Chapter 12 (2/2)

“I’m walking home.” Fang Zhaomu shivered. “I won’t talk to you anymore. It’s really cold. I’ll talk to you again when I’m home.”

Fang Zhaomu hung up and made his way home, half-walking and half-running.

His lodging was not very far, nor very near the school compound. It would take about twenty minutes for him to walk back.

As he made his way round a corner, Fang Zhaomu discovered a car behind him. However, it never drove past him, but slowly followed him instead.

When the car was right behind him, Fang Zhaomu turned his head to take a look. Due to the intensity of the headlights, he was unable to distinguish what type of car it was, and continued walking ahead.

At the start, Fang Zhaomu did not think that the car was following him. However, after making two turns, the car was still the same distance behind, following him, and Fang Zhaomu became suspicious.

The dazzling lights and the sounds of the tires rolling across the road made Fang Zhaomu’s hair stand on end. In his head, many violent headlines flashed by. He kept closer to the wall, keeping as much a distance as possible from the car, and his footsteps sped up.

After half a street, the car was still sticking behind him. Fang Zhaomu was frightened to death. He wanted to dial 911, but after seeing those three digits, he hesitated, and instead gave a call to Andrew who was unable to do anything from Seattle.

Andrew answered very quickly. “What happened?”

“Andrew,” Fang Zhaomu paid attention to the car behind him, and spoke hurriedly to Andrew. “There seems to be a car following me, it has followed me for for awhile already. What to do, should I call the police?”

“…” Andrew was silent for a few seconds. “Don’t be afraid. Are you sure it’s following you? What car is it?”

“It’s driving very slowly, and keeps maintaining a distance of about 10m behind me. It’s been following me for 3 streets,” Fang Zhaomu mustered up his courage and turned to look at the car, in the end, he was so frightened that he started running. “I… I can’t see… what car… it is.”

At this moment, that car suddenly made a turn, and drove down that street at the same speed.

Fang Zhaomu came to a stop. He turned back to look, then started walking briskly ahead. He told Andrew, “It has turned onto another street.”

“How far away are you from your home?” Andrew asked.

“3 more minutes.” Fang Zhaomu could already see his place. “Can you continue talking to me? I’m very scared.”

“I can,” Andrew agreed instantly. “It’s fine, don’t be scared.”

Fang Zhaomu had been running about for the most part of today. His heart was beating rapidly, and he thanked Andrew with a small voice, continuing ahead. He was also not sure if Andrew might feel that he was paranoid, but he really got a fright, and could not think too much about it, only wanting to return home quickly.

When he reached the gate of the apartment building, Fang Zhaomu took his keys out with shaking hands and unlocked the gate. He ran in and closed it behind him, finally managing to relax a little. Slowly walking up the stairs, he told Andrew, “I’m home already.”

He was out of breath, holding on to the staircase railings, he stopped to rest. Andrew was also silent, before telling Fang Zhaomu, “Good.”

“Andrew,” Fang Zhaomu looked up at the dark and narrow stairway. He spoke softly, “Thank you for accompanying me.”

“It’s not very safe at night in C City,” Andrew said calmly. “Don’t walk alone next time.”

Fang Zhaomu felt that he was unable to keep this promise, so he did not say a word.

“I’ve ordered some food for you,” Andrew spoke up. “Where do you live? I’ll get them to deliver it to you.”

Fang Zhaomu was surprised. He headed up the stairs while refusing it, “There’s no need for that, it’s so late already. Anyway, I’m also not hungry.”

“I’ve ordered it half an hour ago. Give me your address.”

Andrew’s voice was very firm, and so Fang Zhaomu reported his address to him. “Is it near you? Are you going to find an opportunity to come peek at me?”

“I’m not even in the same city, how am I going to peek?” Andrew said. “Your place isn’t far from mine.”

Reaching his door, Fang Zhaomu heard a clear ticking noise coming from Andrew’s side. It stopped very quickly, and sounded like the signalling lights of a car. Fang Zhaomu asked him, “You’re in a car?”

“Yes, there’s something urgent. I have to head back to the office.”

Fang Zhaomu felt sympathy for Andrew. He also had something urgent just now, but at least he was home now. Andrew instead had to leave now, his work seeming much tougher than Fang Zhaomu’s. He did not want to disturb Andrew anymore, and so said his goodbyes and hung up.