Chapter 20: “A Child You Took In Nineteen Years Ago”

“Susu, this is the place.”

Tang Zhishu looked out the car window and furrowed her brows at the orphanage in front of her.

When she heard the name of the orphanage, she had imagined a sunny and warm environment.

But now, seeing it, the place was not only run-down but also gave off a desolate feeling that felt suffocating.

Even the old iron gate was wrapped in vines, and the sign for “Wansheng” was barely visible.

“Are you sure you didn’t get it wrong?” Tang Zhishu asked, her brow furrowed in doubt.

Chasing Wolf nodded. “I’m sure. But I’m also a bit surprised. Although I knew from my investigation last night that the orphanage’s environment was outdated, I didn’t expect it to be this run-down. This place doesn’t look livable at all; it’s creepy.”

Chasing Wolf feared nothing except ghosts.

So when he saw the eerie environment of the orphanage, he didn’t even want to step inside.

But he couldn’t just let Susu go in alone.

Just as he thought that, Tang Zhishu opened the car door and got out.

Chasing Wolf had no choice but to follow her, his expression hard to describe.

“Susu, are we really going in?”

Tang Zhishu glanced at him and said, “If you’re scared, just stay in the car and wait for me.”

Chasing Wolf protested, straightening up. “How could I be scared? I’m not afraid! I want to protect you. We’ll go in together.”

Tang Zhishu raised an eyebrow and didn’t say anything more.

She walked toward the dilapidated orphanage building.

Chasing Wolf quickly followed her, his face a bit pale, his amber eyes darting around like a frightened deer.

As he scanned for anything scary, Tang Zhishu had already walked ahead.

Seeing this, he hurriedly quickened his pace and tightly hid behind her.

Tang Zhishu stopped in front of the iron gate, looking up at the sign with the four characters.

As she got closer, the suffocating feeling intensified.

It was hard for her to believe that the person who might be her brother had lived in such a place for four years.

Just thinking about it made Tang Zhishu feel incredibly upset.

“Susu, what if there’s no one here anymore?” Chasing Wolf said, clutching the edge of her coat tightly.

Tang Zhishu pursed her lips and frowned as she looked inside.

The yard was overgrown with weeds, and it was eerily silent, giving off a chilling feeling.

“Is anyone there?”

Tang Zhishu shouted into the orphanage and shook the iron gate, which made a clanging sound.

After a while of calling, no one responded from inside.

This situation felt particularly strange. Chasing Wolf swallowed hard, hiding behind her, and whispered, “There probably isn’t anyone here.”

Tang Zhishu, unwilling to give up, shouted again, “Is anyone there?”

Still, there was no reply.

Chasing Wolf was shaking with nerves and tugged at Tang Zhishu’s clothes. “Susu, let’s leave. This place is creepy.”

Tang Zhishu pressed her lips together, reluctant to leave.

She had finally found a clue about her brother, and she didn’t want to let it go.

Just as she was about to climb over the wall, suddenly there was the sound of a door opening from inside, along with a slightly hoarse and aged voice.

“Who’s out there shouting?”

As soon as the voice faded, the door of the old building swung open, revealing an elderly man about sixty years old.

Seeing him, Tang Zhishu’s eyes lit up.

She quickly said, “Sir, we have some questions for you. Could you please open the door so we can come in?”

The old man walked over, his skin dark, and his hair white. After staring at Tang Zhishu and Chasing Wolf for a moment, he asked, “What do you want to know? The children are studying now, and you might disturb them.”

Tang Zhishu hurriedly replied, “Sir, we have something important to discuss with you regarding a child you took in nineteen years ago. He might be my brother. We promise we won’t disturb the kids.”

After hearing this, the old man looked at them for a while longer.

Finally, he nodded. “Alright, come in. Ask your questions quickly; I’ll be busy later.”

He took out a key and unlocked the rusty lock on the iron gate.

Tang Zhishu and Chasing Wolf entered.

The old man locked the gate behind them and walked inside, his hands clasped behind his back.

As Tang Zhishu observed him, she noticed his back was slightly hunched and his right foot seemed injured, making it difficult for him to walk.

But as she looked closer, she squinted at his hands behind his back.

The three of them entered a study room in the building.

It was called a study because it was filled with books, most of which were old and worn.

Besides that, there was a desk and a chair.

The old man continued organizing the books and said in his hoarse voice, “What do you want to ask?”

Tang Zhishu pulled her gaze away and saw the old man crouching down to sort the books. She also knelt down, wanting to help while asking questions.

But before she could touch a book, the old man said unhappily, “Don’t touch them; just ask your questions.”

Tang Zhishu pulled her hand back and smiled. “Sir, we came to ask about a child named Fu Yushen who was taken in nineteen years ago. We want to find out more about him.”

The old man paused briefly in his organizing when he heard the name, then continued to sort the books while saying, “Nineteen years is a long time. I need to check the registration list to tell you more.”

Tang Zhishu noticed the unusual reaction in the old man.

“Okay, thank you,” she replied with a slight smile.

The old man put the books away, then used a chair for support to stand up and walk outside, his legs is already weak.

The three of them arrived in a room where documents were stored. The old man unlocked the door and pushed it open.

Tang Zhishu and Chasing Wolf followed him inside, seeing stacks of registration books on the old shelves.

The old man searched the shelves for a while and then took down one of the registration books.

He flipped through it, then stopped and said, “The person you’re looking for is in here.”

Tang Zhishu hurriedly stepped forward and leaned down to look at the yellowed pages in his hand.

She quickly saw the name Fu Yushen.

But after looking at the records, Tang Zhishu frowned. “Why isn’t there any record of who adopted him back then?”