Chapter 7: Mom’s Scent

Zhao Ma sighed, “There aren’t many kind-hearted people towards Young Master Xu Mo in the Xu family. Even us servants feel that it might be better if Young Master Xu Mo leaves! Master and Madam aren’t very welcoming towards him!”

With that, Zhao Ma sighed once again and turned to leave.

Xu Wanting, taken aback, widened her eyes.

“Orphanage… Different?”

Suddenly, she thought of something, her breathing quickened, and a possibility came to her mind, a chilling possibility!

“Zhao Ma, where is the orphanage Xu Mo used to live in? I need to go see it!” she asked urgently, her breath quickening.

“East City Orphanage! It’s not far,” Zhao Ma replied.

“I’m going to see it!” Xu Wanting suddenly rushed downstairs, her eyes reddening.

She felt a creeping sense of disbelief, as if something supernatural was at play. She couldn’t fathom the truth of her conjecture.

If it were true, it would be truly terrifying.

Their family, it was all too frightening!

Zhao Ma watched Xu Wanting rush downstairs, letting out a deep sigh.

“The Xu family lacks understanding! This Miss… Young Master Xu Mo, Zhao Ma doesn’t even know if she can help you!”

…

“Eldest Daughter/Sister, where are you going?” Xie Bingyan and Xu Manni, seeing Xu Wanting hurrying out, couldn’t help but inquire.

“I’m going out for a bit!” Xu Wanting said briefly, then immediately started the sports car and drove towards the east of the city.

A storm was brewing, and the wind was strong on the road, but driving posed no significant issues.

The East City Orphanage wasn’t very far; a drive of about an hour would get her there. Xu Wanting stopped at a supermarket, bought some items, and then hurried to the East City Orphanage.

The orphanage was very basic, located in a remote area with some foul odors lingering around, and people were seen littering in the vicinity.

“Whom are you looking for?” the gatekeeper asked.

“I’m looking for the director here! I’ve brought some food and gifts!” Xu Wanting quickly responded.

The gatekeeper quickly opened the gate upon seeing her.

The director of the orphanage was a middle-aged woman, kind-hearted, who was soothing the orphans to sleep due to the approaching storm.

Upon seeing Xu Wanting bringing gifts, she was delighted and promptly welcomed her.

Xu Wanting handed her a red envelope, saying, “Director Zhao, this is a donation I’m giving to the orphanage. I hope you will accept it!”

“Thank you very much!” Director Zhao exclaimed joyfully.

Xu Wanting looked towards a nearby room and asked, “Director Zhao, how many orphans are here?”

“Currently, there are over thirty, most of whom are orphaned. Just a few days ago, three were adopted!” Director Zhao smiled. “What does Mrs. Xu do? What made you decide to donate to our orphanage?”

Looking at her, Xu Wanting said, “I came here to ask you something, Director Zhao. Do you remember Xu Mo?”

“Xu Mo?” Director Zhao was surprised.

“Xu Mo from four years ago. Do you remember him?” Xu Wanting inquired.

“Oh! I remember, Xu Mo, right? The slim little boy!” Director Zhao recollected, then chuckled, “I remember him, a very well-behaved child. Wasn’t he taken back by his parents four years ago? I heard they found his parents!”

Xu Wanting nodded, “I wanted to ask you, Director Zhao, what do the orphans in the orphanage usually do? Do they study?”

“Of course, they study! We have teachers here to educate them!” Director Zhao looked at the children nearby and chuckled, “But there are a few crybabies in the orphanage who cry frequently!”

“Oh? Why do they cry?” Xu Wanting was surprised.

“Why do they cry? Of course, they miss their parents!” Director Zhao chuckled helplessly. “It’s quite common. If one starts crying, all the children in the room will cry too! They are all children without parents, some of whom have been abandoned multiple times, crying day and night! Just now, I had to comfort a few, or else the whole room of children would start crying!”

Xu Wanting suddenly trembled, her eyes widening in astonishment.

“They… they cry?”

“Of course, they cry!” Director Zhao looked helpless. “Once one starts, all the others follow suit. It’s heartbreaking to hear, and those who listen can’t help but shed tears. Our orphanage teachers and volunteers often say they can’t bear to see these children cry! But we can’t stop it; they simply miss their parents, their families. Children without parents are like drifting leaves!”

Xu Wanting was profoundly shaken.

Suddenly, a scuffle broke out in the adjacent room.

Director Zhao glanced over, sighing, “Another fight! Probably over one child’s possession. That tattered doll was a gift from that child’s mother, treasured dearly; she insists on holding it to sleep. But the other children try to take the doll from her!”

“This is…” Xu Wanting stared at the scene before her, eyes wide in disbelief, struggling to comprehend everything.

“You must be Xu Mo’s family, right?” Director Zhao glanced at Xu Wanting. “Xu Mo, that child, is a good kid! He used to help other children often, but he also used to cry a lot and was afraid of the dark. He would often hide in a room crying loudly by himself, and when night fell, he wouldn’t dare to return to his room, feeling insecure. Now that he has found his parents, he must be very happy!”

Xu Wanting had no recollection of how she returned to her sports car.

Her breathing was rapid, almost suffocating.

Every hair on her body stood on end, a chilling sensation enveloping her.

She felt as if her mind was in a haze.

Over the years, managing the family business, she had encountered a wide range of experiences. Yet, she had never faced something like this before.

Director Zhao’s description of Xu Mo being afraid of the dark, lacking a sense of security, and crying alone resonated with her. After all, most children in orphanages were sensitive, timid, and fragile.

When Xu Mo first returned to the Xu family, he behaved in a similar way, which his parents did not appreciate.

But he secretly sneaked into his parents’ room and slept on their bed…

Xu Wanting couldn’t believe such a thing had occurred!

She thought she had been overthinking earlier, but now… tears were welling up in her eyes, streaming down her face.

In reality, Xu Wanting also knew about Xu Mo sneaking into his mother’s room. At that time, she didn’t grasp the significance of it and didn’t bother much about it.

But now, reflecting on it, she felt as if her heart had been clenched tightly, almost suffocating.

Perhaps, he simply wanted… just a bit of security!

Perhaps, just that tiny bit.

Whether it was sleeping in his mother’s room or taking his mother’s clothes, he simply sought to find even the slightest hint of security.

Maybe his mother’s clothes carried her scent, much like how the children in this orphanage fought over a tattered doll.

In Xu Wanting’s recollection, she never saw Xie Bingyan and Xu Deming embrace him!

Not even once!