Chapter 85 - Lodging House (1)

The evening dawned when Zhang Enyu hit the brakes. Xun Zichen stepped out of the car hurriedly to vomit.

Su Xiang jumped out of the van worryingly, giving him some water, and he took it, trying to calm his breathing.

She was concerned for him. "You're experiencing a bit of shock," she whispered to him almost silently so the others couldn't hear.

Xun Zichen looked at her, disheartened. Su Xiang knew it was his first kill and perhaps a few dozen. But they didn't stick around long enough to count the bodies.

"I'm all right," Xun Zichen assured her, though he wasn't all right, not entirely.

Song Luli jumped from the van, "Hey, is everything okay?" she asked them.

"He's just car sick," Su Xiang answered for him, on his behalf.

Long Jie followed after Song Luli. "It's getting late," Long Jie began, "I think we should turn in for the night."

"There's a place not too far from here," said Song Meiling from the window of the van, "we're all exhausted."

Song Luli nodded. "Okay. Let's go then."

They went back into the car, and Zhang Enyu pulled up five minutes later to a lodging house.

Indoors, no one was at the reception desk.

A man holding a bag of chips then stepped through the beaded curtains from another room. He stumbled upon them, startled by their appearance.

"Ma!" Yelled the young and round man, glancing at them with widened eyes and terrified expression.

An older woman stepped through, looking at them, taken aback.

"We don't take in your kind around here," said the woman defiantly.

Our kind? Long Jie thought. Did she know who they were?

"I beg your pardon," he began, "but what are you referring to?"

"Criminals," she answered.

Long Jie tried to soften his expression. "I can assure you, we're not," he said.

The woman raised her chin at Xun Zichen. "Why does he look injured? Why do all you look like you've gone through a fight? Last time I took a group of you, the lodge was trashed from the inside out, and my other guests were harassed. Not many people have come to stay since then."

"We aren't here to make trouble," assured Long Jie.

The woman appeared to be unconvinced, remaining still and resolute.

Zhang Enyu chimed in. "Have you heard of Long Group?"

"No," replied the woman.

"Song Entertainment?"

"No."

"Sun & Song Pharmaceuticals?"

"No."

"Goddamn!" Said Zhang Enyu. He then looked and pointed at the five of them. "For once, you guys are irrelevant." He wanted to play the somewhat famous people card, but it didn't work.

Long Jie then put a soft expression on his face, as smooth as he could muster before facing the owner.

"Madam. We promise not to be too much of an intrusion. We want to stay the night since our friend isn't feeling well, and we'll leave first thing in the morning."

Song Meiling then looked around the lodge, observing it. She added, "We can offer more money for our stay."

The lady glared at her. "Tips for our services is an insult."

"Call it a generous donation for your lodge," Song Meiling answered with a soft smile.

"Very well, but I would like it up front," said the owner.

Song Meiling patted around her pants, realizing she didn't bring her wallet. She glanced at the others, who also looked at each other, realizing they had brought nothing but their phones.

"Erm," Song Meiling chuckled awkwardly.

Zhang Enyu then stepped forward, pulling out his. "Three rooms, please," he said to the owner, taking out his credit card and some of his banknotes. He gave her everything he had, which surprised Song Meiling.

The woman accepted the money. She then walked around the reception desk, wordlessly. They began to follow her, and she led them up the stairs.

"I will double everything you paid for when we get home," Song Meiling told Zhang Enyu, stepping to his side.

"It's not necessary," he responded.

Song Meiling furrowed her brows. "That's a lot of money you spent just now," she spoke low to him.

Zhang Enyu paused. "I feel lame if I don't let it go. Your family has shown me their hospitality."

"Don't think that way," she replied. "You've earned that money, and it's yours. Let me pay it back."

Zhang Enyu continued to walk, not responding to her.

The woman then paused in front of the separate rooms. "Men and women are to stay in separate rooms," said she.

Long Jie furrowed his brows. He almost lost his patience before Song Luli stepped in. "I can't separate from my husband," she informed her.

"Very well, then," replied the owner. "Choose amongst yourselves. But I don't want to hear any noise passed 11 p.m," she finished before she strode away.

Su Xiang stepped to Song Meiling's side. "Is it all right if I share a room with Chen instead of sharing one with you? I have to monitor him overnight to check if he's okay."

Song Meiling's eyes bulged. "You'll be leaving me with Enyu," she gritted out lowly.

Su Xiang shrugged.

"He's my professor," Song Meiling protested, trying to reason with her cousin.

"You know that I have to make sure Chen is okay," responded Su Xiang.

Song Meiling sighed. She couldn't deny her, but she began to feel awkward about it. "Fine."

"Thank you," Su Xiang said to her.

They went to their separate rooms, each of which had two twin beds. Long Jie, Song Luli, Su Xiang, and Xun Zichen combined the twin beds, while Song Meiling kept them apart in her room.

She glanced at Zhang Enyu, who was making his sheets. He didn't appear to be bothered by sharing a room.

The air between them was silent and stiff, and she needed to relieve the awkwardness. They shared a house for months, but never did they share a bedroom.

And she didn't want to revert to the way they were before; they've been getting along recently. Zhang Enyu had helped her with most of her studies, and Song Meiling was even beginning to think he might care for her. But his cold front made her unsure if they were friends, student and teacher, or only a roommate he's supposed to tolerate.

"I want to say thank you for coming along and helping us. I know that you have nothing to do with what happened. But I appreciate everything. You helped me report back to my father, and because of that, he made it in time for—"

She couldn't finish what she was saying. Song Meiling knew that everyone she cared for was in danger, and she had to hide with Zhang Enyu in a tree because she saw a group of people searching the van, before heading towards the warehouse her family were in, which was terrifying to witness.

Zhang Enyu lifted his silvery lashes, locking eyes with her. His expression softened. "Don't mention it," he responded before dropping his gaze, "I'm just glad everyone is okay."

Song Meiling smiled to herself before she began to make her bed. After they finished, they took turns washing up.

She asked the woman for a pair of overnight clothing, which was a bit big for her, but it would do.

"Let's grab a late dinner," she told him when she entered the room again.