"Your stomach hurts?" Lin Shuying repeated as if she didn't hear her before.
Bai Xue Yao pulled her lips into a pout before nodding her head. "Ahh, mom it really hurts. I'll just stay home… I can't even move my hands… ahhh."
Bai Chen who had changed into his gym clothes rushed into the sitting room, his eyes widening in agitated shock. "Mom, don't believe her, she just wants to sleep."
"No, I don't… I really feel pain in my stomach." Bai Xue Yao insisted, shooting daggers at Bai Chen.
Bai Ling Yue walked past them as if she didn't see the commotion. She had learnt that, for the sake of her sanity it was best she avoided Xue Yao.
Meanwhile, Jun Yi came with a mug of hot tea. "Here, drink this and you will feel better."
Bai Xue Yao glanced at Jun Yi, she let out a tired sigh. "Did you put honey in it?" She slowly sat up.
"I made it just as you like it. Three spoons of honey." Jun Yi said, handing the mug to her.
"Thank you brother Jun, you are the best." She said taking a sip from the chamomile tea, it was as sweet as she wanted it. She let out a deep sigh, her gaze drifting to Bai Chen who stood with his hands on his waist, he wore a bright yellow band over his head.
"What an eyesore." She muttered under her breath as she brought the mug to her mouth again.
"Yaoyao should stay at home if she isn't really well." Zhen Guo said as he crouched beside the couch she was sitting on.
"No, she is coming with us. This girl is too mischievous to leave all by herself." Lin Shuying shook her head. "Hurry up and drink the tea, you are coming along, and I don't mind dragging you if I have to."
"Mom, don't worry about me, I'll never do anything that would put you in pain. Even if the sleep comes, I'll fight it with everything I've got." She weakly waved her hand in the air.
"And…Tang Meilin and Luo Xinyue are coming over, so I won't sleep." She added, before lowering her head to take another sip.
"Tang Meilin is coming? Mom, don't worry I'll look over her, and I'll make sure she doesn't fall asleep." Bai Chen, summoning all the conviction he could muster on his face.
Smack.
Lin Shuying hit his head. "You want me to leave you two together so you can turn the house upside down?"
"Honey!" Zhen Guo held Lin Shuying's shoulder. "We should trust Yaoyao more, since her friends will be coming, she won't sleep. Let's go." He said, pushing Lin Shuying towards the door.
"Let's wait until they arrive." Lin Shuying shouted, she tried to turn around but Zhen Guo continued pushing her out. "Don't sleep okay?!" She shouted from outside.
"Yes, mom." Xue Yao shouted weakly.
Jun Yi ruffled her hair. "Be good Yaoyao." He said with a tired smile before leaving.
Bai Chen stood, glaring at her. "I don't believe you." He said with suspicion burning in his eyes.
Xue Yao stuck out her tongue. "Go work those muscles out, and don't be a lazy ass."
"Says the lazy ass." He shot back, before slowly walking away.
The moment the door shut, Xue Yao craned her neck to see if they had really left. And just as she was about to stand up, the door slammed open.
"Gotcha!" Bai Chen shouted dramatically, but his expression immediately turned to a dull one.
Xue Yao stared weakly at him. "Really? Are we going to do this?"
"My bad." Bai Chen saluted, his eyebag made him appear more like a panda saluting.
The door shut close again, and this time Xue Yao waited for a long time to make sure Bai Chen wouldn't pull the same trick on her again.
After a couple of minutes had passed, she set the mug on top of the table in front of her. She slowly stood up, tiptoeing closer to the window. She hid herself beside the window, before peeping her head out. She could see her family running in the far distance, almost disappearing from her view.
"1,2,3,4,5… Yes!" She jumped up with her fist up. "Finally I get some time for myself." She said in a happy tone before rushing towards her room.
She carefully arranged her bed before sprawling her limbs on it. She let out a satisfied sigh, she couldn't remember when last she had lain on her comfy bed.
Her lips stretched into a smile, but they slowly faltered when her phone chimed, she reached for it with a frown.
"Notification!
This is a message from the state government. If you mistakenly fall asleep, these are the things you must know to be able to wake up again.
Research showed the sleepers who had woken up all seemed to have experienced a similar world but in a different location. Once you sleep you immediately step into another world, where there are beasts and monsters, find the nearest two pillars, it is the door that leads back to our world.
Avoid any contact with the beasts, they are very violent and see humans as food.
Avoid walking at night as it is the time when the most violent ones are most active.
Try not to die in there, or you will die in the real world.
Anyone who sleeps and wakes up must notify the government. There is a special place for the sleepers where they can increase their chances of survival ...."
"Yawn!" Xue Yao tossed the phone aside. She believed she didn't need the information as long as she didn't fall asleep.