Chapter 111: Don’t Be Alone Tonight

“Lost?” Luo Qianyun was stunned and turned to exchange a glance with Lu Yunzheng.

Then she softly asked Little Apple, “Little Apple, how old is your sister this year?”

“Sister…” Xiao Pingguofrowned deeply, thinking for a moment, “Older than me.”

Clearly, Xiao Pingguo didn’t yet understand the concept of age. Luo Qianyun guided her by pointing at the kids nearby. “Look at your friends over there. How tall is your sister compared to them?”

Hearing this, Xiao Pingguo didn’t point at the children but instead gestured toward Dean Geng. “Grandma’s height.”

Luo Qianyun estimated that Dean Geng was around 1.5 meters tall. Given the poor nutrition at the orphanage, a 13- or 14-year-old child reaching that height seemed plausible.

For a child that age, the chance of getting lost wasn’t very high.

“Did your sister go missing after school?” Luo Qianyun asked again.

Xiao Pingguo shook her head.

At that moment, as if overhearing their conversation, Granny Liu approached. “Are you talking about that child, Shanni?”

Hearing the name, Luo Qianyun pieced things together—it seemed the girl wasn’t mentally sound.

Granny Liu patted Little Apple’s head, urging her to play with her friends.

Once Xiao Pingguo left, Granny Liu explained to Luo Qianyun, “Shanni had a fever as a child that damaged her brain. Later, she was left at the orphanage gate. She never went to school—being that way, she couldn’t learn, and the orphanage didn’t have the money to waste.”

Luo Qianyun felt an urge to argue that even with brain damage, learning was possible, albeit much slower than for others.

Her own brother, for example, had the mind of a six- or seven-year-old, yet with effort over the years, he could not only read but also understand game plots during gameplay.

But Luo Qianyun understood the orphanage wasn’t like her family. Granny Liu’s words made sense in the context of the orphanage.

With limited resources, they naturally prioritized healthy children.

“How did she go missing?” Luo Qianyun couldn’t help but ask.

Granny Liu sighed. “I don’t know. That day, it rained heavily. I was busy in the kitchen. When it was time to eat, I didn’t see Shanni. I thought she was playing somewhere, but she still didn’t return by nightfall.”

“Have you seen her since that day?” Luo Qianyun pressed.

“No, not once. I wonder if she was taken by traffickers,” Granny Liu replied.

Human traffickers taking a mentally impaired girl instead of the healthy children at the orphanage seemed odd. While an older girl might sell for more, something still felt off to Luo Qianyun.

“How many kids have gone missing around here?” Lu Yunzheng asked coldly.

“Only Shanni. Before, a trafficker almost took another child, but fortunately, Xiao Cheng stopped them. Since then, he’s stayed here, and the traffickers haven’t dared return,” Granny Liu said, sounding relieved.

Luo Qianyun pondered. “Did Shanni go missing after Xiao Cheng arrived?”

“Yes, but it’s hard to say—maybe she wandered off on her own,” Granny Liu replied.

“What exactly is Xiao Cheng’s role? Isn’t he like a security guard?” Luo Qianyun asked curiously.

She’d heard earlier that the fifty-something handyman, skilled in carpentry, handled various tasks. She assumed Xiao Cheng, who joined later, had a similar security-related role.

“That’s right,” Granny Liu affirmed.

“If he’s responsible for security, how did Shanni leave without him noticing? And after so many years in the orphanage, wouldn’t she know not to leave?” Luo Qianyun pressed.

Granny Liu struggled to respond, and Luo Qianyun realized she might have been too harsh.

“Sorry, Granny Liu. I’m just curious,” Luo Qianyun apologized.

“It’s fine. I’ll go check on something else,” Granny Liu said hurriedly before leaving.

After she left, Lu Yunzheng turned to Luo Qianyun. “You suspect something’s off with the security guard?”

“Maybe I’m overthinking it, but Xiao Cheng doesn’t seem like a particularly kind person. His presence here feels strange,” Luo Qianyun admitted. “And the way he looked at me earlier—it was unsettling.”

Even though it was just a moment when she removed her mask, the unease lingered.

Lu Yunzheng frowned. “No matter where you go tonight, let me know. Don’t go alone.”

“Maybe I’m just being paranoid,” Luo Qianyun said helplessly.

“It’s better to be cautious than to trust too easily,” Lu Yunzheng replied firmly.

“You’re right. Also, keep an eye on Xiaowan and the others,” Luo Qianyun added.

Lu Yunzheng placed a reassuring hand on her head. “Don’t worry. Even your male doctor will be protected.”

Luo Qianyun couldn’t help but laugh, but the next second, she sneezed.

Looking up sheepishly, she caught Lu Yunzheng’s sharp gaze. “Did you take your cold medicine?”

“…Forgot,” Luo Qianyun admitted sheepishly.

“You complain I nag, but you don’t even listen,” Lu Yunzheng said, standing up.

“Where are you going?” Luo Qianyun grabbed his hand.

“To make your cold medicine,” he replied, warming her cold hand in his own.

It was late. The male doctor, after finishing his psychological counseling, had also helped lull the children to sleep.

Xiao Cheng didn’t return to his second-floor room but slept in the temporary medical area, separated by a curtain.

After taking her cold medicine, Luo Qianyun quickly dozed off, leaning against Lu Yunzheng.

Exhausted from the past two days, Lu Yunzheng soon followed her into slumber.

Only the outermost lamp was left on, illuminating the dark, rainy night for reassurance.

In the medical area, separated by a curtain, Cheng Dabiao opened his eyes.

Pretending to get up and accidentally aggravate his wound, he let out a pained cry.

Light sleeper Lin Xiaowan heard the noise and grabbed her flashlight to investigate. “What’s wrong?”