Brother and Sister Reunited

In the end, Chu Mu never got his glasses.

It wasn't because the Old Director was unwilling to pay. In fact, she took him to the optician's first thing the next morning.

But they received even worse news.

Chu Mu's eyesight was deteriorating far too quickly!

At this rate, his remaining left eye would go blind within a month at most!

When Natasha heard the news, she broke down in tears again.

The Old Director told her to return to the Orphanage first, then took Chu Mu to the Prosthetic Eye Shop alone to choose a suitable Artificial Eye for his right eye.

A person's eyeballs barely changed from birth to old age. A properly fitted Artificial Eye could therefore last Chu Mu a lifetime.

Chu Mu chose a black Artificial Eye, matching his original eye color.

The Old Director thought Chu Mu was yearning for the past, but he explained that having one eye that looked the same as before would make people think his green left eye was the fake one.

It was Chu Mu's little prank.

Even now, knowing he would eventually lose his sight in both eyes, Chu Mu neither blamed the world for his misfortune nor gave up on himself.

Artificial Eyes in the Underworld came in two types: a Prosthetic Eyeball that resembled a glass marble, and a thin Prosthetic Eye Lens.

The advantage of a Prosthetic Eye Lens was that it could move with the eye muscles, following the movements of a real eye to some extent. Unlike the bulky Prosthetic Eyeball, it wouldn't leave his right eye motionless while his left eye turned.

The Prosthetic Eye Lens looked more natural and cost more. Fitting one required a spherical Prosthetic Eye Socket to be implanted in the eye socket first, a procedure that effectively prevented the eyelid from sinking in and becoming deformed.

The technology used by the Underworld's Prosthetic Eye Shops had been passed down from the pre-war era. The surgery and fitting could now be completed within two hours.

Chu Mu had initially chosen a Prosthetic Eyeball, but once the Old Director learned the difference between the two, she firmly insisted on a Prosthetic Eye Lens and wouldn't let him refuse.

An angry Old Director was someone even Chu Mu feared.

Granted, this kind, gentle old lady rarely showed anger, thanks to her good upbringing.

But people like that were the most frightening when they lost their temper.

Chu Mu could only accept the Prosthetic Eye Lens the Old Director had chosen.

Once the surgery was over and the Artificial Eye was fitted, the Old Director smiled and praised him.

"Very nice. You look handsome, just like before."

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she said it.

As they were leaving the Prosthetic Eye Shop, the Old Director also learned from an employee that the Upper District had Mechanical Prosthetic Eye technology that could restore a blind person's sight.

Of course, it was expensive, far beyond what residents of the Underworld could afford.

Still, at least there was a glimmer of hope.

The Old Director did the sums. If she started putting aside some money every month, she could have a Mechanical Prosthetic Eye fitted for Chu Mu when he came of age.

I'll make it his coming-of-age gift.

According to the Orphanage's rules, children had to leave once they became adults.

Even a single Mechanical Prosthetic Eye would make finding work easier than being blind.

Of course, she might not live long enough to see him reach adulthood. She was too old. Years of scrimping and saving, poor nutrition, and the Orphanage's cold, damp conditions had left her in poor health.

But the Old Director believed Natasha would be an excellent successor. She could entrust everything to her without worry.

Thinking of all this, the Old Director walked with a much lighter step on the way back.

By the time the two returned to the Orphanage, Natasha had already come back, arranged breakfast, and begun the morning lessons.

The Old Director took Chu Mu to the classroom door and said with a smile,

"Off to class, child!"

"Huh?" Chu Mu's face fell at once. "I thought I wouldn't have to go to class today."

"But I'm not letting you go out and get into trouble, either." The Old Director shook her head. "I'd feel much better knowing you were in class instead of wandering into those dangerous places."

"All right." Chu Mu nodded and obediently walked into the classroom.

The moment he entered, the children erupted in surprise!

"Chu Mu!"

"Big brother!"

"Where did you go last night?"

"Brother Mu..."

News of what had happened at the Fight Club hadn't reached the Orphanage. None of them knew what had happened last night.

They knew only one thing-Chu Mu hadn't come home all night, and both the Old Director and Teacher Natasha had gone looking for him!

Teacher Natasha's eyes had been red when she returned that morning. Everyone guessed Chu Mu had upset her so much that she'd cried.

Yet now he was back in class, safe and sound, without the Old Director locking him up as punishment?

He had even changed into clean clothes. He'd always been filthy before, as though he'd rolled around in a mine.

Wait, why was one of his eyes green?

Everyone began talking at once.

"Quiet!" Natasha silenced them, then looked at Chu Mu and said softly, "Go back to your seat."

"Yes, ma'am!" Chu Mu nodded and carried his bag back to his seat.

He'd left the bloodstained woven sack at the Goethe Grand Hotel. The one he carried now was the cloth bag the hotel used for pajamas. It was quite sturdy.

Inside was Xiao Bu's present.

"Brother Mu..." Xiao Bu looked at Chu Mu, her eyes slightly red and swollen.

"Xiao Bu." Chu Mu smiled and was about to say something.

But Xiao Bu huffed, turned her head away, and complained,

"You never keep your promises. You said you'd come back at six, but you weren't back at six, or seven, or even eight... You're such a liar."

"Xiao Bu, I didn't want that to happen, either. Something came up." Chu Mu tugged at her hand. "Come on, it was just this once. Really, just this once-the last time! I definitely won't be late again!"

"You can't lie to me!" Xiao Bu turned back, her eyes full of tears. "Let's... let's pinky swear."

"Pinky swear, the biggest one ever!" Chu Mu held out his little finger. "If it happens again, may lightning strike me dead!"

"Don't say things like that." Xiao Bu looked at Chu Mu through her tears and said quietly, "If it happens again, I'll still wait for you to come back."

"Hehe, my little sister loves me best." Chu Mu smiled. "Good thing I brought you a present."

"A present?" Xiao Bu asked in confusion, looking at the cloth bag in Chu Mu's arms. "Is it in there?"

"Yes." Chu Mu nodded.

He was just about to take it out when Xiao Bu interrupted him.

"Brother Mu, what happened to your left eye? It's turned green."

"Cool, right?" Chu Mu grinned, opened his left eye exaggeratedly wide, and looked at Xiao Bu. "Wicked King's True Eye, activate!"

"Huh?" Xiao Bu had no idea what he meant and looked utterly bewildered.

"You're not playing along at all. You're supposed to look like you're in pain, clutch your chest, and say, 'The Wicked King's True Eye is so powerful...'" Chu Mu shook his head ruefully.

"Ah, the Wicked King's True Eye is so powerful!" Xiao Bu played along.

But with that stiff expression and robotic, wooden delivery, all he could say was that she'd done a wonderful job-and should never do it again.

"So why did your left eye turn green?" Xiao Bu asked again.

"That's a secret," Chu Mu said, putting on a mysterious air. "It concerns the birth and annihilation of the universe. Anyone who learns the secret will suffer boundless pain and loneliness. So, for the sake of your physical and mental well-being, I'll guard this secret myself."

But Xiao Bu was unmoved. Instead, she stared fixedly at Chu Mu and asked,

"Why do your eyes look strange when they move? Brother Mu, is that eye fake?"

As she spoke, Xiao Bu's tears began flowing uncontrollably again.