Meng Yan's Transformation

Chapter 653 Repairing the Lock

The song Zhan Zixun hummed while washing up could be heard coming from inside the room.

Zhan Mengyan recalled that dawn when Zhang Xincheng dragged her out from under the door of their house. On the way to the regular high school, he saw the bloodstains on her back and looked at her with the same heartache. Over the years, he had long regarded her as the most precious person in his life.

"Okay," Zhan Mengyan said softly, "I promise you."

Zhang Xincheng gripped Zhan Mengyan's arm tightly again, then quickly released it, as if suddenly realizing he had used too much force.

The evening breeze rustled through the hibiscus trees, as if their silence was a testament to their beauty.

Zhan Mengyan closed her eyes and heard herself say, "From now on, we'll go home together."

"Let's go home together." Zhang Xincheng's voice was nasal but incredibly firm. "We'll never be apart again."

A warm feeling welled up in Zhan Mengyan's heart. She looked up at Zhang Xincheng's determined eyes, her heart filled with happiness and a sense of security. She knew that from now on, no matter what difficulties they encountered, they would face them together.

The hibiscus tree in the courtyard appeared even more upright in the night, as if witnessing this warm and steadfast emotion.

"Mengyan, didn't you lock the door properly?"

As Zhan Zixun spoke, he dragged his shoes and walked out of the courtyard gate.

Zhang Xincheng then turned and quickly disappeared into the night.

"Okay, almost done, I'll lock it now."

As Zhan Mengyan spoke, she realized that she had been so engrossed in talking to Zhang Xincheng that she had forgotten to lock the gate. She turned to look at the gate; the iron lock was still on the bolt, rusty and worn, like a raw scar. "Zhang Xincheng," she called softly, her voice echoing in the empty courtyard, but there was no response. She only heard the howling of the wind through the porch. She tiptoed and peered out, only to see a dark figure rush past in the night, clothes fluttering, as if pulled by some unseen force—Zhang Xincheng had vanished.

"That person is so strange. Why did they suddenly leave after just a few words?" Zhan Mengyan muttered to herself, her brows furrowed as she turned to face the rusty lock. She gripped the lock head with both hands and twisted it hard—it wouldn't budge. She tried harder, and the lock head creaked and groaned, as if protesting her roughness.

"Brother, come quick! Help me!" Zhan Mengyan shouted in Zhan Zixun's direction, her voice filled with panic.

Upon hearing the sound, Zhan Zixun quickened his pace. He squatted down and carefully examined the lock: "So that's why you locked the door for so long. It turns out the lock is badly rusted. I'll probably have to oil it before it will work."

"Apply oil!" Zhan Mengyan froze, her gaze shifting back and forth between the lock and her brother.

Zhan Mengyan followed behind Zhan Zixun, the firelight from the kitchen casting flickering shadows on the wall. She took out soybean oil from the cupboard, its aroma filling the air, carrying a warm, smoky scent.

The two returned to the courtyard gate. Zhan Zixun took the soybean oil and gently poured it on the lock. The oil flowed along the rust, making a "sizzling" sound, as if it was making peace with the rust. Zhan Zixun held the lock and slowly turned it—with a "click," the lock finally obediently slid into the keyhole, making a crisp sound.

"All done." Zhan Zixun patted the grease off his hands and said with a smile, "I've fixed it for you. Remember to lock the door every night from now on."

Zhan Mengyan breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the lock that had finally closed, but a strange feeling arose in her heart. Zhang Xincheng's sudden departure was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. She looked up at the dark night sky, the moon was covered by dark clouds, without a trace of light, as if it were hiding countless secrets.