© WebNovel
On the outskirts of A City stood the Happy Orphanage, where a middle-aged man with a fierce appearance was grabbing the collar of a little girl.
He scolded, "You little brat! Lazy and good-for-nothing! I asked you to sweep the floor, but you dare to run around!"
"Ann didn't run, Director…" The little girl, Ann, was three and a half years old. No one knows her full name.
Ann, malnourished and constantly hungry, appeared even thinner and smaller than children her age. Her frail body lacked flesh.
Fearfully, she cowered and explained in a soft voice, "Director, I went to the kitchen just now. Ann didn’t have dinner last night or breakfast this morning. I'm hungry."
Her stomach couldn't bear the hunger any longer, but before she could finish eating a steamed bun, the director dragged her out.
The orphanage director, Zong Jianren, looked at Ann's thin face and grew even angrier.
He forcefully poked her forehead with his index finger, leaving a red mark.
"You're hungry all the time! That's all you know! Don't even think about sneaking into the kitchen to eat unless you finish cleaning the yard!"
Ann was initially taken in because she was chubby and cute!
Zong Jianren hoped that Ann could be adopted by a wealthy and noble family, so that the orphanage can also get sponsorship support, and his wallet can be bulged a bit.
However, Ann became thinner and showed no signs of good fortune as she grew up.
Every time a wealthy family visited the orphanage, Ann would put on a timid and cowardly appearance, which was far from endearing.
Zong Jianren couldn't get enough of cursing and was ready to pick up a broom to beat her out of it.
Ann crouched down in fear, holding her head and squeezing her eyes shut.
At that moment, a chubby boy walked out of the house. He had beautiful silver bracelets on his hands and shouted, "Grandpa, I'm hungry! I want to eat a big piece of meat!"
He was Zong Jianren's grandson, Zong Xiaoqiang, who usually stayed at the orphanage with his granddaddy.
Zong Jianren was harsh and mean to the other children, but he spoiled his grandson excessively.
Whenever the orphanage received good support or resources , Zong Xiaoqiang was the first to enjoy.
Even the pair of silver bracelets that originally belonged to Ann were taken by Zong Jianren and given to his grandson.
As soon as he heard his grandson was hungry, Zong Jianren felt a pang of worry and hurriedly took him to the kitchen. "All right, eat a big piece of meat! Eat as much as you want! I'll make sure you're full!"
Before entering the kitchen, Zong Jianren turned around and glared fiercely at Ann. "Clean up quickly! If it's still dirty, you won't get any food today!"
Zong Xiaoqiang also turned to look at Ann, smirking triumphantly.
Ann's stomach growled, her eyes reddened, and she felt helpless and unable to vent her grievances. She was an unwanted child.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she wiped them away.
She picked up a broom much taller than herself and worked hard to clean the yard, or else she wouldn’t have any food to eat today.
The morning sun gently awakened everything in the world.
In the distance, the sound of car engines approached the Happy Orphanage.
Two minutes later, a long Lincoln and four black Bentleys parked in front of the Happy Orphanage.
Four bodyguards dressed in black suits were the first to get out of the car.
They stood in an orderly manner on both sides of the back door of the Lincoln.
One of the men, wearing a leather suit, respectfully opened the back door and whispered, "President, we have arrived at the Happy Orphanage."
In the back seat, the backrest was slightly lowered, and a man sat there with his eyes closed. His long eyelashes cast a faint shadow on his eyes.
Qin Haochen slowly opened his eyes.
The morning breeze rustled the surrounding trees, and the leaves made a rustling sound.
A pair of black leather shoes landed firmly on the ground.
Qin Haochen wore a white shirt and neatly tailored black trousers.
He exuded an extraordinary elegance despite his simple attire.
His eyebrows arched upwards, and his profound eyes shimmered with a divine light.
With a high and straight nose, thin and tightly pursed lips, and a combination of features that were sharply carved like a knife, his aloof temperament sent chills down anyone's spine with just a single glance.
Qin Haochen's gaze fixed upon the words "Happiness Orphanage" written on the front gate.
This was the 129th orphanage he had visited, and it marked the 1,000th day since his biological daughter had been kidnapped and disappeared.
While the kidnapper had received the punishment he deserved, his daughter remained missing.
Every time there was even the slightest bit of news, Qin Haochen would drop everything and personally investigate, yet each time it only brought him endless disappointment.
Nevertheless, Qin Haochen never gave up on finding his daughter.
According to the latest information obtained by a private detective, this secluded orphanage had sheltered children of similar age to his daughter over the past two to three years.
Qin Haochen rushed here overnight.
Years of insomnia had left an undeniable weariness on his face, yet it also carried an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance.
Qin Haochen took a deep breath and took a step forward.
Just as he was about to ring the doorbell of the orphanage, a soft and tender voice came from ahead: "Uncle, who are you looking for?"
Qin Haochen's gaze slowly lowered. Inside the tightly closed iron gate stood a little figure, holding a broom much taller than herself.
Perhaps due to her petite and slightly dirty face, her round eyes sparkled with unparalleled brightness and liveliness.
The little figure appeared timid, yet remarkably well-behaved and polite. At this moment, she curiously looked at him.
Qin Haochen's breath momentarily hitched, and his mind went blank for a few seconds.
This little figure resembled his wife Ye Chaosi!
He Yan, Qin Haochen's assistant standing behind him, also noticed the little figure and exclaimed in surprise, "Sir, this little one looks so much like Madam!"
Qin Haochen suddenly snapped back to reality.
Instinctively, he parted his thin lips and softly called out in a hoarse voice, "Ann…"
Ann wore a puzzled expression, and she raised a small hand to scratch her head, seemingly unable to understand why this handsome stranger could call her by name.
Tilting her little head, she asked in a soft and gentle voice, “Uncle, do you know me?”
Qin Haochen looked at the little figure before him, whose appearance closely resembled his wife's, and his eyes gradually moistened.
Just as he was about to speak to Ann again, a furious scolding suddenly rang out: "Ann! Didn't I tell you to clean up the yard? Why is it still so dirty? Are you hiding and slacking off again?"
Upon hearing this familiar scolding, Ann's small body instinctively trembled.
She hastily gripped the broom in her hand, her round eyes filled with panic and confusion.
In a small, frightened voice, she said, "Uncle, Ann needs to go and sweep the floor."
After hurriedly uttering these words, Ann turned around and ran away in a fluster.
"Ann…"
Qin Haochen's call did not stop Ann in her tracks.
With his deep gaze fixed on Ann's frail and fearful figure, Qin Haochen's face darkened, and he coldly ordered, "Take down the gate!"
"Yes, Sir!"