Fleeting Hearts | YIZHAN FF

37

Zhan stumbled backward, his legs trembling as if they could no longer support him. His mind raced, a chaotic storm of thoughts and emotions threatening to overwhelm him. Wang Anyu's severed head floated in the jar, lifeless yet hauntingly familiar, the face that once smiled at him now reduced to a grotesque trophy.

“I need to get out of here,” he whispered to himself, his voice trembling. His breath hitched as panic surged through him, urging him to leave before the guards returned.

He turned toward the door, his steps unsteady as he clung to the walls for support. His hands, slick with sweat, fumbled with the doorknob before he managed to twist it open. Peeking outside, he saw the hallway was still empty. With one last glance at the horrific scene behind him, he slipped out and closed the door as quietly as he could.

The clang of the door echoed faintly, but Zhan didn’t stop. He hurried up the staircase, his heart pounding with every step. The dim light overhead flickered, casting unsettling shadows that made him flinch. When he finally reached the top, he froze.

A maid stood in the corridor, her arms full of freshly laundered linens. She smiled politely. "Young Master Zhan, good evening. Do you need anything?"

Zhan opened his mouth, but no words came out. His wide eyes darted around as if searching for an escape, his chest heaving. Without responding, he bolted past her, leaving the maid staring after him in confusion.

Zhan sprinted up the staircase, his breath shaky and uneven as the heavy door to the basement slammed shut behind him. His heart raced not just from the fear of being caught but from the horrifying discovery he had just made.

Wang Anyu.

The name echoed in his mind like a haunting melody, a mix of bittersweet memories and the chilling reality he had just witnessed. The image of Anyu’s lifeless head floating in that jar was etched into his mind. Zhan pressed his back against the wall outside his room, trying to collect himself. His trembling fingers brushed against his lips as if to stop himself from screaming.

How could this happen? How could Yibo be involved in something so cruel?

Zhan slipped into his room, locking the door behind him. He collapsed onto the bed, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling as memories of Wang Anyu flooded his mind.

He had first noticed Wang Anyu during high school. Anyu wasn’t just handsome—he had a charm that drew people in, including Zhan. Anyu had a kind smile, the sort that could make anyone feel seen and special. Zhan had always been too shy to approach him, but to his surprise, it was Anyu who broke the ice.

“Hey, Zhan, do you have a pen I could borrow?” Anyu had asked one day, leaning casually against Zhan’s desk.

Zhan remembered how his cheeks had flushed, fumbling to hand over the pen. From that small interaction, a friendship had blossomed—simple, casual, but meaningful to Zhan.

He hadn’t dared to confess his feelings, though. Anyu was popular, and Zhan was content to stay on the sidelines, cherishing their small moments of connection.

But then, without warning, Wang Anyu had disappeared.

It was a normal school morning when their teacher had walked into the classroom with a grave expression.

“Students, I have some news,” she began. “Wang Anyu will not be attending this school anymore. His family had to move away due to unforeseen circumstances.”

The words had hit Zhan like a thunderbolt. No goodbye, no explanation. Just gone. He’d felt a pang of sadness and confusion,but he had yibo—2months since he bcame friend with yibo.