INVISIBLE STRING - Duan Jia Xu

FOUR

2019, Autumn.

HUI YING'S PHONE RANG LOUDLY, lightly waking her up from her nap. She hadn't intended on taking a nap, but after studying all day she had to admit that she was quite exhausted from it. She had to make sure her grades were good this year, else her parents would probably scold her for not working hard enough.

She pulled up her head, her eyes squinting in pain as she looked at the bright phone screen. Her eyes tried to focus, she rubbed in them for a little to try and read what was happening.

Hui Ying gasped when she saw that Sang Zhi was calling her.

She groaned slightly as she answered the phone, maybe Sang Zhi had some more drama that she needed to say. Hui Ying knew about the day she was spending with Sang Yan and Duan Jia Xu, so that meant lots of stuff will need to be said.

"hey, what's up?" Hui Ying asked, clearing her voice as she tried her best not to sound too tired. She didn't want to be scolded by the fact that she was again taking a nap.

Hui Ying frowned as she heard some silent sobs through the phone, furrowing her eyebrows as she quickly sat herself up. One hand holding her phone close to her ear and the other rubbing the eye crust out of her eyes from sleeping.

She could hear the heavy breathing coming from Sang Zhi. "What's wrong?" Hui Ying asked in a hurry, trying to figure out what was happening to her friend. "Did something happen? Do i need to beat up Sang Yan?"

Although Sang Zhi was crying, she let out a little laugh at the mention of her brother. Sang Zhi knew that no matter what, her friend would always have her back. "I need you." Sang Zhi sniffed through her tears.

Hui Ying stood up immediately, almost tripping over some random clothing that was still laying on the ground as she was going to quickly get ready. "Could you tell me what happened?"

"No," Sang Zhi answered quickly. "It's embarrassing." Sang Zhi answered again, shaking her head.

Hui Ying quickly placed her phone on speaker as she almost fell over her shoes while trying to find them. Clumsily putting on her shoes, not even having time to tie them she made her way downstairs.

She was in luck that her parents were still busy with her older sister, and had left her alone that day. Else they would have seen their youngest daughter running around the house frantically. "Okay," Hui Ying spoke, almost like she was trying to reassure herself, "I'll just pack a emergency bag, okay?"

Sang Zhi had nodded her head, biting her lip to almost hold in the sobs. "bring a new skirt as well." Sang Zhi almost said in a quiet voice, and just them Hui Ying knew what it was about.

"I got it." Hui Ying said in a confident voice, before searching the house for the needed essentials.

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HUI YING QUICKLY ENTERED THE SORT OF MALL the group was at, Sang Zhi had told her she was somewhere in the bathroom but Hui Ying had no idea where the bathroom even was. Her eyes scanned the place, trying to find a sign that somewhere pointed towards the toilets.

But instead she noticed two guys awkwardly looking at menstrual products.

She frowned, almost laughing as she noticed that one of them was in fact Sang Yan. It was nice of him to help his sister in need, but it was funny to see him all confused by the amount of products.

Hui Ying started to step closer, shaking her head almost at their hopelessness. She cleared her throat, prompting Sang Yan and the boy—who she assumed to be Duan Jia Xu—to turn around, knocking some products on the ground in the process.