Rich Cat A Would Never Fall in Love with a Fake Heiress - Chapter 38.3

30 jolted awake, sitting up in bed, struggling to pull herself out of the memory.

She was drenched in cold sweat. Glancing at the clock hanging in the dormitory, she saw it was already dawn.

The morning bell rang, and the other children in the dormitory rubbed their eyes and woke up. Just then, the door was abruptly pushed open.

An Suna walked in, beaming, and handed her a small dress adorned with mermaid-colored tulle and lace.

“30, put this on and come with me.”

30 felt no joy at the sight of the new clothes. She slipped into the dress quickly and followed An Suna to her office.

Once inside, An Suna began to comb her hair, then patted and dabbed at her face, meticulously applying makeup.

She treated 30’s face like a piece of art, carefully sketching every detail.

Every second sitting there, facing this detestable woman, was agony for 30. She feared she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from demanding answers.

An Suna, how dare you sell their lives?

Fortunately, An Suna checked the time and exclaimed, “It’s already this late!”

She gave her own makeup one last satisfied glance in the mirror, then took 30’s hand and led her downstairs.

The other children from the orphanage had been brought to the waiting hall by the teachers and arranged in formation.

When 30 tried to take her usual spot, An Suna held her back, making her stand with her in a prominent position.

They stood there quietly. Two hours passed, and even An Suna grew restless, checking her watch and muttering, “Why aren’t they here yet?”

Just then, the sound of a car braking echoed outside.

A car screeched to a halt right at the orphanage entrance with a sharp drift. The waiting hall faced the main door, and An Suna immediately broke into a warm smile, stepping forward respectfully to greet the visitor.

“It’s been a while since your last visit.”

She opened the rear door for the passenger.

A tall, large-framed man emerged from the car. His cheekbones were prominent, his skin flushed like a radish, and his sharp chin exuded an air of harshness. His voice was noticeably shriller than most.

“All because of that girl you sent last time, she didn’t know her place. I’ve brought her back. This time, you’d better find me one who knows how to behave.”

An Suna offered an apologetic smile. “Of course. I have a child here I’ve been holding back from previous adoptions, reserved especially for you.”

The man’s interest was piqued. “Although that last brat was ungrateful, the ones you’ve sent before have all been to my liking. I’ve looked elsewhere, but none are as pretty and obedient as the ones here.”

Number 30 nervously clenched the hem of her skirt, glancing sideways at the lineup of other children. Her eyes immediately caught Number 04, who was eagerly standing on tiptoe. The moment their gazes met, Number 04 guiltily averted her eyes.

Suddenly, her sleeve was tugged sharply. Number 30 turned to find An Suna, who had approached and was now enthusiastically introducing her to the man.

“Look, this is the most beautiful and well-behaved child we have. She hasn’t been named yet, why don’t you give her one now?”

Number 30 keenly noticed a flicker of astonishment and distraction in the man’s eyes. Instantly repulsed, she lowered her head without a word.

An Suna discreetly pinched her.

The man, however, rubbed the stubble on his chin and remarked critically, “Pretty, yes, but her eyes don’t look innocent enough. They’re gloomy, not at all like a child’s.”

An Suna froze in surprise.

But the man continued, “Still, she seems obedient enough. I’ll take her.”

An Suna’s face lit up with joy, but before she could respond, a thin, childish voice suddenly spoke up.

“Number 30 isn’t a good child at all! She steals.”

All eyes turned toward the lineup of children, who exchanged confused glances, searching for the source of the accusation.

It was Number 04, gazing expectantly at the man.

Number 30 breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

An Suna’s expression darkened. Gritting her teeth, she quickly explained, “Children say foolish things. Please don’t listen to her nonsense.”

But the man looked intrigued. He tilted his chin upward. “That little girl is quite cute. Let her come out and speak.”

Suppressing her displeasure, An Suna said sternly, “Number 04, come here and speak properly.”

As if encouraged, Number 04 pulled half a baked potato from her handbag. “This is what Number 30 stole yesterday. She even threw it on the ground, and I picked it up.”

An Suna whipped her head around, staring at Number 30 in disbelief.

Number 30 feigned guilt, lowering her head and murmuring, “I’m sorry, Teacher An. I was too hungry.”

Number 04 continued loudly, her face flushed but her eyes bright and spirited, “She also stole candy. Teacher An doesn’t allow us to eat sweets for the sake of our teeth, but I saw candy in her handbag when she was tidying it yesterday.”

The moment Number 30 admitted to the theft, no one doubted Number 04’s words anymore.

The man approached Number 04, patted her head, and praised, “What a lovely, well-behaved child.”

His voice was like a snake slithering through damp, dark places, cold and hissing. Yet Number 04 remained completely unaware, beaming with a radiant smile.

He turned to An Suna and questioned, “You give me a child with such sticky fingers?”

An Suna shoved 30 aside and shot her a fierce glare.

She immediately launched into a flurry of explanations, assurances, and complaints.

“I absolutely didn’t mean for this to happen. You have no idea how cunning children this age can be. I have to worry about eight hundred things a day, it’s simply impossible to keep an eye on everything.”

An Suna’s eyes darted, noticing the man still stroking 04’s little braid without letting go. She quickly seized the opportunity to steer the conversation.

“Look at this child, sensible and upright, a real promising seedling. Since fate has brought you together today, why not take her with you and help guide her?”

The man nodded with satisfaction. “Since you put it that way, I’ll let bygones be bygones and accept this child.”

An Suna breathed a sigh of relief, nodding repeatedly with a smile as she reminded 04, “Hurry up and call him ‘brother.'”

04 seemed to understand but not entirely. “Brother.”

The man feigned reluctance, though clearly pleased. “Ahem, that’s mixing up the generations. ‘Uncle’ would be more appropriate…”

He picked up 04 and turned to leave.

An Suna laughed behind him. “You’re still in your prime, I’d believe it if you said you were 04’s older brother.”

At that moment, 04, perched on his shoulder, lifted her head and glanced back. She caught 30’s eye with a hint of guilt but froze in surprise.

30, dressed in a mermaid-style gauze dress, gave her a shy, apologetic smile, a far cry from her usual composed and steady demeanor. She lifted the hem of her skirt, bent her knees, and curtsied to 04 in a gesture of gratitude.

…

That night, in the confinement room.

The man seemed quite pleased with 04. When An Suna returned that evening, she was beaming with joy and carrying countless bags of clothes.

Thanks to this, she only punished 30 a few times with an electric shock gun and confined her for two days.

Having been through this cycle of nightmares repeatedly, 30 was all too familiar with the place. Staring at the empty iron-mesh compartment beside her, it felt as if the girl who had once clung desperately to the door was still there.

But she was no longer afraid. In the orphanage, the living were far more terrifying than the girls who had met tragic ends.

If it hadn’t been for 04 today, she would have been the one sent away.

A flicker of guilt surfaced in 30’s eyes. She knew 04 would tell on her.

04 was intensely jealous. Whenever other children stole food, 04 would either snatch it from them or report them to the teachers if they refused to share.

Yet 30 had planned for 04 to tattle, hoping it would disillusion the potential adopter and make him abandon the idea of adoption.

She never expected it would push 04 into the fire instead.

30’s muscles still twitched and ached with residual numbness from the electric shocks, but she smiled.

Only punishment and pain could ease her conscience now.

She didn’t yet understand what guilt meant, but she stood awake, for two full days and nights, without a drop of water or a moment’s rest.

When the confinement room door opened again, her eyes were bloodshot and red, yet her gaze, fixed against the glaring light, was resolute and unwavering.

She had no time for repentance. In her book of idiom stories, a dog-eared page bore the words:

An arrow shot cannot be recalled.

From the moment she entered the orphanage, she had already fallen into an abyss with no way back.

In the end, An Suna couldn’t bring herself to ruin her own cash cow. Before 30 starved to the point of disfigurement, she released her from the confinement room.

“If you embarrass me in front of adopters again, don’t expect to ever leave this room.”

30 nodded cautiously.

“Sorry, Teacher An. What kind of child does the next potential adopter prefer? I’ll make proper preparations this time.”

An Suna was quite pleased with her cooperative attitude.