I Deduce the Female Lead Likes Me [Transmigration into a book] - Chapter 34: Butterfly Language

While Kou Shuang was chatting with Zhang Zhiruo, Song Muxue had been wandering around this warehouse, trying to understand its overall structure.

In the center was a truck. In the inner areas, there were many bunk beds similar to those in schools, each with bedding and pillows, which Zhang Zhiruo must have arranged specially. What was she doing? Planning to open a private training class?

The children happily played around the truck. Rarely seeing strangers, a few even surrounded Song Muxue, calling her “big sister.” One little boy sat in the driver’s seat, seeming to like Song Muxue a lot, and waved to her, saying: “Big sister, come up and play!”

Kou Shuang heard it and couldn’t help but chuckle, saying: “Song Muxue, you’re a generation below Zhang Zhiruo now.”

Zhang Zhiruo said: “That’s what the previous group taught them. They call any woman ‘big sister’ and any man ‘big brother.’ I told them many times before they finally changed to calling me ‘auntie’.”

Song Muxue climbed into the driver’s seat, and the little boy yielded his spot to her. She touched the steering wheel and, from a short distance, said to Zhang Zhiruo: “Have you ever thought about sending these children to an orphanage? Raising so many children must be a considerable financial burden for you.”

Zhang Zhiruo said: “It’s fine, I can afford it.”

“What about their parents? You’re raising their children, but they might be crying somewhere, spending large sums to find their own children,” Song Muxue said, appearing somewhat condescending from her elevated position, and also cold and unfeeling because she wasn’t smiling. “You said you’d donate 100,000 yuan to Ms. Wu Wenyu for her daughter’s search fund, but these children’s parents have no one to fund them. Moreover, Wu Hongye still has hope of being found, but if these children stay with you, there will be no hope at all for their parents.”

“You are a mother yourself. Putting yourself in their shoes, you should be able to understand the parents’ suffering.”

Song Muxue said, jumping down from the truck’s driver’s seat and walking straight to Zhang Zhiruo.

Kou Shuang, being close by, could clearly see the changes in Zhang Zhiruo’s expression.

It was truly strange. When Song Muxue said those words, there was a hint of panic in Zhang Zhiruo’s expression, as if she had never expected such a direct question.

When Song Muxue stood in front of Zhang Zhiruo, Zhang Zhiruo unconsciously crossed her arms, adopting a defensive posture.

Kou Shuang’s heart stirred, and she asked: “You don’t like these children; you only like Wu Hongye!”

Zhang Zhiruo glanced at Kou Shuang and said nothing.

Kou Shuang suddenly understood.

Zhang Zhiruo did have empathy, but she was still selfish. Wu Hongye was like her own child, so she was very kind to her. Other children were not, so she didn’t care as much and wouldn’t speculate on how their parents would feel.

She just liked Wu Hongye!

But at the same time, a flash of inspiration struck Kou Shuang’s mind, and something else emerged.

“You’re not looking for Xiao Huzi’s brother at all; you’re looking for someone else! What Huzi Brother saw, maybe you saw too. That day in the alley, you did drive the truck away, but not because you were afraid the children would be caught, but to chase another group of people! You want to find Wu Hongye!”

Look at this garage. Indeed, the environment is good, and it has everything it needs; it might even be better than an orphanage. But, considering there’s another villa next door that belongs to her, one can see how obvious the differential treatment is.

How could someone so selfish as to only care for their own child, or rather, only for Wu Hongye who resembles her own child, prioritize the safety of other children?

Kou Shuang had an even more terrifying thought, but she didn’t dare to voice it, nor to dwell on it.

Song Muxue spoke again: “There are some colored marks on the steering wheel, already dried. Although I’m not familiar with paint, and I’m not sure if this is paint from Kou Shuang’s company, I suspect it’s the same kind. Is there anything special about this paint?”

Why does it appear repeatedly? Why is Huzi Brother so obsessed with it? Why does Xiaodie always want to eat it? Why is it on the steering wheel?

Zhang Zhiruo narrowed her eyes, sighed, and said: “You two are truly incredible. I don’t know if telling you all this and bringing you back was right or wrong.”

Her crossed arms gripped the whistle hanging from her chest. The whistle had been used for a long time and had lost its color. It was probably just something one could buy for two yuan on the street, but Zhang Zhiruo held it as if she were clutching the hope and belief in her heart.

After a moment, she took the whistle from her neck and handed it to Song Muxue. Song Muxue took it and looked closely, only to find that this faded whistle also had some multicolored dried paint on it.

Zhang Zhiruo said: “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

Song Muxue nodded.

Zhang Zhiruo turned to walk out of the door. Xiaodie eagerly followed, asking her: “Auntie, where are you going?”

She stood in the garage, watching Zhang Zhiruo’s retreating figure. She vaguely felt as if the other person was about to abandon her, so she quickly ran to Zhang Zhiruo, hugged Zhang Zhiruo’s waist tightly, and said: “Auntie, don’t leave!”

Zhang Zhiruo smiled and said: “I’m going to chat with the big sisters for a bit. Xiaodie, you come along too. The big sisters have something to ask you.”

Xiaodie still hugged Zhang Zhiruo’s waist, saying nothing, just looking at Kou Shuang and Song Muxue with some wariness.

••••

[October 4th]

[Xiaodie]

Uncle found a White Rabbit milk candy from Xiaohong again; auntie bought it for her.

Uncle was very unhappy that someone gave us food, saying those people would call the police and have the police uncles take us away. We are all very afraid of the police uncles, afraid of being caught and jailed. But I know Auntie won’t do that; I know.

She just often appears near our “home,” and when the uncles aren’t around, she puts food and money in an abandoned trash can where no one goes.

Sometimes it’s bread, sometimes candy, sometimes a bottle of Yakult. Xiaohong and I are very good friends; she always shares food with me.

But what I like most is the whistle Xiaohong has. When Auntie gave it to her, she said that if there was any danger, she could blow the whistle, and Auntie would come to save us.

I asked Auntie, what is danger?

Auntie said: when you feel scared.

Then I knew Xiaohong would never blow the whistle. Because Xiaohong isn’t afraid at all. Xiaohong secretly told me that Auntie will rescue us and send us home. She said, thinking of Mom, she isn’t afraid anymore.

I really like that whistle, and I really want one too. Xiaohong isn’t afraid, but I am. But this whistle must be very expensive. Auntie can only afford one. She buys us food every day, which must cost a lot, lot, lot of money.

I quickly finished everything Auntie bought for us. Xiaohong always ate very slowly and would secretly hide some in her pocket. She said when she went home, she would take these things to her mom. Her mom had never eaten these things before.

Uncle saw these foods a few times.

Later, they stopped giving Xiaohong dinner. They called Xiaohong a “loose woman,” saying Xiaohong could find her own way to get food. I don’t know what “loose woman” means.

Sometimes when it rained, Auntie didn’t give Xiaohong food, but Uncle did. Xiaohong was hungry. I secretly shared my food with Xiaohong. The uncles would also hit me. They cursed me for being too united.

I’m very afraid of Uncle. Xiaohong told me not to share food with her.

She said she could dig for food in the trash. I went digging with her once.

Sometimes we even found apples that had only been bitten once. They were crispy and sour, the best food besides White Rabbit milk candy.

Auntie hasn’t appeared for a long time. She must have gone to find someone to save us—Xiaohong told me so. She has a good relationship with Auntie; I believe her.

Xiaohong was hungry again. She took out the last White Rabbit milk candy from her pocket and took me to the trash can where Auntie often put food.

For some reason, Auntie hasn’t appeared for a long time.

Xiaohong took a coin from the money
she had begged today and carefully placed it in the trash can. Xiaohong told me: “Auntie must be out of money, that’s why she’s not coming to see us anymore. If I give the money back to Auntie, she will appear again.”

I don’t know if what Xiaohong said is true, but I hope so. I also secretly put a coin from the money I begged.

Xiaohong asked me: Aren’t you afraid of getting beaten?

I shook my head.

The sound of a car came from not far away. Xiaohong and I both got excited; we knew what it was.

Many people give out food. They all come in big cars like this. Colorful ones, with many cartoons I don’t understand drawn on them. Xiaohong and I secretly asked for food a few times and got very, very delicious bread. Sometimes there was even very pretty ice cream. Red, green, blue, very, very beautiful, very delicious.

Hearing this sound, we were both very happy and went towards the car.

Today, there would be ice cream again.

Just as Xiaohong took the ice cream, I heard Uncle’s voice. They had returned from playing mahjong.

I was a little scared and told Xiaohong to go back quickly. But the person in the car was getting her food.

Xiaohong was too hungry; she didn’t want to leave.

Xiaohong stared at the ice cream and said: “You go back first. I’ll eat this and run back quickly!”

Uncle’s voice was getting closer and closer. I was very scared, so I ran back home by myself.

After waiting for a while, Uncle indeed came back, but for some reason, Xiaohong still hadn’t returned.

Uncle saw me as soon as he entered the door and was very angry, asking me where Xiaohong was. They were going to hit me. I was very scared, so I said there was a car outside, and Xiaohong was getting food there.

Uncle then rushed out the door. I knew they were going to catch Xiaohong and maybe even hit her.

No one came back for a long time, but I heard a whistle. I knew it was Xiaohong’s. When Auntie wasn’t around, I secretly borrowed it from Xiaohong. I blew it once, and it made this sound.

Xiaohong is very brave; she’s not afraid of anything, but now she blew the whistle.

I quickly ran out; I was afraid Xiaohong was dead!

But before I ran out of that alley, I saw Auntie. The whistle was hanging on her wrist. Her face looked terrifying as she asked me: Where’s your uncle?!

I don’t know. I don’t know anything. I could only shake my head.