Sevinah and Alice were both terrified by "Aerylia's" state; their small faces pale, they retreated a few steps.
Ever since they could remember, Director Aerylia had always worn a kind and benevolent expression, never once losing her temper with them. No matter what mistakes the children of the orphanage made, the kindness on her face never significantly changed...
It was as if this alone could reassure the children here, and merely presenting a benevolent facade could make those investors seeking social recognition notice this small orphanage.
When did Director Aerylia start wearing this "benevolent" mask?
Sevinah didn't understand why it had to be Director Aerylia who was sick.
Countless times, she had seen the woman talk to those influential figures outside, whether it was Uncle Ayin or Big Sister Sevia, the conversations always revolved around "investment, donations, and charity."
Yet, the children's lives here rarely saw significant improvement. When colder winters arrived, they still wore thin clothes and ate foul-smelling mush, while Director Aerylia always kept herself well-maintained, applying skin cream, wearing floral dresses, donning fleece-lined scarves, and many pieces of jewelry.
Even though many of these investments had fallen into Director Aerylia's hands, why was she the one who ultimately fell ill?
Why wasn't it Big Brother Chris, who wandered outside all day, behaving erratically?
Why wasn't it Big Sister Mel, who cried all day?
Why wasn't it Big Brother Archer, who stole food from the kitchen every day?
Why wasn't it old man Nick, who complained about his backaches all day?
Why wasn't it Ms. Julian, who was sharp-tongued and harsh all day, often cursing them with foul language in private?
Why wasn't it the children here, suffering from the unfairness of fate?
Did anyone truly love them?
Sevinah had once believed that all adults were hypocritical, whether it was the staff and teachers in the orphanage, Uncle Ayin, or even Big Sister Sevia, who would either vent their frustrations or commit immoral acts for profit, all while speaking grandiloquent words.
She had thought that beneath Director Aerylia's benevolent exterior, she must detest the children here, believing it was because of them that she was stuck there, unable to go to a better place.
Aerylia had never truly loved them.
Like all hypocritical adults, they were merely tools for seeking profit and venting emotions.
But was that truly the case?
Sevinah had read many absurd books and artistic works, witnessing the worldly sorrow expressed in their words, so she understood the complexities of human nature and the essence of the world's suffering better than most children.
Yet at this moment, she couldn't comprehend why it was Director Aerylia who was sick.
Alice pulled Sevinah's hand and ran far away. The door slowly opened at that moment, and "Aerylia" walked out of the office as usual.
The woman wore a floral dress, a fleece-lined scarf, and her expression was as kind and benevolent as ever.
"Sevinah and Alice, where have they gone?"
"Aerylia" asked with concern.
Xu Xiaoyou and Tang Xin both remained silent, answering her question with quietness.
"Themia, Sevia, have you seen them?" "Aerylia" asked.
"Look quickly at the clothes in my hand. If I'm not mistaken, they're red. I've found colors for the children."
The world in "Aerylia's" eyes was a bloody red. She saw a loose thread on her arm, so she reached out and pinched it.
A rip, tear echoed through the room. The entire world seemed to fall silent, leaving only the sound of wind and snow sweeping outside the window. Cold wind blew into the house, and the faint candlelight allowed them to see the entire wall covered with red sweaters woven from skin and flesh wisps.
And the figure of "Aerylia" before them.
It was a tall, grotesquely shaped blood-red monster. Its fingertips were incredibly sharp, longer than its arms, and its limbs were distorted and out of proportion with its body. Even more terrifying was its skin, which hung from its body in threads and strips, like paper fed into a shredder. These were the "yarn" it used for weaving, resembling bandages wrapped around a blood-red mummy; beneath the skin, constantly oozing blood, vivid, blinding red muscle fibers were clearly visible.
The wind extinguished the candlelight in the office.
"Aerylia" was completely oblivious to her own abnormality, her tone slightly excited, sharing her joy with the two people before her like a child.
"I've woven red sweaters! Perhaps soon, I'll be able to weave blue and green ones. Then the children will know what real colors look like. They won't have to draw the world only as it's depicted in textbooks. They can see red flowers and green grass with their own eyes, feel the real world, and use their imaginations."
"Perhaps soon, the Keyboard District will regain its colors, and they can all grow up carefree, just like normal children."
"Aerylia" continued to tear at the "loose threads" on her body, speaking words of hope.
"How strange, why are there so many loose threads? They're everywhere."
"If I tear them all off, I can weave another sweater, right?"
Only then did Tang Xin truly understand how deeply the woman had sealed off her own heart...
Despite caring so much for these children in her heart, harboring so many innocent and kind thoughts, she had never shown it on her face. She merely wore that "benevolent" mask and never spoke these thoughts to anyone.
Despite understanding more than anyone how bleak these children's futures were, constantly experiencing such profound despair,
she had never told them the truth, letting the children fend for themselves until they became beyond saving.
Those high and mighty investors, of course, wouldn't want to face a vagrant who reeked just like those children, let alone an adult.
The clothes the woman wore, the skincare products she used, the jewelry she adorned herself with — Tang Xin knew better than anyone that they were all nothing more than cheap, inexpensive items. She had always used the bare minimum of money to sustain her own life and purchase equipment for the orphanage, like the heaters recently installed in the children's rooms...
"Madam Aerylia." Unconsciously, Tang Xin recalled many past events and spoke softly.
"Aerylia's" gaze suddenly shifted from murky to clear, her tone benevolent. "What's wrong, why... are you crying? Little Sevia, have you been wronged? You can tell me."
Noticing Themia's indifferent gaze, and with the world in her own eyes growing increasingly blood-red, "Aerylia" slowly turned, belatedly looking at herself in the mirror. The freshly woven red sweater, still steaming, fell from her hands to the ground.
The woman let out a helpless, bitter laugh.
"So, I'm already beyond saving."
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