The Fine Print✔️

Chapter 8

Weredra quirks her eyebrow, and I am about to launch into a full-blown lecture when I hear Zhan's concerned voice, "YiJun, is everything alright. Did the salted fish not agree with you?"

"Ah! Yes. I am sorry to keep you waiting." I yell back from behind the tree and rush over to him.

He gives me a once over in a bromantic sort of neutral way, and my heart wails, 'Why Weredra? WHY!?' 

"Are you sure you are fine?" He asks, and his perfectly shaped eyebrows almost kiss.

"Of course, Zhan," I reply and nudge his shoulder like I have seen bros do. He looks at me with what-the-heck-was-that kind of expression in his eyes but decides to hold his tongue. 

 Thank fuck, for I have no clue how I would have answered his queries. Anything remotely male-related is a little out of the syllabus for me. But that is to be expected, right? 

 After we exchange an awkward smile, I point towards a thick patch of bushes, with a less trodden path next to it, "When I was doing..., I think I heard someone scream. I want to go and take a look at it. You can wait here till... "

Before I can finish, he interjects, "I am not letting you out of my sight!" Zhan blurts out.

"Mn?"

He shakes his head and states again, "I think we should go together. If there is trouble, I will be in a better position to help you." He suggests, and I nod.

Without another word, I start following Weredra towards the place she had suggested earlier.

We have barely walked for a few minutes when Weredra winks at me a disappears with a poof. I had not expected that. It startles me, and I trip on air.

Haha. Very funny. I know!

"Eeep!" I yelp and fall backward.

Fuck!

I instinctively close my eyes and wish that I had a bigger bum. That would have come in handy now.

A second later, I feel strong hands on my shoulders and open my eyes. I turn on the spot and mutter an almost inaudible Thank you to my savior. 

 Zhan just smiles and steps away. Of course, he does. He doesn't want me anywhere near him, after all.

We walk a little further when a child's scream pierces the air and reaches us. Forgetting that it most definitely belonged to Weredra, I rush towards a huge hill that has just appeared in my line of sight.

We are almost at the base of the hill when we hear another scream. Panicking, I take my sword out and unsheathe it.

"Hellllllooooo!" I yell and hear Weredra's now familiar voice reply, "Can you hear me?"

Realizing that I had worried myself for no reason and feeling a little bit betrayed by my lack of intelligence, I don't bother to respond. I sheath the sword and dump it back into my pouch.

"Yes, child, we can hear you. Calm down. We are at the foot of the hill. We will help you. Where are you?" Zhan responds in my place.

"I am inside the hill. And can't get out!" Weredra's childlike scared voice floats over.

My brain cells start working again, and I ask, "How the hell did you manage to get inside?"

Zhan nudges me, "Watch your tone, YiJun. She is already scared enough." He reprimands.

Shaking his head at me disapprovingly, he asks, "Can you tell me how to get inside, sweetie?"

"I don't remember. I don't remember anything." Weredra says between sobs, and the falls silent.