Yu Jinxiao was like a walking cold front. After scaring the children into silence, even Teacher Zhang stood there in stunned fear.

Gao Zhou, who had been waiting for a while without seeing anyone return, grew uneasy and hurried over—only to stumble upon this bizarre scene.

Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought he was here to stand up for Yu Yuanyuan!

Gao Zhou stood from a distance, helplessly smiling to himself. His employer wasn’t the type to do such things. He was clearly overthinking it.

“Have you guys been bullying Yu Yuanyuan before as well?” Yu Jinxiao’s voice broke the awkward silence.

Gao Zhou, still frozen at the doorway, was dumbfounded: this… really does look like he’s standing up for her!

The kids trapped inside the room were too scared to say a word. Fearful of saying the wrong thing, they kept their mouths shut, lips tightly pressed together as if playing dead.

Seeing they wouldn’t speak, Yu Jin Xiao shifted his gaze to the children gathered around. “You tell me—do those kids bully Yuanyuan often?”

The group of children, barely reaching his waist, exchanged confused glances. They looked at each other in apparent fear, as if they had long been oppressed and were too afraid to speak the truth.

Even Teacher Zhang sensed something wasn’t right. Normally, these kids behaved well in his presence, but now… it seemed there was more going on beneath the surface.

When no one answered, Yu Jinxiao glanced sideways at Gao Zhou, giving a subtle nod.

Understanding his boss’s silent cue, Gao Zhou immediately pulled out his phone. “Tell the team to cut all donations to this orphanage…”

“Wh-what?!” Teacher Zhang gasped, almost stumbling on his feet.

The orphanage was already struggling financially. If they lost their donor, wouldn’t that leave these kids in a dire situation?

Yu Jinxiao frowned, clearly displeased. He pointed at Gao Zhou’s jacket, where a corner of a large bag of lollipops was poking out.

“Huh? That’s it?”

Gao Zhou was baffled but obediently handed over the bag of lollipops.

Taking the bag, Yu Jinxiao dangled it in front of the group of children like bait. “Whoever tells me the truth gets a lollipop.”

“Zhou Zhou used to scare Yuan Yuan by pretending to be a ghost at night.”

“Zhou Zhou always pulls Yuan Yuan’s pigtails.”

“He even threw cockroaches and bugs by her bed.”

For every incident recounted, Yu Jin Xiao handed out a lollipop, one by one—until all ten lollipops were gone, and there were still kids left who didn’t get a chance to “tattle.”

“Teacher Zhang, you heard all that, right?” Yu Jinxiao tossed the empty wrapper aside and casually asked.

Teacher Zhang, now drenched in cold sweat, stood there, eyes bloodshot and arms trembling.

He wasn’t afraid of Yu Jinxiao. He was furious at himself. How could he have missed the fact that Yuanyuan was being bullied? He thought all the kids got along just fine, obedient and kind.

Though Yu Jinxiao had only spent one night with Yu Yuanyuan, he was an excellent judge of character—especially with innocent children who hadn’t learned to hide their feelings. Yuan Yuan was the type who never liked causing trouble for others, never acted spoiled, and was always well-behaved without any ulterior motives.

Even when bullied, she wouldn’t tattle or fight back.

It was obvious that Yu Yuanyuan was no match for those little devils.

“I’m truly sorry, Mr. Yu. I will personally speak to the other teachers and ensure this doesn’t happen again,” Teacher Zhang apologized sincerely, his eyes filled with remorse.

But as Yu Yuanyuan listened to the conversation, the light in her eyes gradually dimmed.

Papa’s tone… probably means he won’t take me with him, right?

She had thought she’d finally found hope, that her dad had come for her. But that moment of happiness was so fleeting, like trying to catch water in your hands while washing your face—no matter how hard you try, you just can’t hold onto it.

Like a little adult burdened with worries, Yu Yuanyuan let out a long sigh and slid down from Yu Jinxiao’s leg.

With her hands behind her back, she wobbled away, intending to go clean her dirty bedding.

“Yu Yuanyuan, where do you think you’re going? Aren’t you coming home with me?” Yu Jinxiao’s voice was calm, as if he were stating something ordinary and insignificant.