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In the evening, when Sima Chuan was preparing to cook dinner for the people at the orphanage, the children jumped up in excitement. They had tasted Sima Chuan's cooking once before, and it had been so delicious that they wanted to eat it again. However, despite their pleas for him to become the orphanage's head chef, Sima Chuan had always refused. So when he unexpectedly offered to cook tonight, how could they not be happy? Yet, being just a group of children, only a few of the older ones understood that Sima Chuan's words carried a deeper meaning. Annie, Oniwife, and Augus knew that Sima Chuan was likely leaving soon, and this dinner was probably a farewell meal. Nevertheless, they couldn't change Sima Chuan's decision.
Sima Chuan initially planned to go grocery shopping with Qiong, but Annie volunteered to accompany him instead, leaving Qiong to play with the other children. Barnett was chatting with Oniwife and Augus nearby, explaining the "situation" he and Sima Chuan had concocted to ease their concerns. Alger had come over hoping to play with the children, but due to the events of the afternoon, they were not welcoming at all, leaving him awkwardly standing aside.
As Sima Chuan walked alongside Annie, they silently enjoyed the sunset. He turned his head to look at her and smiled, asking, "So, what do you want to ask?"
"Have you really made your decision?" Annie looked up at Sima Chuan.
"Yes, I've decided."
"When are you leaving?" Annie asked softly.
"Tomorrow morning."
"Oh." Annie bit her lip as if grappling with a difficult choice. After a long pause, she steeled herself and looked up at Sima Chuan nervously. "Can I... can I go with you?"
"No," Sima Chuan replied firmly.
"Why not?" Annie asked passionately. "Do you think I'm a burden?"
"That's not it," Sima Chuan said with a helpless shake of his head.
"Then what is it?" Annie pointed at him in frustration.
Seeing passersby staring at them, Sima Chuan didn't want to linger any longer and pulled Annie away as they ran. After a short distance, Annie managed to break free from his grip and shouted, "You owe me an explanation!"
"Annie," Sima Chuan said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You need to understand that where we're going is very dangerous. There's a high chance we could lose our lives. It's not that I don't want to take you; I really can't. You should stay at the orphanage. The kids need you."
Annie pushed Sima Chuan away, surprising even herself with her sudden outburst. However, knowing that Sima Chuan still cared for her made her heart feel a bit sweeter, and her anger dissipated significantly. Yet, she maintained a firm tone as she replied, "I don't care! I'm going with you. The kids at the orphanage are scared of me; if I leave, they'll be free. Besides, I feel safe wherever you are, no matter how dangerous it might be. So I have to go with you."
"But..." Sima Chuan didn't want to take Annie along. The task they were about to undertake was highly dangerous, and bringing an ordinary person would only divide his attention. A moment of distraction could lead to unforeseen accidents, which would be extremely detrimental to them.
"There are no 'buts,'" Annie interrupted him decisively, regaining her authoritative demeanor. "Don't forget that you're my little brother; you have to listen to me. Moreover, if you refuse, I'll make sure everyone at the orphanage knows how irresponsible you are. After all, we live under the same roof; anything could happen."
Sima Chuan lowered his head in thought, feeling conflicted inside. After pondering for a while without finding an answer, he decided to postpone the decision. "Annie, let me think about this for a bit. I'll give you an answer soon. For now, let's go buy some groceries and not keep them waiting."
Annie had anticipated this response from Sima Chuan and nodded in agreement. "Alright then, let's go buy the groceries."
That evening in the orphanage yard, several large tables were set up, laden with an abundance of dishes. The colors and aromas of the food made everyone eager to indulge. Meanwhile, Sima Chuan was in the kitchen finishing up the last dish.
Once all the food was ready, Auntie called out "Let's eat!" prompting the children who had been eagerly waiting to rush forward and grab their share of the meal.
Sima Chuan raised his glass and approached Oniwife and Augus. "Grandpa and Grandma, Uncle, thank you for taking care of me so much. This toast is for you." He downed his drink in one go.
"Sima Chuan," Auntie said after taking a sip of her drink, "Barnett has already informed us about the situation." She continued, "You made your choice; we can't interfere. Just remember to come back and visit whenever you can."
"Don't worry; I will," Sima Chuan assured her with a firm nod.
Dinner concluded on a joyful note, with the children believing their hard work from earlier in the day had earned them this reward from Sima Chuan. Little did they know that he was using this opportunity to say goodbye to them without revealing his departure.
Later that night in Sima Chuan's room...
"Are you the one called Annie, the girl who insists on going with you?" Barnett furrowed his brows and asked.
"Yes, that's what I've been worried about," Sima Chuan sighed.
"Hey, Sima Chuan, how come you're so lucky? Wherever you go, there are girls who like you. It's really unfair," Alger complained from the side, but no one paid him any mind.
"I think we should pack up and leave early," Joan suggested.
"I agree," Barnett nodded.
"But if we do that..." Sima Chuan clearly had concerns. Joan noticed his hesitation and smiled, saying, "We can just let Sima Chuan come back later."
"Come back?" Barnett and Alger looked puzzled, and even Sima Chuan was confused at first. But soon he understood what Joan meant and excitedly asked, "You mean to create a whole Robot version of me, implant memories about all this in its brain, and then let it return to the orphanage?"
"Exactly," Joan snapped her fingers.
"That's a good idea; let's do it," Barnett agreed.
"I agree too," Alger nodded.
"Alright then." Although Sima Chuan was reluctant to go through with it, he realized it was the best option they had at the moment.
Before dawn, the four of them quietly slipped out of their room and left the orphanage. However, as soon as they reached the yard of the orphanage, they saw someone. Upon seeing this person, Sima Chuan and the others were clearly taken aback and stopped in their tracks.
Annie stepped forward, her expression filled with sorrow as she asked Sima Chuan, "Didn't you promise to give me an answer? So what's the result now?"
The person waiting in the yard was Annie. She had anticipated that Sima Chuan might try to leave quietly, so she had been waiting here since midnight.
"Well..." Sima Chuan hesitated.
"Hmph, you don't want to take me with you, do you? Then I'll shout and wake up everyone in the orphanage, not letting you leave," Annie threatened.
Just as Sima Chuan was about to speak, he noticed that Annie's body was trembling slightly. Concerned, he asked, "Haven't you been waiting here for a long time?"
"Hmph." Annie turned her head away, saying nothing, but her meaning was clear. Sima Chuan sighed and took off his outer coat, draping it over Annie's shoulders. He turned to Barnett and said, "Captain, I want to take Annie with me."
"Have you thought it through?" Barnett asked seriously.
Sima Chuan nodded and replied, "I've thought it through. I will take full responsibility for everything concerning Annie; if anything happens, it will be on me alone."
Upon hearing Sima Chuan's words, Barnett suddenly smiled gently. "Actually, we're all men. Maybe it's better to leave some things to women."
"Captain, you..." Sima Chuan looked at Barnett in shock, while Alger chuckled quietly to himself. Qiong seemed to know something but didn't react much; however, she felt a bit worried for Sima Chuan because she remembered what those women had said to him before parting.
"Alright, let's go," Barnett said as he started walking outside.
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