1 – The Little Wolf Cub of the Orphanage
If you shine, I will guard your wings; if you fall into darkness, I will descend into the abyss with you. My madness for you is an uncontrollable, wild obsession in my heart.—Jin Zhi
December in Kyoto was bitterly cold, with winds that pierced through skin and chilled the bones—a discomfort few could endure.
From being kidnapped to being sent to the orphanage, seven-year-old Fu Yao spent a total of two days.
During those two days, she was beaten and cursed at. Fortunately, the two traffickers turned on each other, and she survived.
When the police arrived, they were stunned to find her sitting in a pitch-black, unfinished high-rise building with two corpses in front of her. They said they had never encountered such a situation before.
For a seven-year-old girl, this was indeed a psychological scar.
But Fu Yao didn’t find it terrifying—she had seen worse.
She knew the police even whispered among themselves, wondering why she remained so calm and composed, thinking she must have been scared out of her wits.
But she knew that wasn’t the case… though the reason was quite interesting—a little secret of hers.
As soon as Fu Yao stepped through the orphanage gate, she was greeted by a peculiar sight.
A boy, covered in dust and grime, so thin he looked like a skeleton, was baring his teeth at three dogs. It was too far to see what color he was, but they seemed to be fighting over a bowl of dog food.
Soon, the boy let out a warning growl, squeezing his throat to mimic a wild beast, scaring all the dogs away.
He walked up to the dog bowl, grabbed the food with both hands, and began shoving it into his mouth.
He was the very image of a wild beast.
The world was never short of beasts fallen into the mire, nor flowers blooming in the mud, swaying in the cold wind. It wasn’t breathtaking—more of a tragedy.
Fu Yao asked, “Who is he? Will I end up like him too?”
The orphanage director was an elderly man with a sly, shifty look, thin and wiry, wearing a smile on his face.
“His name is Jin Zhi, just a mad dog nobody wants. But you’re the little princess of the Fu family—how could he ever compare to you? Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you during your stay here.”
He rubbed his hands together, smiling naturally, but Fu Yao could see his color was black—faint, but black, just like the kidnappers.
She didn’t like the director, but she wouldn’t say it out loud.
This was called hiding.
She insisted, “My parents won’t come for me.”
The director said, “The police have called them. They’ll come to pick you up once they’re done with their work in the next couple of days.”
Fu Yao didn’t say another word, silently watching the boy eating dog food. She felt they were the same kind of people.
Both unwanted.
She walked up unhurriedly, looking at the boy. He had a color she had never seen before.
Purple—a suffocating purple.
Ever since her mother died, Fu Yao had been able to see colors representing a person’s emotions at the time.
Like orange for happiness, red for excitement, blue for sadness, and black for greed—but she had never seen purple before.
Just looking at it made her feel suffocated.
As if sensing some danger, Jin Zhi bared his teeth at Fu Yao, his eyes wide with hostility, as if he might lunge at her and tear her apart the next second.
Fu Yao was frightened too, but she still reached out her hand. “My name is Fu Yao. What’s yours? Can we be friends?”
For a moment, the purple seemed to waver.
But it quickly returned.
“Ah—!”
The other person slapped her hard, causing Fu Yao to feel a sharp pain on the back of her hand.
Looking down, she saw four crimson scratch marks left behind. Against her fair skin, the marks were especially stark and glaring, deeply unsettling.
Fu Yao covered the back of her hand. The person in front of her seemed intent on attacking again, making her instinctively step back.
The director roared, “Jin Zhi, you damn bastard, hurting people again! How dare you lay a hand on Fu Yao? Do you have a death wish?”
With that, he rushed forward and kicked Jin Zhi.
The small body rolled several times on the ground. Clutching his stomach where he had been kicked, he silently opened his mouth as if gasping hoarsely.
Slowly, he glared at the director with a sinister gaze, chilling to the bone—like a demon lurking underground quietly climbing up your back, covering your shoulders, sending a cold shiver through your entire body, making you too afraid to move a muscle.
Fu Yao wondered what kind of circumstances could make a six-year-old child wear such an expression.
It made her feel sorrow for him.
The director shouted, “You still dare to glare!”
He was about to go hit him again, but Fu Yao spread her arms, blocking him with one arm.
“I’m fine. Let’s go inside.”
The director was taken aback but still glared fiercely at Jin Zhi. “Mad dog! You won’t get any dinner tonight. Go eat your dog food!”
Fu Yao looked at Jin Zhi.
Jin Zhi also looked at Fu Yao.
The two stared at each other. Fu Yao noticed the purple around him had faded slightly, mixed with a shade of blue representing confusion.
Fu Yao didn’t look any longer and simply said to the director, “I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”
The director smiled and led Fu Yao away. “Alright, alright, I’ll get you whatever you want to eat.”
Fu Yao actually listed a long string of dishes, all meat-based.
The director indulged her and arranged for all of them.
Fu Yao knew very well that the director’s indulgence was because he wanted something from her parents.
She didn’t really care about that, though, since her parents were indeed willing to give.
All they could offer was material things—otherwise, the Fu family would lose face.
…
During the meal, they were inside, while Jin Zhi was locked outside.
Winter in the capital was bitterly cold, the wind sharp and piercing, whistling against the skin, enough to freeze one’s bones brittle.
Fu Yao could see the boy trembling as he pressed against the window, staring at her. His pupils held confusion and a greed driven by hunger.
His eyes were fixed, unblinking.
Looking at the large table full of dishes, Fu Yao felt no appetite.
“I’m full.”
The director was puzzled. “Full? Then I’ll go boil water for you to take a bath.”
Fu Yao nodded. “Mm.”
The director soon left.
Once Fu Yao confirmed he was gone, she climbed down from her chair and pushed the door open. Her gaze locked onto the boy, who had retreated in full alert, and a smile appeared on her face.
She was pretty, and her smile was sweet, like a piece of candy that could melt into one’s heart.
“The director isn’t here now. Come in and eat.”
Jin Zhi glanced at Fu Yao, the color above his head shifting to blue and a faint orange.
This precisely indicated his confusion and momentary excitement.
But these colors were soon replaced by red and blue.
He glared fiercely at Fu Yao, then dashed inside and began grabbing food with his hands. The grime on his hands dirtied the food, but he didn’t seem to mind, as if he were used to it.
He wolfed it down, as if afraid someone would snatch it away.
Fu Yao simply watched him eat, noticing the color around him had turned into a deep orange.
She tentatively asked, “Your name is Jin Zhi, and you’re six years old?”
Jin Zhi slowed his eating, seemingly hesitating whether to answer, but still nodded, “Mm.”
Fu Yao asked, “Why did you come here?”
Jin Zhi stopped eating, glaring fiercely at Fu Yao. His aura turned into an angry red, and that rare purple also emerged.
Fu Yao didn’t understand the meaning of purple, but was certain it wasn’t any positive emotion, not daring to act rashly.
She took a breath: “You eat, I won’t ask anymore.”
Only then did Jin Zhi calm down, continuing to wolf down his food.
In the cramped little room, only a dim yellow lamp provided light. Fu Yao sat on a chair watching the boy devour his meal. Though covered in grime, his handsome features and delicate facial contours were still faintly visible.
He’d probably look quite nice after a wash.
“Little princess, the water’s heated, you can go take a bath now.”
The director’s voice came through. Jin Zhi immediately grabbed a rib and fled, unafraid of the heat or dirt.
Stumbling halfway, he quickly stuffed another bite into his mouth.
When the director came over and saw the mess, his face immediately flushed red.
“That damn ungrateful brat! I must teach him a lesson!”
But Fu Yao looked at him, “Is there a problem with eating when hungry?”
This statement was so reasonable, clean and sharp, leaving no room for rebuttal.
The director was momentarily stunned.
Fu Yao continued, “Be nicer to him.”
They were both unwanted children.
Her heart ached for him.
While the director stood dumbfounded, Fu Yao walked outside.
The director muttered quietly, “Kids these days, so mature already…”
Jin Zhi was still gnawing on the bone. Though there was no meat left on it, he tore at every remaining fiber like a beast starved for ages.
Fu Yao said, “Go take a bath.”
Jin Zhi: “No.”
This was the first non-interjection word he’d spoken to her.
Fu Yao said, “Only after bathing will someone like you, will someone want you.”
Jin Zhi raised his head to stare at Fu Yao.
“Don’t want.”
Fu Yao sighed, “Hurry up, I’ll wash you. Otherwise there’s no time, what will I use when the water cools?”
She spread open her palm, waiting for his response.
Jin Zhi looked at the clean, pretty little girl before him, memorizing her eyes.
Like the most perfect artwork carved from flawless diamond, transparent as glass, clean and pure.
They were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
The two stared at each other for a long time before Jin Zhi finally placed his small dirty hand in Fu Yao’s palm.
——Author’s Note——
New book fresh out! A story of mutual salvation between two heartbreakingly intelligent “bad kids” falling in love, leaning on and warming each other. Plenty of foreshadowing and surprises.
Super sweet, no angst!