The sky wept softly as the rain fell in a steady rhythm, tapping against the car windows like a lullaby for sorrow. Inside the sleek black vehicle, a little girl sat quietly in the back seat, her face pale and expressionless.
Her small hands clutched a worn teddy bear to her chest, its fur matted from days of being held too tightly.
Her name was Lian Yue, and at just three years old, her world had already collapsed.
Her parents had died in a car accident—so sudden, so cruel. One moment, they were there, holding her, laughing with her. The next, they were gone.
Taken away by a stormy night and a collision she could not understand.
She had cried endlessly in the days that followed. She had called for them, pleaded for them to come back. But the only answer was silence—and the unfamiliar faces of people she didn't know.
Now, she was being taken to a new home. Not by choice. Not out of desire. But because there was nowhere else to go.
The car slowed as tall iron gates loomed into view, rising from the mist like guardians of a different world. Beyond them stood a grand estate—massive, imposing, and cold.
It was the home of the Shen family, one of the most powerful and respected families in the city.
Beside Lian Yue sat a man she had met only once before—Shen Zhengyuan, the patriarch of the Shen family. His hair was graying at the temples, and though his expression was stern, his eyes held a quiet kindness.
He opened the car door and stepped out, then turned to offer his hand to her. She hesitated, clutching the teddy bear tighter.
"You don't need to be afraid, child," he said gently, his voice low and calm. "Come. I promised your grandfather I would take care of you."
Her wide, tear-filled eyes looked up at him, confused and uncertain. Slowly, she reached out and placed her tiny hand in his.
He held it carefully, as if she might break.
"Your grandfather saved my life many years ago, when we were both young," Shen Zhengyuan continued as he led her up the stone steps.
"He didn't ask for anything in return. But I owe him more than I can repay."
They reached the door, and it opened before them. Standing just inside were two people—Shen Tianhua, Zhengyuan's son, and his wife, Liu Yuyan.
Shen Tianhua was tall, with a serious face and sharp features. He gave a respectful nod, but his eyes were guarded, unsure.
Liu Yuyan, however, immediately stepped forward, her eyes softening as she saw the frightened girl beside her father-in-law.
"Oh, you poor little thing," Liu Yuyan murmured, kneeling down to meet Lian Yue's gaze. Her voice was like silk—soothing, gentle. "You've been through so much, haven't you?"
Lian Yue didn't answer. Her eyes darted between the unfamiliar faces and the towering halls behind them. Everything was so big, so silent. She missed her mother's warm smile, her father's laugh, the way they'd hold her close at night.
"Would you like a hug?" Liu Yuyan asked.
There was a pause, and then Lian Yue gave the slightest nod.
Without hesitation, Liu Yuyan opened her arms, and Lian Yue stepped into them. For the first time in days, she felt warmth—real warmth.
She closed her eyes and pressed her face into the woman's shoulder, her little hands still clinging to her bear.
"You're safe now," Liu Yuyan whispered, stroking her hair. "We'll take care of you. I promise."
From the shadows of the hallway, a young boy stood watching. Shen Tinglan, six years old, observed everything with curious, thoughtful eyes. He had heard his parents talking about the little girl who would be coming to live with them—the girl who had lost everything.
Now, seeing her in his mother's arms, he frowned slightly.
"Is she going to stay here now?" he asked, stepping forward.
"Yes," his father replied, placing a hand on his shoulder. "She will live with us from now on. Her grandfather once saved your grandfather's life. This is how we honor that debt."
Shen Tinglan looked at the girl again. She seemed so small, so fragile. Her eyes never left the floor, and she clung to his mother like she might disappear if she let go.
He didn't say anything more. Instead, he turned and walked back down the hall, his footsteps echoing softly.
Lian Yue glanced up just in time to see his retreating back, not knowing that the boy walking away would one day become the most important person in her life—and the one who would hurt her the most.
For now, she was just the orphan girl taken in by kindness. But one day, that kindness would not be enough.
To be continued...