A trip to the orphanage yielded significant revelations for Guan Xia, but the discoveries were utterly unexpected—so much so that they left her stunned and at a loss.
Guan Xia had never imagined that, from a very young age, without her knowledge, she, Meng Lan, and many other children had been under the watchful eyes of a criminal organization centered around Wu Yang. She couldn’t even fathom how long they had been observed and analyzed, nor how many children like Meng Lan had been lured into the organization’s grasp, manipulated and exploited.
If it had been mere speculation before, Guan Xia was now certain: Meng Lan’s past experiences were no coincidence. What chilled her to the bone was the realization that, beyond Meng Lan, countless other children had likely been ensnared by similar means in places she couldn’t see.
It was as if a thread connected everything. Though many questions remained unanswered, this thread tied together enough pieces for Guan Xia to suddenly understand much more.
It was then that Guan Xia realized how far she had come. Despite her heart pounding, her scalp tingling, and her entire body bristling with dread, she managed to maintain a calm expression. She even forced a natural smile as she asked Mother Chen, "It makes sense for the orphanage to have surveillance cameras, but why were they installed inside the house later? With so many children coming and going, especially girls, doesn’t it feel a bit intrusive?"
As she spoke, Guan Xia leaned forward, peering into the open bedroom, as if trying to spot any hidden cameras.
Mother Chen, still cheerfully serving dishes to everyone, casually refilled Guan Xia’s empty drink cup and replied, "We raised the same concern at first. Cameras outside were one thing, but inside the house? But then the director came to explain. The thing is, there are only so many caretakers here. A child needs care for 18 years, but new children arrive every year. Even though orphans mature faster than most, they’re still kids. Conflicts are inevitable—arguments, shoving, even some learning to lie and frame others. The accused kids naturally fight back, and things escalate. To curb this, the director decided to install cameras inside. But don’t worry, Guan Xia—they’re only in the living room, not the bedrooms or bathrooms. Since meals and homework happen in the living room, that’s where most disputes occur. Before, when kids fought, it was their word against each other. Now, with the cameras, it’s clear who’s telling the truth."
It was obvious that, despite the occasional inconvenience, Mother Chen saw the cameras as more beneficial than not. Her tone carried only mild complaint, mostly praising their usefulness.
Guan Xia focused on the key details, glossing over the rest. After Mother Chen’s explanation, she pressed further, "In all these years, besides me, has anyone else come back to visit?"
She racked her memory, listing several names of children around her age who had also been raised by Mother Chen, hoping to glean more information.
Mother Chen shook her head. "Many of them send money from time to time, but few have returned in person. Some call, though—they say they’re doing well now, with stable jobs and room to grow. Yuanyuan—the round-faced girl who used to share a room with you—mentioned that Mom Geng’s kids had all found leads about their birth parents. She only heard it in passing, though. Whether they actually found them, she didn’t know, and there’s been no news since."
Guan Xia’s heart skipped a beat. "Mom Geng’s kids? That would be…"
Before she could finish, Mother Chen nodded. "Yes, the ones you were inseparable from as a child—the kids Mom Geng raised, including Meng Lan."
Guan Xia struggled to keep her smile intact, murmuring, "What a coincidence. Meng Lan found her birth parents, and now those kids have leads too."
Mother Chen missed the implication in Guan Xia’s words, merely remarking with surprise, "It is strange, isn’t it? So many kids leave the orphanage wanting to find their birth parents if they’re alive, but most never do. Yet Mom Geng’s kids always seem to get leads. By the way, Guan Xia, you’ve been out of university for years now, and you’re doing well financially. Have you ever looked for your birth parents?"
Guan Xia shook her head silently. Mother Chen, mistaking her expression for sadness, quickly changed the subject.
But Guan Xia was deep in thought. She had never considered this angle before, but now, Mother Chen’s words made her realize something was amiss.
Mother Chen was right—countless children left the orphanage yearning to find their birth parents, but in a country so vast, how could it be so easy? Yet Mom Geng’s kids consistently got information.
Guan Xia couldn’t help but think of Meng Lan. Her experiences seemed bizarre, but they weren’t impossible to replicate. Perhaps those children, like Meng Lan, had been carefully selected. But why? Why were Mom Geng’s kids so special?
After much deliberation, only one possibility came to mind: among the children Mom Geng raised, at least one was a member of that criminal organization.
Guan Xia and her friends had arrived at the orphanage at noon. By the time they returned to the hotel, it was already dark.
Mother Chen was genuinely kind-hearted and overjoyed at Guan Xia’s success. After insisting they stay for lunch, she dragged them to dinner as well, introducing them to the seven or eight children currently under her care. Only after watching them interact warmly did she finally let the three of them leave.
Pang Le and Zhong Xiaoyu, naturally outgoing, thrived in such settings. But Guan Xia, accustomed to solitude and sparing with words, found the afternoon exhausting, draining what little social energy and patience she had.
Back at the hotel, she collapsed onto the small sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling for a good ten minutes before mustering the energy to sit up.
Noticing her state, Pang Le handed her an unopened bottle of water. Guan Xia gulped down half before twisting the cap back on, lost in thought. "The orphanage staff aren’t the problem, but there’s something seriously wrong with certain aspects. Our suspicions were right—the orphanage is one of the organization’s recruiting grounds."
Pang Le also gulped down half a bottle of water in one go and plopped down beside Guan Xia, saying, "I still can't quite believe it. How could someone be so deranged as to target an orphanage? What's in it for them?"
Pang Le couldn't wrap his head around it. "He's already filthy rich—so much money that he could lounge around for the rest of his life without a care. If he wanted to prove his social worth, the company he built from scratch would be more than enough. So why create a criminal organization? Could it be that all the darkness he’s endured over the years has twisted him into some kind of self-proclaimed god, bent on delivering his own brand of 'justice' to the world?"
Having spent the past few months immersed in the case with Guan Xia, Pang Le prided himself on having seen a thing or two. Yet, this situation had completely shattered his worldview, leaving him utterly baffled by the criminals' twisted logic.
Zhong Xiaoyu couldn’t make sense of it either, but she couldn’t be bothered to dwell on it. Leaning lazily against the table, she tossed her water bottle up and caught it, shrugging. "Who cares what his motives are or if he has some tragic backstory? Even if he does, he’s still a criminal with blood on his hands. He’s our enemy by default. All we need to focus on is how to bring him to justice."
After cutting straight to the point, Zhong Xiaoyu turned to Guan Xia and asked, "Today’s trip confirmed some of our suspicions and gave us a few leads. Guan Xia, what’s your take?"
Guan Xia steadied herself, pushing aside the confusing thoughts in her head, and sat up straighter. "Based on the clues we found at the orphanage today, I suspect—no, I’m certain—that Meng Lan finding her birth parents, and even me finding mine, wasn’t a coincidence. I still can’t figure out the criteria this criminal organization uses to select its members, but from what we know so far, Meng Lan was clearly one of their targets long ago. And she’s not the only one—the other kids raised by Mom Geng were also targets. My guess is that among the children Mom Geng raised, at least one is already a member of that organization. Judging by the timeline, they’d be significantly older than Meng Lan and me. Once we’re back in Yongquan City, I’ll talk to Meng Lan and find out when she first got clues about her birth parents. Even if it’s not precise, combining that timeline with other intel should help us narrow down the age range of that member."
Pang Le nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, Guan Xia, now that we know Wu Yang is deeply involved, Meng Lan’s situation might seem safe on the surface, but she’s actually in real danger. What’s your plan? Should we get her to leave Linshan City and come to Yongquan City?"
At this, Guan Xia frowned. "That was my initial thought, but after today, I feel like that might be too reckless. If we mess up, not only would Meng Lan be in greater danger, but we’d also expose ourselves to the organization."
Pang Le agreed. "Exactly. For safety’s sake—and to keep Meng Lan from becoming your weak spot—she definitely needs to leave Linshan City. But we’ve got to plan her exit carefully. We need a rock-solid reason, or else the people watching her will get suspicious, and we’ll be screwed. Forget quietly investigating Wu Yang—we’d have to start worrying about assassins showing up at our doorstep."
After everything with Lu Manqing and the other known members, Guan Xia wasn’t about to underestimate the organization. Far from finding Pang Le’s words exaggerated, she nodded in agreement. "You’re right. That’s exactly what I’m worried about. Honestly, I’m even starting to think living across from Xu Nian isn’t as safe as it used to be."
Just as Guan Xia was considering renting a place near the Pingjiang District police station, Zhong Xiaoyu suddenly slung an arm around her shoulders and said, "Don’t worry. Back in Shangshuang City, Sister Ji and I talked it over. Once we’re back in Yongquan City, I’m moving in with you. I’ll set up a cot in the living room—that way, I’ll catch any trouble the second it starts. Sister Ji also said once Ji An’s in better shape, she’ll join us. With all of us under one roof—and all of us able to throw down—unless they’re crazy enough to set the place on fire, anyone who tries anything is getting caught."
Guan Xia felt a flicker of relief, but then another worry surfaced. "But they have guns. I still remember when Xu Nian and the others went after Lu Manqing—not only was Lu silenced, but the West District police station also lost a gun. It’s still missing, which means it’s in the organization’s hands. And who knows if that’s the only one they’ve got."
Zhong Xiaoyu chuckled, brimming with confidence. "They’ve got guns? So do Xu Nian and the cops. And when it comes to handling firearms, I’m their goddamn ancestor."
She gave Guan Xia’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Just relax. With us around, that organization won’t lay a finger on you. All you need to do is focus on how to take them down—root and branch."
Guan Xia mulled it over. Pang Le was tough, Zhong Xiaoyu was even tougher, and Ji An had professional training—she could handle herself in a fight. The only weak link was Guan Xia herself. Her job was simple: if danger came knocking, she’d hide and stay safe.
Running through the layout of her apartment in her mind, Guan Xia quickly mapped out where she’d take cover if an assassin ever broke in.
With a contingency plan in place, Guan Xia finally felt a little less anxious. Her mind cleared, and she refocused on how to crack the case.
Their trip to the orphanage had served its purpose, and the next morning, Guan Xia boarded the earliest flight back to Yongquan City.
She’d been away for over a month—longer than any vacation she’d ever taken. Now that she was finally back, she felt a surge of energy.
After tossing her luggage into the trunk, Guan Xia slammed the car door shut and took a deep breath, gazing around. "Home at last. I didn’t realize it before, but I guess I missed this place more than I thought."
Pang Le was already in the driver’s seat, buckling up. When he saw them lingering outside, he stuck his head out and called, "What’s the holdup? It’s scorching out here. Get in the car—you can chat once we’re moving."
Guan Xia and Zhong Xiaoyu quickly climbed in. As she settled into her seat, Guan Xia brushed dust off her hands. "This car’s been sitting here for over a month. Look at all this grime from wind and sun. I wonder how much the parking fee’s gonna be."
Pang Le started the engine and shrugged. "There’s a cap—probably just a few hundred bucks. Not bad, considering the alternative is fighting for a taxi after all this time. As for the dirt, we’ll just hit the car wash later."
As the group was chatting, Guan Xia's phone rang. She pulled it out and saw it was Xu Nian calling.
As soon as she answered and called out his name, Xu Nian asked on the other end, "Have you arrived in Yongquan City yet? About what time will you get home?"
Guan Xia found his question a bit odd but didn’t dwell on it. She quickly estimated the travel time and replied, "We just landed. It’ll take over an hour to drive back, so probably around 1 p.m. Why?"
Xu Nian fell silent for a moment before responding in a low voice, "My mom just called me. She said she went to my place earlier to drop off some dumplings and saw that girl again in the hallway."
At first, Guan Xia didn’t understand, but after a pause, realization dawned on her. She couldn’t hide her surprise. "It’s been so long—she’s still there? How persistent can she be?"
Xu Nian said, "From what my mom said, it seems she left for a while but came back after a few days."
Guan Xia grew visibly irritated. "What does she even want? Can’t she just live her own life and leave us alone? Does she really think sharing blood automatically makes her family?"
Xu Nian hesitated before suggesting, "I’m already on my way home. If you don’t want to see her, maybe grab lunch outside first. I’ll try to send her away before you get back."
After a moment of thought, Guan Xia took a deep breath and said, "No, it’s fine. If she’s this determined to meet me, sending her away now won’t stop her from coming back later. I might as well see her and find out what she’s after."
