Chapter 21 Return Journey_2

That belonged to the alien, grotesque, and terrifying, teeming with greedy bites and devouring.

As the bug's shadow disappeared, the breathing of the girl in his arms gradually became steady. The strange "creature" seemed very satisfied with its feeding, like a great fish that surfaced and then flicked its tail, leaving large wet patches on the ceiling before dissipating into the air.

Yan Mingjun lay twitching on the ground for a while before coming to a complete stop.

*

"Xing Jie...?"

Xu Xiangyang crouched there rigidly and took a while to regain his composure. He asked softly, with a hint of concern.

"I'm okay."

Lin Xingjie got up from where she stood with his support on her shoulder.

After taking a deep breath, the black-haired girl's pupils regained their clarity. She brushed her bangs aside with her hand, tidied up her fringe, and showed herself a relaxed expression.

"Sorry for worrying you."

"Should we go to the hospital to have a look?"

"No need. I just... well, I'm a bit anemic. It's an old problem, I'll be fine after resting a bit."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiangyang couldn't help but frown.

Clearly, this was just an excuse. That morning, Lin Xingjie had tried to brush things off in the same manner; and now, she wasn't telling the truth again.

"I'm your friend, right?" he said seriously, "I can be indifferent about other things, but now...you're exhausted, it's not the time to hide the truth."

Faced with Xu Xiangyang's questioning, Lin Xingjie blinked and then burst into laughter with a "pfft."

"Why do you have to put on such a serious face? It doesn't suit you."

Xu Xiangyang only maintained his aggressive demeanor for a moment before he could no longer keep a straight face.

"...I'm asking you seriously now, Lin Xingjie."

He sighed.

"I'm really worried. I know I might not be able to help with some things because I don't have the abilities you do. The difficulties you face might only be something you can deal with, but as a friend, I still hope you can tell me the truth, even if just as a way to vent your stress..."

Lin Xingjie always felt that her friend sometimes seemed unlike a high school student. Just like now, she never thought she would hear words like these from someone else's mouth.

"Yeah, I know."

This time, the girl's response was very straightforward. Her tone was softer than ever. Her pupils, like polished obsidian, quietly watched Xu Xiangyang's face.

"I will tell you. It's just... not the right place to talk here."

As she spoke, the sound of a siren came from not far away. Xu Xiangyang looked up and realized that the ambulance had arrived.

Medical personnel in white coats hurried over with a stretcher. The crowd parted to make way, and the unconscious thug foaming at the mouth was lifted onto the stretcher.

"That bug eaten by Xiao An must be related to that house... But now, surely there are no clues left."

Xu Xiangyang thought to himself while looking around. He noticed that onlookers who had gathered for the commotion were gradually dispersing. He glanced at his watch, realizing that the two of them had stayed in that spot for too long.

"Okay."

Lin Xingjie grabbed Xu Xiangyang's arm, and he supported her, limp as she was, as the two of them left the overpass shoulder to shoulder.

*

By the time the sky was adorned with dazzling clouds, they had finally returned to the familiar alley.

The school was at one end, and the shopping street at the other, so they first arrived at Xu Xiangyang's doorstep.

"Xiangyang?"

"..."

"Xu Xiangyang?"

"Uh... Ah?"

Xu Xiangyang looked like he had just come back to his senses, his expression slightly embarrassed.

The reason was naturally the intimate posture the two had shared while clinging to each other.

At first, his mind was a mess and he didn't pay attention to this; but as time passed, he couldn't help but feel self-conscious.

A warm, soft body with a faint fragrance coming from the ink-black hair, the girl by his side, just an arm's length away, had a different kind of fragile beauty from her usual lively and approachable demeanor, which involuntarily made one want to protect her, to hold her close.

Because he had been supporting Lin Xingjie as they walked along, even through the fabric of her clothing, he could feel the softness and warmth of her abdomen, and by the time they arrived here, Xu Xiangyang even harbored a reluctance to let go.

While his good friend was in her weakest state, he was taking advantage of her… Xu Xiangyang inwardly cursed himself as a lowlife, yet the hand placed on her side did not voluntarily let go.

"I really don't want to be held by you anymore."

"What, what?!"

Xu Xiangyang was startled and thought he might have inadvertently spoken his thoughts aloud.

But Lin Xingjie didn't look toward him. Standing straight, she sniffed at the collar of her clothes, and, feeling embarrassed, she apologized softly to him.

"I broke out in a cold sweat just now, it must, it must… smell, right? You don't have to hold me, I'm fine now."

I smelled only a pleasant fragrance, Xu Xiangyang thought. Of course, such words couldn't be spoken aloud, so he could only silently let go of her.

"Thank you…"

"Don't mention it. Do you want me to stay with you…"

"No, no need! Goodbye."

For some reason, the girl seemed somewhat panicked. After bidding him farewell, she walked toward the depths of the alley on her own, quickening her pace until she disappeared from view.

Xu Xiangyang watched her receding figure, his brow slightly furrowed, feeling that she was hiding something from him.

But for today, he thought, let her rest well. We can talk tomorrow.

He shook his head and walked towards his own house.

...

Having walked only a few steps, Lin Xingjie began to pant and had to slow down.

The girl tried to recall the journey home. Being worried about and cared for felt really good. She couldn't help but smile.

As dusk approached, the light coming through the corridor's skylight gently fell, casting a faint golden haze over the dirty tiled walls.

On both sides of the road, low murmurs of people resonated.

The girl saw two middle-aged women standing at the doorway gossiping. She had encountered them before leaving the house—they were neighbors living next door. Now, they were staring at her with a peculiar, distasteful gaze.

"Bang."

The two women went back inside their homes and shut the doors.

The young girl, with her smile fading bit by bit until her face was expressionless, walked through the deserted alley.

Approaching her door, the faint, odd noises became clear all at once, entering her ears, mingling with the sounds of a woman's yells and a man's heavy breathing.

She stood in front of the door, not knocking, but looking up at the skylight above the door.

The afterglow of the setting sun seemed blurred as if seen through layers of rippling water, and it was still painfully bright.

Lin Xingjie blinked, feeling a sour discomfort around her eyes.

Fortunately… fortunately, Xu Xiangyang didn't follow.

She was well aware that hiding such things was pointless and couldn't be kept secret from others, but instinctively, she didn't want her friends to know.

To know about her mother and family, to be aware of the desolate and powerless life she was leading.

Lin Xingjie sighed softly, slowly taking out her keys from her pocket and inserting them into the keyhole.

It was then that she heard hurried footsteps approaching—

*

Just as Xu Xiangyang was about to reach his front door, he suddenly felt that something in his hand was amiss. Looking inside the plastic bag, along with a few rented DVDs, he discovered a pink pencil case embroidered with little pig designs.

This belonged to Lin Xingjie, something she had purchased that he had forgotten to return to her when they got home.

He needed to take it to her quickly.

...

Xu Xiangyang broke into a run, spotting the still, black-haired girl from afar.

Without a second thought, he ran towards her, until Lin Xingjie, like a startled little animal, turned her head sharply, her large, long-lashed, dark and damp eyes revealing a panic he had never seen before.