Translator: CinderTL
His peripheral vision caught something. He turned his head and saw a single word written on the iron gate he had just pushed open:
Zero.
Is this the room's number?
Jiang Cheng frowned slightly. He seemed to vaguely recall something, and fragmented images flashed through his mind.
But before he could delve deeper, he heard a strange scraping sound.
It was faint, as if the person making the noise was being cautious.
He looked up and saw a door in the hallway open. A small head peeked out.
"Zero?" a voice called out, though muffled, it couldn't hide the surprise.
It was a child, a boy.
He couldn't make out the boy's features, but he looked to be around five or six years old.
Zero? Jiang Cheng's heart skipped a beat. This child seems to think I'm the owner of the room behind me.
He walked over casually. He could see that the boy's door also had a number on it: 4.
The boy from No. 4 glanced left and right, finding nothing amiss. Then he emerged from behind his door, tiptoeing toward Jiang Cheng. He spoke quickly: "Zero, how did you sneak out? If the Master finds out, you'll be punished again."
Though he said it with a smile, his tone sounded genuinely pleased.
Their relationship seemed quite close.
Jiang Cheng wanted to say something to brush it off, but the other boy didn't seem to doubt his identity at all. He simply grabbed Jiang Cheng's hand and pulled him in another direction.
Along the way, doors on both sides of the corridor kept opening. Behind each stood a child, varying in height, build, and gender. Some were boys, others girls.
"Zero's out?"
The news swept through the cold, sterile space like a gust of wind. The children cautiously emerged from their rooms.
He noticed that each door was numbered, starting with Zero, then No. 1, No. 2, No. 3... all the way to No. 12, and finally No. 13.
There were fourteen doors in total. Except for the one he had emerged from at the end of the corridor, the other thirteen lined the cold corridor walls, like guards flanking the door he had come through.
Jiang Cheng stopped in front of one door. Unlike the others, this one was already open. He peered inside—it was empty.
No one was there.
"No. 10," Jiang Cheng memorized the number.
Jiang Cheng noticed a boy from Gate No. 4 staring into the open gate. The boy, who had just emerged from Gate No. 4 with him, stopped and said enviously, "The teacher said No. 10 performed best and had the highest controllability, so he got to go out and play again."
Hearing this, a girl beside him huffed angrily, "Hmph! I did just as well! The teacher's just biased!" She raised her tiny fist, looking fierce.
"No. 8, don't talk nonsense. The teacher's orders are never wrong." The mature words spoken in a childish voice sounded strangely out of place.
Jiang Cheng turned to see a taller boy, who he sensed was also watching him. The taller boy seemed older than most of the children, and his demeanor was different when he spoke.
Scolded, the girl from Gate No. 8 immediately flared up. "No. 3!" she snapped, hands on her hips, glaring at the taller boy. "Don't talk to me like that! I don't need anyone telling me what to do!"
"Alright, alright, stop arguing or you'll attract the teacher," the child from Gate No. 4 warned. "Then our plan will be ruined."
Hearing No. 4's words, the girl who had been about to start a fierce argument, No. 8, immediately fell silent. The other children who had been egging her on also seemed to have had a bucket of cold water poured over them, and the situation was instantly brought under control.
It was clear that the man addressed as "Sir" held absolute authority here.
Jiang Cheng glanced at the children around him. They were no ordinary kids; otherwise, they wouldn't be confined in such a place.
Based on his experience, Jiang Cheng deduced that this must be some kind of orphanage.
The children were all dressed similarly, in uniform blue and white striped checkered clothing. Some wore slippers, while others were barefoot.
The floor was cold concrete, a surface no normal family would let their children walk on like this. Only orphans, unwanted and uncared for, would be left to endure such conditions.
Clearly, these were abandoned children.
"Hurry up, don't just stand there," No. 4 urged. "Let's go to our usual spot."
As if receiving a command, the children immediately lined up and began moving in a single direction. They walked cautiously, their footsteps light, and after making several turns, they continued climbing the stairs.
Finally, they turned into a tiny, secluded room at the end of a corridor.
The room was empty except for a small window. It had no glass, only a few heavily rusted iron bars across it.
The wind outside blew in, carrying a hint of warmth.
As soon as they entered, the children, as if guilty of something, turned and slammed the door shut. Then, they all crowded around the narrow window, peering outside.
The taller, older children managed to restrain themselves somewhat, but the younger ones pushed and shoved their way to the front, clinging to the window and staring out with wide, unblinking eyes.
Jiang Cheng had only seen such a scene at the zoo, with small animals waiting to be fed, but it felt different somehow.
Minutes ticked by, and just as Jiang Cheng was growing impatient, a sudden chorus of shouts erupted from the children. They turned and raced out the door.
Jiang Cheng was jostled around, stumbling and bewildered, before finally coming to a stop. After a moment, he walked to an empty window and peered outside. A figure entered his field of vision.
It was another child, dressed in the same uniform as the others. He was slightly chubby and carried a gray bag on his back.
Jiang Cheng immediately recognized him. This must be the child from Gate 10, the one whose door had been empty.
It seemed the other children had been waiting for him.
Curiosity piqued, Jiang Cheng turned and walked out the door.
When he first saw No. 10, Jiang Cheng was stunned. He had sensed that No. 10 was popular among the children, but he hadn't expected such a scene.
No. 8, the fierce girl, rushed straight at No. 10, clinging to him like a koala. "Wow! No. 10, you're finally back!"
"Hehe, No. 8 is the best! Guess what present I brought you!" No. 10 set down his bag, crouching down to avoid crushing the girl and steadying her with a hand.
Then, under No. 8's expectant gaze, he reached into the bag with a grin and pulled out a small object. "Look!"
It was a tiny hammer, barely larger than a keychain. You could probably buy one at a cheap goods store for less than 10 yuan.
"It's a hammer!" No. 8 snatched it up, her eyes shining with excitement.
Though their faces were obscured by a layer of mist that veiled everything in this world, Jiang Cheng could sense the joy radiating from the girl's eyes.
Next, like Santa Claus himself, No. 10 pulled out one worthless trinket after another from the tattered bag, distributing them to each child with a cheerful smile.
With each gift given, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd. The children huddled together, the scene more lively than a New Year's celebration.
No. 4 received a mask. After putting it on, No. 10 lifted him from behind and placed him on his shoulders.
Like a knight, No. 4 directed No. 10 to chase after the other children.
No. 3 received a book, while No. 6 was given a short sword.
Watching the children, Jiang Cheng suddenly realized something: since No. 10's return, the once cold and sterile orphanage had transformed into something that felt like a home.
(End of the Chapter)
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