Chapter 1 Homecoming

Three and a half hours of driving, crossing Da Teng City, finally brought them to the foot of rolling hills.

Mount Wu Lao was a key protected area of Da Teng. There were no dense forests of steel and concrete here. The mountain roads weren't steep; on the contrary, they were quite wide, and the light chirping of birds echoed above. Only the sky was drizzling, as if covering the view with a layer of oilcloth. No matter how hard one tried to look into the distance, one could only see the hazy shadows of a few peaks.

"These days, the business of scenic spots is really tough," Gu Shen said. "The signal here is bad, and the internet speed is slow. Most people will dislike it, thinking it's an uncivilized wilderness. It's just a mountainous area... We always have to leave something behind."

"An uncivilized wilderness..."

"I don't think so."

Nan Jin turned off the music and opened the car window. She took a deep breath of fresh air. "This is how nature should be. Living here, you can breathe the most natural fresh air. Although Da Du District is prosperous and has high-powered air purifiers everywhere, the air there... I always feel it smells different from here."

"The grass is always greener on the other side."

Gu Shen shrugged. "Those who occasionally come to this kind of place are mostly upper-class people who think the air in Da Du District isn't so good. Actually, if you really want to talk about the difference, the air filtered by purifiers is only cleaner. After [Deep Sea] connected the world, man-made landscapes are more beautiful and intelligent than natural landscapes. If it weren't for the poor terrain here, it would probably have been shut down long ago."

As they approached the huge mountain shadow at the end of their vision, the car's speed increased. This wide mountain road wasn't climbing upwards, but rather sliding downwards... At the foot of the mountain was a basin, low in the middle and high all around, forming a ring. No wonder so much water accumulated when it rained.

"Alright, alright, we're almost there."

Gu Shen took a deep breath. He straightened his shirt collar. After checking his balance, Gu Shen had been considering the matter of "returning home in glory," and for this, he had reluctantly bought a new outfit.

Actually, it was just a plain white shirt, paired with a work jacket. He hadn't changed his pants or shoes.

The car stopped at the entrance of the orphanage. The iron fence creaked in the wind, and raindrops splashed on it. Inside were several snow-white, red-brick buildings. Compared to the flat apartments in the city center... this style of decoration did have a sense of age.

The sign at the entrance read "Morning Light" in Chinese characters (Chen Guang). It was surrounded by crooked crayon scribbles, drawing balloons, white clouds, the sun, and running children.

Nan Jin looked thoughtfully at another black car parked not far from the orphanage.

"You don't have to get out of the car later, Senior Sister."

Gu Shen's mood became inexplicably nervous. He took several deep breaths to calm himself down.

He got out of the car, opened the trunk, carried two large boxes of milk and a basket of eggs in his left hand, and a large bag of various heavy gift boxes in his right. Just as he was about to jog in the rain, an umbrella opened over his head.

"I'll give you a ride, and take a look along the way."

Nan Jin spoke softly. She was carrying a large bag of vegetables, hugging the orange cat in her arms, and holding an umbrella for Gu Shen with her other hand. Perhaps because she had exchanged her sunglasses for black-rimmed glasses, her usually fierce face didn't have so much hostility.

"Oh, oh, oh..."

Gu Shen was a little overwhelmed. He squeezed under the umbrella with Nan Jin and hurried forward with small steps, his head down. As he pushed open the iron gate, there was a loud bang, scaring him.

The ribbons of the hand-held confetti cannons sprayed out, falling on the umbrella. Children, who had been hiding on both sides of the courtyard wall and waiting for who knows how long, suddenly rushed out and circled the umbrella.

"Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome—"

"Welcome, welcome, a warm welcome—"

Gu Shen was surrounded by the children in the rain, turning around and around, and was a little at a loss. He looked at these familiar and unfamiliar faces, and a sour feeling of emotion surged in his heart.

When he left, they weren't so tall. The little ones who could only hug his legs before now had several who had grown to his chest.

They had changed a lot in two years.

But what hadn't changed was the innocence in their eyes and the childishness on their faces.

No matter how old they got, they were still children.

"Welcome back, Brother Shen!!"

After the children made a fuss, they each took something from Gu Shen's hands.

Under the eaves, an old woman knitting a sweater waved to Gu Shen, her head full of white hair, her face full of kindness. "They were so happy to hear you were coming back. These are the leftover confetti cannons from other people's weddings. San Pao and the others saved them for a long time and couldn't bear to use them. They took them all out today."

Gu Shen had confetti ribbons hanging from his hair, like a chicken coop on his head. He shook his head and smiled, "You took out all your treasured possessions? These little brats still have some conscience."

San Pao was the smallest of the children, but he was the first to set off the confetti cannon and the first to take something from Gu Shen's hand.

At this moment, he excitedly opened the "gift box" and let out a wail: "Brother Shen! Why is it all meat!"

The gift box was full of plain meat, eggs, and milk.

He had been in a hurry to leave and forgot to buy toys. Gu Shen coughed, "Next time, definitely next time."

"It's good to have meat! It means Brother Shen cares about your height!" Another child laughed, "You're the only one who hasn't grown taller in the past two years."

San Pao spat and raised a preserved chicken leg as if to hit him.

Several children opened the gift boxes and had a great time.

"And this is...?"

The old woman looked at the girl holding the umbrella, with a hint of surprise in her eyes. Such a gentle and beautiful woman could only be seen on television.

Gu Shen wanted to introduce Nan Jin, but for a moment he didn't know how to introduce her... Could he tell the old woman that this was his great benefactor who had saved his life, and now was practically his sworn brother?

He scratched his head, but before he could open his mouth.

"Hello, Grandma, I'm Gu Shen's senior sister. We work at the research institute in Da Teng City. This is my business card." Nan Jin smiled gently and handed over a card. "Gu Shen is very good at his studies, very excellent, and was favored by my tutor. You can understand it as... a recommendation."

"A recommendation?" The old woman took the business card, stunned, and looked at Gu Shen in disbelief.

"Yes, yes, yes... a recommendation..." Gu Shen said quickly, "I accidentally got into a research institute..."

The orange cat lazily watched the show in Nan Jin's arms, and couldn't help but chuckle when it saw this.

Gu Shen, who was usually so good at acting, almost messed up on this matter.

"I don't understand what's on the business card..."

The old woman squinted and looked at it carefully. She didn't understand the complicated job description, she only remembered the name "Nan Jin."

"Thank you, miss. Gu Shen must have caused you a lot of trouble, right?" The old woman handed the business card back with both hands, then said meaningfully, "Xiao Gu, I know you can have a good life outside, but it's not easy to meet someone who is good to you... You must cherish it."

"Grandma, what are you talking about..."

Gu Shen sighed and couldn't explain.

He completely understood what the old woman was thinking.

Who wouldn't like such a considerate, gentle, and beautiful older sister? Who would have thought that this beautiful older sister was usually a killer who carried three long knives around her waist and started fighting at the slightest disagreement?

"I'm back this time for the house repair."

Gu Shen took out the card and said seriously, "The teacher at the research institute is very kind to me and gave me a large scholarship. Grandma, didn't you say the house often leaks? And San Pao and the others have to go to school, and there are miscellaneous expenses in addition to the government subsidies. In short... I'll take care of all of this!"

This was said with a lot of confidence.

The feeling of returning home in glory... was great.

But Gu Shen didn't get the expected feedback. The old woman just looked at him with a smile, without much reaction.

"Ah?"

Gu Shen raised the card, his face surprised, and a little discouraged. "Grandma, why do you have this expression?"

The old woman smiled at Nan Jin, "Miss, I want to have a private chat with Xiao Gu... There's fruit in the hall, and tea is ready. Please wait a moment."

"You're too kind." Nan Jin smiled, "I just want to take a walk."

The moment she turned to leave, the orange cat meowed and darted out. Nan Jin was a little surprised, but the orange cat slipped away too quickly and disappeared in an instant.

…

The old woman pulled Gu Shen towards the stairs.

"Grandma, why are you being so mysterious..." Gu Shen was a little confused.

"Xiao Gu, it's been a long time since I've seen such a beautiful girl. Your senior sister is as beautiful as the stars on the screen." When they reached the second floor, the old woman's eyes were full of smiles. "You have to treat her well, don't bully her just because she's a delicate and weak girl."

Gu Shen: "???"

Delicate and weak?

It was this delicate and weak girl who beat him a hundred times every day!

A hundred times, ah, a hundred times.

"This really is just my senior sister," Gu Shen tried to explain seriously, but he knew that the smile in the old woman's eyes clearly meant, "Keep making excuses."

What senior sister would drive you so far?

"I already have a girlfriend!"

With a flash of inspiration, Gu Shen said seriously, boasting, "She's even more beautiful than those stars on TV. I'll bring her to see you next time if I have the chance."

"Oh, ho, ho, ho... I misunderstood."

The old woman understood at once, both surprised and delighted, her face beaming with joy. "Xiao Gu, you really... surprised me too much. Then I can rest assured."

He finally explained.

Gu Shen breathed a sigh of relief, a wry smile in his heart. He originally thought that this money in his card would make the old woman happier, but he didn't expect the old woman to be more concerned about his "major life event."

"You don't need to help with the house repair... I can handle it myself."

The old woman's eyes showed a proud smile. "A few days ago, a gentleman contacted us, saying that he wanted to sponsor a sum of money to help the orphanage renovate. He's coming here today to inspect the place. Nowadays, who would seriously conduct an on-site inspection? He must be doing practical things. If we can get the sponsorship, we won't have to worry about the orphanage's expenses in the future."

"Also..."

Speaking of this, the old woman lowered her voice, "You can tell he's very rich just by looking at him. You'll know later."

"Sponsorship... inspection..."

Gu Shen was stunned. Only now did he remember that there was indeed a second car parked at the entrance of the orphanage. At that time, he was nervous about the upcoming meeting and ignored this detail.

"This gentleman is on the rooftop. I'll take you to see him."

The old woman smiled, picked up her clothes, and led Gu Shen upstairs.

The red brick building had four floors. The rooftop on the top floor was usually used to grow some flowers and plants.

The rain was fine and pouring.

A man in a suit carrying a briefcase stood at the entrance of the rooftop. He was holding an umbrella and standing alone in the center of the rooftop, looking out at the more distant mountains and mist.

The old woman's laughter came from behind.

"Mr. Han, sorry to keep you waiting."

The man in the suit slowly turned his head, and the arc of his gold-rimmed glasses reflected the figures of an old woman and a young man.

He smiled and said, "It hasn't been long."