Chapter 220 Scene 7 (Inverted V) That Child
"Hey, grandma, I was just kidding. Are you not angry?"
"snort!"
"grandmother!"
"Alright, alright, both of you, be quiet." Old Jiang glared at He Fangying and the girl who were "entangled" in each other. "That girl's reticence doesn't seem to be due to her personality."
"Wait, Old Jiang, you're saying she can't speak?" He Fangying's eyes widened in surprise. "But, but, then how did she survive? If I remember correctly, your orphanage is in a very remote location, right? How could she have found it on her own?"
"That's why I asked you to come."
The dazzling sun rose from the ravine directly opposite the car, shining brightly red on the few people.
Without turning his head, Lao Jiang casually put his sunglasses on He Fangying's nose. Then, squinting his eyes, he continued, "You should know that they've been selecting their 'pets' from the city lately. Tsk, the term 'pet' isn't quite accurate, but as long as you understand the meaning, it's fine."
"Oh, I know. I heard they're selecting orphans to be their... spokespeople, to help them shape the city into what they want."
"Yes, that's right. So, a child who came here alone, covered in scars, unable to speak, yet extremely intelligent, I really can't help but suspect that she is..."
"Hey, it's okay, Lao Jiang, don't think too much, I will help you solve it."
"Who asked you to touch my head?!!!"
"To comfort you!" He Fangying's hand on Lao Jiang's head trembled, and she took it back awkwardly. "This is what I do when Xiaobao is unhappy. It obviously works very well..."
"I'm not Xiaobao!"
"B-but you're my sister!"
"Who is your sister?"
"We're not-- wuuuuuuuuuuuuu?!"
Old Jiang's hair stood up in anger, reaching the roof of the car. "He Fangying! You messed up my hair, pay me!"
“Oh, oh…”
"I, this is me, this is me—He Fangying, just wait, your lunch today will only be corn and sweet potatoes!"
"What?! No! Lao Jiang, Lao Jiang! No!!"
"If you keep talking, you'll only have bark to eat!!!"
“Old Jiang…”
He Fangying leaned pitifully on Lao Jiang's shoulder, and rubbed her eyes with the onion that she had hidden in her sleeve at some point, and tears immediately flowed out.
"Old Jiang, wuwuwu, I... I really don't want to eat..."
"Grandma, it smells so strong of onions."
“…”
“…”
“…”
"Haha." Old Jiang sneered.
"Uh, cough, cough," He Fangying coughed awkwardly a few times and changed the subject. "Um, Lao Jiang, should we talk about that child first?"
Old Jiang glanced at He Fangying and said, "...What do you want to know?"
"You said you asked me to come here for her matter. Does that mean I have to use that on that child?"
"That's the last resort. You can perform some 'normal' plays for them first. If the child reacts normally, then that won't be necessary."
"But those plays..."
"He Fangying, do you know how many children there are in the orphanage?"
"More than a hundred?"
"Yes, more than a hundred, a number that will always keep us in financial difficulty."
“…”
"If that child is really theirs, then He Fangying, what do you think their purpose is in having her come here?"
“Kill, kill…”
"Yes, killing. That's why, He Fangying, you didn't dare to perform for them because you were afraid they would have psychological trauma. But those plays are just the reality of this city. One day, they will walk out of this shadow and into reality."
"So, even if there are psychological traumas, it's better than dying a violent death."
"...Old Jiang, you're not the same as before."
"People like that won't live long, He Fangying. I understood it when I witnessed their death with my own eyes." Lao Jiang's eyes changed and became a little dim.
The glow of the red sun shone in her eyes, flowing gracefully and gradually burning into a sea of fire.
"Living here, we have no choice but to assimilate with it little by little, becoming hard-hearted and cruel, isn't that right?"
“…”
"Before, I was controlled by my husband in every way. I was like a walking corpse, gradually being corroded by this miserable life. But now... he is dead, my husband is dead, and I am free again!"
"you……"
"I never thought he would die before, but the facts are right in front of me. Even the most terrifying things will die. Besides, he has never been a terrifying thing."
"I don't know who these 'they' are, but why are you so willing to be assimilated? We clearly have a choice."
"Mother."
"Old Jiang, right? You made this car yourself, right? And the orphanage? You're clearly a capable, intelligent, and kind person, but why are you willing to be assimilated by them? Why are you willing to be eaten bit by bit by this cannibalistic city?"
"You can resist, you have the ability to resist, you clearly—"
"You're right. This city needs people like you," Lao Jiang said. "Just do what you think. I wish you success."
“…”
“…”
"Uh, Lao Jiang, please don't undermine the self-confidence of young people too much."
"I just wish her success. How did that discourage her?"
"Uh, oh, it seems not... Then Xiaobao, you take care of your mother. I will be very busy in a while, so you can just walk around casually."
"I know, Grandma."
“…”
"Yeah, good boy."
"Hey, Mom, thank you for bringing us candy! But who are these for?"
"I'm here to put on a show for you," Lao Jiang squatted down, looked the girl holding the doll in the eye, smiled gently, and touched her head. "Xiaoyang, go call everyone to gather in the activity room."
"Okay! Mom, I'll go right away!" The girl called Lamb cheered excitedly, blinked her eyes with horizontal pupils, and ran to the yard.
"Run slower!"
"I know!"
"she……?"
"Children who have been artificially transformed. There are still many here. I hope it won't scare you."
"No, no! Of course not, right, Xiaobao?" He Fangying waved her hand quickly, then turned around and yelled at the two nuts stuck together in her pocket, "You'd better explain to me what this thing on your back is!"
"..." He Yuezhe grabbed her hanging sleeve and jumped out of her pocket, "My friend."
"Your friend???"
"Yes, my friend." After the poor nut's coquettish explanation, He Yuezhe now fully believed that it was indeed his friend. "Let's go shopping."
"No, wait, don't go, if you get lost..."
Before He Fangying could finish her words, He Yuezhe had already jumped down from her sleeve, using the nut as a cushion, and successfully landed on the ground unharmed.
"Aren't we partners? Where are you going?!?"
"Looking for someone." He Yuezhe winked at her, and quickly ran in through a dog hole next to the orphanage door with Walnut on his back.
"Huh??!" He Fangying was shocked.
"Grandma, what's wrong?"
"No, nothing, nothing, let's go in."
"good."
"You can rehearse in the small house next to the activity room first. I will organize the children. They are all very obedient. You don't have to be nervous."
"Of course I believe you, but, but..."
"Just what?"
"Why……"
"If you don't finish your words, you'll be struck by lightning."
"boom--!!!"
“Huh? Aa ...
Turning to He Yuezhe, she had already climbed to the roof of a house carrying the nut doll that called itself "Qu Biexing" on her back.
"Sister, do you really not remember me at all?"
He Yuezhe was carefully searching for her target. Upon hearing this, she patted Jianguo soothingly and said, "Don't cry."
She really didn't remember who this Nut was. After all, her memory had been problematic for some time, and it always took her a lot of time to sort out her current situation and goals.
"Growing up with the girl", "To gain energy", "Unlimited"... Hmm...
But even so, she has never doubted any decisions and goals she has made in the present, future and past.
Maybe she is a little stubborn, she has never thought that losing her memory is a bad thing. After all, she is herself, whether she loses her memory or not, any decision she makes will not change. Even if she really loses it, she must believe that she will not change her decision because of losing her memory, so she will let her memory be lost.
After all, she has always believed in herself.
"Sister, it's okay. Even if you forget Qu Biexing, it doesn't matter. Qu Biexing will get to know you again!"
"...Don't let yourself be moved." He Yuezhe climbed up the tree next to the house.
"Sister, aren't you touched?"
"I don't think so."
"Okay..." Little Nut wrinkled his face in grievance and buried his head in He Yuezhe's back. The furry feeling made He Yuezhe feel a little warm.
It was strange. A doll and a nut, two things that shouldn't have souls, how could they be leaning against each other at this moment, making her feel so happy, warm and fortunate?
"Ha." He Yuezhe couldn't help laughing.
"..." And the little nut on her back had fallen asleep sobbing, breathing heavily and unsteadily.
From one rooftop, to a treetop, then to another rooftop, and another rooftop, He Yuezhe kept searching for the figure in her few remaining memories that seemed to never disappear.
He Fangying's play had not yet begun, but the children had already gathered towards the activity room early.
In the past, after He Fangying died, He Yuezhe was taken to this orphanage by He Fangying's old classmate Jiang Ruoshi. Naturally, she met the girl who was full of doubts as they talked about.
—Statement. Her little narrative.
This world is scary, but that girl is so indifferent. He Yuezhe, who was still a child, was attracted to her unconsciously. That girl did not become the person they suspected like she is now.
Later, they became close friends. Until now.
As for Xiaoshu's life before becoming friends with her...
Because she was too thin and didn't like to talk, she was considered an outsider. Her peers always bullied her, and she never fought back.
...Just like, just like what He Yuezhe is seeing now.
A thin figure was blocked at the door of the room by a group of children. They ordered her to clean here and there and drew many strange pictures on her body.
He Yuezhe didn't know if Jiang Ruoshi had noticed these things, but since these things were still happening, she couldn't just sit back and watch...
"What are you doing?! Are you bullying others just because you have more people?!"
He Yuezhe was about to jump off the roof, but when he saw the person coming, his eyes widened and he froze.
"Who are you? How did you get in?! Do you believe we can let Mother Jiang take care of you?!"
"You, you are all the same children. The world is already bad enough, why, why do you still want to bully others?!"
"We just asked her to clean the room, that's what she was supposed to do!"
"But, but it's your turn today, isn't it? Throwing your own work onto others is irresponsible. After being here for so long, is this all you've learned about bullying others?!"
"Why do you—"
“Bang!!”
"I didn't want to do anything, but you guys have gone too far. I think I need to teach you a lesson!"
"Xiao, Shu...?"
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