The car rolled to a stop in front of the orphanage gates. It wasn't fancy like the buildings Mo Fei had gotten used to seeing since waking up in this body, the walls were old but clean. Bright drawings made by children covered the outside walls, stick-figure families, suns with smiling faces, colorful flowers.
A middle-aged woman hurried down the steps as they stepped out of the car.
She wore a warm smile and simple clothes, her hair tied neatly behind her head. "You must be from Z Entertainment," she said kindly.
Louis nodded politely. "Yes, we spoke earlier."
The woman bowed her head slightly. "I'm Madam He, the caregiver here." She turned toward Mo Fei, her eyes soft. "Thank you for coming."
Mo Fei nodded politely back."No problem. "Then he leaned closer to Louis and whispered, "...Where's the cameraman?"
Louis pulled out his phone. "I'll call him." He walked off a few steps toward the parking area, already dialing. Mo Fei watched him go, then he stretched slightly and looked around.
The orphanage courtyard was lively. Children were playing everywhere. Some were drawing with chalk on the ground.
Others chased each other around the small playground. Mo Fei slowly walked toward the playground area. From the memories of the original owner of this body, he used to visit orphanages often.Without media and cameras. He never posted about it, Never told anyone.
Mo Fei clicked his tongue softly, What a shame, all that goodwill and none of it had been used for publicity, In this industry? That was practically wasted marketing.
Just then, Tug. Something pulled on his trousers, Mo Fei blinked and looked down. A tiny girl stood there, around six years old, Her hair was tied into two messy ponytails, she held a lollipop in one hand, her front teeth were missing, But she was grinning up at him like she had just discovered treasure.
"You look like an angel," she announced confidently.
Mo Fei "...."
She tilted her head. "Are you one?"
Mo Fei stared at her for a moment then suddenly crouched down so they were eye level, Up close the little girl smelled faintly like candy, Her missing teeth made her smile look even more ridiculous, Mo Fei couldn't help laughing a little. "What's your name?" he asked her
The girl puffed her chest proudly "Yanyan"
Mo Fei nodded seriously like he had just received very important information. "Well, miss Yanyan" he said thoughtfully. "I'm not actually an angel."
The girl looked disappointed and Mo Fei quickly added, "But people have always said I look like one." He flicked his red hair slightly, "Probably because of my dashing appearance." He winked.
The little girl's eyes widened, then she burst into giggles. Her smile somehow got even bigger, Suddenly she spun around and ran toward the other children, She waved her lollipop wildly while shouting, "THE UNCLE OVER THERE SAYS HE'S AN ANGEL!"
Within seconds, Several other children turned their heads and looked toward Mo Fei. Mo Fei slowly straightened up, Realizing something dangerous as the small army of children ran toward him.
"Didn't I just say I wasn't one?" he muttered under his breath. Children really had selective hearing, He puffed his cheeks in mild offense, scanning the courtyard. Where's Louis...
As if summoned by fate itself, Louis appeared walking across the yard. But instead of his usual tired expression, He looked panicked, Actual panic. He stopped in front of Mo Fei. "The camera team isn't coming."
Mo Fei tilted his head "...What?"
Louis lowered his voice. "Chen Guoliang. He booked every available cameraman this earlier For other models."
Mo Fei crossed his arms and scoffed. "That old snake. He really doesn't like me."
Louis looked at him like he had just discovered gravity. "Yes, that's been obvious since this morning. He rubbed his forehead. "And now we don't have a backup plan."
Mo Fei opened his mouth to reply But suddenly the children around them started shouting.
"Sima Li gege"
"Brother Yichen is here!"
"Yichen gege!"
Mo Fei turned, Across the playground, someone was approaching. Tall, elegant, wearing simple black clothes and sunglasses. Even dressed casually, the presence was unmistakable.
Zhang Yichen.
Behind him another man carrying a coffee cup and wearing an amused expression.
Sima Li.
The children exploded. They ran toward him like he was a celebrity superhero. "Yichen gege!"
Some grabbed his hands. Others hugged his legs.
Zhang Yichen stopped walking and lowered his sunglasses slightly.
Even surrounded by screaming children, his expression remained calm.
Almost cold, but he gently patted one child's head.
Meanwhile Louis's face did a 360, His head turned so sharply it looked like his neck might snap. "...Zhang... Yichen?"
Mo Fei frowned. "That guy." He crossed his arms. "What's he doing here?"
Louis slowly whispered like a man seeing his final paycheck disappear. "...He's the biggest donor to this orphanage."
Mo Fei. "Oh." That explained the hero welcome. Zhang Yichen's gaze lifted and landed directly on Mo Fei. For a moment neither moved.
Then Zhang Yichen walked forward slowly.
Sima Li followed behind him, sipping his coffee.
When they reached them Louis immediately bowed slightly. "Mr. Zhang."
Zhang Yichen gave a small nod. His cold gaze shifted toward Mo Fei. "Oh." His voice was calm. "Isn't this Mo Fei."
Mo Fei frowned, then tilted his head. "And you are?"
Zhang Yichen "..."
Louis's head snapped toward Mo Fei so fast it almost created wind.
Sima Li choked on his coffee, he bent over coughing violently. "COUGH....!"
Zhang Yichen's expression didn't change much. But his gaze definitely grew colder, like winter had just entered the courtyard.
Louis grabbed Mo Fei's sleeve and tugged it hard. He leaned close and whispered through clenched teeth. "If this is one of your jokes..." His eye twitched. "...now is not the time."
Mo Fei blinked, then answered at full volume. "But I really don't know him." He pointed at Zhang Yichen like he was discussing a stranger on the street. "I've never seen him before."
Louis felt his soul leave his body. He stared at the sky for a moment like he was praying for divine intervention. Please let the ground open and swallow me.
Beside Zhang Yichen, Sima Li wiped the coffee from his mouth. Then he suddenly burst out laughing. "I've heard a lot of crazy things in this industry," he said between breaths. "But this..." He pointed at Mo Fei. "This is a first."
He walked closer, still laughing. "You're the first person in the entire entertainment industry to say they don't know Zhang Yichen." He raised a thumbs up. "Impressive."
Mo Fei smiled sheepishly. But I really don't know him...
Meanwhile Zhang Yichen rolled his eyes slightly. His gaze remained fixed on Mo Fei.
Cold and unamused, then he spoke. "First you disturb the apartment... now you claim you don't know me."
Mo Fei eyes lit up. "Ah!" he pointed at him. "You're the next-door neighbor from Nyx Apartments." Realization hit his face. "You look different when you're not brooding." He smiled brightly.
That did it. Sima Li nearly dropped his coffee again. "Hahahahaha!"
Louis pressed two fingers to his temple.
His headache was evolving into a full migraine.
Sima Li wiped tears from the corner of his eye. "You know," he said to Mo Fei, "When I saw that video of you telling the reporter to screw off..." He grinned. "I thought it was just a one-time accident."
He looked Mo Fei up and down.
"But I guess you're really not a pushover anymore."
Mo Fei blushed slightly. "You flatter me."
Sima Li turned his head. "Wait." He looked between Mo Fei and Zhang Yichen. "You really don't know him?"
Mo Fei frowned he was getting tired, he squinted at Zhang Yichen carefully, tilted his head, looked again, then shook his head honestly. "...Should I?"
Sima Li grinned and stepped closer to Mo Fei. Then, like a proud uncle meeting a new nephew, he patted Mo Fei on the shoulder. "I'm Sima Li," he said cheerfully. "I believe we haven't met before."
Mo Fei froze. His eyes widened. Of course he knows that name, that name was impossible to miss. Sima Li. Former member of the legendary boy group 47Crow. The group that had dominated charts across Asia. The man who later left the band and exploded as a solo artist. Millions of fans. Countless awards. A walking music industry legend. Mo Fei looked at him again, up close... He looked different from the camera. More relaxed and definitely more handsome.
Mo Fei immediately straightened. "I'm Mo Fei." He smiled politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Sima Li chuckled, then his gaze shifted slightly. Toward Louis. "I know you." Louis stiffened slightly. Sima Li snapped his fingers. "Louis, right?"
Louis nodded respectfully. "Yes. Hello, Mr. Li."
Sima Li waved casually. "No need to be so formal." But before the conversation could continue, a cold voice cut through the air.
"If you're done goofing around..."
Everyone looked toward Zhang Yichen. He had already turned away. "...let's go."
His tone was flat.
Like someone who had already lost patience with the entire situation. Sima Li sighed dramatically. "See?" He gestured toward his friend's back. "This is what I deal with every day." Then he gave Mo Fei another amused smile. "Nice meeting you." And followed Zhang Yichen.
Louis stormed over to Mo Fei, before Mo Fei could even react
SMACK!!!.
Louis' hand swept across the back of his head.
Mo Fei yelped. "OW!"
Louis looked like he was about to explode. "You bastard," he hissed. "Of all the stupid things to do, how dare you talk like that to Zhang Yichen!"
Mo Fei rubbed the back of his head, wincing. "That hurts!"
Louis wasn't done. "You stood there... "
He gestured wildly toward the playground where Zhang Yichen had just walked away.
"...and said you didn't know him!" Louis grabbed his own hair in frustration. "Mo Fei, are you really shameless or just stupid?!" He huffed angrily. He should have refused this job. Why oh why didn't he refuse it.
What kind of cursed fate had made him accept the position of managing this walking disaster?
Mo Fei pouted. "You hit me." Louis lifted his hand again and Mo Fei immediately threw both hands up defensively. "WAIT!"
Louis froze mid-swing, Mo Fei squinted suspiciously. "...Did you say Zhang Yichen?"
Louis stared at him "Yes."