Jonathan stepped along gaily, trailing behind his seniors, sticking close by Lulu's side — and Mu Zhe's heart sank heavy.
"Lulu… don't forget to wait for me at lunch break. I still don't know my way around yet. I'm scared I'll get lost."
Jonathan whined.
"Don't worry! Senior Jiang and I can show you around."
Ah Fei offered.
"But…"
Jonathan wouldn't give up. Whatever he set his mind to, he meant to see through.
"Urghhhh… so annoying."
Mu Zhe huffed sharply and strode ahead, refusing to listen to another word of Jonathan's sweet clinging.
Zhang Yiran looked at Jiang Hai. Jiang Hai looked at Zhou Jun. Zhou Jun looked at Ah Fei. Ah Fei looked at Lulu. Slowly, Ah Fei drew Lulu close, pulling him away from Jonathan. But keeping Jonathan away from Lulu wasn't so simple as ABC. Wherever Lulu went, Jonathan stuck like glue.
"Uncle Lanling!"
Mu Zhe called out suddenly. He ran straight and threw himself right into Lanling's arms, resting there as if he belonged nowhere else.
"My dear Mumu!"
Lanling caught him easily, lifting him up as light as a doll — warm, so very warm.
Lulu's jaw dropped. Everyone stared — and Jonathan scowled, sharp with envy.
"What are you doing here?"
Mu Zhe asked, still clinging to Lanling's neck.
"I'm your school's new nurse now. Are you happy to see me?"
Lanling smiled. Another surprise for everyone. Mu Zhe nodded, all soft and spoiled.
"Can I come visit you everyday?"
Mu Zhe asked, completely ignoring Lulu — burning with jealousy, paying him back word for word for Jonathan.
"You can…"
Lanling set him gently down.
"But — not just because you've quarrelled with someone."
He tapped Mu Zhe's nose. He knew his nephew well: gentle on the surface, but stubborn underneath. Pouting and sulking were Mu Zhe's special talents.
Mu Zhe pouted. Lanling chuckled and pinched his round cheek, a little too hard.
"Ouch!"
Mu Zhe swatted his hand away.
"I'm telling Mama you're bullying me!"
Lanling shot him a look. Why did his sister always have to get dragged into this? He never won against her.
"Right — you'd better run, before the bell rings."
Lanling changed the subject. He knew better than to face Chi Ren — the sister who'd given everything to raise him.
Lanling watched them go, one by one — until his eyes settled on Jonathan, still staring after Mu Zhe. A look of burning jealousy. Maybe something darker. Lanling smiled quietly.
"You can pretend in front of them… but not me. You'd better be ready."
Lunch break.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Ma Yuan placed a cup of hot coffee before Lanling.
"It's quite alright."
Lanling met his gaze steadily. Ma Yuan looked uneasy, eyes fixed down, avoiding him.
"Relax — I'm not here to give you therapy. I just need to ask about a student."
Ma Yuan looked up, visibly easing. Lanling smiled.
"The one always with Lulu."
"Ah Fei?"
"No — I know Ah Fei. Besides him, Mu Zhe, Zhang Yiran, Jiang Hai, Zhou Jun…"
"Jonathan."
Ma Yuan said the name.
"Ah — Jonathan."
Lanling's smile deepened.
"What do you want with him?"
"Nothing bad. Just keeping an eye on him."
"Why?"
Ma Yuan frowned, growing concerned.
Lanling laughed softly.
"Don't worry… I only wonder — why does he look at Mu Zhe that way? That's all."
"That way?"
"Jealousy. Or maybe hate. Who knows."
Ma Yuan fell quiet. Could Jonathan have feelings for Lulu? And turn to hate Mu Zhe once he saw who Mu Zhe was to Lulu?
Late afternoon.
From the second-floor corridor, Jonathan watched Mu Zhe laughing with the others. He bit his lip, drinking in every smile — those dimples, that bright face.
"Hey — how about we plan a beach trip this summer break?"
Mu Zhe suggested, eyes bright, hoping to get closer to Lulu. Even if summer was still months away.
"Great idea!"
Zhou Jun beamed — thinking of walking the shore with Ma Yuan, lighting fireworks together when night fell.
Then Mu Zhe felt it — someone watching. He glanced sharply left and right, folding his arms tight.
"What is it?"
Zhang Yiran noticed his sudden unease. He, Zhou Jun and Jiang Hai scanned the grounds. Could it be Li Yue or her people? All three stood up, alert, watching every corner.
CRASH!!!
"Arghhhh!!!"
A flowerpot plummeted from above — smashing just centimetres from where Mu Zhe stood.
"What… what was that?"
Mu Zhe pressed a hand to his chest, heart hammering. The others stared, stunned.
Zhang Yiran sprinted upstairs. Whoever did this couldn't have gone far.
Upstairs — empty. Only a few students, wide-eyed and shaken.
"Did anyone see who it was?"
Jiang Hai asked, arriving with Mu Zhe and Zhou Jun. Zhang Yiran shook his head.
"Anyone!?"
Zhang Yiran's voice was firm, sharp with warning. No one had seen a thing.
"We need to tell someone."
"Don't worry — let's not involve Teacher Ma in this."
Zhang Yiran placed a hand on Zhou Jun's shoulder.
"Jiang Hai — call Ru Yi. I'm sure we're being watched. He'll know who's behind this."
Jiang Hai reached for his phone — but someone stepped in.
"Let us handle this."
Lanling appeared beside Mu Zhe.
"You alright?"
He spoke softly. Mu Zhe nodded.
Lanling smiled — proud. The little boy who used to cry so easily was growing up. And a dark thought began to form in his mind. Something truly nasty.