A week had passed. Zhang Yiran was still nowhere to be seen. Ma Yuan stared at the chair that had been empty for a week. There was no word where their model student had gone missing.
"Mu Zhe. Jiang Hai. Zhou Jun. Come to my office now."
All eyes were on that faces. Surprised. After Zhang Yiran went missing, their class was no longer the same as before. Quiet and sometimes too noisy with the fight between Shen Wei and Zhou Jun.
Zhou Jun, Jiang Hai and Mu Zhe looked at each other. Jiang Hai slowly kicked Zhou Jun's leg. "What did you do this time?" Zhou Jun quickly shook his head. Mu Zhe elbowed Zhou Jun. "This must be all your fault." Zhou Jun raised both hands to the air. "I swear it wasn't me."
"That's enough. Let's go."
Jiang Hai finally said after getting tired looking at both Mu Zhe and Zhou Jun drama.
"It seems like someone is in trouble..."
Shen Wei said while laughing.
"You..."
Before Zhou Jun could fight back, Mu Zhe had already clasped his hands tightly. "Leave it." "But.." Zhou Jun was still not satisfied. Mu Zhe tightened his grip on Zhou Jun's hand. "Try it. And I will have Jiang Hai break your hand."
"Haaa.."
Zhou Jun let out a heavy sigh. "Okay. Fine." Zhou Jun arranged his steps out of the classroom followed by Jiang Hai and Mu Zhe.
Mu Zhe's steps stopped right in front of Shen Wei. He look at Shen Wei's face. Smile. And, he gave him his middle finger before returning to arrange his steps to follow Zhou Jun and Jiang Hai.
Shen Wei froze. His heart seemed to stop when he saw Mu Zhe's smile. It was too sweet to ignore. And he forgot about Mu Zhe's middle finger.
"You..."
All his followers looked at Shen Wei's face. In puzzled.
"I think... I'm in love."
He said.
"Ha!?"
All his followers were shocked. Yan Jie, one of his loyal followers, placed his palm on Shen Wei's forehead.
"Do you have a fever?"
He ask. Shen Wei nodded.
"I... I'm in love. What should I do?"
He asked while looking at Yan Jie's face in confusion.
Yan Jie froze for a moment before he slapping Shen Wei's forehead.
"Just go die. You're getting on my nerves."
He said as he returned to his seat.
***
In the discipline room, a woman was already waiting for Zhou Jun, Jiang Hai, and Mu Zhe to arrive. Her lips and nails were as red as chili. Her pearl necklace was as big as marbles. It was truly luxurious.
"The three of you are Zhang Yiran's friends, right?"
She ask straight to the point. The three of them nodded like a woodpeckers. Still clueless.
"Do you know where he went?"
The three of them quickly shook their heads. Suddenly, they felt that there was danger waiting. The woman's gaze was not just a curious gaze, but a judgmental gaze.
"How could you don't know? The three of you claim to be his friends, yet...don't know anything about him? Or..."
The woman looked at the three of them one by one from top to bottom.
"Are you just using him as an ATM machine?"
They raised their faces. Angrily and full of disappointment.
"Excuse me. May I know who you are?"
Mu Zhe asked. His patience was at an end of the cliff.
"I'm Li Yue. Zhang Yiran's mother."
The woman introduced herself. Arrogantly. Her expression looked so proud. Not because of she was Zhang Yiran's mother, but for her wealth.
"Are you sure?"
Mu Zhe asked again. Hearing the question made Li Yue's face change its color.
"You...!"
"What? Am I wrong? Your temperament is not worthy of being his mother."
Mu Zhe still wasn't finished. Even his friends tried to stop him, he still stand firm to fight back. He hated such an arrogant people. Those who considered themselves like gods above everything just because they have moneys.
Mu Zhe's courage brought revenge to Li Yue's heart. "I will make you regret saying such words." Li Yue clenched her fist tightly.
"Madam. I think you should call the police if it's true that Zhang Yiran has been missing for a week."
Ma Yuan said after a long silence. Li Yue looked at Ma Yuan. "Tch...another piece of trash." Li Yue's lips curled in disgust.
"Ah...Ms. Zhang. Don't worry. If there is any news about Zhang Yiran, we will contact you immediately."
The principal said, rushing to calm the tense atmosphere that awaiting for war.
Li Yue looked at Mu Zhe's face.
"Make sure they don't harm my child. You know what you need to do, right?"
Li Yue said. The principal nodded quickly and led Li Yue out. If she was left there for too long, war might actually break out.
"Tch! It's not like she could buy a galaxy with all that money to act like that."
Mu Zhe snorted harshly as he slammed his butt on the chair. Ma Yuan let out a heavy sigh as he slumped on his seat.
"Do you all know where Zhang Yiran went?"
Ma Yuan asked. The students' faces were stared at one by one. They shook their heads simultaneously.
***
"Yiran..."
Zhang Zhiqi called softly. Silence. Zhang Yiran just stare the food on the table with an empty gaze.
"I'll asked Uncle Bo Ya to cook a new meal for you. This one is already cold."
Zhang Zhiqi picked up the cold dish on the table. Tears spilled as he walked into the kitchen. He placed the food on the kitchen table.
"Still not eating?"
Bo Ya asked. Zhang Zhiqi nodded. Bo Ya hugged Zhang Zhiqi after seeing the man's tears.
"Everything will be fine. I will do anything to help you."
Zhang Zhiqi shook his head quickly. He didn't want anything to happen to Bo Ya like what happened to his beloved wife.
"You by my side was enough."
Zhang Zhiqi said. Bo Ya nodded. "I will always be by your side even if you don't ask me to. Till the end of my life."
"Let's me cook something light for him. This time let me the one who serves him."
Bo Ya said as he open the fridge. Zhang Zhiqi nodded.
"I promise. He will eat this time."
Bo Ya said softly as he smiled.
"Thank you. I don't know what I gonna do without you."
Zhang Zhiqi said.
"It's was my duty. Not a big deal."
Bo Ya answered. For some reason, Zhang Zhiqi heart ached after hearing those words. "Who do you think you are? A tool? A robot? Or a shield?" Zhang Zhiqi walk slowly towards Bo Ya who was busy cooking porridge.
"Don't talk like that."
Zhang Zhiqi hug Bo Ya from behind. Bo Ya flinched a little and pause there. Too stiff to move.
"I don't like its."
Zhang Zhiqi continues. He rest his chin on Bo Ya shoulder.
"I want you to stay by my side as a partner, my in-law not a bodyguard."
Zhang Zhiqi said. Bo Ya stay still. Don't know how to respond. "Don't be stupid Bo Ya. You are forever in-law for him. Stop dreaming." Bo Ya bite his lip.
"You're on my way. Steps aside."
Bo Ya answer in the end.
"Promise me first."
"Okay. I promise. Now go. Your son will be starving if you keep bothering me."
Zhang Zhiqi unwrapped his hand from Bo Ya slim wrist. Staring at Bo Ya's face. He still feels unsatisfied. He knew that Bo Ya didn't take his words seriously.
"Okay."
He said after a long pause. "There's was a lots of times to convince him."