Chapter Twelve: Struck by Misfortune

“Go wash your hands first; I’ll call them in,” Bai Yun said as she walked out.

Lin Tian looked at her small, fragile frame, a complex mix of emotions stirring within him. “I guess we really need to make sure everyone eats their fill first.”

He decided to use part of the money given by the old Mr. Xiao to solve their immediate food shortage. After all, it was the New Year; they couldn’t be eating so meagerly.

Soon, everyone gathered around the large round table inside the room. On it lay the food Bai Yun had bought from the market today, following Lin Tian’s instructions.

There were roast duck, roast goose, spare ribs, as well as fast food like hamburgers, fries, and Coca-Cola—a diverse spread at a glance.

Looking at it, Lin Tian felt something was off. He pulled Bai Yun aside and whispered, “I only gave you a hundred yuan. How did you buy all this?”

Bai Yun’s expression changed slightly, but she forced herself to remain composed. “The vendor took pity on me and sold it cheaply.”

Lin Tian remained unconvinced. After all, the vendor couldn’t be doing charity, could he? Could he really be so generous?

“Tell me honestly—what really happened?” His tone grew firmer, his youthful face serious as he tugged at her shoulder.

Bai Yun couldn’t hold back any longer. Tears welled up, and she sobbed, “I… I wanted to buy more… so everyone could have a good New Year… but I didn’t have enough money. The vendor saw me trying to buy more and said… said I could pay with something else, so I…”

Lin Tian’s anger grew, mixed with guilt over his naivety, thinking a hundred yuan could cover a proper New Year feast.

Ashamed beyond words, he stammered, “What did he want you to pay with?”

“With… with my… underwear,” Bai Yun blushed deeply, whispering.

She knew how humiliating it was, but she had no choice.

“What does he want with that?” Lin Tian blurted out, oblivious to the impropriety of his question.

Bai Yun struggled to explain. After all, she was only fourteen and had never encountered such a situation before.

After a moment, Lin Tian snapped back to reality. Taking her small hand, he urged, “Tell me, where is that vendor’s stall?”

“Lin Ge, forget it. At least the food problem is temporarily solved,” Bai Yun said, watching his anxious expression, unwilling to reveal the location.

Seeing that no amount of questioning would help, Lin Tian could only stew in silence, saying nothing more.

Around eight in the evening, the director finally returned from a meeting. Before entering, he smiled and announced, “Kids, I’ve got good news. The proposal passed: from now on, our subsidies will be directly managed and distributed by the higher-ups, cutting out many intermediate steps.”

At the news, the children broke into joyous cheers, their excitement uncontainable.

This meant their subsidies would become transparent, no longer buried in layers of bureaucracy.

The previously somber atmosphere, dampened by Lin Tian’s mood, brightened as everyone relaxed and celebrated.

Amid the laughter, a sudden flash of red light spilled through the crack under the door, accompanied by a foul smell.

“Not good!”

The director, having lived many years, immediately sensed something amiss. He jumped up and rushed to open the door.

Outside, towering flames greeted their eyes—the orphanage was on fire!

“Bai Yun, call the fire department! Lin Zi, come with me to fetch water! Everyone else, don’t run around; stay safe!”

Led by the director, everyone sprang into action to tackle the sudden disaster.

Yet the fire only grew fiercer, and the water they brought was barely a drop in the bucket.

“This can’t go on.”

Seeing the fire spreading, the director decisively led everyone outside.

But just as they stepped out, a group of men in plain clothes appeared, brandishing machetes and wearing feral grins.

“Watch out!”

Without hesitation, the director charged at them, fighting bravely but unarmed and not a martial artist—how could he stand against them?

Within moments, his body was covered in deep, horrifying wounds, blood flowing relentlessly.

Lin Tian couldn’t bear to watch and tried to step forward to help but was stopped by Bai Yun.

“You can’t go,” she said, gesturing toward the terrified children crying behind her.

“The priority is to get the kids to safety.”

Lin Tian had no choice but to hold back, covering the rear for the group.

“Did you call the police?”

“Yes.”

Relieved somewhat, Lin Tian decided to return to help the director.

“No, you can’t go back!” Bai Yun blocked him again, her eyes brimming with tears. “Lin Ge, you’re just a kid. Those men have big knives. If you go back, it’s like walking to your death.”

Lin Tian fell silent.

At this point, all they could do was wait for the police.

After more than ten minutes, the distant wail of sirens grew louder. A police car pulled up, and two officers approached steadily.

The lead officer’s face was stern as he asked, “Did you report the fire?”

“Yes, I did,” Bai Yun replied, recounting everything that had happened.

The officer pondered, “We’ll handle this. By the way, we saw two fire trucks arrive nearby. Did you call them as well?”

Lin Tian nodded.

For some reason, he felt something was off about the police but couldn’t quite pinpoint it.

Soon, the police car drove away again, and Lin Tian and the others stayed put, seeking shelter for safety.

“Lin Ge, you don’t look well,” Bai Yun said, soothing the children’s nerves as she glanced at his pale face, growing more worried.

“I’m fine,” Lin Tian shook his head, but the unease in his heart deepened. His eyes flickered, glimpsing fleeting images…

The director, surrounded by assailants, collapsed, his body hacked into pieces, lifeless eyes staring with lingering resentment.

Then, the tardy police clashed with the attackers but somehow allowed them to slip away.

“No, this can’t be real.”

Lin Tian cried out, struggling to shake the visions.

The children, frightened by his strange behavior, broke into loud sobs. Even Bai Yun’s fear intensified.

Overwhelmed, just before losing control, Lin Tian suddenly slammed into a nearby pillar and collapsed, unconscious.

“Lin Ge…”

In a daze, he heard Bai Yun’s voice calling him, but he could not wake.

After an unknown time, he gradually became aware of his surroundings and slowly regained consciousness.