Chapter 28: Two Scoundrels Named Qian Qi

A variety of expressions flickered across the faces of the three children. Once they snapped out of their shock, they immediately jumped up and scurried in a panic toward the central building.

As they ran, they shouted at the top of their lungs, "Qian Qi is back! Qian Qi is back!"

It was like a siren blaring to signal an enemy invasion. The entire courtyard instantly went on high alert. Whether it was just her imagination or not, Qian Qi thought she heard the scraping of many desks and chairs inside the building, followed by a flurry of chaotic, hurried footsteps that just as quickly fell silent.

She scratched her forehead, bewildered. "Don't tell me I'm some sort of menace here too?"

[＾＿＾]

Qian Qi: "..."

She had really outdone herself this time; she had managed to decipher everything from a simple emoticon!

Damn it, the original owner left behind way too much of a mess!

Qian Qi indignantly pulled a small mirror from her pocket. Ever since she realized the strange reality of her own plain, rugged face, she had made it a habit to carry a mirror to practice her expressions.

Otherwise, if she tried to pull off some scheme later and ended up flashing a terrifying smile, wouldn't she give herself away?

Qian Qi couldn't help but let out a sinister grin.

After adjusting her expression, she finally stepped into the building.

The interior was dead silent. Not a soul was in sight; the children had hidden away somewhere. As she walked down the quiet hallway, the sound of her flip-flops slapping against the floor tiles echoed with a harsh, dragging rhythm.

The more she looked around, the more astonished she became. The layout here was exactly the same as the orphanage from her previous life.

Could the woman she spoke to on the phone...

Qian Qi paused, then quickened her pace toward a room on the first floor.

Perhaps the children's warning had reached the woman's ears, for just as Qian Qi reached the director's office, the door opened.

A middle-aged woman walked out. Her long, jet-black hair was pinned into a simple bun, with wisps of hair fluttering against her cheeks, lending her a temperament of extreme gentleness.

Qian Qi’s eyes flickered, and a hint of disappointment, almost imperceptible, flashed across her face. She had hoped...

How foolish of her. How could her director mother possibly be here? The voices didn't even match.

"Qiqi, you're here so early?" Seeing Qian Qi approaching, Xiang Wenyun immediately broke into a surprised and gentle smile. She quickly stepped aside to let her in, saying softly, "Come on in."

Qian Qi pursed her lips and followed Xiang Wenyun into the room.

The interior decor was quite different from what she had imagined—it was spotlessly clean and tidy. Perhaps because the director appeared so gentle and kind, the office was filled with a warm and cozy atmosphere.

It was nothing like her director mother from her past life, who had a temper like a ghost pepper, constantly driven to fury by mischievous children, leaving her office in a state of perpetual chaos.

But perhaps it was that very personality that had raised such confident and cheerful children.

Qian Qi couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth lift. Come to think of it, she had been the most mischievous and troublesome child in her orphanage, the undisputed ringleader of the kids. Climbing trees, fighting, digging holes—there was nothing she couldn't or wouldn't do.

Who would have guessed that beneath her elegant, lady-like facade in college, she had been such a little troublemaker?

*Ahem.*

Qian Qi finished her trip down memory lane and placed the fruit on a nearby table.

"Why did you bring so many things back with you?" Xiang Wenyun asked, offering a gentle, soft-spoken rebuke.

Although it was a reprimand, her tone was exceedingly tender, and her eyes shimmered with a mist of deep emotion. Qian Qi could even see her throat bob as she fought back tears, making it impossible to tell if the woman was just a simple orphanage director or her own biological mother.

Looking at them, they didn't even look alike...

After composing herself, Xiang Wenyun continued, "Qiqi, take these back with you when you leave. We don't lack anything here."

Qian Qi gave a perfunctory "Oh." Of course, she wasn't going to take them back, but she didn't want to engage in a back-and-forth; it felt too sentimental.

She sat on a nearby stool, resting her small feet on the rungs and swinging them back and forth like a little chick. "Director, show me the land deed contract."

Xiang Wenyun sat in the chair behind the desk and pulled several sheets of paper from a drawer. "Why do you want to see this?"

Qian Qi didn't answer; she quickly scanned the contract.

She had researched the topic yesterday. Orphanages in this world were divided into two types: ordinary orphanages and Awakened orphanages.

The former were privately run, with the director responsible for all funding, while the latter were supported by the Awakened Association, allowing children with Awakened abilities to attend specialized elementary, middle, and high schools for free.

The appearance of "dungeons" had caused the number of orphans to skyrocket. They were usually sent to nearby ordinary orphanages; once a child manifested an Awakened ability, the director could transfer them to an Awakened orphanage and receive a substantial stipend.

But Xiang Wenyun couldn't even scrape together 500,000, which showed that the Bright Orphanage hadn't produced a single Awakened child in years.

The land deed for this orphanage was set to expire in 20 days. Xiang Wenyun had been patient, only telling her about it now.

"Have you looked for sponsors?" Qian Qi looked at Xiang Wenyun.

Xiang Wenyun parted her lips, a flash of embarrassment in her eyes. "I have, but I’m just not capable enough."

"They said if I can't find a transferee, the property will be reclaimed, and the children will be sent to other orphanages." Xiang Wenyun lowered her eyes, stroking the photo frame on her desk with lingering attachment.

In the photo was a group shot of her and the other children. Qian Qi even saw herself in it.

"The conditions at those other orphanages... they're purely profit-driven. The children are barely fed; they’re just waiting for a child with an Awakened ability to turn up." Xiang Wenyun gripped the contract tightly. "I'm so worried. If I could just find parents willing to adopt them before I have to leave, even if they're just a substitute..."

That would still be better than those orphanages.

If they were lucky, they might even find real love.

"Oh, but don't worry, I will still provide your living expenses on time." Remembering something, Xiang Wenyun added hurriedly, "I plan to work at another orphanage afterward. I have the experience; my salary will definitely be enough to get you through college."

Qian Qi looked at Xiang Wenyun, who was explaining with such anxiety, and nodded. "Alright."

She didn't mention that she would solve the land deed issue for her. Instead, she stood up and said, "I'm going for a walk."

Before leaving, she grabbed two bananas from the fruit bag.

As soon as she opened the office door, two little tykes who had been eavesdropping against the door stumbled inside and collided with her.

As if they had touched a burning flame, the two children jumped back, eyes wide with terror, and scrambled away.

Qian Qi: "..."

Was she some kind of ferocious beast? She had been the most popular kid in the orphanage when she was little!