hotel 18 !

4

I sat down and started to eat my sandwich.

God, what did they put in this to make it so damn delicious.

"How long since you haven't ate a meal?" Zhengting asks.

I finish chewing before answering, "About a day I think. I lived off of water, veggie chips, and apples for about three weeks."

"Do you mind me asking what you were doing outside of home?"

"It's kind of something I wouldn't say now. I don't think it's the right time or place to say."

Zhengting quickly apologizes, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to overstep, I'm really-"

"It's fine, don't apologize" I assure him. "You need to know in order to help me, right?"

Zhengting tilts his head meaning kind of.

I laugh it off and continued to eat.

*

We just finished lunch and now Zhengting was leading me somewhere.

"Where are we going?" I asked curiously.

He unlocks a door with an ID card and opens the door. The door was opened to reveal a beautiful garden outside with an amazing range of colors.

"This is so amazing!" I say with awe.

"This is one of the first places I take people when they are new." He sits down on one of the patio chairs set up by a small table.

"I actually helped with the making of the garden." Zhengting adds.

"You did great!" The smell of the beautiful flowers reminded me of my small garden outside my home.

Well my old one.

"How did you get wrapped up in this whole Protector thing?" I ask.

"Well, my uncle is actually the founder of this organization. He asked me one day if I would like to take over when he's gone. That was when I was 10."

"This is like a family business?"

"No. My grandfather actually kept this a secret from my whole family. He wanted to look for the right caring person to take care of it after he passes."

"Oh. I'm sorry if this makes you emotional. I shouldn't have asked anyway."

"No no. It's fine. I actually like the thought of me taking in Lost and giving them hope and carrying on my grandfather's ways." He smiles to himself.

"I hope you the best when the time comes."

"How about you? I want to know more about you." Zhengting turns to me.

"Really?" And he nods.

"Um, I ran away from my old home. I want to re start my life. I couldn't do that in there."

"Wow."

"I know. Stupid reason while other less fortunate people don't get the treatment as I will here. Oh my god I really am a horrible person."

"No. It's actually why most people run away. To find who they are, where they are or why. Those questions can be found outside than in the small space you or someone has you surrounded in."

I sat speechless. He is deep. I mean he has met others who have been probably in the same situation as I am.

"What about Jieqiong?" I change the subject.

"Jieqiong is one of my childhood friends. She was actually a Lost until last year when she signed up to be a Protector."

"You can do that? I thought this organization was secret?" This is going to take a while to get used to.

"Well, you can only sign up if you've been a Lost in previous years or if you have some sort relationship with my grandfather that made him trust you with protecting a fellow Lost." He explains.

I think over it again, processing every word that just came out of his lips.

"I know. It took me a while to understand everything." Zhengting laughs a bit.

"Now come on. Let me show you something else."

*

Zhengting leads me back inside the building. We walk a long way until we reached two large doors. 

He opens it slowly and motions me in. As soon as I passed through the door I could hear a beautiful voice and music.

"What is this?" I whisper to Zhengting.

"Right now, we're watching one of my best friends in Section B sing, Bi Wenjun. He's also a Protector and the director of the drama program here."

Wenjun continues to sing.

"His voice is amazing."

*

"Wenjun, hey!" Zhengting calls out from a dressing room not fully closed.

Wenjun opens the door wider and he immediately smiles, "Hey!"

"Let me introduce you to Zhang Xiaocao, she's my assigned Lost." I smiled and greeted Wenjun.

"Hello, I'm Bi Wenjun. Nice to meet you! I hope you are liking Hotel 18 so far!" He says enthusiastically.

"Yes, I do. By the way, your performance was incredible! Your voice is so beautiful!" I compliment

"Thank you so much! Anyway, Zhengting what do you have left to show the Lost?" Wenjun asks while scavenging for something in his bag.

Zhengting takes out a transparent device out of his pocket, "I still have to take her to the interview, the second part of her inspection, the dinner with the new group of Lost, then we have the campfire."

"Okay, I'll join you guys." Wenjun stands. "If you don't mind"

"No, of course not. Jieqiong isn't with me right now. In fact, I don't even know when she is meeting us again." Zhengting says.

"She'll probably meet us at the campfire. Let's go."

I'm super sorry. I know I'm really freaking late on this update. I really hate being mentally unstable. But I'll try to make the best out of the little things, like updating for you guys! Thank you for taking interest in this au!