Mu Zhan was immersed in strange emotions, and he didn't even know that he accidentally exposed the antlers...
It was actually the horn of a young dragon, but because it was still small and looked like deer antlers, the second form was a legendary creature, which was even rarer, so they didn't even think in the direction of the dragon.
Wen Mingyu thought that Mu Zhan had fallen asleep, so she didn't bother. When the wooden bed was turned over, there would be a loud creaking noise, so he just secretly glanced at the pair of small deer antlers a few times, feeling a little excited and nervous, then turned back and continued to sleep.
It was just that he was a little excited, and it took him a long time to finally fall asleep.
The next day, it was time to wash and change clothes.
Wen Mingyu went to pick up breakfast, secretly brought it back, and shared it with Mu Zhan.
After eating, we have to continue to do winter vacation homework.
When Wen Mingyu gave a topic to Mu Zhan yesterday, he vaguely discovered a very serious problem.
"You can't read?!"
Wen Mingyu was very shocked. He didn't expect his parents to be so extreme. He was so angry that he exploded from the chair.
Subconsciously, he wanted to help Mu Zhan seek justice. Education is a child's basic right. How could his parents deprive him! Children in orphanages can go to school without their parents. They all know how important reading is. How can Mumu…
He was so distressed, his eyes were red, and he almost cried.
Mu Zhan was illiterate, his face was stiff, and he couldn't hide his embarrassment. He really wanted to say that he wasn't illiterate, he just didn't know the characters here.
But when he looked up, he didn't expect to see Wen Mingyu looking like he was about to cry.
Mu Zhan's eyes widened, and he was a bit at a loss for a while, not knowing what was going on. Obviously he is illiterate, shouldn't he be laughed at? Why are you crying
Wen Mingyu's eyes were sore, but she tried her best to hold back and did not cry. He felt that at least he couldn't cry in front of Mu Zhan, and it was Mu Zhan who was more uncomfortable.
Wen Mingyu took a breath, sat down again, her voice was a little hoarse, and whispered, "Then let me teach you."
Of course Mu Zhan didn't mind learning a little more, and he was also a little afraid that Wen Mingyu would really cry, he didn't know what to do.
Wen Mingyu started to teach basic common words, and Mu Zhan learned quickly. His unpleasant mood was slowly replaced by happiness, and he was happy for Mu Zhan's intelligence, but at the same time, he was even more angry that Mu Zhan's parents did not let him receive the education he deserved in time. Otherwise, Mu Zhan would definitely be the best student in the class and would often win awards.
In the next few days, Wen Mingyu was doing homework while teaching Mu Zhan how to read and writing. He would also use his previous teaching materials and exercises for him to do. Mu Zhan's learning speed is astonishingly fast.
As they got along day by day, Wen Mingyu didn't want to let Mu Zhan go.
He knew very well that he could never hide Mu Zhan for the rest of his life. Even if Mu Zhan's parents didn't care, they would find out that the child was gone, and then they came over. At that time, he had no reason or position to stop Mu Zhan from letting him follow him. His parents are gone.
This is the same as last year when the dean treated the elder brother who was divided into Oga.
Wen Mingyu thought again that Mu Zhan's parents both beat their children and didn't let them go to school. How could it be considered a serious problem? If the police are involved, will Mu Zhan be sent to the orphanage? Then they can stay together openly, just as there is an empty bed in the room where he lives.
But soon, Wen Mingyu remembered that even if Mu Zhan's parents were deprived of custody, Mu Zhan would give priority to following relatives and would not come to the orphanage. Moreover, maybe Mu Zhan wants to be with his parents even more
He has seen some children hurt by their parents and finally sent to orphanages, but they still cry and beg their parents not to leave them, they will be obedient.
Wen Mingyu didn't quite understand it, and she felt even more sour when she saw it.
Although he is still young, Wen Mingyu has seen many joys and sorrows, and occasionally has a mature side beyond his age. He knew that he was not qualified to make choices for others. He still doesn't know whether it was right or not to force people to stay on the day he first saw Mu Zhan.
Wen Mingyu didn't want to continue to think deeply, as if it could drag on for a day, praying that no one would find out that he hid people.
Wen Mingyu did her best to teach Mu Zhan a lot. Mu Zhan is also very attentive. In just a few days, he has learned the basic words that a seven-year-old child should know. He is also very good at mathematics. It seems that he has a good foundation and hardly needs him to teach him.
At night, Wen Mingyu would read a bedtime story to Mu Zhan to coax him to sleep.
Just because, when he was younger, the dean would do the same, this is the treatment a child should have.
Of course Mumu also has.
So, as a brother, he did the same.
Mu Zhan actually didn't feel that he needed someone to coax him to sleep, but Wen Mingyu was very persistent, and the effect was unexpected. After listening to the story, he actually fell asleep very quickly, as Wen Mingyu told him That way, a good night's sleep and a good night's sleep.
That night, Wen Mingyu also took out the borrowed fairy tale book and read it to Mu Zhan.
The two of them sat against the wall, shoulders pressed together, huddled into a small ball, like little animals snuggling together to keep warm in winter.
"Mumu, do you choose one?"
Wen Mingyu opened the fairy tale book catalog and let him choose which one he wanted to listen to.
Mu Zhan pointed one at random.
Wen Mingyu glanced at the number of pages, then turned to the page, and read it in a low voice, her voice was still a little immature, but it was very nice.
Mu Zhan sometimes shifts his attention unconsciously, and falls on Wen Mingyu's profile and voice, and doesn't listen to the story at all.
Wen Mingyu felt it and turned to look, "Is Mumu listening?"
Mu Zhan responded perfunctorily.
Wen Mingyu asked, "Then what did I just say?"
Mu Zhan was distracted, but it wasn't that he didn't listen to anything. He used rhetorical questions to grab the initiative.
"I don't understand something. The protagonist Xiao Di's sister is in love. What does it mean to be in love?"
Wen Mingyu was stunned for a moment, but didn't say anything because he didn't understand either.
He was only in the third grade, so how could he know what a relationship was. There are male and female classmates in the class who say that they want to be best friends, but they only share one candy with each other and do homework together. Is this considered a relationship
He looked down at the fairy tale book, the protagonist Xiao Di's sister seemed to be doing something similar? Eating together, doing homework together, going to and from school hand in hand, nothing special.
"Just be together often? Do everything together, and share everything with each other." Wen Mingyu said uncertainly.
It was the first time that Mu Zhan came across this word, and he thought it was similar to a friend, but the most special friend was the irreplaceable one.
He endured it, but couldn't help but ask, "So are we dating?"
Wen Mingyu was stunned and fell in love... It doesn't seem like this. He wants to be Mumu's elder brother. It seems that the elder brother and the love object cannot be the same? And they are both Oga in the future, it seems that they can't be together.
Wen Mingyu opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but as soon as she tilted her head, she met Mu Zhan's straight gaze, like a little milk cat, it was... hard to refuse.
When it got to the point of denial, it turned around and became—
"Should... be."
Two little brats who didn't understand anything, said strange things in a daze, thinking they were just special friends, and had no idea what those words meant.
Wen Mingyu, a teacher, is obviously not professional and competent, and he doesn't know if he has taught people crookedly.
There are many bedtime stories, and some talk about magic. With a wave of a wand, you can make things move with your thoughts, whether it is rescuing a stray cat or flying far away to see a hospitalized mother. Easy to do.
When most children hear this, their eyes are shining, and they are very eager to yearn for it.
But these children obviously did not include Mu Zhan.
There was no fluctuation on his face, no expression on his face, and even a hint of ridicule, "It's all fake, only children can be deceived."
Wen Mingyu was stunned and blurted out, "But aren't you also a child?"
Mu Zhan: "..."
Wen Mingyu didn't expect him to be so sensible and sober, but he always thought it was true before. Not long ago, he learned that there is no magic in the world, which made him cry sadly for a long time.
Thinking of this, Wen Mingyu felt a little embarrassed, twisted a strand of broken hair on his forehead, and touched it unnaturally.
"But Mumu, you haven't seen magic before, how are you sure you haven't? Maybe it's just that the magicians are hiding and don't want us to know."
"Once something is done, it leaves a trace. Someone will always find out. Nothing is nothing."
Mu Zhan's immature face was tensed, quite serious.
Wen Mingyu didn't think so, "But they have amnesiac magic, and they can also clean up the traces they left behind."
Mu Zhan pursed his lips and still insisted, "Magicians are also human, and they will always be negligent."
Wen Mingyu thought about it, it seemed to make sense.
He thought hard for a while, and said like a little adult, "Mumu is very smart, and he really can't believe what others say. The dean also said that we must never accept candy from strangers and follow each other."
Mu Zhan thought to himself, how could he be so stupid, and he could be deceived by giving him some favors.
But then, Wen Mingyu added: "Not only adults, but also children should be guarded. Bad people will let children help them deceive others, so as to gain trust. Just like I brought you back, you can't believe it so easily, of course. , I am a good boy, I will not lie to you, nor will I harm you."
After Mu Zhan heard this, he suddenly jolted and reacted. Although he had precautions, he was sure Wen Mingyu didn't have the ability to hurt him, so he came in, but it is true that he dropped his guard and slowly accepted the person in front of him... This should not be done.
He sank his face, thinking so. With such an expression on her face with obvious baby fat, it only makes people feel cute.
As soon as Wen Mingyu stretched out her hand, she took the man into her arms, put her face on top of Mu Zhan's head, rubbed her face, and said with a smile, "Mumu is so cute."
"…???"
Mu Zhan raised a question mark, he really didn't know how cute he was. I'm afraid this person is not blind.
He felt uncomfortable and wanted to break free from the opponent's arms, but Wen Mingyu hugged him tightly, his face pressed against Mu Zhan's head, slightly deformed, and bulging soft cheeks, red and pink .
"Remember what your brother said, you can't just trust strangers."
Mu Zhan felt that if he didn't respond, Wen Mingyu would probably keep pestering him, so he nodded with a sullen face, and whispered impatiently, "...I see."
Wen Mingyu then released him, lifted the quilt, and the two of them went in to sleep together.
"Mumu, good night."
Wen Mingyu said crisply, and after a while, just when he thought he would not get a response, Mu Zhan also whispered two words, "...Good night."
Wen Mingyu smiled, but did not fall asleep immediately, and was still thinking about Mu Zhan.
He found that Mu Zhan's eyes were always following him, no matter what he was doing, he was secretly looking at it, especially like a cat watching secretly, so cute.
I really want to earn money to support my brother.
Mu Zhan was lying on the bed, and his mood was not very calm, but if he could hear Wen Mingyu's thoughts at this time, he would definitely refute, he was just observing, to understand everything around him as soon as possible, what is and what to do Just use it!
But unfortunately, Mu Zhan didn't know about it.
Wen Mingyu had already put a sticky stamp on him, and he was an explosively cute younger brother.
More than ten days have passed, and half of the winter vacation is over. Time passes very fast, as if it was just a blink of an eye.
It's time to start preparing for the new year.
Although this is an orphanage, festivals are just as important. Adults don’t want children to feel lonely and want to make the atmosphere lively. The dean's family will also come to the orphanage to celebrate the New Year with the children, watch performances, and then visit relatives.
During the day on New Year's Eve, someone came to the orphanage and found Wen Mingyu on purpose.
That was Wen Mingyu's roommate, a quiet, introverted boy. The parents who adopted him first saw him and chose him.
They lived in the same dormitory before and had a good relationship. So after the roommate Chen Liang greeted the teachers and children of the orphanage, he chatted with Wen Mingyu separately.
They sat together on a bench downstairs in the dormitory. It's a good place for a quiet chat.
"Are you doing well there?" This is what Wen Mingyu cares about most.
Chen Liang smiled and said, "Well, my parents are very good to me, they will ask me what I like to eat, and they will take me to buy new clothes. Today, I also said that I am afraid that I will be lonely and miss my friends in the courtyard, so let me come back, Pick me up later."
Wen Mingyu listened, relieved, and felt happy for him, "That's great."
Then, he seemed to remember something, "By the way, you gave me your candy before, this time I will give it to you."
Chen Liang hurriedly waved his hand, "No, don't you like candy very much? You can eat it. If I want to eat it, I will ask my parents to buy it."
He didn't mean to show off in his words, he just wanted to share with his friends when he was simply happy. Wen Mingyu didn't think much about it, but became worried. When he first arrived in an adoptive family, a child was like a kitten in a new environment. I was very nervous and panicked, and I subconsciously wanted to behave well, for fear of being rejected and sent back.
Chen Liang obviously thought the same thing. As soon as he finished speaking, he scratched his head and said with a dry smile, "Actually... I don't dare, because I'm afraid my parents will think that I eat too much and it's not easy to support."
Wen Mingyu put the candy in his hand, held his little hand, and said seriously, "I don't think they will, they like you very much."
"Really?"
Chen Liang immediately smiled in surprise, showing small tiger teeth, and he was a little more energetic and confident in his shyness.
Wen Mingyu nodded for sure, and he laughed even more happily.
He really likes to play with Wen Mingyu, and the most reluctant thing to leave the orphanage is Wen Mingyu.
Chen Liang unpacked the candy and put the candy ball in his mouth. It was very sweet.
He took Wen Mingyu's hand and said seriously, "My father has a relative who also wants to adopt a child. Can I recommend you to them? Then we can be brothers and play together in the future."
Wen Mingyu stopped for a while...
None of them knew that behind a tree not far from the bench, there was a person hiding.
Mu Zhan came out to find the dog hole to see if there was a way to go back. He thought so, but in fact, when he saw Wen Mingyu talking to another unfamiliar boy of the same age upstairs, an alarm bell rang in his mind, his feet seemed uncontrollable, and he ran downstairs directly.
He hid behind the tree, observed secretly, and pretended to be calm, as if he was just passing by inadvertently, but his ears had been pricked up to eavesdrop.
Therefore, he heard that Chen Liang was Wen Mingyu's roommate. They used to have a good relationship. There was also the sentence, we can be brothers, and we will play together in the future.
Mu Zhan tightened his body suddenly, and his face changed.
Why? !
He subconsciously questioned in his heart, and wanted to yell at that person loudly.
But he didn't move, his feet seemed to be nailed to the ground. He knew that he could not stand up at this time, and he was not qualified to say such words.
Having lived here for more than ten days, he has long understood what this place is, and it specializes in sheltering children who have no parents to take care of. Everyone here is eager to have a warm family. Wen Mingyu is no exception, otherwise he wouldn't be so persistent in calling himself a brother.
At first, Mu Zhan suspected that he had a purpose for being nice to him, so he refused coldly and took strict precautions. After getting along slowly, he found that the other party seemed to really just regard him as a younger brother.
So, at the end of the day, just want a brother
It doesn't have to be him, others can too.
He heard the boy named Chen Liang calling out to brother Wen Mingyu. Wen Mingyu also gave the other party candy to eat.
Mu Zhan pursed his lips tightly, looked unhappy, and walked away stiffly and silently.
After Wen Mingyu finished chatting with her friends, she went back to the dormitory. At a glance, she didn't find Mu Zhan's figure, and hurriedly called out to Mumu, Mumu. He didn't get a response, and almost wanted to go downstairs to look for it, but fortunately, he found someone in the quilt, huddled in a ball, like an injured cub licking its wounds alone, pitiful. Although there was no expression on his face, Wen Mingyu still felt a little distressed.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
Mu Zhan didn't answer, he reached out to check the temperature of his forehead, but he didn't get hot. He breathed a sigh of relief, coaxed Mu Zhan in a low voice, and told him some interesting stories about Chen Liang.
Mu Zhan didn't want to listen at all, but just at this moment, Wen Mingyu talked about the fact that the other party wanted to recommend him to the relatives of his adoptive parents. Mu Zhan held his breath for a moment and listened carefully to the next words.
Wen Mingyu said: "I rejected him because I didn't really want to be adopted. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to do what they wanted, and it would be too embarrassing to be returned again. It's better to stay alone and make money. Feed themselves."
He had never said these words to anyone, whether it was Chen Liang or the dean, but somehow, when facing Mu Zhan, he said it naturally.
"So... you're not going?"
Mu Zhan couldn't help but ask such a sentence, his tone uncertain.
Wen Mingyu nodded without hesitation, very sure.
Mu Zhan subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, but in fact, it had nothing to do with Mingyu being adopted or not. He shouldn't be so nervous, but he couldn't control it.
That night was New Year's Eve.
Welfare institutes and non-profit organizations held reunion dinners and performances together.
Wen Mingyu took Mu Zhan to see it secretly. At that time, the lights were all turned off. Except for the light on the stage, the venue was dark, and even the faces of the people around him could not be seen clearly. Everyone's attention was also on the performance. is excited.
The two small figures slipped in and were not found. They held hands until they saw the end of the scene. Mu Zhan went back to the dormitory first, while Wen Mingyu had to stay and wait for the teacher to count the number of people and arrange for everyone to go back to sleep in an orderly manner.
Each child also received a red envelope.
The teacher touched their heads and wished them healthy growth, academic progress and all the best.
The children also bowed their hands and said with a milky smile: "Teacher, Happy New Year, Gong Xi Fa Cai, happy every day!"
Red envelopes are also called lucky money, which is the blessing of the elders to the children, which means good things. There is not much money in it, but the children are very happy to receive it.
At this time, children are generally happy to think about what to spend the money on. But Wen Mingyu didn't, because he is an older brother this year and has to take care of his younger brother.
In his heart, Mu Zhan is a poor little brother who needs to be well protected. His parents were so excessive that they might not even give money for the New Year, so he wanted to give half of his share to Mu Zhan.
When he was about to quietly split the twenty dollars and put them into two red envelopes, Wen Mingyu's mind changed again, and he handed the entire red envelope to Mu Zhan, while he took the red envelope from last year to make one. look.
"Mumu, happy new year, grow up healthily, and everything goes well!"
Wen Mingyu followed the teacher's example and touched the top of Mu Zhan's head.
Mu Zhan was stunned and did not hide. Although the ancient red seal was somewhat different from the one here, he could roughly understand what it represented.
Mu Zhan held the red envelope and asked abruptly, "Did you only give it to me, or did everyone else have it?"
He still kept in mind that during the day, Wen Mingyu handed Chen Liang candy.
Wen Mingyu answered without thinking, "Of course it's just for you."
Everyone else has red envelopes. And he doesn't have that much money to give to other children.
Hearing this answer, the corners of Mu Zhan's mouth couldn't help but curl up a little. It was small and hard to detect, but he was secretly happy.
Wen Mingyu seemed to be worried that he would not, so she held his hand and put the New Year's money under the pillow together, which had the effect of exorcising ghosts and warding off evil spirits. Although after the development of science, everyone knows that there are no ghosts in the world, such a custom has been passed down and has become a blessing to children. I hope that after sleeping with red envelopes all night, they will be safe in the new year.
This night, they slept well, and quietly, they ushered in the new year.
But unexpectedly, the next day, something bad happened suddenly.
The child king who bullied Wen Mingyu at the beginning told the teacher in front of everyone that he found a strange child hidden in Wen Mingyu's room that he had never seen before.
The teacher thinks it is unlikely, but since it is reasonable, he still has to check it, be responsible for the welfare institution, and give the children an attitude of importance.
So, the teacher turned his head and asked Wen Mingyu gently, "Can you let the teacher go and have a look? The teacher believes in you, but you have to prove it to other students. You also go together. The teacher won't mess with your things, just take a look. Just go."
Wen Mingyu couldn't refuse, otherwise he would be guilty, and the child who made the report would not let it go.
So, he nodded.
When the group was about to go to the dormitory room, Wen Mingyu deliberately spoke loudly and reminded Mu Zhan inside, hoping that he could understand the meaning and hide secretly so as not to be discovered.
Then, they opened the door and walked in.
There was no one on the bed, balcony, bathroom, behind the door.
The child king even lay down on the ground and looked under the bed.
The only thing left is the cabinet.
One is empty, and the other is Wen Mingyu's cabinet.
The teacher asked Wen Mingyu to open it by himself and not move forward.
The cabinet is so small that you can see it all at a glance.
When Wen Mingyu put her hand on the lock of the cabinet, she was so nervous that in the winter, a thin layer of sweat oozes from her forehead and she forgot to breathe.
Because Mu Zhan is probably hiding in the cabinet, and he will be seen as soon as he opens it. How can he explain how to protect Mu Zhan and prevent him from being sent back to his bad parents.
But he couldn't delay, the child king at the back was already urging him, and even wanted to step forward to open it for him, swearing that the child from outside must be hiding in the cabinet. It's just that he was stopped by the teacher and could only stand unwillingly.
Wen Mingyu finally opened the door.
But there were only a few clothes hanging inside, and there were some sundries on the partitions above, and no one was hiding at all.
The teacher clapped his hands and said that this was the end of the matter, and reprimanded and educated the child Wang, so that he could not lie and wronged other children, and he must apologize to Wen Mingyu.
Wen Mingyu didn't care about his apology, and just wanted to find Mu Zhan quickly, so he nodded his forgiveness perfunctorily and asked them to leave as soon as possible.
When he was the only one left in the dormitory room, he hurriedly prepared to go out to find someone, but suddenly felt that the corner of his clothes was gently pulled.
He looked back subconsciously and saw Mu Zhan, his eyes widened in surprise, and he hugged him.
"Where have you been hiding? It scared me to death!"
Wen Mingyu felt that Mu Zhan was amazing and could play hide-and-seek very well.
But in fact, in such a hurry just now, he couldn't allow him to think too much. Of course, the best thing to do is to sneak out of the dormitory and hide at the end of the corridor, but when he heard the voice reminder, everyone was about to reach the door, and it was too late.
Therefore, Mu Zhan looked around the dormitory in a panic, and finally hid in the cabinet.
When the cabinet door was opened, not only Wen Mingyu was nervous, but Mu Zhan hid behind the hanging clothes, curled up into a ball, clenched his hands tightly, and his palms were sweating with tension.
With a creak, the cabinet door was opened, and dazzling light poured in.
He saw Wen Mingyu and others.
but.
They didn't seem to be able to see him, as if he was transparent and their eyes were not focused on him.
He seemed to disappear.
… very strange.