It was five in the morning on a quiet weekend, and Ru Yi was already in the kitchen, just like every other weekend. All alone, savouring the rare tranquility.
Every weekend, they had to prepare their own meals. Bo Ya gave all the canteen staff time off to spend with their families.
Ru Yi opened the kitchen cabinet, scanning its contents one by one.
"Potatoes. What am I supposed to cook with potatoes... Hmm..."
His gaze drifted away from the sack of potatoes, half-empty now.
"Tomatoes."
Ru Yi reached for the fresh tomatoes they'd picked the evening before from the garden behind the canteen.
"Hmm... I could make them with eggs."
He said to himself, a satisfied smile spreading as he looked at the tomatoes—they looked so delicious.
"Hmm? What's that?"
He muttered to himself when his eyes fell on something in the corner of the cabinet. White. As far as he knew, there was nothing like that in the kitchen. Where had it come from? Whose was it? How long had it been sitting there? And most importantly—what on earth was it?
Ru Yi reached for the round, white object, desperate to find out what it was.
"Hisss!!!"
A sound came from inside it.
"Ahhh!!!"
Ru Yi yelped, leaping back from the cabinet.
"Growlll"
Another sound. Angry, deep.
"Arghhh!!! A ghost!!!"
In a flash, Ru Yi jumped up and clung onto something. He was a Sweeper, someone who wasn't afraid to face down dozens of S-Class mafia members. But ghosts... ghosts were a whole different story.
"You're not afraid of walking around in the dark all the time. Why are you scared of a ghost now?"
A voice asked.
"That's completely different! Hurry up and chase it away!"
Ru Yi snapped, his arms tightening around the man's body. He buried his face deep into the man's broad chest. Whoever this man was—he'd deal with it later. Right now, the most important thing was getting rid of that ghost before the sun came up.
"Alright. But... can you let go of me first?"
The man said.
Ru Yi froze. "That voice... it sounds so familiar." He thought to himself. His fingers slowly began to explore the man's chest, trying to figure out who he was. But he still didn't dare lift his face.
"If you won't let go of me, how am I supposed to look at the ghost?"
The man asked again.
"Oh."
Ru Yi looked up.
His face turned bright red.
He quickly let go. Gulp. "What have I just done? Ru Yi... this is so embarrassing... Of all the people on this island, why did it have to be Jiang Hai who showed up?"
"I'm sorry."
Ru Yi said, tucking his hair behind his ears and staring down, burning with shame.
Jiang Hai just smiled. He didn't tease Ru Yi any further. He crouched down in front of the cabinet and peered inside.
Behind the sack of potatoes lay a white, fluffy lump. Round, like a ball.
Sniff. Sniff.
He recognised that smell. He reached out for the round creature that had terrified Ru Yi.
"Don't!"
Ru Yi grabbed his hand tightly.
"What if it bites you?"
Jiang Hai smiled.
"If I don't take it out, how will we know what kind of ghost it is? And this problem won't get solved."
"But..."
"Don't worry. I've learned how to chase ghosts away. I'll make sure it doesn't hurt either of us. I promise."
Jiang Hai said, his voice steady and reassuring. He gently squeezed Ru Yi's hand, which was still gripping his own tight. Trying to calm him down.
"Trust me."
Ru Yi bit his lip. Still unwilling to let go. But after a long moment of hesitation, he slowly crouched down beside Jiang Hai—still holding onto his hand, still scared, but refusing to let Jiang Hai face this unknown thing alone. He'd pull him back the moment he looked like he was in danger. Better safe than sorry.
Jiang Hai looked at him, smiling warmly. Ru Yi looked up—and his face turned red all over again.
Caught between fear and embarrassment, he gestured for Jiang Hai to go ahead. "Arghhh!!! This is so humiliating..."
Jiang Hai reached out with his right hand and touched the round thing. Ru Yi's grip on his left hand tightened even more.
"Hsssss..."
It hissed again, sounding angry. But Jiang Hai wasn't scared. In fact, his smile grew wider. He knew that smell. And the moment he touched it, he knew exactly what it was.
"Are you okay?"
Ru Yi asked anxiously, one hand moving to hold Jiang Hai's right hand, while the other still clung to his left.
"I'm fine."
Jiang Hai pulled the round thing out—whatever it was that had ruined their peaceful morning.
"Growlll"
"Arghhh!!!"
Ru Yi immediately yanked Jiang Hai back, so hard that they both fell flat on their backs.
"Are you hurt?"
Ru Yi asked, not waiting for an answer before scrambling up to check him all over.
Jiang Hai just smiled. Slowly, he held up what he'd found for Ru Yi to see.
"You... ugh... this is so embarrassing..."
Ru Yi lay back down beside him and covered his face with both hands. The ghost he'd been so terrified of was none other than Fantuan.
"Fantuan... what were you doing in there...?"
Ru Yi looked over at the cat, who was glaring back at him sharply.
"Is he challenging me?"
Ru Yi asked Jiang Hai. It felt like Fantuan was declaring war on him.
Jiang Hai chuckled softly. He was starting to see this cute side of Ru Yi—the side he wanted only for himself.
"He's just a cat. Don't take it to heart."
Jiang Hai soothed. He held Fantuan's little paws and brought the fluffy round creature close to his face.
"Thank you."
He whispered. If it wasn't for Fantuan, he never would have gotten this moment. Maybe his chance with Ru Yi was still very much alive.
"What are you two doing over there?"
A voice suddenly spoke up.
Ru Yi and Jiang Hai looked up to see Zhou Jun and Mu Zhe standing in the kitchen doorway, arms folded. They scrambled to sit up straight, suddenly flustered.
"Um... nothing..."
Ru Yi stammered, his mind suddenly going blank. His face felt burning hot. It was too embarrassing for words.
"Ask this little fatty here."
Jiang Hai said, holding Fantuan out to Mu Zhe.
"What was he doing hiding in the kitchen cabinet?"
"No wonder you didn't come home last night..."
Mu Zhe said, not looking the least bit guilty. He walked over and took Fantuan from Jiang Hai.
"Your cat's something else."
Jiang Hai murmured.
Mu Zhe looked surprised for a second.
"Thanks."
He replied. There's definitely something going on between Jiang Hai and Ru Yi. He thought, catching the faint blush on Ru Yi's face. Got it.
"Well... looks like we'll have to order food from outside."
Zhou Jun sighed, walking away with Mu Zhe.
Jiang Hai was about to follow when Ru Yi pulled him back.
"This is our secret! Don't you dare tell anyone!"
Ru Yi warned. If word got out that he'd been scared of a cat, his reputation as the fearsome Sweeper would be ruined. He'd never live it down.
Jiang Hai smiled softly. He leaned closer to Ru Yi's face and whispered,
"Don't worry. I'll never tell anyone our little story."
His face turned even redder at those words.
"Everything about you is mine. And I don't share."
Jiang Hai said, gently booping Ru Yi's nose.
Ru Yi froze. Too flustered to argue. Too shy to move. He found himself praying that the ground would just swallow him up right then and there.