Chapter Text
Lu Guang ran as fast as his little legs could take him. He didn’t dare to look back, fear consuming his body. He huffed and puffed, lungs burning, feeling so weak his vision blurred from tears and sweat that he genuinely thought he was going to pass out here in the middle of the road.
The white-haired boy kept running and running until he saw the meeting spot by the train tracks.
Once he reached the area, he collapsed on all fours, catching his breath. Sweat dripped down his face as he took deep breaths to calm himself down. Looking back, he saw no one had chased after him, which was a good sign.
Lu Guang crawled towards the metal locker, using it as support as he sat down. He looked at the crumbled photo in his hand, thankful he didn’t drop it during his escape.
The sky was dark, and the moon shone bright as ever. Lu Guang curled up against the locker, trying to seem as small as possible. His body still shook, not only from the run but from everything that had happened in his life. Never did he think he would be able to escape his adopted father’s grasp.
The boy knew it was very late, and Cheng Xiaoshi wouldn’t be coming until 17:30. Lu Guang really wished time would move on faster.
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Lu Guang spent most of the time curled up on the floor. He slept for most of the day, still trying to recover from what had happened. He would only get up and walk for a bit to stretch his legs, but he never strayed away from the sign ‘轨道上，别堆东西.’ (Don't pile things on the tracks)
Lu Guang smiled, remembering their first encounter: the black-haired boy stacking rocks on the track, which led to them throwing punches and nearly getting run over by the train.
From then on, their friendship bloomed. Xiaoshi always came by with snacks, which Lu Guang would devour.
He even brought photographs from home to play detective with Lu Guang’s powers, and later they discovered that Xiaoshi could enter photos.
The sun was starting to set. Lu Guang didn’t know the time; he'd been in such a hurry to leave that house that he hadn’t brought any of his belongings. But he knew that it was already past 17:30 based on how low the sun was getting.
He hoped his friend wouldn’t forget about him.
“Lu Guang!!!”
The white-haired boy whipped his head towards the sound. Cheng Xiaoshi was running towards him, with a basket in hand.
“I’m so sorry I'm late!” Xiaoshi huffed.
“I told my mama I was meeting you here again, and she wanted me to bring sandwiches and snacks so we can have a picnic! I even asked her to make you an extra one since you’re always hungry!”
Cheng Xiaoshi brought the basket up to his face, showing off a toothy grin.
Lu Guang smiled back. It was hard not to when Xiaoshi’s smile shined as bright as the sun.
.
They both sat on the platform, eating the sandwiches Xiaoshi’s mom had prepared. Lu Guang was already munching on his second one, sipping on some apple juice with a big bag of chips they both shared.
Cheng Xiaoshi talked away about many things: a new show he saw on TV, his trip to the zoo with his parents, and even how Qiao Ling won him a stuffed puppy from a claw machine.
Lu Guang listened as he talked and talked, not once interrupting; he even laughed at some of his jokes and expressions.
“Oh! I forgot to ask; did you bring the picture?”
The black-haired boy asked as he started putting all the trash in the basket.
“Mhm, got it right here.” Lu Guang pulled out the crumbled photo from his back pocket.
“Hehe, you look silly.” Cheng Xiaoshi chuckled.
“Hey!! It’s not my fault.” The white-haired boy huffed, snatching the photo back.
Xiaoshi chuckled, pulling him into a side hug.
“It’s getting a little late. If you want, we can start our secret mission tomorrow, so we have more time to plan out.”
“Alright, I’m okay with that.”
Cheng Xiaoshi got up to stretch his limbs. He reached for the basket and started heading home.
“Bye Lu Guang! I’ll see you tomorrow! I promise to come on time!”
Lu Guang saw he walked away. Realizing he had nowhere to go anymore. Never in a million years was he ever going back to his adopted father’s house now that he had escaped.
The words caught in his throat; he wanted to say something, but fear consumed him. Overthinking of all the possible outcomes.
He knew he had to say something before it was too late.
“Cheng Xiaoshi!!”
He ran towards his friend, yelling out his name. Xiaoshi whipped his head back at the sound of Lu Guang calling for him.
“Oh, what’s up? Did you forget something?”
“I was um… I wanted to ask if I can…”
Lu Guang was nervous, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
Cheng Xiaoshi waited patiently for him to finish.
“I have nowhere to go anymore…”
Lu Guang was quiet, almost like a whisper. He knew Cheng Xiaoshi wasn’t going to make fun of his homeless situation, but he was still scared.
“I wanted to ask if I can come with you if it's not too much of an issue…”
Xiaoshi beamed.
“We can have a sleepover! I’m sure my mama won’t be mad; she has been wanting to meet you!”
The hyper boy hooked his arm around Lu Guang and marched toward his house, talking all the way.
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“Mama! I’m home! And I brought Lu Guang too!”
Lu Guang stood by the door, feeling a bit uncomfortable barging into an unknown house.
A tall lady with long brown hair walked up towards the boys. Her arms stretched out as Cheng Xiaoshi jumped into her for a hug.
“Welcome home bǎobèi. I see you brought company, hmm.”
“Yep!! That’s Lu Guang, the friend I’ve been meeting.”
“You’re welcome to come in, Lu Guang. Do you want a warm cup of milk?”
The timid boy nodded, shuffling his way in until Xiaoshi grabbed his arm, dragging him to the sunroom.
“You stay here; I’m going to help Mama in the kitchen.”
Lu Guang sat on the couch, his heart already feeling warm and fuzzy from the caring family.
.
Cheng Xiaoshi was helping his mama plate the cookies for the 3 of them.
“Mama, when is Bàba coming home again? I want him to meet Lu Guang too.”
“He just left for his work trip, bǎobèi; it might take a little. We can call him tomorrow morning if you like.”
The little boy nodded with a bright smile.
“Oh, and is it okay if Lu Guang can stay here?”
The woman turned towards his son.
“What about his parents? We don’t want them to worry.”
“He said he doesn’t have anywhere to go anymore and...”
Cheng Xiaoshi hesitated about mentioning Lu Guang’s adopted father. He didn’t know if that was something Lu Guang wanted to mention himself.
“And?”
His mama questioned, crouching down to her son’s level. She gently swiped the hair covering Xiaoshi's face and tucked it behind his ear.
“His Bàba is really mean to him…” It was said in a small whisper, but enough for her to hear.
“Alright, let’s bring these milk and cookies out, and we can talk about it.”
Giving her son the tray of cookies, which he carefully grabbed as to not drop them on the floor, while she took the 2 cups of warm milk and a tea for herself.
Xiaoshi placed the tray on the table and quickly plopped down next to the boy.
She placed her own tea down and went to hand them their milk.
“Thank you, mama!”
“Thank you, miss…”
“Oh, silly me, I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Shao Yuanyuan. But you can call me whatever makes you comfortable, sweety.”
Lu Guang nodded, smiling.
Shao Yuanyuan sat on her own chair, observing the boy.
She saw how her Xiaoshi would talk and talk while Lu Guang would just listen. She saw how fast the boy would eat, almost as if he feared the food would run away. She noticed how skinny and small he was; old yellow bruises covered his arms and face.
Looks like she underestimated what Xiaoshi meant by ‘mean’.
Once the boys finished their milk and cookies, Shao Yuanyuan figured it was a good time to ask for answers.
“Lu Guang, is it true you have nowhere to go anymore? Do you not feel safe?”
The timid boy looked down and slowly nodded.
“Well then, you are welcome to stay here. But we do have to contact the police later.”
“But why mama?! Do they really have to know? Can’t he just stay and that's it?”
Xiaoshi exclaimed, fearing that the police might take Lu Guang away.
“Oh bǎobèi, that’s not how the law works. We can get in trouble. But don’t you worry, I will try my very best, so Lu Guang can stay with us.”
Xiaoshi looked at his mama with teary eyes, almost puppy-like.
“Well then, for tonight, looks like we are going to have to clean up the top bunk for your friend. How about you get started on that?”
The boy nodded, quick to rub his eyes with his arm.
“Co’mon Guang Guang, let’s fix your bed.”
“Guang Guang?” But before the white-haired boy was able to receive an answer, he was already being dragged upstairs.
Shao Yuanyuan watched them disappear upstairs; their laughter faded.
She knew this whole situation was ideal, but it wasn’t like her to leave a poor kid defenseless out in the street or in the grasp of an abusive family.
She’ll figure something out; she was sure of it.