Light Barrier - Chapter 27: Orphanage

Rain.

It was a light drizzle.

Inside a car, covered by gentle and soothing piano music, everything was quiet, except for the faint sound of the windshield wipers moving back and forth.

Gu Shen was sitting in the front passenger seat and wiping the side window with his palm through his sleeve. He looked at the tall buildings flowing past and the increasingly empty streets. The car merged into a highway and headed toward the remote and desolate suburbs.

“Five Elders Mountains, why are we going to such a remote place?”

Nan Jin had taken off her trench coat and placed it neatly folded on the back seat. She didn’t wear a tight combat suit under her trench coat all the time. For example, on informal and casual occasions like today, she was wearing a snow-white shirt and washed denim jeans. Perhaps because of her graceful figure, her shirt was stretched tight, and her red hair was tied into a bun. She looked nothing like a violent maniac and more like an intellectual and gentle college student.

“Haven’t you read my file? You should know.” Gu Shen held the sleeping orange cat in his arms and smiled. “That’s where I grew up.”

Nan Jin was stunned.

Of course, she knew that Gu Shen grew up in an orphanage. But the name of that orphanage was…

“Morning Light Orphanage.” Gu Shen scratched his head. “It’s a very tacky name, so it’s normal that you can’t remember. The orphanage was sponsored by a man named Zhou Chenguang (Zhou Morning Light), so it was named after him.”

Morning Light Orphanage was in a remote area, and its icon was marked on the map near the Five Elders Mountains. This distance was a three-and-a-half-hour drive from downtown Oto City.

“Why do you suddenly want to go there?”

“Actually, my idea is very simple.”

Gu Shen said seriously, “If the assessment ends smoothly, I should start carrying out missions, right? I might be very busy in the future. There are people important to me here. If I can’t see them for a long time, I want to say goodbye now.

“Also…” Gu Shen whispered. “The matron of the orphanage treated me very well. I haven’t achieved much in two years, so I’ve been too embarrassed to go back.”

Nan Jin nodded in understanding.

The trunk was full of packed fresh fruits, organic vegetables, two boxes of milk, and a large basket of eggs.

“Later, I thought about it and realized it shouldn’t be like this. No matter how I’m doing, I should go back and see the matron and the others,” Gu Shen said. “But every time I think about the scene when I left, I feel ashamed. The matron said so confidently that I’m smart and talented and would definitely do well and become successful in the future.

“Aren’t you already quite successful?” Nan Jin said. “It’s already very impressive for working-class people in Oto to earn ten thousand a month. You have five hundred thousand in your account now, which is an amount they can only save up over ten years.”

“… When you put it like that, I have the illusion that I’m really something.” Gu Shen adjusted his seat and leaned back. He muttered, “Actually, this money has nothing to do with me. It’s like winning the lottery. It just came out of nowhere.”

“Don’t say that. That’s what you got for selling yourself. It’s different from winning the lottery.” Nan Jin raised her eyebrows. “If you want to use an analogy, you can interpret this money as the appearance fee for a courtesan from a long time ago. The guests who fancy the courtesan are willing to spend money lavishly. Since they think you’re worth the money, then you’re worth it.”

“Five hundred thousand… I’m really valuable.” Gu Shen raised his fingers and asked worriedly, “If my assessment results aren’t good, will Mr. Tree make me spit out this money?”

Nan Jin almost laughed out loud. “It’s just five hundred thousand. It’s nothing.”

She waved her hand. “Just follow Senior Sister and Senior Brother and work hard. This amount of money is nothing.”

“That’s good…” Gu Shen hesitated for a moment and said, “I’m planning to donate all this money, okay?”

The wicked woman, focused on driving, didn’t have any reaction and simply said, “Of course. It’s already your money. You can spend it however you want without my permission. But if I remember correctly, you don’t have much savings, right? This money can let you buy a lot of things. Are you really going to donate all of it?”

“Actually, I still have some money in my account, and I don’t have anything I want to buy. Anyway, you guys are paying the rent and also providing food.”

Gu Shen smiled. “The matron sent me a message a few days ago. She said that the orphanage’s walls are leaking again and the roof has collapsed.

“When I was six, the roof was made of mud, and it often leaked. If we were unlucky and the roof broke during the rainy season, we wouldn’t be able to study or sleep all day.”

Gu Shen talked about many matters without realizing it and quickly realized he was rambling. He smiled and said, “… In short, it was very bad.”

“…” Nan Jin was silent for a while.

She had intended to say something to refute Gu Shen. But then she found herself speechless because what Gu Shen said was true. She had been born in the most prosperous and wealthy Dadu District in the East Continent. Every inch of land there was expensive, and there were towering skyscrapers soaring into the clouds. In the  cold steel jungle, it was impossible to find the rudimentary mud house that Gu Shen mentioned.

“Doesn’t the Parliament allocate funds every year?” Nan Jin asked softly. “There are also some foundations…”

Gu Shen shook his head and merely smiled without saying anything.

Nan Jin suddenly realized that this world might not be as beautiful as she had thought.

There were always places where light couldn’t reach.

She said softly, “Now you have money.”

“Yes, I do.” Gu Shen grinned. “These things aren’t a problem anymore. Having money is really nice. With money, you can solve many things.”

“If it’s not enough, I can help. Just consider it my meager contribution.” Nan Jin lowered her eyes and said softly, “Actually, I’m richer than you think.”

Gu Shen was startled. Is this the legendary rich woman with beautiful and long legs?

But she’s too fierce. I can’t afford to mess with her.

“No need, no need. I’ve earned enough from selling myself. If I owe you any more favors, I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.” Gu Shen politely declined with a smile. “Thank you for your good intentions.”