All eyes were focused on Mu Zhe who was still sulking. Zhang Yiran stare at Lulu. Lulu shrugged his shoulders. Zhang Yiran stare at Ah Fei. Ah Fei shook his head. Zhang Yiran let out a heavy sigh.
"Mu Zhe..."
He called out to him. If that friend of his was sulking, it was really hard to coaxed.
"What?"
He answered indifferently while squeezing Fantuan's little paws. As if knowing his daddy's unsteady emotions, Fantuan just gave in. Sometimes, he let out a heavy sigh.
Lulu looked at Mu Zhe with the corner of his eye. It seemed that Mu Zhe's anger had not yet died down. His jealousy was still blazing. In the tension, Lulu smiled contentedly.
"Lulu is really my little brother. Trust me."
Zhang Yiran said. Trying to explain before everything got even more complicated.
"Haaa!!!!???"
All eyes were focused on Zhang Yiran. Since when? How could this happen? Who wants to pull a prank in the middle of the nights?
Seeing the other disbelieving faces, Zhang Yiran took out a picture hidden behind a happy picture of his family. The picture was placed in front of everyone. All eyes were focused on the picture.
Between believing and not, Lulu took the picture. That's right. It was a picture of him, his mother, his long lost brother and his father who had disappeared for a long time. Lulu raised his face. Stared at Zhang Yiran's face. In the space of his eyes, he began to picturing the face of his brother who had disappeared long time ago.
"Impossible."
He said spontaneously. His brother was fat as Doraemon. His face was round like a watermelon. But what was in front of him was a handsome teenager who was crazily popular at his school.
Zhang Yiran smiled. The same big smile as eleven years ago.
"Brother...Yi..ran?"
Zhang Yiran nodded. Mu Zhe looked at Lulu and Zhang Yiran one after another. So do Ah Fei. Their brains failed to function at that moment. How can Zhang Yiran and Lulu suddenly become siblings? What kind of drama are they trying to play?
"Papa..?"
Lulu failed to continue his question. He had promised to remove that man from his life. He didn't want his mama to suffer anymore. It was enough for him.
"Don't hate papa. Papa is innocent."
Zhang Yiran said. Lulu pursed his lips hearing Zhang Yiran's words. "Don't hate him? Tch! You don't even know what that man did to us. What he did to mama. What right do you have to forbid me to hate that man?" Lulu grumbled in his heart.
"It's all my mom's fault."
Zhang Yiran grasped Lulu's hands. Mu Zhe was stunned to see that incident. His eyes were wide open and his pupils almost run out from the socket. The question "Who gave you permission to hold his hand?" was clearly reflected on his face.
"I promise. I will return everything that belongs to you. Please give me some time."
Lulu fell silent after hearing Zhang Yiran's words. He just wanted his family. Nothing more. What else does he have? He didn't want to know all that.
"Where's mom?"
Zhang Yiran asked. He knew Lulu's mom was sick. But he wanted to protect the woman who had once given him the warmth of a proper mother to him. He was afraid that his mom would meet her first and everything will be the end.
"Hospital."
Lulu replied briefly. His brain was still can't adapt with what was just he heard. The feelings of emptiness and joy mix in different ways in his heart. He was happy with the unexpected reunion with his brother that he missed so much. But, he felt all empty after feeling like he had been thrown away. He knew his brother was innocent. But his heart failed to accept all of that.
"Can I see her?"
Zhang Yiran asked while tightly gripping both of Lulu's hands. Silent. Still thinking.
"It's okay. I didn't force you."
Zhang Yiran said while carving a bitter smile. He knew Lulu's heart had been hurt for a long time. Suffering had long washed away his little brother's trust in him.
"Lulu, No matter what happens in the future. I promise. I will end your suffering." Zhang Yiran made a promised.
That night Zhang Yiran went to bed without getting an answer from Lulu. Their plan to sleep together was also ruined. Lulu slept in his mother's room and Mu Zhe slept in Lulu's room with Fantuan. Only Zhang Yiran and Ah Fei slept in the living room.
The atmosphere was quiet. Each person's mind was still thinking about the story of Zhang Yiran and Lulu. What really happened? What was the secret behind their story? What was their real relationship? Everything was just a puzzle with no answer.
***
"Where is Zhang Yiran?"
Mu Zhe asked that morning after he failed to see Zhang Yiran.
"He rushed out after getting a phone call. It seemed like an emergency."
Ah Fei replied. Lulu's hand stopped from putting down their breakfast. His heart suddenly beats fast. Like there was something bad about to happen.
Mu Zhe looked at Lulu. He knew Lulu was worried. Even without Lulu saying all that, his face was like an open book. His expression could be read without much effort.
"I'm sure he'll be fine."
Mu Zhe said as he gently patted Lulu's shoulder.
Lulu flinched. He came back to his senses from his dilemma. Lulu put the plate on the table. Smiled.
"Let's have breakfast."
He said as he watched Zhang Yiran's empty seat. Lulu hated that feeling. The feeling of losing someone important in his life. Lulu looked at Mu Zhe. Mu Zhe smiled. Sweetly.
"Have you fed Fantuan?"
Lulu asked trying to distract himself from thinking about unpleasant things. Mu Zhe nodded while pointing at Fantuan who had eaten greedily. Lulu shook his head.
Live as Fantuan was lucky. He didn't have to think much. He only knew how to eat, sleep and play all day. Lulu sat down. His eyes caught Ah Fei's gloomy face. He knew Ah Fei was also worried about Zhang Yiran.
"Ah Fei..."
Ah Fei raised his face. Lulu lost his words. His intention to ask about Zhang Yiran died there. He knew that Ah Fei knew a lot about Zhang Yiran because they shared a room. However, he shouldn't burden his only friend for his own sake?
"Ahhh! Let's eat. Senior Zhang is always like that. Later, he will be back to the dorm as usually he does."
Ah Fei said and stuffed the sandwich into his mouth until his mouth was swollen like a chipmunk. The others just nodded.
Lulu canceled his intention to ask more. The atmosphere was already heavy. He didn't want to add more unpleasant things for everyone's feelings that morning.