In his eyes, in his heart

The Old Director's words betrayed her worry.

After the incident at the Fight Club, the Old Director had come to value Chu Mu all the more.

If an adoptive family could not treat Chu Mu well, he would be better off staying at the Orphanage.

At least she would save up to get Chu Mu an eye, a Mechanical Prosthetic Eye that could see, as a gift for his coming of age.

"I understand, Old Director." The beautiful woman clasped her hand, a faint light shimmering in her eyes. "Actually, my husband was an officer in the Silvermane Guards. He died in battle against Fragmentum Monsters two years ago, and I haven't remarried since."

The Old Director froze at her words, momentarily speechless. Regret churned inside her; she wished she had not forced the woman to bring up such a painful subject.

Natasha stepped in to ease the situation, saying sympathetically:

"I'm sorry for your loss, Ms. Fuka."

Only then did the Old Director come back to her senses. She held the woman's hand tightly, her eyes moist.

"Your whole family is admirable. It would be wonderful for Chu Mu to join a family like yours."

"But as a widow, and with work keeping me busy..." The woman sighed softly. "I worry I won't be able to give him enough love and attention."

"There's absolutely no need to worry about that!" The Old Director shook her head. "Chu Mu is a very independent, self-reliant child. Give him some space, and he can take excellent care of himself."

The Old Director paused, then continued with heartfelt emotion:

"You don't mind his eye condition, and you're even willing to take him for treatment, to give him the best medical care in the Upper District. I can't thank you enough. Ms. Fuka, yours is undoubtedly the best possible family for Chu Mu!"

Natasha sincerely agreed:

"You would make a wonderful mother, Ms. Fuka. Chu Mu would be lucky to have a mom like you."

The woman named Fuka looked pleasantly surprised.

"I never imagined you would think so highly of me."

Just then, someone knocked on the Director's Office door.

After receiving permission, Chu Mu walked in, holding Xiao Bu's hand.

His hearing was exceptionally keen now, and he had already caught most of the conversation inside the Director's Office.

The corners of his mouth twitched, as though he wanted to say-

Kafka, you really can spin a story!

But Kafka was staring wide-eyed at the girl beside Chu Mu, momentarily lost for words.

Frightened, Xiao Bu edged behind Chu Mu.

Chu Mu squeezed his little sister Xiao Bu's hand, then said:

"I only have one condition. If you're adopting me, you have to take both of us."

"Brother Mu!" Xiao Bu looked at Chu Mu in surprise.

"Chu Mu!" Natasha stood up as well.

"Oh, you child." The Old Director sighed.

It was a familiar scene. The boy had done the same thing before.

And that adoption had fallen through.

Now it was happening again, as though time had turned back.

The Old Director could not understand it. Why was Chu Mu so mature, yet so childish about certain things?

Did he not know the consequences of doing this?

If he knew, why did he keep doing it, time and again?

The Old Director looked at Kafka, embarrassment showing on her face.

But she had not given up yet and still did her best to persuade her:

"Ms. Fuka, well, we can still discuss this. Why don't you tell us what you think? Xiao Bu is a very sweet, well-behaved child too."

Natasha looked at Chu Mu, only to find that he was staring fixedly in one direction.

There was nothing there.

Natasha's heart jolted as a suspicion rose in her mind.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face, but she did not want the guest in the room to see them.

Covering her face, she told the Old Director:

"I need to step outside."

The Old Director nodded. Her gaze never left Kafka, so she did not notice anything unusual about Natasha.

At that moment, Kafka stood up too and said:

"In that case, I'll need to reconsider. As you know, there are many restrictions on Upper District residents adopting children from the Underworld, and I only have approval for one child right now. I'll give you an answer tomorrow."

"Yes, of course." The Old Director stood up regretfully and escorted Kafka out.

She understood that the promise of an answer tomorrow was only a polite excuse. The decision had already been made.

The adoption had fallen through after all.

Before leaving the Director's Office, the Old Director glanced at Chu Mu and Xiao Bu and could not help sighing.

Only Chu Mu and Xiao Bu remained in the Director's Office.

"Brother Mu, why? Why..." Tears covered Xiao Bu's face, and she could barely speak through her sobs.

"What's there to ask why about?" Chu Mu rubbed Xiao Bu's head. "I'm your big brother. Of course, if we leave, we leave together."

He paused, then said earnestly:

"Some promises last a lifetime."

Even if his lifetime would be very short.

Xiao Bu cried even harder.

Chu Mu simply spread his hands, giving up.

"Crying won't help now. She's already gone."

But it did no good. Xiao Bu's tears would not stop.

Just then, a hand caught Chu Mu's arm.

Natasha's voice sounded, heavy with suppressed grief:

"Chu Mu, come with me for a moment."

Only then did Chu Mu leave Xiao Bu's side, letting Natasha pull him into an empty classroom.

Natasha cupped Chu Mu's face and choked out:

"Can you... still see me?"

"No, I can't." Chu Mu no longer hid it, knowing he could not fool a trained doctor.

Natasha removed the black gauze covering Chu Mu's eyes. The light they had once held was gone.

Natasha's tears fell onto Chu Mu's face as she wept:

"Why did this day come so soon?"

By her original estimate, Chu Mu should have had another month of sight.

Not even half a month had passed!

The difference had caught Natasha completely off guard.

There were still so many things she had not done. She had wanted to take Chu Mu to see the plant and animal specimens preserved at the Medical Academy before his world went dark.

Now it was too late for any of it.

Natasha sobbed so hard she could no longer speak.

Chu Mu reached out with his small hands and wiped away Natasha's tears with his sleeves, his voice simple and sincere:

"Teacher, I prepared myself for this day long ago. If fate can't be changed, then I'll face it as best I can.

"I think I'm unlucky, but lucky too. At least, unlike people who were born blind, I've seen the light.

"While I could still see, I saw so many people. Xiao Bu, the Old Director, you... All your faces are etched in my mind now, the most beautiful images in my memory. Xiao Bu will never grow up, the Old Director will never grow old, and you, Teacher Natasha, will always be young and beautiful.

"So, Teacher, you see? This is fate's gift to me, the most precious treasure of my life.

"Why do you still need to cry for me?"

At his words, Natasha hugged Chu Mu tightly.

"Teacher, promise me you won't tell anyone. I still want everyone to treat me like a normal person. If anyone else cries over this, I'll be really sad," Chu Mu pleaded.

"I promise!" Natasha choked out.

Chu Mu sighed inwardly.

Those words had not only been meant for Natasha inside the classroom, but also for the girl in the hallway outside.

Some things could no longer be hidden. He might as well tell her this way.

The silver-haired girl had sunk to the floor beside the classroom door, her heart twisting as though cut by a knife.

Her brother's eyes could no longer see his little sister.

Her brother's heart was filled with her.