Shen Anran roamed around for a while, thinking of eating something light before going to her bedroom.
She found some trays of food on the kitchen counter, intended to be placed inside the hall for the guests to eat.
There was nobody around. So, she took a few freshly sliced fruits and walked toward the second floor.
When she reached her bedroom, she halted in her steps.
The door was slightly open.
Although she had been gone for a long time, Shen Anran didn't think they would leave her room unlocked.
But thinking about it, there shouldn't be any valuable things inside. If there was, Shen Yulan and her mother would've already taken them. So, she stopped worrying and entered her room.
Shen Anran closed the door behind her, looked around, eyebrows furrowing and sighing at the sight before her.
The room was a mess. It looked like it hadn't been cleaned for a long time with the layers of dust on the surface of closet and cupboards. Even the curtain was the same as when she left. Her bed was unmade and unchanged. The marks she left behind when she was forcefully taken from her room when they sent her to the mental hospital were still there.
Truthfully, she had expected this. But she couldn't help but feel disappointed.
Her father should have already gotten the news that she was back. Yet, he hadn't done any preparation for her return.
His neglect towards his daughter still stung her, even now.
As she dwelled on this, she suddenly heard a sound.
'A thief? In broad daylight?'
Shen Anran mused as her head turned in the direction of the sound.
The sound had come from her closet.
Getting out of bed, Shen Anran grabbed the candelabra on the side and stepped toward the closet.
As she padded against the carpeted floor, Shen Anran raised the candelabra, ready to strike if a thief was hiding in there.
'Thud.'
There was another sound coming from inside it.
Shen Anran no longer hesitated and opened it.
Then, she froze in shock.
There was a little boy beneath the layers of clothes.
Sitting on top of her other clothes, the boy looked like a tiny, fluffy animal and had a cute, chubby cheek with delicate features.
'A hamster.'
That was the first thought that came into her mind.
No, wait. Why was there a kid in her closet?
Shen Anran glanced at the candelabra in her hand and immediately hid it behind her back.
"Hey, little one. How did you get in there?"
The boy didn't react; his attention was locked on the Gameboy in his hands.
Huh, kids these days sure are advanced.
Knocking on wood, Shen Anran tried to get his attention. But the boy didn't hear it.
Crouching to his level, Shen Anran gently patted him on the shoulder.
"!!!"
The boy finally noticed her, but he reacted so strongly that the Gameboy flew from his hand. He looked extremely frightened, and he hid deeper into the closet.
Now, he looked more like a hamster.
Shen Anran was amused, but didn't want to laugh because she was afraid that she'd end up scaring the little boy.
"Where did you come from?"
"Are you lost?"
"Do you want me to look for your mom and dad, little one?"
"Hey, no need to be afraid."
Shen Anran continued speaking, but the little child remained inside the closet. For a moment, they were in a standstill.
One outside the closet, the other inside.
Both fell silent as they did not expect a situation like this.
Shen Anran stopped talking and sighed.
She placed the candelabra on the floor where the little child couldn't see it.
Then, she stood up and went to her bed. She remembered getting a gift from the hospital. One of them was chocolates and candies, so she grabbed a handful from the bedside table and walked back to the closet.
The little child was still there. He didn't escape as soon as she left.
His wariness toward her made Shen Anran feel guilty and concerned.
So, after leaving the candies and chocolate on the floor in front of the closet, she went back to lie in her bed.
She also kept the door open just in case the little child chose to run back to his parents.
Lying on the bed, Shen Anran stared at the ceiling.
After a few seconds, her eyelids became heavy, and she soon drifted to sleep.
Meanwhile, the little boy in the closet timidly shrank himself deeper into the closet. It hadn't been closed so from where he was, he could still see the beautiful woman who had just caught him hiding.
The little child noticed that she returned to the bed, and an adorable pout appeared on his face.
After a few glances towards the bed, the little child finally reached his tiny paws to take the treats on the floor.
He instantly became happy as he munched on them, turning his hands dirty as they melted in his hands.
After waking up from her short nap, Shen Anran stretched her body while lying down. When she turned her body to the side, she stiffened as she saw a small head propped up on the bed, staring intently at her.
Shen Anran was almost scared to death.
Had she not remembered that there was a little hamster who sneaked into her bedroom earlier, she would've thought that a ghost had invaded her space and screamed.
Patting her heart to calm down, Shen Anran curled her lips as she returned her gaze to the little child, who was watching her.
"Hi."
She greeted him softly, but the little child just stared at her.
Shen Anran noticed the chocolate stain around his mouth and couldn't help but laugh, finding him adorable.
When she reached out to clean his mouth, he leaned back with his frightened eyes.
Her fingers paused midair.
'So timid?'
But wasn't he watching me sleep just now?
Or perhaps he wanted something?
Shen Anran finally realized something and sighed.
"Do you want more candy?"