Slowly, with a weary sigh, he rose and went to the door. The latch clicked, and the door creaked open.
Haoyu's bright face appeared first, carrying the careless eagerness of youth. He started to speak cheerfully, "Brother Feng, we were worried about..." but the words caught in his throat as his eyes slid past Yizhou's shoulder.
On the bed, was a shockingly familiar face.
Older sister Qingran?!
Haoyu blinked, stunned, then his entire face lit up with pure relief and joy. "Sister Qingran! You're here? You're really here!" His voice trembled with excitement. He turned to Feng Yizhou, a smile breaking wide across his face. "Brother Feng, where did you find her? We thought she was still in—"
"She's dead."
The words fell like a blade, sharp and merciless.
Haoyu froze. The smile on his lips faltered, then cracked, his wide eyes darting back to Qingran's still form. "W-what?" His voice cracked. "No, that's… that's not funny…"
