A little after, Lei had fallen asleep, only to wake up a few hours later. She was a little groggy since she only had about 4 to 3 hours of sleep. Though, this wasn't normal for her after that many hours of sleep. Normally she's wide awake, but something was making her sleepy or well more groggy.
At breakfast, her parents had noticed something wrong with Lei. "Love, darling, are you feeling well?" Yawen asked as she was concerned.
It took a few minutes for Lei to reply back. "Hu-huh? Yeah, I'm fine. I just feel a little weak, that's all."
"Are you well enough to go to college today or do you want to stay home and go back when you feel better?" Mu asked.
"I'm well enough, plus if I feel like I won't be able to continue, I'll turn back or come home," Lei said. She had been eating and drinking so she couldn't be groggy because of that.
Mu looked at Yawen as Yawen looked back at him. They both nodded. "Ok if you say so. Also, take a few guards with you just in case something were to happen as you're walking to college," they both said at the same time.
Lei nodded as she finished eating and got up to head to school. She hugged them.
They hugged back and watched her leave.
After Lei had left the dining hall, she asked two guards that she fully trusted to follow her to college.
After that, she and the two guards headed to college. Lei was starting to feel a little bit better, but at the same time worse as well. She wanted to get back to college and get back to learning, even though she knows a lot more than her friends when it comes to certain topics.
About halfway, Lei's vision starts to go cloudy.
"Lei?" One of the guards asked as she saw that Lei wasn't walking in a straight line and would shake and rub her eyes.
"I'm fine. I just have something in my eyes that's bothering me," Lei lied.
"Lei, you can stop to get something out of your eye. You don't have to keep walking as you do so," the other one said as he chimed in.
"I know, but I don't want to be late on the first day back, again. Plus, I got it out already," she said as her vision went back to being clear.
The two guards looked at each other. "Ok."
Lei continued to walk to college.
About a few minutes later, they had reached the college.
"Alright, I'm here. You two can head back," Lei said as she walked to the gate, stopped, and turned around towards them.
"Ok. Also, we'll come and pick you up as well after college," they said as they bowed and left.
Lei headed straight to class. She got to her class and sat down at her desk. Lei didn't want to talk to anyone as she's afraid that the voice will start to haunt and hurt them like it did her.
At noon, lunch time, Lei quickly got food and headed back to the class as she wanted to study and also get some help from Professor Juan on some things.
"Professor Juan, can you help with some things for the mission?" Lei asked as she looked at him.
Professor looked up at her as he was sitting at his desk. "Sure, but no promises I will actually help you."
Lei nodded, "I know. I just want a different perspective with this mission and the motive of their doing."
"Oh? Different perspective on what exactly?"
"On this and that," Lei said. She had told him about what happened when she hadn't come to college. Lei had also decided to tell him about the voice who she had been hearing.
"Lei, what does the voice sound like? Have they hinted toward who they are?"
"They're voice sounds like an older lady, like around ma's age. They hinted that I've seen and met them before several times," Lei answered.
"Did she tell you what she looked like?"
Lei shook her head no. "That's all the hints I got from her. But the weird thing about the voice is that it only appears when something bad has happened or is about to happen."
"So, she's giving you a heads up about what's about to happen?"
"In a way, yes. But also not in a way. I mean she did tell me that Yu Min was in danger the day that I was asleep for most of the morning, but I didn't believe her or well want to believe her…" Lei said as she looked away. She still blamed herself for not believing the voice, not getting sleep the night before, and for getting Yu Min hurt.
Professor Juan knew she blames herself for a lot of things. "Lei, you can't be everywhere at once. So, stop blaming yourself about that day."
Lei looked at him and nodded.
"Is that all you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Yes. I believe so, anyway."
"Ok," Professor Juan said as he smiled.
"Thank you and bye," Lei said as she bowed and left. She went to an area that she had found when she had first joined. It was in a far corner with a tree in the college walls.
As soon as she got there, she heard a voice. Lei looked around. She saw Yu Min. "Yu-Yu Min-Min?" She called out. Lei didn't want to believe that Yu Min was there.
Yu Min heard Lei's voice and looked at her. He let out a smile and left.
Lei was so confused on why Yu Min was there and smiled as he left. She went to where he was and saw a letter. Lei picked up the letter. She looks to see if it was for her or if Yu Min had dropped it. Once she did, she saw that it was for her. Lei read it. The letter was simply stating that he understood why she had broken up with him and that he and the others had come up with a plan. Yu Min had also included that he still loves her and hoped that after everything that they could get back together.
As she had read the letter, a few tears had fallen on the paper. Lei smiled as she also let out a small, quiet chuckle. She was relieved that Yu Min understood why she had broken up with him and that he hopes to get back together after everything is done. Even though, after everything is done, Lei, Xiao, will be going back to the real world. Xiao was hoping that she could stay a little longer after she finishes the mission and the book. But she knows that it isn't possible, not unless she drags on the storyline after she and her friends finish the mission. Xiao also hopes to get out of her book so that she could tell Ru how she truly feels about him.
Lei had climbed up the tree as there was a branch that was sturdy enough to hold her weight. She sat down and looked at the view of the college, thinking about how she would trick the leader of the group into thinking that they had gotten her. But as Lei thought about it, the more worried she got about herself, her friends, and family as she wouldn't be able to tell them anything.
A couple of hours had passed. Lei was still up in the tree, sitting on the branch, thinking. She was too into thinking that she hadn't noticed that the college day was over. She felt at ease when she's up on the tree branch as she didn't feel like someone was watching her, didn't really have to worry about anything, her thoughts weren't about the mission or anything. If Lei could, she would definitely just stay up in a tree for an entire day or even maybe days. Trees were Lei's safe, peaceful place, or well thing - as well trees aren't really a place. She would rather live in the forest or the woods as she felt like she wouldn't really have to worry about things she already has to, when she lived in the kingdom.
While Lei was zoned out, thinking about everything, her friends started to worry about Lei as they haven't seen her since class.
"Do you think she went home?" Tao asked the group.
Everyone shook their head no as they knew that Lei would've told them that she was heading home.
Yu Min was walking by and heard the girls talking. "Are you wondering where Lei is?"
The girls nodded.
"She's at the tree in the left corner by the gates," Yu Min stated as he left.
They look at him with big eyes, shocked and confused on how he knew where Lei was. They went to go and check the tree.
Once they got there, they saw Lei in the tree, zoned out.
"Lei!" Tao called out, hoping that wouldn't scare her.
Lei heard and zoned back in. She looked down and saw her friends. Lei then jumped down and landed in front of them and then asked, "what are you guys doing here? How did you know where to look for me?"
"We were starting to get worried as we haven't seen you since lunch. Yu Min had heard us talking about where you were and told us," Shen said.
"Oh. Sorry for worrying you guys, I just needed some time away from people, so I came here to think as I knew no one really comes here often," Lei said as she looked at them. She had totally forgotten to tell anyone where she would be as her mind had been everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Though, she still was confused on how Yu Min knew that she would be at the tree.
"It's fine, Lei. Just remember to tell one of us where you are, just in case something were to happen to you and we'd know where you were."
Lei nodded as she let out a small smile. "Thanks," she mumbled.
Tao, Shen, and Wenran looked at her confused. "Why are you saying thanks?"
"I-Just in case I never get the chance to say it in the future," Lei said.
"Lei, you will get a chance to say it in the future. We won't let anyone die," Tao said.
Lei nodded.
The three girls hugged Lei and Lei, of course, hugged back.
Xiao knew that Lei, she, wouldn't really have a chance to thank them, unless what she's been doing had changed the whole storyline, plotline. She was worried that she'd be killed by the leader.
"Lei? Are you ok?" Shen asked as she saw that she was zoned out and frowning.
Lei zoned back in. "Huh? Uh. Yeah, I'm fine," she said as she forced a smile.
"Lei, you know you can't lie without smiling. So, what's really up?" Tao questioned.
Lei looked at everyone and they all nodded.
"You know you can tell us anything," Shen said.
"I know. I just feel like if I were to tell anyone this, it's going to continue to change the outcome…" Lei said as she kept looking at them.
"Change the outcome?" Wenran asked.
Lei nodded. She had figured out how she was going to tell them as she had two times before them when she explained the truth behind everything. "Ok. I'll tell you, but promise me that you won't freak out."
The three girls replied that they wouldn't freak out.
"I'm not who you three think I am. I am Lei, but not. I based her off me. My actual name is Xiao. Where we are is in my book that I'm currently writing. The day that I came into my book, I was hit by a car and lost consciousness. You three are based on my real life friends. The boys are based on my childhood friend and his friends. I don't know the name of the villain yet, but I do know what's going to happen near the exam. I was struggling with coming up with how the group was going to get to where I had planned. So, all of this might not even be written or well I don't think it is. But once I wake up in my real world, I'll write all of what happened, but I won't mention that it was me that finished the book, I'll say that it was Lei and her friends," Lei, Xiao, explained.
Tao, Shen, Wenran looked at each other and then looked at Lei. They had a feeling that Xiao wasn't their Lei as they knew that Lei was conflicted between Yu Min and Dai Hui and that she didn't want to hurt their feelings on who she would've chosen. "Lei, errr, Xiao, we believe you as you changed Lei's personality and also Lei wouldn't have kept things to herself."
Xiao's eyes widened. "You believe me, even though I could be lying?"
The three nod as they smile.
"Why?"
"Because we trust you to tell us the truth even if the truth seems unbelievable," Wenran stated.
Lei hugged them. 'Right, I made them trust Lei to always tell the truth even if it's unbelievable,' Xiao thought to herself.
The three hugged back.
As they hugged, all four girls' belly's rumble. They all heard and started to laugh.
"Let's go to the restaurant to eat, it'll be on me. You can all invite your boyfriends and I'll invite Yu Min," Lei said.
The three went red, but nodded.
Lei smiled and chuckled.
They left and headed to the restaurant.
A few minutes later. The four girls got to the restaurant and went to their normal seat, table area. But when they got to the area, they saw the four boys, along with Dai Hui.
"What are you five doing here?" Shen asked.
"Not that we weren't going to invite you all," Tao added.
The four boys smiled and looked at Yu Min. "Yu Min knew that Lei was going to be hungry and so would the rest of you since we saw that you three didn't eat a lot at lunch like you normally do. Dai Hui had just been passing by when we were half way, so we invited him as Yu Min owned a meal for him," Lao Mao replied.
The four smiled. The three went to sit next to their boyfriends. Lei was hesitant on where she would sit and who, but the only seat open was next to Yu Min and Dai Hui. So, she went over and sat down between the two.
"So, all four of you knew that the four of us were going to be hungry and that we'd come here? We could've ordered from a stall instead of coming here," Wenran stated.
Lao Mao looked at Wenran. He Zhihao looked at Shen. Kang Fang looked at Tao.
"They knew that you four were craving for the food from here," Dai Hui stated, "but also knew that you four would want to get away from the wind."
"Of course they did," the three said as they let out a chuckle.
Lei knew that Yu Min remembered that she was always snacky after college, hence why he told the three idiots. She let out a smile.
Yu Min had been looking at her and saw that she smiled and he started to smile as well.
"Yu Min knows that I'm always snacky after college so that's probably why the other three idiots joined," Lei chimed in.
The three looked at Lei when she had said the three idiots. "Excuse us Lei, but we're not the three idiots."
"Except for Lao Mao," the other two said.
"Hey! I can be smart when I want to be!" Lao Mao exclaimed.
Wenran smiled and let out a small laugh. Wenran knew that Lao Mao wasn't an idiot and that he was probably hiding the fact of how smart he actually is.
The other five looked at Lao Mao and Wenran.
Lao Mao and Wenran looked back at them, blushing.
"Stop looking at us!!!" Wenran exclaimed as she couldn't take it anymore.
They stopped looking at them and chuckled.
As they had been talking, their food had been served and they continued to talk. No one dared to bring up anything of the mission.
"Yu Min?" Lei asked.
"Yes?"
"How did you know that I was going to go to the tree in the corner of the college gates?"
Yu Min smiled, "well, I had a feeling that you needed to be away from people for a while and you had normally gone to that tree. So, I wrote the letter that I left for you when I heard and saw that you were there."
Lei smiled, slightly. She was glad that he still cares about her, even though they had broken up, but she was even more glad that he understood why they broke up.
The others were confused, but that didn't really bother them as they had always been confused when those two, Yu Min and Lei, talked.
A while later. Everyone was done and full. The three couples left. Dai Hui left as soon as he was done as he had something to do. Which just leaves Yu Min and Lei together.
Yu Min walked Lei home as he felt uneasy leaving Lei alone in the town.
"I-" Both of them had said at the same time as they were both trying to break the awkward silence between them and had looked away.
"You go first, Lei," Yu Min said as he looked at her.
Lei looked back at him and nodded. "I was happy to read your letter and I'm glad that you understood why I broke up with you. I hope you weren't too upset at me for breaking up with you…"
Yu Min stopped, put his hands on her shoulders, stopping her as well, and turned her to face him. "Lei, I was never upset. I knew exactly why you broke up with me. I also knew I had to put on a show. Before I left that night, I had mumbled 'I understood and I won't let you down.' I've come up with a guide with the others."
Lei looked at him, but then looked down. She had felt guilty, but she didn't feel guilty as she knew that he would've already known why and had started with a plan. Lei hugged him. "Thank you," she mumbled into his chest.
Yu Min heard, hugged back, smiled and mumbled, "don't thank me. I'm just doing what a boyfriend should do."
Lei smiled.
Yu Min picked her up and swung her around.
Lei's eyes widened, let out a small scream, and then started to laugh. "Yu Min!!!!" She exclaimed.
Yu Min smiled and laughed as well. "There's that amazing laugh." He then put her down.
"You jerk," she said.
"Did you just call me a jerk?"
Lei nodded as she had started running as she knew that Yu Min was going to tickle her.
"Oh! It's on now!" Yu Min exclaimed as he ran after her.
Lei was far ahead, but she had forgotten that Yu Min knows martial arts and can fly.
Yu Min ran faster, but he didn't use his martial art skills to get to her.
After a while, they reached Lei's mansion. Lei headed in.
"Hey Lei, wait," Yu Min called out.
Lei stopped and turned towards him. "Yes?"
Yu Min was struggling to find words that would help Lei understand what he's saying and what he actually means.
Lei saw and smiled. She went over to him, gave him a quick kiss on his cheek, and headed back in.
Yu Min's eyes widened, but he let out a smile. He watched her go in before he left.