Each child received a gift, but Jiang Cheng's attention wasn't on that; it was on the bag in Number 10's hand.

After handing out the last gift, Number 10 folded the bag carefully and put it away. Then, holding a child in each hand, with Number 4 riding on his shoulders, the group went back, chatting and laughing.

Does this Number 10 not have a gift for himself?

A momentary pang of pain shot through his mind. Jiang Cheng suddenly felt that Number 10 was somewhat familiar, but it was just a fleeting feeling.

The thought faded in the next moment, as if he had never remembered it at all.

Jiang Cheng followed behind the children, and he could tell that being allowed to go out and play was a luxury for them.

This Number 10 carried the hopes of all the children.

Standing behind him, Jiang Cheng silently sized up Number 10.

He wasn't the tallest, merely a little chubby, and not particularly noticeable among the older children. But at this moment, surrounded by them, he seemed like their older brother.

Content with their gifts, the children returned to their rooms one by one.

The younger children were clearly closer to Number 10. Skinny little Number 4 jumped off Number 10's back and affectionately reached out to pinch Number 10's cheeks.

Number 8, holding his little hammer, skipped happily into his room, like a little deer.

Number 10 saw them back to their rooms one by one. Each turned to say goodbye. Number 13 stood at his door, his gift a deck of cards.

Clutching the cards in his left hand and holding Number 10's hand with his right, Number 13 looked up at him, seeming very dependent and unwilling to part.

In the end, Number 10 squatted down, patted his little head, and said something. Only then did Number 13 reluctantly let go and return to his room.

Standing not far away, Jiang Cheng watched all this silently. A hint of envy toward these abandoned children welled up in his heart.

After seeing the last child back to his room and closing the door, Number 10 walked back to his own room.

The number 10 was written on the door, which was unlocked.

Compared to the other children's rooms, Number 10's room was simpler, with no decorations, just an iron bed with blue and white sheets.

The iron bed was fixed to the floor, looking very sturdy.

Number 10 walked slowly back to his room, his body slightly hunched, as if all his energy had been drained.

He slowly walked to the bed, sat down, pulled his legs up, bent his knees, rested his head on them, and curled up.

He hugged his legs, stared at the wall, and didn't move.

He seemed to be in a daze, like a stray dog on the street.

Leaving Jiang Cheng a view of his back from outside the door.

The desolate scene formed a stark contrast to the previous laughter and joy, as if everything before was just an illusion.

That there were no children at all, that it was all just Number 10's imagination, a way to comfort himself.

"Creak—"

Wind blew from a strange direction, and the iron door shook slightly, making a rubbing sound. Number 10 seemed to sense something suddenly. He turned around and saw Jiang Cheng standing by the door.

Strangely, he had followed him all this way, and Number 10 hadn't noticed him, nor did the children seem to have any intention of alerting him.

Jiang Cheng felt like an ignored ghost, wandering through this orphanage full of stories and secrets.

An eerie mist filled Number 10's face. He couldn't see clearly, but he could feel that the moment Number 10 saw him, his previously dim eyes lit up. "Zero?"

He jumped up from the bed, his voice filled with joy. "How did you get out? Didn't the director..."

He stopped abruptly, then, as if realizing something, immediately shrank his neck and lowered his voice. "You sneaked out again, didn't you?"

Jiang Cheng thought for a moment. He had indeed sneaked out, so he nodded and said, "Yes."

But the moment he said that, a cold chill enveloped him. "This voice... how did this voice change?"

His voice was different from before, no longer flat and cold, but a childish voice, sounding even a bit cute.

A child's voice...

He seemed to realize something, reached out his hand, and focused his attention on his arm. Slowly, the strange gray mist seemed to dissipate a little.

How could this be?!

The arm was thin and short, clearly a child's hand, probably no older than six.

Had he transmigrated?

Transmigrated into a child's body, or was this his body all along, and he was simply remembering his lost memories?

As he was thinking, a hand rested on his head and ruffled his hair. "Whew—, I'll let it slide this time, but you have to be careful next time, okay, Zero?"

"Come on." Number 10 took his hand and walked toward the bed. He lifted the mattress and, in a corner underneath, found a rolled-up bag.

Number 10 carefully took out the bag. It was wrapped tightly, layer upon layer, but it was small, a little smaller than a normal pencil case.

Holding the bag, Number 10's voice became cheerful. "I was... I was planning to give it to you on your birthday, but I didn't know you'd sneak out today, so I didn't prepare a gift for you. Here's an early one!"

"Happy birthday, Zero."

He slowly opened the bag. The feeling was soft, but not like the springy softness of a stuffed animal, but...

As Jiang Cheng saw the gift, his fingers trembled violently.

Under the layers of wrapping were just two small packets of coffee.

Instant coffee, the cheap kind, the kind that used to sell for one yuan a packet at convenience stores, but had recently gone up in price.

In Jiang Cheng's hazy memories, he only drank this kind.

Not just because it was cheap, but because he was used to it, a habit formed since who knows when...

Number 10 looked at him, then seemed to think of something. His voice dropped to a whisper, and he squatted down next to him, as if telling a secret. "Zero, I overheard the director talking to someone once. They said you were different from us."

Here, Number 10 scratched his head and said in a puzzled tone, "They said you came from another world. The reason they call you Zero is because you represent the beginning of a new era, from nothing to something."

"They also call you the key, saying only you can open the path to another world." Number 10 said in a dazed but earnest tone, "Through a door."

"After the two worlds are completely merged, we won't be freaks anymore, we won't have to hide in the shadows anymore."

"We will become the only gods of this new era."