By the end of Guan Xia's conversation with Mother Chen, a young staff mber hurried over. He looked sowhat familiar, but Guan Xia couldn’t recall his na. After a brief greeting, he enthusiastically took the gifts they had brought for the children.
He then offered to give them a tour of the orphanage, but the group declined, preferring to look around on their own.
After bidding farewell to Mother Chen and watching her disappear down the path with a child in her arms, Pang Le leaned closer to Guan Xia and asked quietly, "What were you two talking about? You didn’t look too good."
eting Pang Le’s concerned gaze, Guan Xia hesitated for a mont before deciding to be honest. "Mother Chen told so things about ng Lan," she murmured.
Guan Xia recounted everything without holding back, and Pang Le frowned, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "I know this might sound like I’m stirring trouble, but sothing about ng Lan feels off. Think about it—after reuniting with her family, so many big things happened. Based on what you’ve said before, she’s soone who loves to share everything. Logically, shouldn’t she have reached out to you, of all people? You’re the only one who knows her whole story. If she wanted understanding or soone to relate to, you’d be the obvious choice. The fact that she suddenly went silent makes think there’s sothing she can’t tell you, sothing she’s afraid you’d figure out if she kept in touch. That’s why she cut contact completely."
Guan Xia listened, torn between finding Pang Le’s reasoning sound and feeling it didn’t quite hold up. Maybe it was because she was too close to the situation, but the more she thought about it, the more tangled her thoughts beca. Finally, she shook her head. "Well, her assistant is here now. She might ignore my calls, but she can’t ignore her assistant’s. I’ll ask directly. If she still refuses to talk to , then I’ll let it go. We were good friends, but that doesn’t an the bond lasts forever. Life is like a train—people get on and off. If she chose to step off, I can’t force her to stay."
Guan Xia cherished everyone who had been part of her life, but there was a condition—they had to value her feelings and reciprocate her efforts.
Knowing Guan Xia’s temperant, Pang Le didn’t press further, simply giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
As the host, Guan Xia couldn’t leave Xu Nian and the others unattended. After checking in with them, the group headed toward the training center, with Guan Xia providing comntary along the way.
It had been years since she left the orphanage, and the place had flourished thanks to the success of its forr residents. Even Guan Xia found herself marveling at the changes.
Apart from the slightly worn-out dormitory, many facilities were new—smooth, wide pathways, well-trimd lawns, and a once-barren little park now bursting with vibrant flowers. The freshly painted gazebo made it easy to imagine children gathering there after school, studying or playing in the evenings.
As they passed the basketball court and rubberized track, the training center was still so distance away, but they could vaguely make out a small patch of land behind it.
Pang Le’s curiosity flared. "What’s that? It looks like farmland," she said, squinting.
Guan Xia took a closer look and smiled. "It’s a vegetable garden. It’s been there for as long as I can rember, always the sa size. Before college, I’d help out every few days—picking vegetables when I was little, then watering, weeding, and even fertilizing when I got older."
It sounded like hard work, but with so many children in the orphanage, tasks were divided, making the daily chores manageable. Looking back, Guan Xia actually rembered it as a peaceful ti—no need to think, just focus on the task at hand. So of the livelier kids would chat while working, and ng Lan often used those monts to share stories from her day.
The thought of ng Lan dampened Guan Xia’s mood again, but luckily, they arrived at the training center, and she quickly shook off the gloom, leading the way inside.
The building hadn’t been there two years ago, so even while walking, Guan Xia found herself studying the surroundings. When they reached the second floor, her steps slowed as she noticed the portraits lining the hallway walls.
She had expected them to feature historical figures, like in schools, but instead, they showcased individuals who had contributed significantly to the orphanage’s developnt, as well as forr residents who had achieved remarkable success. Guan Xia easily spotted Wu Yang, the "President Wu" Mother Chen had often ntioned.
His appearance didn’t stand out—a man in his forties with a round face, regular features, and clear, kind eyes. His gentle smile made him seem more like a teacher than a businessman, at least to Guan Xia, who admitted her impression might be stereotypical.
As she read the list of his accomplishnts and contributions beneath the portrait, Pang Le called out, "Guan Xia, co here! There’s a portrait of you too!"
Surprised, Guan Xia hurried over and indeed found her own image—a photo taken two years ago in front of the dormitory at Mother Chen’s request. She looked relaxed and happy, likely because she had just earned a substantial sum, finally breaking free from poverty.
Guan Xia rarely took photos or looked in mirrors, so seeing herself now felt surreal.
Her appearance in this world was nothing like her past life. Back then, she had been petite but carried herself with a commanding presence—wearing heels, she could easily project an aura of soone 175 cm tall. She had loved her sharp phoenix eyes and angular face, which made her look intimidating when she frowned.
Here, though she was five centiters taller, her features were delicate and gentle, almost too soft—like soone easy to push around. Every ti she saw herself, it felt off, making her miss her old self.
But Guan Xia wasn’t one to dwell on the past. To avoid nostalgia, she deliberately ignored her current appearance. Now, staring at the portrait, her expression remained calm, but inwardly, she couldn’t help but grimace. Too harmless, she thought. I much preferred my old sharp edges.
Guan Xia realized she was once again reminiscing about the face from the past and imdiately averted her gaze. Then, she noticed the portraits lining the hallway—many outstanding individuals who had grown up in the orphanage. There were professors from prestigious universities, authors whose books she had purchased, familiar actors, and even police officers, doctors, and soldiers.
Pang Le couldn’t help but marvel as they walked along, "No wonder your orphanage is so well-run. Look at all the talented people it’s nurtured."
Now, Guan Xia understood the purpose of displaying these portraits—to inspire every child in the orphanage. Even without parents by their side, they could still have a brilliant future.
After viewing the hallway gallery, Guan Xia suddenly rembered she still had business to attend to. Fortunately, ng Lan’s assistant hadn’t left yet. Pushing open the door to the grand auditorium, which was typically used for performances, Guan Xia imdiately spotted the young woman surrounded by children and staff.
Guan Xia waited patiently until most of the children had dispersed, leaving only the staff standing at a polite distance. Seizing the mont, she approached and extended her hand warmly. "Hello, I’m Guan Xia, a childhood friend of ng Lan’s."
The young woman didn’t seem surprised by Guan Xia’s appearance. Instead, she studied her curiously for a mont before smiling and shaking her hand. "Hello, I’m Yan Fei, Assistant to CEO ng Lan. I recognize you—your portrait hangs in the hallway. No wonder you and ng Lan beca friends. Both of you are exceptional."
Catching the implication in her words, Guan Xia felt a slight easing of the tension in her chest. After their handshake, she ventured cautiously, "You don’t seem surprised that I sought you out. Does that an ng Lan ntioned to you?"
Yan Fei chuckled, answering with surprising candor. "Yes. Before coming here, though ng Lan hesitated, she still instructed that if soone nad Guan Xia approached , I could answer any questions I knew the answers to."
Guan Xia was genuinely taken aback. After a pause, she tested the waters further. "What if I wanted to contact her?"
Without hesitation, Yan Fei pulled out her phone. "Please wait a mont. I’ll call ng Lan now to see if she’s willing to speak with you."
As Yan Fei stepped aside to make the call, Guan Xia waited anxiously. Pang Le murmured quietly, "Seems ng Lan still cares about you. But sothing feels off—her behavior seems contradictory. I can’t shake the feeling there’s more to this."
Absentmindedly, Pang Le patted Guan Xia’s shoulder in a comforting gesture.
To Guan Xia, every second dragged like an eternity, but in reality, barely two minutes passed before Yan Fei returned, holding out her phone. "ng Lan just finished a eting. She has fifteen minutes before the next one. You can talk now."
Guan Xia hesitated, suddenly finding the situation absurd. For a fleeting mont, she didn’t even want to take the call. But in the end, her desire for answers won out.
Taking the phone, her emotions in turmoil, she managed to speak calmly. "ng Lan?"
The familiar voice on the other end was far more animated than hers, as if waiting eagerly for this call. "Guan Xia? The last ti I heard your voice was years ago. I’ve missed it so much. How have you been? I saw your comic series concluded—readers loved it! Congratulations on fulfilling your dream. Did you buy your own place yet? Listen, you can skip everything else, but having a ho of your own is non-negotiable."
What baffled Guan Xia was how ng Lan spoke as if they’d never lost touch, chattering affectionately, offering advice left and right, as though worried Guan Xia couldn’t take care of herself.
The resentnt and confusion Guan Xia had carried for years softened slightly under ng Lan’s relentless warmth—but only slightly. When ng Lan finally paused, Guan Xia asked evenly, "All these years, why didn’t you reply to my ssages or answer my calls? I believe you had a reason, so I’m listening. Explain."
ng Lan seed to choke on her words, falling silent for a long mont before admitting sheepishly, "I... did sothing I shouldn’t have. You know —if we kept in touch, I wouldn’t have been able to keep it from you. But I didn’t want to ruin our friendship or disrupt your life, so I cut off contact."
Guan Xia let out a cold laugh, her mind racing. What could ng Lan have done to betray her?
Before eting Pang Le, Guan Xia had been too busy for many friends—ng Lan was practically her only one. There was no one for ng Lan to badmouth behind her back. Romance was out of the question—she’d been too focused on work to even et n. Was it about her comics? Had ng Lan been jealous of her success, leaving negative reviews or reporting her work?
Just as Guan Xia’s thoughts spiraled, ng Lan cleared her throat awkwardly. "So... you know how I found my birth parents? I was so happy that I put myself in your shoes. I thought if you found yours, you’d be happy too. So... I went looking for your birth parents without asking you."
Guan Xia: "..."
This was the last thing she’d expected. Yet, upon reflection, it infuriated her. She hated when people made decisions "for her own good" without consulting her.
Taking deep breaths to keep her temper in check, Guan Xia asked as calmly as she could, "And? Did you confirm they’re really my parents? You didn’t tell them about , did you?"
A second later, relief washed over her. If ng Lan had revealed her existence, she wouldn’t have been able to peacefully finish her comic series or buy and decorate her ho.
Sure enough, ng Lan rushed to clarify, "No, no! After investigating, I realized you wouldn’t want to et them, so I just observed for a while and left. Never spoke a word to them. As for confirmation... I had your hair."
Guan Xia: "..."
Her expression twisted in disbelief. After all their years together, not only had ng Lan searched for her own parents—she’d taken it upon herself to hunt for Guan Xia’s, even secretly keeping strands of her hair.
Struggling to contain herself, Guan Xia finally snapped, her voice sharp. "What were you thinking? This is beyond unreasonable. How could you do sothing like this without my consent? You were right—this does affect our friendship. If you weren’t on the other end of this call, ng Lan, I swear I’d punch you."
ng Lan's tone grew increasingly guilty as she said, "That's why I didn't dare contact you—I was afraid you'd scold . But honestly, aren’t you even a little curious? What kind of people were your parents? Were you abducted or abandoned? Why were you taken, or why were you cast aside? Don’t you want to know?"
Guan Xia's emotions stirred, but rembering ng Lan’s earlier words, she kept her expression blank and replied, "I’m 25 now. I have my own career, my own life. Those 'whys' don’t matter to anymore. They’d only make things worse, not better. So no, I’m not curious."
ng Lan was montarily silenced by Guan Xia’s response. Just as Guan Xia thought the conversation was over, ng Lan suddenly asked in a hoarse voice, "But don’t you feel resentful, Guan Xia? They brought you into this world—how could they just discard you like that? You’re a person, not so pet. If they gave you life, they should have raised you properly, not left you on the streets to live or die. Have you ever thought about what might’ve happened if no one had found you and taken you to the orphanage? You could’ve ended up in a filthy dumpster before you even had a chance to open your eyes and see how beautiful this world is. What right did they have to take that from you? They had no right—none! They were the ones who should’ve loved you the most!"
ng Lan’s voice rose with agitation, startling Guan Xia and sending an inexplicable pang through her chest. Even if she’d been slow to notice before, she could tell now—ng Lan wasn’t just upset. This was sothing deeper, sothing raw and bitter, as if she’d been pushed to the edge.
Guan Xia had seen ng Lan’s anger before, but it had always been tangled with longing, a desperate ache for the love of parents she’d never known. This fury, though—this was different. It was darker, heavier.
Suddenly, Mother Chen’s words about ng Lan’s past and Pang Le’s analysis flashed through Guan Xia’s mind. She wasn’t just suspicious anymore; she was certain. Whatever had happened after ng Lan found her birth parents—it hadn’t been simple. It couldn’t have been.
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