Light Barrier

Chapter 27

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.”

“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.”