Lulu walked into the large but simple living room followed by Ah Fei, Mu Zhe, Jiang Hai and Zhou Jun.
Out of nowhere, the five of them were kidnapped and taken to the house.
"Lulu.."
Ah Fei whispered. Lulu's hands were tightly clasped. Cold sweat was already soaking his entire body. His face was pale and bloodless.
"We weren't kidnapped, were we?"
He whispered again. Lulu shook his head as his eyes continued to observe the surroundings. Clean and tidy. There were no signs of a criminal's house. Lulu was sure that the five of them would be safe.
"Sorry. I had to drag you all here."
The man said while staring at Lulu's face. As if he knew him.
"What do you want from us?"
Mu Zhe asked as move forward and stood in front of Lulu and Ah Fei. Ready to be a shield if something unexpected happened. The same with Zhou Jun and Jiang Hai. The man just smiled.
"To persuade someone."
He said while gesturing for them to follow him.
Lulu pulled Mu Zhe to take cover behind him and he walked alongside Jiang Hai and Zhou Jun.
Mu Zhe was stunned by Lulu's actions. But he just complied. Following Lulu's every step. Hiding behind Lulu's tall body. Slowly Mu Zhe's lips curled into a smile.
Mu Zhe looked down at Lulu's hand. His heart fluttered to clasp that sturdy hand. Slowly he tried to close his hand.
"Yiran. Someone wants to see you."
Mu Zhe quickly pulled his hand back. Trying to peek ahead behind Lulu's tall figure.
"Zhang Yiran!"
Jiang Hai quickly ran to Zhang Yiran who looked lifeless on the bed.
"Huh?!"
Mu Zhe inserted his face between Lulu and Ah Fei to peek at what was happening ahead. Ah Fei had to move a little to give his senior room to step forward.
"Zhang Yiran!"
Mu Zhe shouted as he ran and jumped onto the bed and hugged his missing friend.
"Why do you look so bad? Did you eat well? They didn't beat you, right?"
Mu Zhe asked as he examined every inch of Zhang Yiran's body.
"Hey, you old man!"
Mu Zhe shouted as he pointed at Bo Ya. "Old man?" Bo Ya froze. He didn't expect his little boss's friend to be as fearless as Mu Zhe.
"What have you done to our Zhang Yiran huh?"
He asked again. His face was made as ferocious as possible. But not in the eyes of the other. Bo Ya smiled. "Like a cat. Prftt."
Lulu quickly averted his gaze. His smile was tightly closed. "Arghhh... I can't take it anymore...!" Lulu's heart was screaming. He couldn't hold it in anymore. It felt like he wanted to swallow Mu Zhe at that moment.
Ah Fei covered his face with his hands. He was also impressed. He tried to swallow back his laughter. Mu Zhe's ferocious face too hard to ignore. Cute yet funny.
Jiang Hai and Zhou Jun were not impressed at all. They both made fierce faces. The scene looked like a picture of two huskies with a munchkin trying to protecting their territory.
"What are you laughing for, old man!?"
Mu Zhe said ferociously.
"Prfttt..."
The small laugh made Mu Zhe fall silent. He quickly turned around. It was Zhang Yiran. His body was shaking from laughing. The blanket was covering his entire face.
"Zhang Yiran? Are you okay?"
Mu Zhe focused back on Zhang Yiran. He looked every inch of his friend body. He was afraid that Zhang Yiran had lost his mind because of the torture he had to endure.
Zhang Yiran raised his hand and signaled "I'm okay" to Mu Zhe.
"I'm really okay."
He said. Still laughing.
"Eh! I'm serious here. Why are you laughing? What so funny?"
Mu Zhe ask angrily as he slapped Zhang Yiran's hand.
"Ah!"
Zhang Yiran pulled the blanket down from his face. His pale face had turned red from holding back his laughter. Mu Zhe's face at that moment felt so funny. He had never seen that reaction. While stroking his hand that hurt from the slap he said,
"Thank you for worrying about me. I'm fine. That's Bo Ya, my uncle."
Zhang Yiran introduced Bo Ya to the others before their imaginations got wilder and wilder. Expecially Mu Zhe.
"Huh!? Your uncle?"
Mu Zhe asked. Zhang Yiran nodded.
"Ohhh... Like that... but... but why did he kidnapping us?"
Mu Zhe asked again. Really not satisfied with what just happening.
"Sorry. I had to do that."
Bo said said.
"Had to do that You said...?"
Before Mu Zhe could finish his words, Lulu came to cover his mouth.
"Ummm..."
Mu Zhe tried to pull Lulu's hand from his mouth while giving Lulu a death glare. His anger has not subsided. He feel like he was being played. Lulu signaling Mu Zhe to be calm.
"Huh!"
Mu Zhe looked away. Angrily. He start sulking.
Lulu looked at Zhang Yiran. His heart sank. His brother has lost his weight. Something serious must have happened.
"Have you eaten?"
Lulu asked softly. Zhang Yiran shook his head.
"Do you want me to cook?"
Lulu asked again. Zhang Yiran shook.
"Uncle Bo Ya has already cooked."
He replied.
"Let's eat. I'm hungry."
Lulu said as he pulling Zhang Yiran's hand. Zhang Yiran nodded. He smiling.
Bo Ya smiled. Zhang Yiran's anger finally subsided. It was not in vain that he dragged the five of them with him. And being nag by Mu Zhe.
With the help of Jiang Hai and Ah Fei, Zhang Yiran got up from his bed. His steps were unsteady. He was lucky because Ah Fei was never far from him to held him when he almost fell.
"Be careful."
Ah Fei said while leading Zhang Yiran to walk downstairs.
"Thank you."
Zhang Yiran whispered. Ah Fei just smiled. His heart Really hurt when he saw Zhang Yiran's condition. The senior who was always smart and smiling, was now weak and lifeless. In silence, Ah Fei's eyes began to glaze over.
"Let's eat."
Lulu whispered close to Mu Zhe's ear as he released Mu Zhe's mouth from his grip. Hoping that his beloved man's anger wouldn't last long.
Mu Zhe gave Lulu a sharp glare. Still sulking. Still sitting on the bed even though the others had long left the room.
"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. But..."
Lulu's words died there. He didn't know how to explain everything to Mu Zhe. He didn't want to burden Mu Zhe with his family problems. His family and Zhang Yiran's. Everything was too complicated for him to pull Mu Zhe into the mess.
"Okay."
Mu Zhe replied. Lulu's face was stared at deeply.
"Don't keep anything from me. Promise?"
Mu Zhe asked. Lulu went silent. "Eh? What did I say...? I'm nobody to Lulu. Arghh..." Mu Zhe only realized about their relationship after Lulu went silent. About the unrequited love he harbour for Lulu.
"Ah. Forget what I said earlier. Let's eat. They're waiting for us."
Mu Zhe said. He quickly got up from the bed and walked away.
"I promise!"
Lulu replied while grabbing Mu Zhe's hand. Mu Zhe went silent. Thump! Thump! Thump! His heart was beating like a Zhangu.
"After I understand what just happened..."
Lulu tightened his grip on Mu Zhe's hand.
"I'll tell you the whole story. I hope you can wait for me."
Lulu said. "Arghhh...!!!" Mu Zhe's face started to blush. "Is this your love confession?" Mu Zhe asked excitedly. But only dare to asking himself. He nodded. But he was too shy to turn and face Lulu.
"Thank you."
Lulu let go of Mu Zhe's hand. "Yes!"