☆, Ouyang Family
The director and deputy director, along with the other children from the orphanage, took turns speaking kind words by Xiao Banli’s bedside throughout the night, trying to persuade her to accept the adoption by the couple who were teachers. As the first light of dawn broke through the window, Xiao Banli still clenched her teeth, her sixteen-year-old eyes filled with tears, unwilling to nod in agreement. Even the director, who was usually so patient, couldn’t help but get angry. Gripping the black Buddhist beads on her wrist, she said, “No matter what, you haven’t given a reason that anyone can accept. Today, you must meet them.” She didn’t mention adoption, she only insisted that Xiao Banli meet the couple. Perhaps after meeting them, if Xiao Banli felt warmth, she might agree. No one knew why her attitude had changed overnight. Before, it was clear that Xiao Banli liked the couple—an elegant, cultured family with no children. As Xiao Banli was about to turn eighteen and was still stuck in the orphanage, the director felt deeply guilty. Who could have predicted that today Xiao Banli would be so stubborn in her stance?
After saying that, she sent everyone who had gathered around Xiao Banli’s bed away.
For a moment, the crowded room was left with only Xiao Banli, who had been reborn, lying all alone on the bed. Her eyes, still moist, stared blankly, seemingly lost in thought.
The images from her past life were too terrifying, constantly swirling in her mind, unable to escape. The bloody scenes, including the child who had died with her—a seven-month-old baby. Despite her lack of love for her husband, she had never rejected the idea of having a child. In fact, she had been filled with anticipation for the baby’s arrival, yet she had died so tragically.
“Banli, how do you like my outfit?” Yuan Muxiao skipped over to Xiao Banli’s bed, twirling around in her dress, proudly displaying its beauty from all angles.
Xiao Banli turned her head to look at the girl backlit by the light. At sixteen, Yuan Muxiao’s flower-like beauty, coupled with a bright smile, could charm many people. Yuan Muxiao was already quite beautiful, and now she had begun to show even more allure, thanks to her deliberate display.
“Banli, say something! Does it look good or not?” Seeing Xiao Banli remain silent, Yuan Muxiao leaned over and grabbed Xiao Banli’s shoulder, shaking her.
Xiao Banli let herself be shaken, and after a long pause, she said, “It looks good.”
Yuan Muxiao smiled contentedly, her snow-white teeth showing as she gently bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth. She was quite pretty, but unfortunately, her ambition was too great. Xiao Banli couldn’t find any reason to treat her kindly. Her first husband was the only man she had ever loved. At that time, young and captivated by his beauty, it was like drinking poison—she couldn’t bring herself to quit even a drop. In the end, it was one of the orphanage sisters who entered their home and took her place as his wife.
“Muxiao, can a maid in the Ouyang family work for a lifetime?”
Yuan Muxiao’s joyful expression froze for a moment. She looked at Xiao Banli, who suddenly spoke. After being silent for so long, Xiao Banli’s delicate, soft voice was now hoarse and a little unclear.
It took Yuan Muxiao a while to understand what Xiao Banli was saying. She asked, confirming, “A maid? The Ouyang family?”
Xiao Banli nodded.
“Of course, a lifetime. It’s said that their old housekeeper worked as a maid for his entire life and eventually got promoted. The old man never married.” Yuan Muxiao scoffed, disdainful in her voice.
Hearing this, Xiao Banli’s eyes flickered slightly.
In her previous life, the 16-year-old Xiao Banli had focused all her thoughts on that cruel couple. She had no interest at all in Yuan Muxiao’s choice to join the Ouyang family, and naturally, she was completely unaware of their family’s maid system.
But if one entered the Ouyang family, unless the Ouyang family members allowed it, no one would be able to take a single flower, grass, or tree away from their estate.
“Why are you asking about this?” Yuan Muxiao looked at Xiao Banli strangely.
Xiao Banli brushed her hair and shook her head, saying, “Nothing.”
The Ouyang family arrived at the orphanage earlier than the cruel couple, with their scheduled time set for 10 a.m. As the sun rose to mid-sky, the long-dull orphanage seemed to have gained some life.
The children, having never seen such a beautiful long car, gathered around it, peeking curiously with expressions full of wonder and a hint of envy. The person in charge of the adoption was the current housekeeper of the Ouyang family, who was chatting with the director in the courtyard, wearing a smile that was three parts pleasant and seven parts dignified. The children, dressed neatly and waiting to be adopted, stood in a line by the wall, all trying their best to display bright, cheerful smiles.
“Mr. Zhu, these children are all very pitiful. All they want is a warm meal and a roof over their heads. I know your Ouyang family is a big family, and you won’t let these children suffer, but as their guardian, I still hope Mr. Zhu will pay extra attention to the children when the time comes,” the director said, her fingers continuously turning the Buddhist beads, her eyes red, looking at the children with great affection.
“Of course, as long as the children are well-behaved, the Ouyang family will never treat them poorly.” Mr. Zhu Yuanbin looked over the seven girls from head to toe, his eyes filled with a smile as he carefully scrutinized the seven girls who had been carefully selected. When his gaze landed on Yuan Muxiao, whose smile was particularly radiant and whose face was especially beautiful, he paused for a moment, his eyes lingering longer on her.
“Mr. Zhu, please come this way to handle the paperwork,” the director said, leading Mr. Zhu toward the dilapidated office building.
Just then, a figure rushed down the stairs, quickly crossing the high threshold. With a thud, the petite figure kneeled in front of Mr. Zhu and the director.
Everyone present was stunned.
The director looked awkwardly at Xiao Banli, who had nearly collapsed to the ground, and hurriedly said, “Mr. Zhu, I’m sorry, this child doesn’t know any better.”
He reached out to help Xiao Banli up.
But Xiao Banli suddenly lifted her head, locking eyes with Mr. Zhu, and everyone in the room gasped. No one could have imagined that the usually disheveled Xiao Banli would look so beautiful with her face now clean—her sharp chin, skin fairer than snow, and her delicate face outshining the seven girls who had been carefully selected.
“Banli, get up. Don’t block Mr. Zhu’s way,” the director said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Xiao Banli hunched her shoulders slightly, her water-like eyes still fixed on Mr. Zhu’s astonished gaze. “I also want to go to the Ouyang family and be a maid.”
Those words were like dropping a bomb.
The children around them began chattering, some expressing their surprise, others pointing at Xiao Banli. They all knew that Xiao Banli had already been chosen for adoption—those two couples were coming in the afternoon, yet Xiao Banli was now saying she wanted to be adopted by the Ouyang family, speaking in such a pleading tone.
This caused both the director and the deputy director to look surprised, while Mr. Zhu’s interest grew. “You want to come to the Ouyang family?” Mr. Zhu lowered his body slightly, trying to meet Xiao Banli’s gaze.
Xiao Banli clutched the crumpled hem of her skirt and nodded firmly. “Yes.”
“But we only need seven. If we choose you, it means one of them won’t be able to come to the Ouyang family.” Mr. Zhu glanced at the seven children standing by the wall, all staring intently in their direction.
Xiao Banli lowered her head, her eyes shimmering with moisture, her voice trembling as she said, “I’m sorry, actually, I’ve already been chosen by another couple. They’re teachers, and I like them very much. But I feel like I’m already so old, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to form a bond with them. They might be more suited to a younger child.”
“So, you mean you want to swap adoption with one of them?” Mr. Zhu extended a finger to lift Xiao Banli’s delicate chin, his eyes smiling with clear satisfaction at her appearance, full of mirth.
Xiao Banli swallowed, nodding vigorously. “Mm!”
“Do you think they’ll agree?” Mr. Zhu glanced again at the seven children, who were all craning their necks to listen, including Yuan Muxiao, whose eyes were tinged with a bit of annoyance. Among the seven, Yuan Muxiao was originally the most beautiful, but now with Xiao Banli suddenly appearing, she was immediately overshadowed. Even Mr. Zhu’s gaze wasn’t as captivated by her as before. How could she not be upset?
Xiao Banli continued to speak softly, “I think… I think they’ll agree.” After all, that couple had always treated her well, and it was obvious to everyone. There was no child who didn’t like kind adults, especially since the couple frequently brought her treats to win her favor. The other children in the orphanage were all envious of her.
“Alright, Director, I’ll take this girl. Please choose one of the others for a swap. Oh, and don’t swap the girl in the pink dress on the far left. You can pick the others freely.”
Xiao Banli raised her eyes, meeting Yuan Muxiao’s furious gaze.
As Xiao Banli had expected, when the six children learned that the adoptive parents were that couple, they thought it over for a while, and most of them were willing to swap. The one who showed the most obvious interest was the youngest, Huahua, who was also the least outstanding. She had an ordinary face, the kind that you wouldn’t recognize if you mixed her in with a crowd.
At Huahua’s strong request, the director arranged for her to swap places with Xiao Banli.
Xiao Banli let out a sigh of relief. That cruel couple would surely not be interested in Huahua. When they had adopted her at 18, they had said that they chose her because of her beauty, believing that she would bring them wealth. That’s why they had spent so much time and effort, making multiple trips to the orphanage, to eliminate her resistance, until they finally succeeded in adopting her.
With Huahua being so plain, they would definitely not want her.
The long car parked at the door was a Rolls-Royce, the only one in the city, and only the Ouyang family could afford it. As Yuan Muxiao was pushed by Xiao Banli to stand beside her, she secretly pinched Xiao Banli, gritting her teeth and whispering in her ear, “Banli, so you asked me about the Ouyang family this morning because you want to become a maid in their house? But looking at you now, it seems more like you want to do something disgusting.”
Xiao Banli took two steps back, narrowed her eyes, and ignored Yuan Muxiao.