Hello, everyone. It has been a very long time since I continued writing this story. Suddenly, I got an inspiration so I wrote this chapter. Thanks for reading if you are here. Let's stay safe, everyone.
Chapter 71
What if Chong Ming has been kidnapped?
I must be insane for coming up with this hypothesis. However, there is this tiny chance that my best buddy had been kidnapped.
This sounds embarrassing, but we have not lost touch for this long. We have been inseparable… Until now.
I was biting my lips. I should try to give him call to check whether he's okay. So many things have happened, and I don't even know where I have kept my phone. Or did I leave it in my room? I smacked my own forehead and sighed. I'm so useless.
I slowly breathed in to calm myself down. If I can't do things on my own, I should ask for some help.
I sprang up from the toilet seat and rushed out to look for someone that I wished I wouldn't have to meet. I had no choice. None at all.
I walked down the old wooden staircase, looking for Zheng's room on the ground floor. He should be inside his room… I think.
"Money, can you just stop worrying about her?"
Much to my delight, Zheng's voice sounded from his room. I happily followed his deep voice to his room.
Before I could knock on his room door, I was stopped by his next sentence.
"If you're so damn worried about her, why don't you come here and get her? Come on! You're the one who kicked her out from your house!"
My hand stopped short from touching his room door. My heart was pounding hard.
I was not sure why I could not move. I had almost forgotten that I was already disowned by my mother, the person who gave birth to me. I knew that I was the one who left home, but suddenly… I felt unwanted.
"Well, I don't mind," Zheng's mocking voice continued to make me feel worse, "She can stay her as long as she likes. Who knows? I'll make her my personal slave."
Feeling disgusted, I turned and was prepared to leave the house. Then, I noticed that a figure was already standing behind me.
"Don't you take that kid seriously," The bald man gave me an assuring smile, "I know my boy. He likes to act tough, but his heart is soft like a rabbit's."
I was speechless at first. I was bewildered to hear that Zheng was like a rabbit. He was more like a snake to me.
"Did anyone mention that you look exactly like your dad?" Mr. Chen's question crashed into my thoughts.
"Yeah, many times," I shrugged my shoulders, "Especially after his funeral, some people said that I could be a reincarnation of my dad."
When I reflected over what I had said, I just realised that something had slipped off my mind. I froze.
Isn't Wen Zi- or dad's soul in Wen Zi's body- is still in XXX University?
"It's a shame," Mr. Chen sighed, "Sometimes I still that he's alive-"
"Sir, my father's still alive! Do you want to see him?"
The bald policeman looked at me like I was mad. I gulped. I knew that I wasn't talking sense, but it wouldn't hurt to try to get a free ride.
O O O
As soon as the cop car reached the university, I wasted no time to climb up the staircase and made my way towards elevator. Mr. Chen followed me behind as though he was a boy rushing to see a rare animal in a zoo. He was unbelievably fast and fit for his age.
Unfortunately, Zheng came with us, but he said nothing. Unlike his father, Zheng's face was dark and gloomy. I could see that someone was not really delighted to see Wen Zi.
It was already night-time, but luckily, the robot guard allowed us to enter the campus. The metallic guard in blue called the school infirmary. Thank God, Dr. Lang was still there and pressed us to meet him quickly. The ceiling lights at the corridor were still as bright as the sun, as though the doctor was already expecting us. That, or I could have watched too many movies that I simply had a wild imagination.
I thought that we were the first ones who reached the clinic. There was already someone there.
A familiar-looking lady was sitting on a plastic chair just outside the clinic door.
She was just staring idly at the blank space on the floor. When she noticed us, she lifted her beautiful face to stare at us. Her wet emerald eyes were shimmering under the dazzling lights. Even though she was in tears and her face was pale, she still looked pretty like a helpless porcelain doll.
I almost forgot that Wen Zi had a gorgeous fiancée in real life.
"What are you looking at? Haven't seen a pretty girl crying before?"
Xiang Ai yelled at us and quickly wiped her tears away, smearing further the mascara over her swollen eyes. Even though she sounded cold, I could not help but to feel sorry for her.
"Hey!" Mr. Chen pointed at her like a good cop, "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at home at this hour?"
"I'm not going home without him! But-" Xiang Ai continued crying, "I don't even know if that's him anymore!"
Wen Zi's fiancée covered her eyes with her hands, supposedly trying to stop her tears from flowing out. If I had a handkerchief, I would have offered it to her. I can't say that I liked her, but I hated to her seeing her cry her eyes out. She reminded me of the time that I used to weep, as if it was the end of the world.
It's never the end of the world. I keep telling myself that.
I would not want to see anyone this sad. Perhaps truth hurts at first, but time heals everything.
"Xiang Ai, to tell you the truth," I breathed in to build my courage, "That's not Wen Zi. Wen Zi is in-"
"He's dead."
Out of nowhere, Zheng's voice cut off my confession. I stared at him.
"Zheng! You know that Wen Zi's not'-"
Zheng winked at me. He was plotting something. I quickly bit my tongue. I was hoping that his plan was something good.
"He's already dead," Zheng spoke, as if just stating a fact, "Why don't you just give up?"
"Do you think I'm stupid? I saw you winking at her!" Xiang Ai pointed his finger at me.
I smacked at my forehead. Zheng's stupid plan didn't work.
"Wen Zi's mine, and mine alone!" Xiang Ai declared aloud, "I swear, you're not going to have him!"
The pretty lady grabbed her golden purse from her seat and walked away decisively, never looking back at us. Her long floral dress was flowing with her she was walking dangerously in her chilli red high heels.
"At least we got rid of that idiot," Zheng muttered, almost tiredly.
"I think I saw her somewhere," Mr. Chen asked, "Boy boy, where did I see her before?"
"I played her songs before. She has her own music channel," Zheng replied.
I could not help but to smirk, "You're a fan?"
His face went pink. "Just her voice."
"Hurray! That lunatic's gone! It's about time for supper!" Wen Zi's voice boomed out from the direction of the clinic.
He held his arms out as if thanking the heavens, "Finally, I can get my pizzas!"
Wen Zi- or my dad- bounced out through the door like a hyperactive boy. He was wearing a blue gown as though he was just admitted in a hospital. The whole situation looked rather embarrassing.
"Please," The doctor looked exhausted, "Take only vegetarian."
My dad waved his finger, "No no no! I am a meat-arian! I eat meat only!"
"Your body is not accustomed to carnivore diet. You will feel sick again."
"No, I don't want to! I'm not going to listen to you! I rather die eating meat than eating those horrible green stuff!"
"Dad!" I greeted, in an effort to attract his intention.
My dad- or Wen Zi- looked at me with his widened eyes, "Hamster? What are you doing here? You and-"
He scrunched his handsome face at Mr. Chen, "Why do I feel like I saw you somewhere on earth before?"
"Ah-Yang!" Mr. Chen beamed with excitement, "How can you forget your old friend? Peng you (friend), It's me!"
"Ah, I know you! It's been a long time, Ah-Tut! Let me give you a big hug!"
I stared awkwardly at the two men, who spread their arms out and rushed to hug each other. How can Mr. Chen comfortably accept the fact that his old friend looks different now?
"Hello, Student Yang," Doctor Lang's voice broke my reverie, "Student Chen."
"Oh hi, Doc! Thanks for taking care of my dad-" I almost blurted out a secret, "Erm, Mr. Bai just now."
"Don't mention it," He looked at my dad with an exasperated expression, "He refused to leave until that lady had left."
I sighed inwardly. My dad's pretty handful.
"There is something that I would like to ask you," The tall doctor turned to me, "Is that Mr. Bai?"
"Eh, how did you know?" I asked back.
"Didn't you just tell him?" Zheng scowled at me, "Bai zi (Idiot)."
"Hehe, it sounds pretty strange…" I was scratching my head out from embarrassment, "But yeah."
"My comrade saw Mr. Bai in Second Life," Doctor Lang's face looked serious, "He was fighting along side the NPCs in the Infinite City."
"Tch, you got to be kidding," Zheng retorted.
"Is he all right?" I immediately asked.
"They retreated," The doctor made a slight nod, "But we are planning to initiate a retaliation on the Northern continent."
Zheng chuckled, "Wen Zi will die. Prince's squad is a bloody strong team."
"No! He can't get himself involved in the war!" I turned to look at Zheng, "We got to stop him!"
"Wei! Are you all done talking like silly monkeys? I'm so famished!"
"Come, come! Let's have a pizza party! I will treat you kids!"
Ignoring the old men's loud holler, I clapped my hands together, as if begging for mercy.
"Doctor, if you see Wen Zi, please don't hurt him."
"What? You can't be freaking serious, Mei Mei!" Zheng objected, "They are in a war! You can't tell them not to fight!"
"He's going to disappear if he'll die!" I shouted back.
"I will avoid initiating a battle with him. However…"
The doctor shook his head and added, "I can't make a promise. I suggest that you convince Mr. Bai not to partake in the war."
I was dumbfounded at the brilliant idea. How am I going to use my persuasion skills to stop Wen Zi from fighting in the war? I turned to look at Zheng for answers.
"I don't know. Figure it yourself," Zheng yawned, "I'm going to eat. I'm so freaking hungry…"
My stupid classmate stretched his arms tiredly and sauntered towards our old men.
"Hamster, if you're not coming with us, we'll leave you behind!"
I was staring at Wen Zi's face. His face looked brighter and happier than the last time I saw him – the real him- in this world.
He was smiling from ear to ear, and his eyes almost disappeared into squints when he smiled. I thought that he looked very handsome. I had not seen him smiling like that.
Should I just leave it the way it is?
