Shen Muzhi was dressed and ready before five o'clock, and then she instructed the kitchen to prepare breakfast for seventy people.
It was exactly six o'clock when we left the villa. Two cars drove out of the gate one after the other.
The roads were clear in the early morning, and it only took an hour to drive from the villa to the Tongxin Welfare Home.
Their car stopped, and the two men who had stayed here to guard the gate the night before immediately came over to report that there was nothing unusual.
Shen Muzhi asked Butler Chen to knock on the door of the orphanage. Soon, two volunteers came to open the door. Butler Chen smiled kindly and said, "Are the children awake? My husband has had breakfast made and would like to bring it to the children. Is that alright?"
Upon hearing this, the volunteers assumed they were there to do a good deed and immediately welcomed them with smiles.
Butler Chen had people unload breakfast from the second van and carry it inside, box by box.
Shen Muzhi sat in a wheelchair, and Achao pushed him into the welfare home.
Xiang Zhilan and two other staff members were leading the children in brushing their teeth and washing up in the backyard when a volunteer ran in and told the director that someone was delivering breakfast to the children.
The dean immediately went to greet them, and Xiang Zhilan, after washing up with the dozen or so children she was taking care of, also went over.
On the long table on the lawn, various breakfasts were laid out, and several men in black were arranging the tableware in an orderly manner, which looked like a well-trained operation.
Xiang Zhilan paused for a moment. The children, already attracted by the fragrant breakfast, rushed to the long table. She smiled helplessly, "Don't rush, don't fight. Everyone, sit down quietly in your seats. Ayang, you're the big brother, so you need to look after your younger siblings..."
She caught a glimpse of a face out of the corner of her eye, and her voice stopped abruptly.
My neck stiffened for a moment, then I slowly turned my head.
A gentle breeze blew through the peach tree in the yard, and its leaves rustled down.
Through the fallen leaves, she saw Shen Muzhi sitting in a wheelchair, slowly approaching her. Her breath hitched, and her fingers trembled as she held her hand at her side.
He's alright, he's alive, he's back...
Xiang Zhilan stared at him blankly, her gaze unwavering.
Shen Muzhi frowned slightly when he saw Xiang Zhilan, who looked unusually thin under the peach tree.
It had only been a little over a week since I last saw her, and she had already lost weight. She was already tall, and now that she was thin, she looked like a bamboo shoot that had grown taller.
He pushed the wheelchair toward her and stopped in front of her.
"You're back." Xiang Zhilan looked down at him, clenched her fist, and greeted him calmly, as if she were talking to an old friend.
"Yes, I'm back." He replied casually, his eyes not missing Xiang Zhilan's tightly clenched fist.
Although she pretended to be calm, she must have been very surprised to see him. Was she more happy, more regretful, or more afraid?
"I..." Xiang Zhilan found herself at a loss for words. He had gone to Syria and gotten into trouble because of her. A simple apology seemed insufficient. But what else could they say to each other besides an apology? So many complicated things had happened, yet they were still just the most familiar strangers.
"Ah Lan." A cheerful voice broke through the strange silence between the two.
Xiang Zhilan looked up and saw Cheng Yu, a volunteer who had recently come to the welfare home. He was carrying a basket and walking towards her. As if he hadn't seen Shen Muzhi, he stood casually between her and Shen Muzhi.
"These are the goose eggs you wanted." Cheng Yu laughed heartily, handing the basket to Xiang Zhilan, and added, "I also bought a few pigeon eggs."
Xiang Zhilan took the basket, said thank you, and reached into her pocket to take out money to hand to Cheng Yu.
"No need," Cheng Yu quickly pressed her hand back, smiling politely.
Shen Muzhi watched as their hands touched, his eyes darkening.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
