Yu Yelan nestled on the old sofa, staring blankly since Yue Xiyi left. The events of the past week replayed in her mind. She never expected things would turn out this way. Perhaps it was for the best – she never belonged there in the first place. But what would she do now?
Yu Yelan’s mind was blank. A girl not yet seventeen had experienced losing her father, being expelled from home, and becoming homeless. What could she do?
As night fell, the growling of her stomach pulled Yu Yelan out of her daze. Gritting her teeth, she stood up, deciding to survive tonight.
Surely, if so many others could survive, she wouldn’t starve on the streets!
Gathering strength for tomorrow’s wandering, Yu Yelan desperately ate everything in the refrigerator, filling her stomach before slowly making her way to the room Yue Xiyi had shown her.
Calling it a room was a stretch – it was more of a small storage room without even a ventilation window, smaller than her previous bathroom. But Yue Xiyi had carefully laid out clean cotton bedding, and Yu Yelan wrapped herself tightly in the blanket.
The thunderous sounds outside were muffled but still terrifying to her ears. Yu Yelan hugged herself tightly, layers of fear and loneliness enveloping her. “Dad… Dad, I miss you. I promised not to cry. Little Blue is strong, but… Dad, I’m so scared… Why did you leave me!”
Low, suppressed sobs gradually grew into wailing.
From her father’s death two months ago, to being kicked out of the Yu family, to encountering the terrifying vagrant, Yu Yelan had remained strong, because her father loved to see her smile. If she cried, he would be unhappy. But on this thunderous night, in this sheltered room, Yu Yelan could no longer hold back.
Her father didn’t know she wasn’t strong at all.
Tears swirled in her eyes without falling. She didn’t know when she fell asleep or if the room’s owner had returned.
Yue Xiyi returned from his night job, stopping midway up the stairs.
After hesitating, he dragged his tired body downstairs, mocking his own nervousness. She had left, probably gone home. How could she be here again?
Sure enough – the familiar clothes, curled up like a shrimp – it was the girl who had left that morning!
