Ch 76: The Compelled Boy

Xu Hui calmly walked upstairs, remaining very quiet. However, the luxurious decor of the lobby wasn’t continued; this floor seemed rather old and dilapidated.

What kind of bizarre hotel is this? They spent the entire renovation budget on the first-floor lobby?

Xu Hui opened every room door, but didn’t even see a cockroach. He gradually became irritable.

He saw that this hotel was quite tall. Searching floor by floor like this, how long would it take? Where is Number 1 hiding? They’re surprisingly cowardly!

Xu Hui softly snorted and continued upstairs. The stairwell was somewhat patchy; fragments of wall plaster lay on the floor.

He lightly furrowed his brow; some items vaguely felt familiar.

He pushed open a room door, hearing a “creak——” sound. Clearly, this door didn’t look that old…

But as Xu Hui looked more closely at the door, he found it was a wooden door from his memory.

Much of the paint had peeled off. In the center of the door was a childish drawing that seemed somewhat naive.

Why is his gaze fixed on the center of the door?

Xu Hui was surprised to find himself shorter. He raised his hand; it was a still somewhat delicate hand. He hadn’t gotten shorter, he’d gotten smaller!

This wooden door was clearly from his room in the orphanage!

“Brother, where have you been? The Dean is looking for you.”

A pretty girl looked at him; her large eyes were like twinkling stars.

“Xiao Tong!”

Xu Hui didn’t have time to be puzzled. He rushed into the room, hugged the girl, and his eyes turned red.

The child who grew up with him in the orphanage was like a sister to him; she was the person he cherished most.

It had just been a long time since he’d seen her.

“Brother?”

Xiao Tong was a little strange, but still smiled in response to Xu Hui’s hug. She gently patted his back.

“It’s alright, brother. Everything will be okay.”

Xiao Tong’s voice in his arms was still gentle. Xu Hui greedily enjoyed the warmth before him.

“If only this were really okay…”

“Brother, what are you saying? Isn’t this real right now?”

Xiao Tong looked curiously at Xu Hui, her tender hand wiping away the tears from his eyes.

“Brother, what’s wrong with you today? You’re so strange.”

Xiao Tong put her hand on Xu Hui’s forehead, then gave a bright smile.

“Brother, you don’t have a fever either. Are you teasing me again!”

She then pouted her cherry-like lips.

Xu Hui lovingly touched her head, “No, brother just missed you too much.”

“Still saying you’re not teasing me? We’ve only been apart for an afternoon, and you miss me already!”

Xiao Tong angrily turned her back.

Xu Hui apologized and tried to coax her, but Xiao Tong grabbed his hand.

“Brother, you forgot the important thing. The Dean is looking for you.”

Walking through this shabby corridor, Xu Hui was a little dazed. Could a dream be this real? The Xiao Tong before him was exactly the same as in his memory; even the milky scent on her was the same.

“Xu Hui, you’re finally here.”

It was Director Zhang, a kind old woman. She was squinting, smiling at him.

“Xiao Tong is here too. I have some good news to tell you both.”

“What good news, Dean?”

Xiao Tong blinked curiously.

But a hint of fear arose in Xu Hui’s heart; familiar memories kept surfacing.

“You two have always wanted to be adopted together, haven’t you? The Dean finally found a family for you—she’s willing to adopt you both!”

“Really? That’s great! Thank you, Director Zhang! Brother, did you hear that? We’re going to be adopted by the same family!”

Xiao Tong danced with joy, happy as a little rabbit.

But Xu Hui felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

The most terrifying woman from his memories.

He had been just as happy as Xiao Tong when he heard the news, but after being adopted by that woman, he discovered that it was hell.

Madam Huo appeared mature, elegant, and richly generous, but she was actually a devil.

After she adopted him and Xiao Tong, she was initially very kind.

But soon she revealed her true nature; even minor mistakes resulted in beatings and scoldings for the siblings.

Although she always had a smile on her face, it made them feel unusually cold.

Less than two months after adopting them, Xiao Tong disappeared. Xu Hui searched frantically, but Madam Huo showed no reaction.

Xu Hui went to the police station to report it, but Madam Huo said it was just children playing; her daughter wasn’t missing.

After being lectured, he returned home with Madam Huo.

“Xiao Hui, Meimei was just playing; don’t make a fuss.”

Impossible, Xiao Tong wouldn’t play until she didn’t come home at night.

“Where did you hide Xiao Tong!”

Xu Hui asked frantically.

“Xiao Hui, go take a bath quickly; after your bath, Mom will tell you.”

He quickly took a bath, filled with hope.

Madam Huo’s room door was open; he went inside.

The door was closed by Madam Huo. Her obese figure still wore a smile, but this time, a beastly light gleamed in her eyes.

“Xiao Hui has grown up, hasn’t he?”

Madam Huo grabbed his hand and threw him onto the bed.

“What are you doing! Let me go! Mmm…”

Madam Huo was very strong; he was too young to break free.

Madam Huo’s oily mouth pressed down, a foul smell filling his nostrils. He forcefully bit her lip.

A slap like a bear paw fell; his head felt dizzy.

“Xiao Hui, let Mommy love you properly, or it will hurt you.”

His eyes were vacant. Madam Huo’s sweat made him feel sick, but he had no power to resist.

Such nights would always happen.

“Brother? Brother! Why aren’t you happy?”

Xiao Tong looked at Xu Hui, dazed and somewhat puzzled.

“I think your brother is too happy! The adoptive parents will be here soon; you two just wait here for a while.”

As if waking from a dream, Xu Hui pulled Xiao Tong back to the room.

“Brother? What are you doing!”

Xu Hui was much stronger than Xiao Tong; she felt some pain.

Few families are willing to adopt two children, and they weren’t young anymore.

This opportunity might not come again.

Xiao Tong cried; Xu Hui quickly stopped.

“Xiao Tong, I’m sorry, this time, let’s not be adopted, okay…”

“Xu Hui, what nonsense are you saying? There won’t be another chance like this. Aren’t you considering Xiao Tong?!”

The Dean was just about to reprimand Xu Hui, but she saw the adoptive parents walk in.

“Madam Huo, you’ve arrived. These are Xiao Hui and Xiao Tong. They have a great relationship and are both very smart!”

That familiar smile appeared on Madam Huo’s face—Xu Hui could never forget it.

That immense pressure made him feel terrified, and he even wanted to vomit.

Xiao Tong politely greeted her; Madam Huo smiled and nodded.

“Director Zhang, I like these two children very much. Let’s do the paperwork.”

“No! No, no, no!”

Xu Hui wanted to shout, but he was surprised to find that he couldn’t make a sound.

He was like a puppet, getting into Madam Huo’s car, just like before.

Although he wanted to change things, to stop it, everything was still happening. He was like a ghost floating in the air, watching a story that had already played out once.

Xiao Tong was sold by Madam Huo to a mountain area; he never saw her again.

Madam Huo pulled open his clothes, and her thick hands groped him again and again.

Xu Hui felt he couldn’t breathe. Why? Why was this happening again?

Who can save him…