Shi-Han: Xuan Gang! The current Xuan Gang that exists—was this same Xuan Gang there so many years ago?
Mu-Lian: No one can say in which countries the Xuan Gang exists or how many members it has. Until now, no legal system has been able to completely destroy the Xuan Gang.
★★★
Jun-Yu was walking past the university cafeteria with his face buried in his phone, heading toward the parking lot. As soon as he took the phone in his hand, a message from Shi-Han appeared on the screen. The cafeteria was right beside him; he glanced at the message and put the phone into his pocket. Then Jun-Yu bought several lollipops and chocolates from the cafeteria and returned home.
After reaching home, Jun-Yu freshened up and, wearing a light green T-shirt with an unbuttoned white shirt over it, put a lollipop in his mouth and came to the 3rd floor. Jun-Yu didn't recognize anything about Shi-Han's flat. Looking around once, he noticed that inside the flat there was a special room for a cat.
In this room, Shi-Han's cat was lying lazily asleep. Jun-Yu stepped a little closer and, bending one leg, sat in front of the cat—
Jun-Yu: Hey, are you Miss Shakhchunni's cat? Your mother told me to give you food.
Jun-Yu had never seen Shi-Han's cat before. The cat was also not used to seeing Jun-Yu. Shi-Han had forgotten to feed the helpless creature today. The cat's stomach was stuck to its back from hunger. The day had passed to almost afternoon, yet not a single grain of food had entered its stomach. From hunger, the helpless creature's mood had become extremely furious. Jun-Yu, being unfamiliar to the cat, couldn't understand its behavior and took the lollipop out of his mouth and held it toward the cat—
Jun-Yu: Hey, will you eat a lollipop? Here, try this, strawberry flavor, very delicious.
When Jun-Yu held the lollipop toward the cat, the cat slapped at Jun-Yu's hand from inside the room. But the small paw of the helpless one did not reach Jun-Yu's hand. Jun-Yu pulled his hand back and again put the lollipop into his mouth.
Jun-Yu: Hey, why are you getting angry? Will you hit me like Miss Shakhchunni? Okay, calm down. You are an angle, tell me what you will eat. Chocolate, ice cream, lollipop, or something else.
As Jun-Yu said these things to the cat, the cat moved to the other side of the room. Seeing the cat go to the other end, Jun-Yu took several lollipops and chocolates from his pocket and placed them in front of the cat's room.
Jun-Yu: Hey angle, where are you going? Look, I brought so many chocolates and lollipops for you. Don't be angry, eat these.
Meilin: Meow meow.
Shi-Han's cat, annoyed by Jun-Yu, started searching for Shi-Han. The helpless creature, fuming with anger, moved toward the kitchen in search of food.
Jun-Yu: Hey angle, where are you going? At least tell me what you will eat instead of just meowing. Wait, I will peel the chocolate wrapper for you.
Peeling the wrapper of a chocolate, Jun-Yu followed the cat. Before Jun-Yu could reach the kitchen, the cat climbed onto a shelf in the kitchen. When Jun-Yu again tried to bother the cat with chocolate, the cat puffed its tail like a cat demon and pounced on Jun-Yu.
As the cat suddenly pounced on Jun-Yu, he fell onto the floor. The cat was on his chest, bending its neck, tail puffed, staring angrily. Jun-Yu had an allergy to cats. All this time he had given chocolate to the cat but had not touched it.
Since childhood, Jun-Yu had a cat allergy, so he was very afraid of cats. Because of both allergy and fear, Jun-Yu avoided cats. Even today he was very scared, his hands and feet were shaking. Today he had gathered courage from a message of Shi-Han to come and feed the cat.
When Jun-Yu sneezed, the shaking of his body made the cat even more angry. How would the helpless creature understand that sneezing naturally makes the body shake. Jun-Yu covered his mouth with one hand and slowly took out his phone with the other—
Jun-Yu: H-Hello… please check the register and quickly give me the number of Miss Shi-Han from the 3rd flat.
Today Jun-Yu had added Shi-Han on WeChat. But he did not have Shi-Han's contact number. Jun-Yu called the reception to get Shi-Han's number from the register.
As soon as the receptionist received the call, she could clearly feel the fear in Jun-Yu's voice. The receptionist, who works in this apartment, would of course know it is a luxury apartment. Hearing Jun-Yu's frightened voice—
Receptionist: Sir, what happened? Why are you so scared?
Jun-Yu: Miss, there is no time to say all that. Give me Shi-Han's number quickly, otherwise this cat will chew me alive.
Receptionist: Sir, don't be afraid. I am sending people.
After cutting the call, when Jun-Yu turned his head, he saw a packet on a kitchen shelf with big letters written "cat food." He again looked at the cat and folded his hands—
Jun-Yu: Believe me, cat demon, I only tasted one lollipop from what I brought for you. If I knew cats don't eat these, I would never have brought them.
Shi-Han had already come near the apartment. Even after sending Shi-Han's number to Jun-Yu, the receptionist, out of responsibility, directly called Shi-Han once.
Considering Jun-Yu's condition, the receptionist sent several servants to the 3rd flat to catch the cat. They came and saw Jun-Yu lying on the floor and the cat on his chest, neck bent, tail puffed. When they tried to catch the cat, the helpless one ran away. To catch just one cat, they created chaos. Some things in the room were broken. Jun-Yu stood in a corner, pressing a handkerchief, sneezing and coughing. Red rashes appeared on his fair skin, and he was taking long breaths repeatedly. After a few minutes, the servants brought the cat in front of Jun-Yu.
Jun-Yu: Achoo… oh my father, angle, sorry calling you angle was a mistake. I was wrong, Miss Shakhchunni's cat is actually a cat demon.
Servant: Sir, are you okay? Your face is red, it seems you are having breathing trouble. Shall we call a doctor?
Jun-Yu: No, there is no need. Feed the cat something and leave now.
Following Jun-Yu's words, the servants moved to leave the flat. Jun-Yu, exhausted, sat on the sofa, breathing heavily with his eyes closed. As the servants opened the door, Shi-Han was standing at the door. The servants looked at Shi-Han strangely once and left.
As Shi-Han entered, she could hardly recognize her own house. She walked slowly, surprised at the condition of the room. Coming near the sofa, she saw Jun-Yu and smiled a little. The broken things could be bought again, but thinking that Jun-Yu had started a third world war for a cat made a smile appear at the corner of her lips. She went to the cat and freed it.
Shi-Han: I am sorry, Meilin, I will never forget to feed you again.
Meilin: Meow meow.
After releasing the cat, it complained in its own language against Jun-Yu while roaming around the room. Feeling Shi-Han's presence, Jun-Yu opened his eyes. His allergy had not reduced yet; sneezing, he said—
Jun-Yu: Cat's mother, I offered your cat demon lollipop, chocolate, ice cream. But your demon didn't eat them and made the room like this, it's not my fault.
All this time Shi-Han thought Jun-Yu had only suffered trying to feed a cat. But hearing this, she could not hold her laughter anymore. Shi-Han laughed widely—
Shi-Han: You are a scientist, so educated, so knowledgeable, and you don't know cats don't eat these things? Who gives cats lollipops, chocolates, and ice cream?
Jun-Yu sneezed again and took a long breath—
Since childhood I have a cat allergy. I have never even fed a cat or stepped on its shadow. And I am not a cat researcher. I am going to freshen up.
After saying this, Jun-Yu left. His words struck Shi-Han's heart. Shi-Han did not know about Jun-Yu's cat allergy. Jun-Yu had been immersed in studies since childhood and had never been close to cats. It is natural he knows little about them. Even so, just from one message, he came to feed the cat—this was enough to shake Shi-Han's heart. Seeing Jun-Yu, she always became weak, but today, because of his behavior and humanity, she drifted even deeper into the ocean named Jun-Yu.
★★★
Late afternoon. Like every day, today as well the golden glow of the setting sun has made the cherry tree standing in front of Long-Ying-Ting look beautiful. After knowing Xiao-Tong's past from Nanjing Foding Temple, today Shi-Han is deeply lost in thought. Just thinking about Xiao-Tong makes Shi-Han's heart tremble. Nothing feels good anymore. Not knowing how much pain Xiao-Tong is going through, Shi-Han is absorbed in that thought.
Shi-Han calls Xiao-Tong several times, but Xiao-Tong's phone keeps ringing. He is not answering. After ringing several times, the call cuts. Feeling sad, Shi-Han goes and stands on her balcony.
After some time, Jun-Yu freshens up and, wearing a light pink T-shirt with a silver-gray unbuttoned shirt over it, comes again to Shi-Han's flat. He comes and stands beside Shi-Han on the balcony.
Shi-Han was lost in thought. As soon as Jun-Yu comes beside her, he sneezes once again. Suddenly sensing someone beside her, Shi-Han gets startled. Jun-Yu did not even imagine that seeing him Shi-Han would be startled. As Shi-Han gets startled, he also gets shaken.
Jun-Yu: What happened, Miss Shakhchunni, did you get scared?
Shi-Han presses her chest and takes a long breath—
Shi-Han: Mister Zombie, does anyone stand beside like this without saying anything? Just a little more and I would have hit you.
At Shi-Han's words, Jun-Yu smiles lightly. But his breathing is still heavy. In his mind Jun-Yu thinks (maybe Miss Shakhchunni, I came and stood beside you without saying just to die in your hands).
Repeating those words in his mind, Jun-Yu says to Shi-Han—
Jun-Yu: I saved you from a psycho killer. But in return, you got someone to practice martial arts on.
As soon as Jun-Yu says this, Shi-Han remembers that old day when late at night Jun-Yu had lost consciousness in front of her flat. That day, even though Jun-Yu was sick, how much she had beaten him. Jun-Yu is doing so much for Shi-Han, but in return Shi-Han has only hurt him. Thinking all this, the young girl lowers her head in embarrassment.
Shi-Han: I am so sorry, Jun-Yu. I didn't know you have a cat allergy. If I knew, I would never have asked you to feed Meilin. Are you in much pain?
Jun-Yu: Not that much, just a little difficulty in breathing.
Shi-Han: Let's go to the doctor. I want to take you to the doctor.
When Shi-Han tries to take Jun-Yu to the doctor, Jun-Yu doesn't pay much attention and holds the railing, looking down. In the late afternoon, some children blow bubbles with bubble makers, some spread colors of laughter in the air with bubble guns, and some are playing by throwing balls with their dogs. Elderly women in the apartment are walking. Some are returning from the market. Young boys and girls are playing volleyball and tennis. Some are roaming around with bicycles. Seeing everyone celebrating the late afternoon, Jun-Yu feels quite happy. Watching all this, he replies to Shi-Han.
Jun-Yu: No need. If it becomes too much, I will buy medicine and a reliever inhaler from a shop. Leave these, let's go down and play with the kids.
Jun-Yu does not have asthma. Usually, he does not have breathing problems. He has never needed an inhaler. Still, today he is suffering because of Shi-Han—Shi-Han thinks so. It is clear to her that Jun-Yu has no medicine or inhaler. Already thinking about Xiao-Tong has made her sad, and in front of her Jun-Yu is struggling just to take a breath. But Jun-Yu is controlling himself and trying to hide it with a smiling face. Understanding everything, Shi-Han's heart is tearing apart. Her heart becomes heavy. Inside she feels very restless. Everything feels shaken; Shi-Han becomes very upset. With a gloomy face, she replies to Jun-Yu.
Shi-Han: I am fine here. You go and hang out with the kids, Jun-Yu.
As age increases, with studies and busy life, childhood died somewhere at 9/10 years. The time to celebrate late afternoons does not come often in Jun-Yu's life. Today he does not want to miss the chance to return to childhood for just one day by mixing with the kids.
In just a few moments, Jun-Yu mixes with the children and gets busy in playing and noise. Shi-Han stands on the balcony, mesmerized by Jun-Yu's joy. The slight smile on Jun-Yu's pink lips is like the full moon in the sky. Suddenly Jun-Yu stands right in front of Shi-Han's balcony and waves his hand.
But Shi-Han was so lost looking at Jun-Yu's smiling moon-like face that she didn't notice he was standing in front of her balcony. Without blinking, Shi-Han was looking at her zombie. Even when Jun-Yu waved, Shi-Han didn't respond, so Jun-Yu shouted loudly from below—
Jun-Yu: Miss Shakhchunni, don't just stand on the balcony, come join us in the joy of the evening. Come down quickly, it will be very fun.
Now no one is on the balconies of the apartment except Shi-Han on the 3rd floor. And Jun-Yu, in front of all the apartment residents, called Shi-Han "Miss Shakhchunni" loudly. In an instant, Shi-Han's trance broke. Already she was worried, and hearing this made her quite angry. Curling her lips, with angry eyes, she mutters—
Shi-Han: A zombie is always a zombie, not an angle.
Saying this softly, Shi-Han goes inside from the balcony. Jun-Yu could not hear anything Shi-Han said. But he understands that maybe calling her Miss Shakhchunni in front of everyone made her feel bad. As Shi-Han goes inside, Jun-Yu presses his lips with his right hand. The next moment he lowers his hand and says in his mind—
Jun-Yu: Ah, Miss Shakhchunni left… maybe she got angry at me.