Little Miss Witch: Revenge of the Tainted Angel

"So… are you aware that Young Master Shen followed you or are you just pretending you didn't see him?" Qin Linfeng asked as he passed the children's current health profile to Li Chuntao. 

"I know. Let him be. It's not like he would distract your work here." She responded. Shen Zichen was the one who chose to follow her here. She never forced him to do such things for her. 

They were on a balcony sitting across from each other while the children played in the huge garden below them. They were busy tackling after the grownup man who suddenly joined them after being ignored by their Sister Ying.

Qin Linfeng huffed and stood up, his arms over the railing. He saw Shen Zichen actively participating in the game with the children. Never did he imagine that the aloof Young Master Shen had a soft heart for children. 

"Well, did you two have a fight? I think he's here trying to reconcile with you," he pointed out. Wasn't it too obvious that these two had a lover's quarrel? Perhaps their fight was so serious that Li Chuntao ended up ignoring him. 

How can Qin Linfeng not know that a woman's silence is more dangerous than showing her temper? Just what did Young Master Shen do to be treated like this by her?

Li Chuntao flipped to the next page on the report and was pleased to see that none of the children were suffering from malnutrition and have been fed well by the orphanage. Two children had been adopted, one of them being Tang Tang. She was sad that she wasn't able to bid goodbye, but she hoped that they were faring well in their new family.

Eventually, she turned her head to see Shen Zichen laughing with the children while a young boy was sitting over his shoulder. Her gaze softened a bit at the scene. If Li Zirui hadn't died, he would probably be about six years old by now. 

Would Shen Zichen be like this if her Zirui lived? 

She pulled her eyes away from him. It was impossible to imagine something that would never happen. 

When she didn't respond to his question, Qin Linfeng shrugged and went back to work. He wasn't always here at the orphanage and only came here whenever Li Chuntao or the director asked for his presence. 

Meanwhile, Shen Zichen placed the boy down. He hadn't felt this tired in a long time. He panted and braced himself by putting both of his hands on his thighs. He'd been playing with these children for more than an hour and Li Chuntao was still ignoring him, as if he was invisible. 

Did she really hate him that much? Didn't she care for him anymore? 

"Brother Zichen, what are you looking at?" The boy followed his gaze and saw their Sister Ying talking to Doctor Qin. "Oh, you are looking at Sister Ying," 

Shen Zichen almost corrected him but he remembered that these children only knew about Li Xiuying and not Li Chuntao. Some of the children crowded around him, trying to get his attention for another round of touch ball game. 

"Has she ever played with you since she came back here?" Shen Zichen questioned them. 

The children shook their heads. "Doctor Qin said Sister Ying isn't healthy enough for rigorous activities. " 

A pang of jealousy hit him when he noticed that Li Chuntao was talking to another man. Maybe this was his punishment for being a cruel and selfish man. He'd taken her for granted and now that she didn't want him anymore, it was too late for him to realize that he needed her, that he loved her. 

Li Chuntao and Qin Linfeng were sitting across each other and Shen Zichen had no idea what they were talking about. Despite everything he'd done for the past few days, Li Chuntao had only looked at him once, never saying a word since he showed up in her kitchen unannounced. 

She would rather talk to another man than to acknowledge him? Did he already lose her for good? 

The cook called the children in for lunch and everyone went inside while Shen Zichen excused himself for a quick shower. He went to retrieve one of his set of spare clothes from his car, took a shower, and went to the dining area which was filled with voices of hungry children waiting for their turn to be served with a meal. 

"Doctor Shen," Qin Linfeng called him from the other table where he was sitting with Li Chuntao, "Here. why don't you join us?" 

Shen Zichen walked towards them, much to Li Chuntao's annoyance. She glared at the man sitting across her and ignored Shen Zichen who took the chance to sit next to her. She continued to eat in silence while Qin Linfeng struck up a conversation with Shen Zichen. 

"Chuntao, eat more…" Shen Zichen whispered as he placed another piece of braised meat on her plate. 

When their meal was done, everyone went back outside to laze around. The peacefulness of the scenery had been shattered by a loud wailing from Su Mei. The trio looked at her only to find her holding her favorite bunny doll with an obvious rip on its arm. 

Shen Zichen went to her and knelt beside her. 

"What happened to your bunny?" He asked in a gentle tone. 

Su Mei continued to wail as she tried to stick the loose arm back, but failed. Another girl came towards them and explained. 

"We were playing and I accidentally tugged Mr. Bunny's arm too hard," the girl admitted. 

Looking at the two of them, Shen Zichen sighed. The same scenario flashed in his mind, recalling how his sister, Yuyan, had accidentally broken Li Chuntao's crystal angel. She had cried for days until Shen Zichen found someone who was able to restore it to its pristine condition. 

"Alright, don't cry. Brother Zichen will fix Mr. Bunny for you. Can you hand him over to me so I can check on him?" 

Su Mei sniffed and hesitated to give him her 'injured' stuffed bunny. 

"How are you going to fix Mr. Bunny?" She asked worriedly and hugged the Mr. Bunny tighter in her arms. 

"Ah, if Little Mei still doesn't know, I'm a good doctor. I patch up people's wounds all the time to make them heal, so I think I'm qualified to fix Mr. Bunny, don't you think?" Shen Zichen tried to convince her. 

"Su Mei, give it to Brother Zichen, I'm sure he would be able to fix him," Qin Linfeng appeared behind Shen Zichen and gave the child a thumbs up. 

Su Mei looked at him then to Shen Zichen before handing over her Mr. Bunny. 

"Please take good care of him," she said before letting the other girl take her hand and led her back to their game. 

Through all of it, Li Chuntao only watched in silence. Shen Zichen might be cold and distant with adults, but he'd always been good with children. She knew he wasn't trying to show off, but it still made her curious at how easily he succumbed to the children's demands. 

In the past, he was the only one who was able to stop her tears when no one was brave enough to face her tantrum.. Shen Zichen had been patient with her and would always do whatever he can to make her smile again.