Chapter 110: Escaping the Welfare Home

Prince Wang Zixuan: “The case is basically closed. Xu Miaohan’s death was a suicide.”

Hao Yingjun nodded with a sigh, unsure what to say. The feeling was unsettling—just one friend, gone. Though they hadn’t been in touch for a long time, it still hurt deeply.

Hao Yingjun: “I don’t know what she went through. But the Xu Miaohan from back then would never have taken her own life.”

Wang Zixuan: “Feeling sentimental?”

Hao Yingjun: “Not exactly sentimental. Just a bit reflective.”

A brief silence fell between them as they talked. Yet something felt off in the room. Without a word, Hao Yingjun’s hand lowered subtly, dropping something small and nearly invisible. Once it hit the floor, it disappeared.

Wang Zixuan: “If that couple back then had taken you instead, maybe your lives would have completely switched places.”

Hao Yingjun: “At the time, I didn’t want to be adopted. Xu Miaohan even helped me with that.”

Curious, Wang Zixuan asked, “Then how did you leave the orphanage?”

Hao Yingjun: “I’ve never told anyone before. Actually, it involves Xu Miaohan as well.”

One night, Hao Yingjun and Xu Miaohan secretly ran away. The orphanage’s teachers and leaders searched frantically, shouting their names.

“Xu Miaohan!”

“Hao Yingjun!”

“Where are you two?”

“Come out quickly! Are you there?”

“Come out now!”

“It’s too late, it’s dangerous!”

At that moment, the two girls crouched beside a wall. The flashlight’s beam swept over them. It was clear that running together meant certain capture.

Xu Miaohan said, “You run first. I’ll draw them away.”

Hao Yingjun replied, “If we leave, we leave together.”

Xu Miaohan: “They want to catch you, not me.”

She wiped the mud off Hao Yingjun’s face.

Xu Miaohan: “Wait for me at the agreed spot.”

Hao Yingjun: “You have to come.”

Xu Miaohan smiled: “I will.”

With that, she turned and ran. Hao Yingjun watched as Xu Miaohan was caught. Frozen, she dared not move. She waited at their meeting place for a very long time, but Xu Miaohan never came. Even after all the lights in the building went out, there was no sign of her. Finally, Hao Yingjun had to leave.

At a corner, she slowly pried loose a red brick and began to crawl out. Halfway through, she got stuck.

Just then, a Border Collie appeared, pressing down on her leg to help her muster strength. Using its body’s momentum and a sliding push, she managed to squeeze through. The dog followed her out.

Hao Yingjun, fond of the Border Collie, said, “Are you here to help me find my parents?”

The dog seemed to understand and barked once. Hao Yingjun looked down to see a collar with a tag marked with the character “Si.”

Hao Yingjun: “Then I’ll call you Xiao Si.”

They stayed outside the orphanage for two days. One morning, Hao Yingjun saw Xu Miaohan being adopted, taken away by a car.

She chased desperately after it, shouting, “Xu Miaohan! Xu Miaohan!”

But how could one catch a speeding car? Soon, she was left behind. In her mind, the last image was Xu Miaohan waving goodbye.

Wang Zixuan said solemnly, “So your running away has a long tradition.”

Hao Yingjun quickly replied, “Traditions are meant to be changed. I’m not running anymore.”