When she heard Lu Xiaoxiao ask, "You still remember me?" Du Cixin's gaze flickered almost imperceptibly, then took on just the right measure of confusion and apology.
She frowned slightly, her tone politely distant, as though that brief lapse had never happened:
"Miss, I think you may have misunderstood. Just now... I only thought you looked familiar. Perhaps I've seen you somewhere before and got confused for a moment. I don't actually remember you." She paused, her gaze settling calmly on Lu Xiaoxiao's face as she asked in a businesslike tone, "You said it's been a long time. Were you... also one of the children who left Cixin Orphanage?"
Lu Xiaoxiao understood. Director Du was deliberately evading her.
Rather than expose her immediately, she went along with it, offering a smile tinged with nostalgia and uncertainty as she softened her tone:
"Yes, Director. Perhaps you just haven't remembered yet. My name is Lu Xiaoxiao. Over ten years ago, when I was... um... about eight, I was adopted from here by the Lu Family. If you don't believe me, you can check the orphanage's records. You should be able to find my information."
After giving her name and the approximate date, Lu Xiaoxiao kept her eyes fixed on Du Cixin's expression.
Sure enough, Du Cixin's eyelid twitched slightly at the name "Lu Xiaoxiao." Though she did her best to conceal it, Lu Xiaoxiao still caught that tiny movement.
The woman fell silent for a few seconds, as though struggling to remember, before giving a soft "Oh," as if realization had dawned. A formulaic, distant smile spread across her face:
"Lu Xiaoxiao... yes, yes. Just look at my memory. It's so easy to forget things as you get older. There was indeed a child like you who was adopted by a very