Chapter Text
Summer was coming to an end, and as much as Cheng Xiaoshi wanted to keep his break going, he was excited to show Lu Guang around his school.
They went out to pick out school supplies and got everything ready for the new school year.
In the past, Cheng Xiaoshi didn’t really like going to school; he didn’t have an easy time talking with other kids and spent most of his lunchtime with Qiao Ling and her group. He usually tried not to follow her around like a lost pup, knowing that she also deserved some alone time with her friends.
This caused some name-calling from other kids, but now, with Lu Guang, he wouldn’t be so alone anymore.
Lu Guang was a bit nervous; the only education he'd ever had came from the orphanage and the few books he found lying around in the other house.
Cheng Xiaoshi assured him that everything would be fine.
“Don’t worry too much, Guang Guang. My mama talked with the school, and they’re going to put us in the same classroom! So you’ll have me around to guide you!”
Cheng Xiaoshi said with a cheeky grin.
That helped Lu Guang feel more at ease. He knew that going to a new school, where many kids had already formed their own groups and knew each other, would be hard for a new student like him, but with Cheng Xiaoshi by his side, he wasn’t worried.
They both packed their school bags, putting in their notebooks and pencils.
“Wait, I almost forgot!”
Cheng Xiaoshi shot up and rushed downstairs.
He didn’t take long to come back, carrying 2 keychains.
“Ling Ling won these for us at the claw machine.”
They were a small dog and cat plush keychains.
Xiaoshi put the dog one on Lu Guang’s bag while he kept the white cat.
“There! Now I have a little Kitty Guang on my bag!”
Cheng Xiaoshi smiled widely.
“Well, now I have a Xiaoshi Pup on mine”
Lu Guang said, feeling the soft fur of the keychain.
Smiling softly at the kind gesture.
“We should get ready for bed. Don’t want your mama yelling at us.”
“True, true. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.”
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It was very late at night, and Cheng Xiaoshi couldn’t seem to lie still. Sleep wouldn’t come to him. He tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position, but not even turning his pillow worked out for him.
He didn’t want to wake up Lu Guang with all his ruffling, so he got up and headed to his parents’ bedroom.
Tiptoeing across the hall, trying to avoid the creaky floorboards, he reached the other room. Light poured through the cracks in the door, so he knew his mama wasn’t asleep yet.
He knocked gently and waited, hearing the bed creak from the other side.
“Bǎobèi? What’s wrong? Why aren’t you in bed?”
Shao Yuanyuan opened the door wider to welcome Xiaoshi in.
“I couldn’t sleep, Mama, and I didn’t want to wake Lu Guang up. Can I stay here just until I fall asleep?”
“Of course, Bǎobèi, come here.”
Cheng Xiaoshi climbed up onto the bed, snuggling under the heavy blankets. He felt his mama's warmth as he finally dozed off.
Soft hands brushed through his hair, and a gentle voice sang a lullaby.
In times like these, he wished they would last forever. Xiaoshi felt his eyes grow heavy as he fell into a deep slumber.
.
Shao Yuanyuan continued brushing her fingers through Xiaoshi’s hair, feeling the soft strands slip through with ease.
Once she was sure Cheng Xiaoshi was asleep, she carefully got up and headed to her desk in the corner.
She pulled a photograph from the desk drawer, showing a capture from a surveillance camera.
It showed a blurry image of her husband, Chéng Wěimín.
She knew the reason why he went to Bridon.
Police say he fled from a murder case, but the only evidence they currently have is the blurry photo and the scene after the crime.
They both agreed not to tell Cheng Xiaoshi the reason why he was in Bridon, chalking it up as a work trip. He was too young to know such brutal information.
Shao Yuanyuan would do everything in her power to help her husband, no matter the cost.
___________________________________
“Have a great day!”
Shao Yuanyuan waved at both boys as they entered the school.
Cheng Xiaoshi held Lu Guang’s hand as he led the way, showing him the ins and outs of the school.
After a quick rundown, they met up with Qiao Ling.
“Hi, Ling Ling! I just finished showing Lu Guang around.”
“How do you like it so far, Lu Guang?”
Qiao Ling asked.
“It’s a big school, but it’s not too bad.”
The trio chatted a bit, roaming the halls when the bell chimed.
“We've got to head out for the opening ceremony; let’s get going.”
Qiao Ling grabbed Xiaoshi’s hand, and Xiaoshi held onto Lu Guang’s even tighter.
Together they strolled across the school, heading to the courtyard. A big crowd of students and teachers filled the yard as the trio sat down.
A few of Qiao Ling’s friends sat next to them, exchanging conversation about their summer.
Lu Guang grew a bit anxious; he was never fond of big, crowded areas. He feared that letting go of Cheng Xiaoshi would result in him getting lost. Xiaoshi noticed the tension in his grip and leaned closer.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered, “I’ve got you.”
Lu Guang nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly as the principal stepped onto the stage. The microphone crackled, and the ceremony began with welcoming speeches and the flutter of banners in the breeze.
As the anthem played, Cheng Xiaoshi glanced at Lu Guang, who quietly took in the scene: the sunlight filtering through the trees, the sea of uniforms, the faint echo of applause.
The crowd began to disperse, students heading toward their classrooms in clusters. Qiao Ling waved them forward, her laughter cutting through the noise. Xiaoshi tugged Lu Guang’s sleeve, and together they followed, their steps falling into rhythm.
Cheng Xiaoshi led him to their classroom and paused at the doorway.
“Here we are,” he said with a grin. “Home base.”
Inside, desks were arranged neatly, and a few students were already chatting. Qiao Ling waved from the back row. “Over here!”
Lu Guang hesitated for a moment before following Cheng Xiaoshi to the seats beside her. As he sat down, he realized the nervous flutter in his chest had eased. The chatter around him blended into a steady hum, comforting, almost rhythmic.
He glanced sideways; Cheng Xiaoshi was already laughing at something Qiao Ling said, his energy bright and effortless. Lu Guang found himself watching the way Xiaoshi’s hands moved as he talked, wild and energetic; a warm, fuzzy feeling grew in his chest.
The teacher entered, calling for attention, and the room settled. Sunlight spilled across the desks, catching dust motes that drifted lazily in the air. Lu Guang straightened, opened his notebook, and tried to focus on the words at the front of the room.
But his gaze kept drifting to Cheng Xiaoshi’s grin, to the warmth of the morning, to the quiet realization that maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be so hard after all.
___________________________________
Back at the studio, Shao Yuanyuan rummaged through the red room. Moving boxes and supplies covered a hidden safe, the faint scent of old film chemicals lingering in the air.
She had just received an important package from Cheng Weimin. In his letter, he asked her to keep it secure, no questions, no hesitation. The handwriting was hurried, the ink slightly smudged, as if written under pressure.
Inside the parcel was a register, its leather cover worn and edges frayed. The pages inside contained information that could reveal the truth about the Bahati Language School.
Cheng Weimin’s words echoed in her mind;
“If this register falls into the wrong hands, it will start a chain reaction that will be hell to fix.”
Yuanyuan swallowed hard, her fingers trembling slightly as she placed the register inside the safe. The metallic click of the lock sounded louder than it should have. She paused, listening; only the hum of the studio lights answered.
Once the register was secured, she began to reorganize the boxes, stacking them carefully to conceal the safe once more. When everything looked exactly as it had before, she stepped back and assessed her work.
Satisfied, she snapped a photo of the room, every box, every shadow, every detail frozen in time. It would come in handy if she ever needed to travel back to this exact moment.
As she turned off the lights, the red glow faded, leaving the room in silence.