Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared

Early in the morning, a knocking at the door disrupted Gu Fan’s sleep. Yawning, he got up and headed downstairs, wondering who on earth would visit this early and disturb his dreams.

When Gu Fan opened the door, he was surprised to find Luo Jingrong standing outside, who gave him a smile. "I’m sorry, it seems like I’ve interrupted your sleeping in," he said. "I was passing by and wanted to see the old house where I once lived. You don’t mind, do you?"

"Not at all, not at all. It’s not like looking around will cost me anything," Gu Fan replied quickly and gestured for Luo Jingrong to come in.

Once inside, Luo Jingrong looked around. Nostalgia sparkled in his eyes as he took in the familiar surroundings. "It hasn’t changed much since my childhood, even the furniture. You’ve done your best to preserve its original state. Although it’s aged, the feeling of warmth is still there," he couldn’t help but comment.

Gu Fan nodded, "I did want to replace the tables and chairs at a point, but my father objected. He said that although the furniture is old, it can never be bought again. Some things hold far more meaning than their original value."

"Yes, once some things are lost, all that’s left is their memory," Luo Jingrong sighed, continuing, "I only lived here a few years when I was young before I moved away with my family. You know, your father was younger than I was at that time. We all used to run and tumble about in this house. Despite it being cramped with so many of us, we were incredibly happy and it was always full of life."

"I didn’t get to experience that, but every time my father talks about the past, he never stops. It seems like those days were the best moments of his childhood," remarked Gu Fan. He felt something was off – Luo Jingrong seemed to be looking for something in the room rather than reminiscing about the past.

Eventually, Luo Jingrong revealed his real reason for coming, "Yes, memories are precious, especially those from childhood. And that’s exactly why I had to see this old house again. My hope is that the house, having held so many people’s memories, can continue standing and hold many more. But Gu Fan, you are holding on to something that you really shouldn’t, which could potentially bring you trouble. Aren’t you worried about others showing up at your doorstep?"

"What do you mean?" Gu Fan was on guard now; it seemed that Luo Jingrong’s visit wasn’t as simple as it appeared.