two. I never expected Number Eight would come straight back to Qinggang. It’s actually quite nice—you see, in such a small place, the four of us from before are all here…”

“Four of us?”

Teacher Xiao Lu, who had been quietly listening, suddenly sensed something amiss and looked sharply at Lu Xin.

Lu Xin instinctively nodded.

Then he realised that Teacher Xiao Lu couldn’t see his sister.

Not wanting to startle her, he fell silent, trying to change the subject.

“So…”

Teacher Xiao Lu, seeing Lu Xin’s demeanour, didn’t press further. After a pause she whispered, “You did come back in between…”

“Then why didn’t you come see me when you returned?”

“…”

Lu Xin was momentarily taken aback, suddenly at a loss for words.

The last time he returned from Heichao City, he actually stayed quite a while.

He claimed he was busy, but surely there were a few free days.

Yet he never once felt inclined to visit the orphanage—he hadn’t even thought about it.

In fact, this time too, if he hadn’t known someone had already arrived at Red Moon Orphanage, he probably would have…

The old Lu Xin used to love coming here.

But ever since that conversation with Teacher Xiao Lu about the old days, he lost much of his desire to visit.

He even tried to avoid it.

Watching Lu Xin’s silence, Teacher Xiao Lu seemed to suddenly understand.

Forcing a smile, she said, “It’s alright. I know you’re busy with work…”

“Because I also wanted to see what was wrong with me…”

Looking directly at Teacher Xiao Lu, Lu Xin explained openly, gesturing to his head with a smile, “I told you before that something seems off up here, but I promised I’d fix myself…”

Pausing, he set his hand down and met Teacher Xiao Lu’s gaze calmly as he added, “I really feel much better now.”

“Really.”

“…”

Lu Xin’s tone was frank and the smile on his face sincere.

Yet Teacher Xiao Lu, while listening, suddenly lowered her head ever so slightly, visibly saddened.

The old security guard, meanwhile, appeared notably perplexed; his gaze cautiously swept over Lu Xin.

Wasn’t it already clear to them that he was doing well now?

Lu Xin sensed the underlying sadness in Teacher Xiao Lu—the worry she tried hard to hide, though the fear was unmistakable.

He found it hard to understand.

A slight sense of defeat crept in, making his smile a little less bright.

“You’re not just better—you’re truly healed…”

After a moment, Teacher Xiao Lu raised her head and managed a smile at Lu Xin.

Lu Xin could see her eyes glistening slightly as she forced a happy smile.

He even noticed how hard she tried to control every muscle in her face, crafting an expression of forced joy and confidence—as if performing a magic trick whose secret was already exposed yet still given her all she had.

“Before, you had no idea how worried I was… even a little scared.”

Teacher Xiao Lu smiled as she said, “But now that you’re back, everything’s fine. As for Xu Jing…”

“Xu Jing…”

It was only the second time Teacher Xiao Lu mentioned Xu Jing that Lu Xin took notice.

Is that the name of Number Eight?

“It’s okay.”

Thinking to himself, Lu Xin smiled and said, “I’m back now, so nothing will go wrong anymore.”

Teacher Xiao Lu appeared momentarily stunned before nodding vigorously.

…

…

“Ding-ling-ling…”

The electronic bell rang—the very same one Lu Xin had personally chosen. Its clear, lively chime echoed.

With a loud crash, the sound of chairs and tables scraping filled the classroom as a group of children burst out.

As many of them came running out, arms raised to shout, they caught sight of Lu Xin and Teacher Xiao Lu, immediately muffling their cry and slowing their pace. They lingered at the doorway before suddenly dashing out again.

“Man, they’re all half-asleep in class and then full of energy the moment school’s over…”

Behind the children, Number Eight’s voice sounded, tinged with exasperation: “If you don’t build a solid foundation and study seriously, how in the world are you supposed to get into middle school? Do you plan on lining up to work in factories as soon as you leave the orphanage?”

“Don’t rush off to play—make sure you do the homework I assigned…”

“…”

Hearing his voice, several kids who had paused to speak with Lu Xin and Teacher Xiao Lu scampered off.

“Sigh…”

Looking up, Lu Xin and the others saw Number Eight, dressed in a crisp white shirt, suit pants, and black lace-up leather shoes.

With a suit jacket casually draped over his arm and his hair neatly combed, he exuded a refined, handsome charm reminiscent of a classic movie star with a hint of melancholy.

Shaking his head in resignation, Number Eight walked out of the classroom and, from a distance, extended his hand to Lu Xin with a beaming smile.

“Number Nine, you’re calling yourself Lu Xin now, right?”

He smiled warmly and sincerely shook hands with Lu Xin, adding, “It’s been so long…”