Yin Qingcheng’s gaze was terrifying.
She stared directly at Chen the Caregiver.
Despite herself, Chen felt a chill under that piercing stare.
However, Chen was used to being overbearing. Especially to these orphans, she was the undisputed authority. She wouldn’t back down just because of a look.
In fact, the surge of fear she felt only made her feel ashamed.
How could she be afraid of an orphan? A mere five or six-year-old child?
“Slap!”
A resounding slap sent Yin Qingcheng flying.
Chen had put her full strength into {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} that strike.
Yin Qingcheng fell to the filthy ground. The pain she could tolerate, but the humiliation — that was unbearable!
Since birth, she had been a prodigy, born to powerful parents.
Later, she was accepted into the Heartless Immortal Sect, where she cultivated the Heartless Dao.
Untouched by worldly filth, aloof and untouchable.
She had come here for her husband, Lu Ye. These were merely temporary tribulations; she could endure them.
A foot pressed down on her head, grinding her face into the mud.
“What are you looking at? Get back to work!”
Chen’s thunderous roar echoed through the air, causing every child to flinch.
“I was wrong...” Yin Qingcheng muttered softly.
She was here for Lu Ye.
She could endure the humiliation.
“What? Did you not eat today?” Chen dug her finger into her ear, feigning indifference.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong,” Yin Qingcheng repeated, her voice small and meek.
“If you dare look at me like that again, I’ll gouge your eyes out!”
Chen kicked her in the stomach, sending her sliding two meters across the muddy ground.
“No lunch for you today!”
Yin Qingcheng gritted her teeth, enduring the pain as she struggled to her feet.
Quietly, she joined the line of children sorting through the piles of garbage.
But it was clear — this grudge was not something Yin Qingcheng would forget.
Through the Three Lives Stone, she had entered Lu Ye’s Three Lives Tribulation. Here, she could freely choose her role and naturally integrate into the environment without raising any suspicion.
Choosing a role, of course, meant choosing someone close to Lu Ye’s age. If she posed as a caregiver, she wouldn’t be his lover but his mother.
...
Meanwhile, Lu Ye was being led by Shen Xitong, who held his small hand tightly.
Suddenly, Shen Xitong stopped and turned to face him.
She stared at the mini version of Lu Ye, a smile creeping onto her face.
She couldn’t help herself — she pinched his chubby cheeks.
“This little guy is actually pretty cute!”
In front of someone his own age, Lu Ye seemed a bit more open.
But he wasn’t used to being touched so intimately. He turned his face away.
“Lu Ye, remember, my name is Shen Xitong, but my nickname is Master. You can call me Master. Go on, try it!” Shen Xitong said, grinning widely.
“That’s a lie,” Lu Ye said in his childish voice.
“Ding! Where did I lie?”
“Master is a bad word. I shouldn’t say it.”
Shen Xitong’s face twisted with indignation. “You little brat! You know it’s a bad word, yet back then, you tricked me into calling you Master!”
Shen Xitong grabbed Lu Ye’s cheeks again and started swirling them around mercilessly.
Lu Ye was left dizzy from the spinning.
“Fine, fine. If you won’t call me Master, at least call me Big Sister. I’m older than you, after all.”
Master was inappropriate, but Big Sister sounded fine.
“Sister...” Lu Ye obediently called out.
“Awww! Such a good boy! You’re so well-behaved! From now on, you’ll call me Sister. Come on, Sister will take you to your room!”
All the dormitories housed eight children per room. For those under eight, there was no gender separation.
After eight, boys and girls were separated.
Shen Xitong’s bed was the second bunk in Room 401. She quickly tore off the sheets from the third bunk, placing Lu Ye’s things beside her own.
Shen Xitong began explaining the rules.
“First rule: The director’s words are always right. Even if you don’t understand, you must obey. If you don’t understand, it’s because you’re too young to comprehend.”
“Ding! What kind of bullsh*t rule is that? We’re not memorizing that!”
“Second rule: Everything that happens in the welfare home must never be mentioned to outsiders. If anyone asks about the welfare home, your answer is ‘I don’t know.’ Immediately report to the caregivers.”
“Ding! Another load of bullsh*t! Not memorizing that either!”
“Third rule: All activities in the welfare home are for the children’s health and development. Everything you experience here will become survival skills once you grow up. Thus, no one is allowed to resist or complain. Violators will be punished.”
“Ding! Absolute nonsense!”
“Fourth rule...”
Shen Xitong’s expression grew darker and darker. She had never imagined that before she met Lu Ye, he had been living in such a place.
“What do you think of these rules?” Shen Xitong asked.
Lu Ye hesitated for a moment.
“I think they’re good. I should obey them.”
Shen Xitong slammed her palm against the bed. “Good?! They’re treating you like a dog!”
Lu Ye’s eyes filled with suspicion and caution. No matter how Shen Xitong acted, he felt that these rules were good.
After all, how could he know that Shen Xitong wasn’t one of them?
“How about I take you and escape from here?” Shen Xitong asked, her eyes shining with excitement.
Lu Ye shook his head gently.
There was no way to escape.
And even if he managed to get out, what would he do? He was just a four-year-old, an orphan without parents, relatives, or anyone to take him in.
He wouldn’t survive.
Shen Xitong scratched her head in frustration.
“What, are you just going to sort through garbage?”
Lu Ye walked to the door, memorizing his bed’s location as he passed by.
“Let’s go. Let’s sort through the garbage.”
Lu Ye walked ahead. Shen Xitong was stunned. “Hey, I’m the big sister. I should be leading you. Why are you going on your own? Give me your hand. I’ll take you there.”
Lu Ye obediently placed his small hand in hers.
They arrived at the warehouse.
Chen the Caregiver narrowed her eyes.
“Shen Xitong, weren’t you supposed to be teaching him the rules? What are you doing back here?” she shouted.
“Auntie, Sister has already taught me the rules. I’m here to help you with the work,” Lu Ye said, looking up at the towering Chen, his voice soft and gentle.
Chen’s eyes widened in surprise. For a moment, her expression softened, but then her face turned as cold as steel.
“Oh? Is that so? You learned so quickly. Then let me ask you — what is the eighth rule?”
Lu Ye’s dark eyes glistened.
“If someone comes to adopt us, we have to act like we’re reluctant to leave. If the director shakes his head and says no, that means he approves of the adopter. Only then can we go with them. After leaving, we must never tell anyone about the welfare home and, every six months to a year, beg the adopter to donate money back to the welfare home.”
Chen’s eyes flashed with shock.
Though Lu Ye’s words weren’t exactly as written in the rules, the meaning was spot on.
A child this young?
Memorizing so quickly?
Holy crap, this kid’s a genius!
“Auntie, can I go help everyone now?” Lu Ye asked sweetly.
“Go ahead, you’re such a smart kid. Not like some people — dumb as a pig!”
As she said this, Chen shot a scornful look at Yin Qingcheng.
Yin Qingcheng’s face twisted in rage.
