Chapter 213: Orphanage in the Dream

Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Orphanage in the Dream

Nan Yi closed his eyes, and his consciousness quickly sank into darkness.

Before long, he felt a thick fog spreading from all around, enveloping him.

Nan Yi was no stranger to this sensation.

’I’m dreaming again,’ Nan Yi thought. He was a little bored, and even felt an urge to yawn.

He had been having similar dreams frequently for the past half-month.

He had gone from being tense and wary at first to being completely used to it by now.

If he was in a good mood, Nan Yi would even critique the dream’s strengths and weaknesses, like a professional film critic.

So now, he was relaxed, curiously watching as the fog condensed into human shapes and objects, eventually forming a tangible scene—

It was an old, dilapidated hallway.

The air hung heavy with the smell of damp and mildew. Large patches of paint had peeled off the walls on both sides, leaving them mottled and peeling.

Outside the window, a continuous drizzle was falling. It made breathing feel stuffy and difficult, and it felt like a heavy stone was pressing down on his chest.

With a single glance, Nan Yi knew he hated this place.

It was an almost instinctual, visceral aversion.

Suddenly, a CREAK sounded from up ahead.

A wooden door to the side was pulled open, and a pair of young eyes peeked through the crack.

"Nan Yi!"

a voice called out.

Nan Yi found it very strange.

It was a boy who didn’t look much older than him. He was very thin, with hollow, sallow cheeks—the clear sign of long-term malnutrition.

’Strange.’

He was sure he didn’t know this person. So why did the boy know his name?

Just then, the boy pushed the door open and charged straight toward him.

Nan Yi instinctively tried to dodge.

But his limbs responded more sluggishly than he expected. Nan Yi could only watch helplessly as the boy was about to run into him...

WHOOSH.

The impact shattered Nan Yi, and he dispersed like a puff of smoke.

The boy, completely unaware, ran straight through him.

Only then did Nan Yi’s body re-form, returning to its unharmed state.

This sudden turn of events made Nan Yi’s eyes fly wide in astonishment!

He’d seen this kind of scene on TV before...

’Could it be... I’ve become a ghost?’

Nan Yi hurriedly looked in the direction the boy had gone, but a sudden chill shot through his entire body!

Because he saw himself.

But it was a version of him that was nothing but skin and bones, with eyes as black as pools of stagnant water.

Only when looking at the boy beside him did they show the slightest ripple of emotion.

That ’Nan Yi’ didn’t speak.

The boy was the first to notice the angry red marks covering his exposed arms.

"Did that bastard director hit you again?"

The boy was furious, looking as if he wanted to march right over and settle the score on the spot!

’Nan Yi’ pulled him back.

"Brother Xiao Chen, I’m okay."

The boy, Brother Xiao Chen, was so angry he retorted loudly:

"What do you mean, you’re okay? Is there a single spot on your body that hasn’t been beaten? Last time they said you stole food, this time they said you were disobedient. What excuse will they find next? We can’t let this go on! They’re going to beat you to death sooner or later!"

’Nan Yi’ looked at him with a calm expression.

"But Brother Xiao Chen, no one is going to help us."

Brother Xiao Chen clenched his fists and couldn’t help but start to sob.

The two children were so lost in their emotions that they didn’t notice someone approaching from the other end of the hallway.

But Nan Yi, standing not far away, saw it.

He snapped out of the shock of seeing himself and wanted to shout a warning.

But no one paid him any mind. They couldn’t see him.

Nan Yi didn’t understand. ’Why is this happening?’

He could only watch as the furtive man approached the two children. After hearing their curses, the man swung his arm and slapped one of them across the face.

"Well, well! The director gives you food to eat and clothes to wear, and you dare to curse him behind his back!"

The man viciously grabbed Brother Xiao Chen by the hair, yanking his head up by the scalp. He grimaced in pain and instinctively tried to fight back.

But that just earned him a worse beating.

’Nan Yi’ tried to lunge forward too, but he was too thin and weak. Powerless to resist, he was soon knocked down at the man’s feet as well.

As if from experience, the two children raised their arms to cover their heads, passively enduring the kicks and punches.

After a while, both children were covered in cuts and bruises.

The man stopped, panting:

"Pah! You ungrateful little brats! No wonder your own parents didn’t want you and threw you into this dump of an orphanage!"

The previously quiet ’Nan Yi’ suddenly started to struggle.

"My mommy didn’t abandon me!"

The man grinned smugly:

"That’s right, your mom didn’t abandon you. She just died young. Oh, that’s right—you probably jinxed her to death! You’re a jinx, born to kill your father and mother, a natural-born walking disaster!"

’Nan Yi’ was enraged. He lunged forward like a wolf cub and sank his teeth into the man’s arm!

The two began to brawl again, and the scene descended into chaos!

But the other Nan Yi was completely frozen.

’Died...?’

’Who died?’

He stood there, dazed and numb, his mind buzzing.

He vaguely noticed someone running over to stop the man and his other self.

Not only did that person separate them, but they also said they couldn’t hit ’Nan Yi’ anymore. A variety show was about to be filmed, and they were counting on ’Nan Yi’ to make money for them...

A jolt went through Nan Yi’s entire body, and he woke up completely.

He desperately wanted to rush forward and demand answers.

But suddenly, the scene around him began to shake violently. Black smoke billowed everywhere, like ink dropped into water, and in an instant, everything dissolved and faded away until it was completely gone! ℯ𝔴ℯ

Nan Yi’s eyes flew open!

His gaze met Lu Shixu’s, who was looking down at him.

Lu Shixu’s brow was slightly furrowed, one hand still resting on Nan Yi’s shoulder.

"What’s wrong?"

He looked slightly concerned.

Of course, this concern was mainly because he didn’t want Nan Zhi, who was already sick, to have to worry too much about Nan Yi.

Unexpectedly, Nan Yi’s reaction was extreme. SMACK! He slapped Lu Shixu’s hand away and scrambled to his feet in a panic.

Lu Shixu’s expression darkened, and he quickly caught Nan Yi as he tried to run to Nan Zhi’s hospital bed.

"What are you doing?"

If it weren’t for Nan Zhi, Lu Shixu would never have tolerated someone so endlessly.

Even if that person was only four and a half years old, just a misbehaving child.

Thus, Lu Shixu was already growing displeased.

A cold, intimidating aura emanated from him, pressing down heavily on Nan Yi’s shoulders. But instead of deterring him, it only made Nan Yi struggle even more fiercely.

"Let go! Let go of me!"

Nan Yi used all his strength, struggling and resisting frantically. He almost twisted his head to bite Lu Shixu’s wrist!

But a closer look at his eyes would reveal that he wasn’t fully awake.

They were filled with a chaotic confusion, as if he were still trapped in a nightmare.

The commotion he was making was especially loud in the quiet hospital room.

Sure enough, Nan Zhi murmured softly and opened her eyes.

"Yiyi?"

"Mommy!"

Lu Shixu loosened his grip, and Nan Yi immediately dove into Nan Zhi’s arms like a fledgling bird returning to its nest!

His small hands clutched the corner of Nan Zhi’s clothes, his little body trembling uncontrollably.

"Mommy... Mommy, please don’t die..."

His eyes were filled with lingering terror and despair!

The dream’s effect on him was so clear!