Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 1239: Chapter 946: Farewell_2

”Huai Shi?” he asked.

Huai Shi nodded.

”Walk that way.” The gardener watering flowers pointed in a direction: ”He’s waiting for you.”

”He?”

Huai Shi was puzzled: ”Who is he?”

”The master here.”

The gardener smiled, solemnly reminding: ”Be prepared to be challenged, Mr. Huai; he can be quite terrifying when he’s angry.”

Huai Shi was stunned.

Suddenly, he realized the subtle hostility of the town toward himself.

It wasn’t hostility from the gardener in front of him, nor anything else murderous, just a pure dislike for him, the outsider, hence the constant difficulties.

Even walking, if he’s not careful, he might trip and fall onto dog poop...

”Have I violated any rules?” Huai Shi was confused.

”You need to understand.” The gardener shrugged: ”People develop some odd tempers when they age. Young man, I wish you luck.”

He laughed gleefully, waved, and returned to the house.

All along the way, Huai Shi clung to the walls, moving cautiously.

Even so, he was hit on the head twice by tiles falling from the wall, chased down a street by stray dogs, and scratched twice by a cat jumping from the fence.

The residents saw him, but they were not surprised. They stood afar, admiring his misfortune, pointed out the road ahead but didn’t mention much else.

Until he finally arrived at an old house and stood in front of the door.

But before he could knock, the door was pulled open.

The old woman standing in the hallway smiled and gestured for him to be quiet, inviting him in.

”No! Go away, I’m not listening!”

In the living room with the burning fireplace, the little boy sitting in the chair resisted others’ comforting, complaining indignantly: ”I don’t want Anna to leave! We promised to play games together!”

”Alright, dear teacher, not like that, remember what we agreed.” The bearded middle-aged man squatting nearby persuaded him helplessly: ”How about I accompany you instead?”

The little boy was stunned, then shook his head and snorted: ”You’re too lame, no fun!”

”How about I call others? Everyone will play with you together.”

”No!” The boy was angry: ”You’re all just appeasing me!”

The middle-aged man was increasingly helpless, but seeing Huai Shi, it was as if he saw a savior, and he coughed vigorously twice: ”The guest is here, teacher, composure, mind your predecessor’s composure.”

”I don’t want composure!”

The little boy jumped up from the chair, angrily kicked him, and stormed out. Passing by Huai Shi, he gave a fierce glare and shouted:

”I hate you!”

Huai Shi was dazed and bewildered, not knowing what had happened.

But the little boy had already left, unwilling to talk to him.

After a while, Huai Shi anxiously asked: ”Uh, did I disturb you?”

”No, don’t worry, the teacher is just struggling to come to terms.” The middle-aged man picked up the coffee pot in front of the fireplace and poured him a cup: ”How about a cup of coffee first?”

Huai Shi took the cup, felt the real warmth and the aroma from the coffee beans, and after sipping it lightly, felt a warmth spreading through his body, warming him entirely.

Accompanied by the crackling sound of wood in the fireplace, he sat in the chair, gradually relaxing.

Gazing at the real scenery outside the window, he felt as if he was in a dream.

He couldn’t help but be curious.

”Where is this place?”

”Perhaps it’s the last shelter for the Lonely Ghosts?”

The middle-aged man shook his head bitterly, smiling and solemnly requesting: ”Please just wait a bit longer, Sonia...is still saying goodbye to Anna.”

”It’s okay.”

Huai Shi shook his head: ”I’m already quite content that you didn’t kick me out.”

”Then, more coffee?”

”Sure.”

Huai Shi’s eyes lit up, raising the cup.

Not long after, footsteps sounded from upstairs.

The middle-aged woman, her eyes still a bit red, holding a little girl’s hand, walked down from upstairs and finally reached out to tidy the young girl’s clothes, trying to say something but failing, instead hugging the girl tightly.

”Did you bring everything?” asked the woman at the hall door.

The middle-aged man shook his head: ”The things inside can’t be taken out.”

He walked over, crouched on the ground, focusing on his daughter’s cheek, and after a long time, seriously instructed: ”Remember what Mom and Dad told you to do? Don’t eat too many sweets, go to bed early, and listen to your big brother, okay?”

The young girl nodded vigorously, obediently following her father to Huai Shi’s side, letting him place her hand in Huai Shi’s.

But as they finally walked outside, she stopped.

Looking back at her family, she solemnly said goodbye:

”Mom, Dad, I’m leaving.”

”Mm.”

The father, hugging his wife, nodded, gently wishing her: ”Be careful on the road, my darling.”

Finally, he looked at Huai Shi, smiled, and bid farewell:

”Have a safe journey.”

Huai Shi hesitated, but couldn’t help asking: ”Aren’t you leaving?”

The middle-aged man shook his head: ”If we want to leave, we can anytime. The teacher hasn’t bound us from leaving... But if everyone leaves, wouldn’t he be left all alone?”