It is almost 11 PM at night. In Guolu Town, a 20-story L-shaped building stands with a height like a mountain. In front of the building, there is a huge cherry blossom tree. The flowers of the tree have made the beauty of the building even more enchanting. Flower trees are naturally beautiful, but ordinary people have gone beyond nature and decorated its branches with sparkling chandeliers. In the darkness of night, at the beginning of spring, the fragrance of blooming cherry blossoms and the artificial lights created by humans enhance the building's beauty, dignity, and prosperity. In front of the building, written in large crystal letters, is Long-Ying-Ting.
That is, the building's name has been set in resemblance to dragon and cherry blossom—Dragon and Cherry Courtyard. Shi-Han lives in the 3rd flat of Long-Ying-Ting apartment. Returning from the university with a broken heart, Shi-Han goes straight to the gaming room and sits down.
Anger, sorrow, regret, and resentment all seem to surround Shi-Han at once. What kind of world is this? She has no good relationship with her parents, siblings, or friends. Her mother was the foundation of her life and the peace of her existence. Yet, even though she exists, it feels like no one is there for Shi-Han. Due to misunderstandings, her mother feels absent despite being alive. And now, the breakup with Chen-Yu. Altogether, loneliness is gripping Shi-Han tightly at this moment. Shi-Han begins to pour out all her anger and pain into the LOL game.
Tears fill Shi-Han's eyes, her lips tremble, but her gaming fight roars through the computer. Suddenly, the calling bell rings. As soon as Shi-Han's match ends, she removes her pink headphones and opens the door. Seeing Meilin, she smiles softly—
Shi-Han:– Meilin, hmm my dear, after so long I'm seeing you? Come, come to your mother.
Ji-Xuan and Jia-Hong came to meet Shi-Han. But they had brought along a white cat. The cat's name was Meilin, meaning Blue Lotus. After a long time, seeing Meilin, Shi-Han takes the cat's bag from Ji-Xuan and starts petting her.
Ji-Xuan:– Cat's mom, should I come inside or did you forget us after getting Meilin?
Shi-Han:– Sorry, Captain. Please come in.
Shi-Han lets them in and opens Meilin's bag, freeing her—
Shi-Han:– Thank you, Captain, for taking care of Meilin these days. Please sit, I'll bring some snacks.
Jia-Hong:– That's not necessary, sister. We already had dinner.
Shi-Han:– But brother, did you come this late just to return Meilin? Did she trouble you a lot these days?
Ji-Xuan:– No, we didn't come just to return Meilin. We came to take you back to the club.
Jia-Hong:– Sister, for so long we didn't force you to stay at the club because of Director Jun-Hao. But now the Director is in jail. You can stay with us now.
Shi-Han:– Brother, Captain, it's your misunderstanding that I don't stay at the club because of fear of defamation from the Director.
Ji-Xuan:– Then why don't you stay at the club? When all members of Zion team do live streaming together, how much trouble you face. Besides…
Ji-Xuan doesn't finish his sentence, but Shi-Han understands that because of her, the other four members also face problems. But Ji-Xuan doesn't want to say it directly.
Shi-Han:– Captain, staying here makes it easier for me to take care of my grandmother. Besides, I have set up my gaming room exactly like the club. I hope this won't create any problem for live streaming together.
Jia-Hong:– Captain, let's go back. If sister doesn't want to come, forcing her won't help.
Ji-Xuan:– Okay, let's go. And sister, whenever you want to stay at the club, come without hesitation.
★★★
Meanwhile, at 12 AM, the science lab of Shanghai University is still lit. A guard notices the lab light at such a late hour. He wonders—did a thief enter the lab at this time? As the guard approaches the lab with a sharp eye to observe, he sees Jun-Yu locking the lab—
The guard recognizes Jun-Yu, and Jun-Yu also recognizes him—
Si-Yuan:– Jun-Yu, what are you still doing in the lab at this late hour?
Jun-Yu:– Uncle, Professor Lin-Bo-Shi punished me with an assignment. And it took time to finish it.
Si-Yuan:– Oh, I see. Now go home quickly. I will tell Lin-Bo-Shi sir not to make you work this late.
Jun-Yu (smiling slightly):– Uncle, you will tell Professor Lin-Bo-Shi? Do you have that much courage? Instead of starting research on you, where did you get such courage from?
Si-Yuan:– I know, son, your sir is completely dull and strict. But your sir often keeps you stuck in lab work until this late. I mean, you have a life too. You're always buried in studies and research. You never take care of yourself.
Jun-Yu:– Uncle, I am not a 4/5-year-old child, don't worry so much about me. And from now on, if you see the lab light, understand that I'm working there. I'm going home now.
Si-Yuan:– Alright, go carefully.
This Si-Yuan was the lab's guard. Just as he knows Jun-Yu, Jun-Yu also knows him. Their relationship was also quite good. After saying goodbye to Si-Yuan, as Jun-Yu takes a step toward the parking lot, he suddenly feels unwell and stops. Si-Yuan notices Jun-Yu standing while holding his head.
Si-Yuan:– Jun-Yu, what happened to you? Why did you suddenly stop?
Jun-Yu:– I felt a little dizzy.
Si-Yuan:– Give me the lab key. I'll open the lab, sit for a while and rest, and call your driver uncle. He will come and take you home.
Jun-Yu (slightly recovering):– No need, uncle, I can go by myself. Will you do me a favor, please uncle?
Si-Yuan:– Don't request like that, just tell me what to do.
Jun-Yu:– Please bring my bike from the parking lot to the main gate.
At this request of Jun-Yu, Si-Yuan instantly got angry. He replied to Jun-Yu in irritation—
Si-Yuan:– How many times have I told you, Jun-Yu, don't always stay buried in studies, take care of yourself. Eat properly. And just now I told you to call your driver, but you didn't listen. Now you're feeling this unwell, you can't even go to your bike yourself. Can you really drive?
Jun-Yu:– Yes, I can. Besides, driver uncle has already gone home. If I call him now, he will come and then bring the car back later, by that time it will be morning.
Si-Yuan:– Alright fine, you come slowly, I'll bring your bike.
Walking slowly, Jun-Yu reaches the main gate and, despite feeling unwell, rides his bike and returns home.
★★★
After returning from the university, Shi-Han spends a long time venting her anger through gaming, then goes and stands on the balcony. Although Ji-Xuan and Jia-Hong had come from the club and returned Meilin earlier, she feels very upset today. Since she couldn't sleep, after they left, she sat down to play games again. Standing on the balcony, like being swept away by a flood current, Shi-Han looks at the cherry blossom tree and lets her emotions drift away in the spring breeze. Suddenly, her eyes fall on the staircase. It looks like someone is lying near the stairs. Since the building is L-shaped, the staircase leading to the upper floors is clearly visible from the balcony.
It's around 12:30 at night. Why would someone sleep near the stairs at this hour instead of in their room? As this question arises in her mind, Shi-Han goes near the stairs. Indeed, a person is lying there, but seeing him makes her heart tremble. From the clothes, it looks like Jun-Yu. She had seen him wearing this same outfit at the university this morning. The age also seems similar to Jun-Yu's. There's even a bag like Jun-Yu's on his shoulder. But the person is lying face down, resting his head on one arm. Half of his face is not visible.
Shi-Han:– Who are you? Why are you lying here? Hello! Can you hear me?
Even after calling him several times with no response, Shi-Han turns him over. Seeing his face, she is startled as if she has seen a ghost. Only one word escapes her mouth—(Jun-Yu).
Jun-Yu is now lying on the sofa in Shi-Han's flat. Sitting beside him, Shi-Han thinks—
[Why is Jun-Yu at Long-Ying-Ting apartment? Most importantly, what happened to him? I called him so many times and even brought him to my flat, yet he didn't wake up. Is he really sleeping or unconscious? But there's no smell except perfume. Let me check… is he alive or dead?]
Terrifying thoughts overwhelm her. At this late hour, an adult man is lying unconscious in front of her flat. She couldn't get any help because everyone in the apartment is deeply asleep. Unable to understand Jun-Yu's condition, Shi-Han places her hand in front of his nose. But she can't feel any breathing. Her heart trembles in unknown fear. Her hands start shaking. Has Jun-Yu really died? She cannot find an answer. In a moment, her eyes fill with tears. But without panicking, she gathers a bit of courage and presses two fingers on his neck to check his pulse.
Suddenly, Jun-Yu opens his eyes. Feeling someone's hand on his neck, his neurons signal that someone might be trying to strangle him. In an instant, he jumps up from lying down and sits upright.
Jun-Yu:– Bai-Gu-Zhi, why did you kidnap me and bring me here?
In Chinese mythology, Bai-Gu-Zhi is a female demon. As Jun-Yu suddenly jumps up, Shi-Han is startled and takes a few deep breaths—
Shi-Han:– If I am Bai-Gu-Zhi, then are you Mr. Zombie?
Jun-Yu:– If I'm a zombie, then I'll bite your lips and make you mine, little shankhchunni.
Shi-Han:– Oh really, Mr. Zombie? Dreaming of biting my lips? I'll fulfill your zombie dream right now!
At Jun-Yu's indecent words, Shi-Han's patience breaks. Rage flows through every vein of her body—not like a calm river, but like molten lava from a volcano. He had already collapsed in front of her flat, scaring her, and now he wakes up and talks nonsense. What kind of joke is this? Did Jun-Yu have bad intentions and deliberately collapse there? Hearing such unwanted words, Shi-Han responds by landing several martial arts blows on his stomach.
Jun-Yu gets hit and collapses back onto the sofa, clutching his stomach with one hand and raising the other toward her—
Jun-Yu:– W-w-wait, wait! Why are you getting so angry, shankhchunni? You've hit enough. First tell me what actually happened to me? How did I get here?
Shi-Han:– You don't understand how you got here? I'll hit you a few more times, then you'll remember.
Jun-Yu:– Ahh, it hurts! Bai-Gu-Zhi shankhchunni, I was already dizzy from doing Professor's assignment, and on top of that you beat me.
Shi-Han has seriously beaten him half to death. Even while sitting, he is clutching his stomach in pain. Hearing his weak voice, Shi-Han's eyes fill with tears. She realizes he didn't collapse in front of her flat intentionally. But no matter how he came there, why did he insult her? Anger burns within her, yet somewhere in her heart she also feels pain for him. Realizing her mistake, she stands silently. Jun-Yu speaks again in a broken voice—
Jun-Yu:– I somehow managed to ride my bike this far. After reaching the third floor, I don't remember anything. Will you tell me how I got into your flat?
Shi-Han:– You collapsed unconscious in front of my flat.
Hearing this, Jun-Yu mutters in disbelief—(Unconscious).
He himself can't believe he fainted. Shi-Han doesn't know how to say sorry. His condition wasn't his fault. She can fight quickly with martial arts, but saying sorry feels difficult. Suddenly, Jun-Yu's stomach twists in pain. Holding it with his right hand—
Jun-Yu:– I am sorry, ma'am. Actually, since you brought a man home alone at night, I thought you might be scared, so I accidentally said that.
Shi-Han:– Scared of you? No, Mr. Zombie, why would I be afraid of a popular celebrity like you? Besides, why would you do such a thing? You have a reputation to protect, right?
Jun-Yu feels embarrassed at her bold words. His brain doesn't know how to react. Getting up from the sofa—
Jun-Yu:– Miss shankhchunni, this apartment actually belongs to me. I live on the 4th floor. Today the lift was crowded, so I was using the stairs, and suddenly I don't know what happened to me. Thank you for helping me.
Jun-Yu is extremely hungry. After thanking her, he starts to leave. But Shi-Han calls from behind—
Shi-Han:– Wait, Mr. Zombie. I checked your blood pressure. Your diastolic is only 40, systolic 100. With such low blood pressure, it's normal to become unconscious. Don't you eat properly?
Jun-Yu:– Actually, I was in Beijing during the winter vacation. And these past few days, the cooking aunt hasn't come. I can't cook. Besides, I don't eat canteen food or restaurant food—they're too spicy and cheesy.
Shi-Han:– Oh, I see. Take care of your food and health. Now you can go.