Zhang Yiran returned to the dorm and was greeted by Ah Fei who was sleeping soundly on his bed while hugging his pillow tightly. Zhang Yiran shook his head.
"scaredy-cat."
He whispered softly while gently poking Ah Fei's nose. No movement at all. Look like Ah Fei really falling deep into his slumber. He smiled. He adjusted the blanket on Ah Fei's thin body.
"Urghhhh... it's hot..."
Ah Fei groaned while trying to remove the blanket that covered his entire body.
"Don't be stubborn. You'll catch a cold if you don't cover yourself properly."
Zhang Yiran said gently.
"Tch!"
Ah Fei turned his back on Zhang Yiran.
"Eh? You tch'd on me...?"
Zhang Yiran slapped Ah Fei's butt.
"Ermmm..."
Ah Fei groaned angrily while scratching his butt that had just been slapped.
"What do you care? You're rarely come back and now you wanna nags at me."
Ah Fei muttered in his sleep. His heart ached from often being left alone in the lonely and scary room.
It felt like someone was watching him in murderous gaze when he slept in his own bed. He don't know since when. He himself wasn't sure about that.
Zhang Yiran was stunned by Ah Fei's words. It was true. He rarely returned to the dorm. His mother often called him back no matter what time its was.
"Forgive me. I promise after my family problems are over I will always be with you."
Zhang Yiran said. Ah Fei turned around. His round eyes stared straight at Zhang Yiran's face. Zhang Yiran swallowed his saliva. It turned out that Ah Fei wasn't sleeping at all. And his secret had been revealed. He just hoped that Ah Fei wouldn't continue to prey for his family's secret.
"Promise?"
Ah Fei asked with his sparkling eyes.
"Prfttt..."
Zhang Yiran let's out a small laugh. He didn't expect how innocent Ah Fei could be. And those innocent act really pushed something deep inside his heart.
"Why are you laughing?"
Ah Fei hit Zhang Yiran with a pillow. Feeling like he was being made fun of.
"No. I didn't expect how coward you are."
Zhang Yiran said in his laughter.
"I'm not a coward!"
Ah Fei yapping angrily.
"It's just... this room is scary..."
Ah Fei said while tightly gripping the blanket that covered his feet. Seeing Ah Fei's sullen face, Zhang Yiran stopped his laughing.
"Okay. Okay. You're not a coward only this room is scary. Now step aside a little, I also want to sleep."
Zhang Yiran finally give in. As he didn't want Ah Fei to prey deeply into his secret, he also didn't want to continue torturing Ah Fei with his fear.
"Why should I?"
Ah Fei asked as he pushed Zhang Yiran away. His eyes widened as he looked at Zhang Yiran's face.
"Why can't I? This is my bed."
Zhang Yiran replied as he pushed Ah Fei away to the wall.
"Oh..."
Only that word came out of Ah Fei's lips. There wasn't even a hint of guilt on his face or for him to move. In fact, he also lay down next to Zhang Yiran.
"Do you think my bed was haunted?"
He asked.
"No."
Zhang Yiran answered half-consciously. His eyes felt heavy. But he couldn't bear to let Ah Fei's question hang unanswered.
"But..."
Ah Fei was still not satisfied. He was sure there was something in his bed because every time he slept there, he could feel something scaring watching him.
"Shhhh... ghosts like kids who talk a lot in the middle of the night."
Zhang Yiran said. Ah Fei quickly covered his mouth with the blanket.
"Don't be afraid. I will protect you. Now close your eyes and sleep."
Zhang Yiran whispered as he hugged Ah Fei's thin body tightly. Hoping that Ah Fei would sleep and stop talking or moving like a caterpillar. Their bed was too small. Once Ah Fei moved, Zhang Yiran felt like he would fall off at any moment.
Ah Fei nodded in agreement. Now he was sure that night he would be safe from the ghost that hunting him whenever he fall asleep every nights.
***
Zhang Yiran waited patiently for Mu Zhe in front of their school gate.
"Sorry I'm late."
Mu Zhe said with a grin. He walked while jumping happily. Sometimes Zhang Yiran wondered about Mu Zhe. His life was always cheerful. As if there were no problems at all.
Behind Mu Zhe, Lulu was seen following Mu Zhe's every step. His lips curled into a smile as he watched Mu Zhe in amazement. There was no denying that Lulu's gaze was only for Mu Zhe.
"What do you want to talk to me about?"
Mu Zhe asked as they walked together towards Chen's family restaurant.
Zhang Yiran gaze at Lulu. He still wasn't sure if Lulu and Yaya were the same person. But he hoped that a miracle would happen.
"Err...Lulu."
Zhang Yiran tried to muster up the courage to start the conversation.
"Hmmm..?"
Lulu looked at Zhang Yiran in puzzled. So did Mu Zhe.
"Do you had another nickname beside Lulu?"
Zhang Yiran asked.
"Hmmm...I don't remember. Mama always called me Lulu all this time. Why are you asking?"
Lulu asked.
"No. There's nothing."
"Of course he doesn't remember. He was too young when I first met him. There's no way a five-year-old kid could remember all that." Zhang Yiran hissed.
Arriving at Chen's family restaurant, Jiang Hai was already waiting faithfully. His smile widely. He looked so happy that annoyed everyone.
Zhang Yiran and Mu Zhe sat in their usual spot. Lulu went inside to start work and Jiang Hai was ready to take their orders.
"Eh? Zhou Jun didn't come with you?"
Jiang Hai asked. Mu Zhe looked at Zhang Yiran. The same was with Zhang Yiran. Zhou Jun had seemed busy for a few days. Break time was spent sleeping. And as soon as the bell rang, Zhou Jun had disappeared from his seat. They both shook their heads in unison.
"I haven't seen Teacher Ma for a few days either. Has anything happened to Teacher Ma?"
Zhang Yiran asked. Mu Zhe and Jiang Hai shrugged their shoulders. "How could we know that."
"What do you want to order? As usual?"
Jiang Hai asked after he had been standing there for a few minutes. They both nodded.
While Mu Zhe was thinking about Zhou Jun, his eyes caught something from Zhang Yiran's wallet. Something that really caught his attention.
"Err... Yiran. Can I see that picture?"
Mu Zhe asked. Zhang Yiran smiled. It seemed that his trap had piqued Mu Zhe's curiosity. He knew that Mu Zhe was getting closer to Lulu. And he also knew that Mu Zhe often came to Lulu's house. Maybe Mu Zhe could help him unravel the mystery of his aunt or better known as his mom and his stepbrother.
Zhang Yiran handed over the picture that was deliberately displayed for Mu Zhe and Lulu to look at. If Lulu was really Yaya, he would definitely know that it was a picture of them when they were still a kid.
"How did you get this picture?"
Mu Zhe asked.
"Bingo!" Zhang Yiran's heart was filled with hope.
"Oh. This?"
Zhang Yiran sat up straight. Ready to start the negotiations. Mu Zhe's surprised face convinced him that Mu Zhe had seen the picture somewhere.
"Do you know the person in this picture?"
Zhang Yiran asked while pointing at Yaya's face to Mu Zhe. Mu Zhe nodded. Zhang Yiran's smile widened. "Yaya. I came to save you and your mom from my mom. I promise! Your suffering will be over soon." Zhang Yiran make a promised in his heart.