All eyes turned to the food spread across the table. Breakfast looked different than usual. They glanced at one another. What had happened? Why did today's meal feel like a day of mourning?
They looked at Ru Yi — his face still flushed with embarrassment — then back at each other. What on earth went on?
"Stop staring. I cooked today,"
Mu Zhe said, pouting. He was annoyed his effort wasn't appreciated.
Hearing those words from Mu Zhe's pouting lips, everyone quickly grabbed their spoons and forks — and lifted eggs that had turned black as charcoal.
Seeing their pained faces, Ru Yi stayed quiet. It was all Fantuan's fault — he'd had no time to prepare properly. And ordering food from outside was impossible; getting off this island took hours. Bo Ya would never allow company vehicles to be used for something like that.
To make up for lost time, Ru Yi asked Mu Zhe, Jiang Hai, and Zhou Jun to help in the kitchen. But who would have guessed Mu Zhe would be nothing but trouble? He made such a mess Ru Yi couldn't cook a single dish properly. He could only focus on Mu Zhe flustered and rushing about — if he turned away for even a second, they'd be eating eggs with their shells still in them.
"This is all your fault!" Ru Yi glared at Fantuan, who ate his premium food without a hint of guilt. Every so often he glared sharply back at Ru Yi — as if they shared some deep, bitter grudge.
"It's delicious."
All heads turned to Lulu. He ate as if served a feast from heaven.
"Thank you,"
Mu Zhe replied, grinning wide, proud as could be. The others managed only small, polite smiles.
"Next week I'll help cook. Mu Zhe — you watch Fantuan in the room."
Everyone chuckled. They knew Lulu struggled through Mu Zhe's cooking too.
"Okay,"
Mu Zhe answered.
"Where's Ma Yuan?"
Ru Yi asked.
All eyes turned to Zhou Jun — his face was bright pink. They were busy last night… They exchanged looks. Some smiled knowingly. Some rolled their eyes.
"Why do I smell something burning?"
Heads turned. Ma Yuan walked in. He looked tired — yet glowing. Zhou Jun stood at once, pulled out the empty chair beside him.
"Want to know? Ask that chubby one,"
Ru Yi pointed at Fantuan, still eating calmly. His morning had been ruined, and Fantuan looked at him like an enemy.
"Fantuan? What did he do?"
Ma Yuan asked.
All eyes went to Ru Yi. His face turned red.
"He snuck into the kitchen. We don't know what he was looking for,"
Jiang Hai answered — keeping their secret. Ru Yi nodded fast.
"Maybe he was trying to protect something,"
Ma Yuan said softly.
"I had a cat once,"
He added before anyone could ask.
"Ohhhh…"
They said together.
"Why have I never seen him?"
Zhou Jun asked, gently rubbing Ma Yuan's back. Ma Yuan looked relaxed — the furrow between his brows finally smoothed away.
"He stayed with my father. His name was Baobao. A munchkin."
"Do you want to see him?"
Zhou Jun asked. Ma Yuan shook his head.
"He doesn't belong to me anymore. Besides…"
He looked at Fantuan, who had finished eating and was busy grooming — guarding his space like it was his family's treasure.
"Fantuan already gives me enough headaches,"
He said, smiling. He no longer feared thinking of home, or of Baobao who now belonged to his uncle.
Everyone nodded — who hadn't had their lives turned upside down by Fantuan?
Flashback — Fantuan and the Frog
"Papa! Bo Ya! We're home!"
Zhang Yiran and Lulu walked in, followed by Ah Fei and Mu Zhe. That night they gathered as a family — once a month, to make up for fifteen years lost. They talked of now and ahead; no one spoke of the painful past.
After dinner, they packed food to share with everyone back at the dorm. Zhang Yiran put on his shoe — something was inside. He pulled it off — and…
BOING!
A frog hopped out.
"KYAAAA!!!"
Chaos. Zhang Yiran fell back. Mu Zhe jumped onto Lulu. Ah Fei pressed himself against the wall.
"What happened?!"
Zhang Zhiqi ran in, Bo Ya right behind.
The frog landed — right on Bo Ya's foot. Cold and slippery.
"KYAAAA!!!"
It leaped to the wall — right beside Ah Fei.
"KYAAAA!!!"
Ah Fei clung to Zhang Yiran. The frog dropped to the floor — stunned, barely alive.
"WHO BROUGHT A FROG INTO THIS HOUSE?!"
Bo Ya shouted.
In the middle of the noise, Fantuan strolled in — calm as ever. He nudged the frog, checked it… then gently tucked it back into Zhang Yiran's shoe. As if it were his special box.
"Don't you dare come near me…"
Zhang Yiran backed away.
Fantuan glared — and pushed the shoe closer.
"FANTUAAAAAN!!!"
Back to the present.
Zhang Yiran, Mu Zhe, Lulu, and Ah Fei all sighed heavily as they thought about it.
"Maybe we should get a dog too — to keep Fantuan in line,"
Zhang Yiran said.
Fantuan stopped grooming himself. His ears pricked straight up. He sensed danger. His eyes glared sharply right at Zhang Yiran.
"Next week we're going back to school,"
Ma Yuan said.
"Do you all have time to look after him?"
Silence. He was right. Zhang Yiran looked at Ah Fei. Ah Fei shook his head. He could barely take care of himself — how would he manage a puppy too? He wasn't like Mu Zhe. Or like Lulu. His path in life had always been so different.