Chapter 05: “Being Lost With You”

The next day, Shen Xiaofan woke up and went outside her tent. It seems like she woke up earlier than others, so she took a morning walk near the woods. Shen Xiaofan is still bothered by what Emily Chen said yesterday.

--"You have a guardian spirit following you.",

What guardian spirit?

Shen Xiaofan had no idea what a guardian spirit is, and what exactly did it do?

It's called a guardian, means it protected her? But from what?

Moreover, the word 'spirit' bothers her even more. Does that mean a spirit is actually following her? Even if it means they were there to protect her, Shen Xiaofan couldn't completely trust them.

"Perhaps Emily Chen is just messing around with me…",

These words were heard by Wei Xiu who had followed after her. However, this time she took a distance and watched her from afar. She felt a heartache hearing that Shen Xiaofan didn't trust her or believe in her existence. Wei Xiu knew that Shen Xiaofan was completely oblivious to her surroundings. But she's a sweet girl, it's the first time Wei Xiu was interested in a younger girl. While Wei Xiu is absorbed by her own thoughts, Emily Chen suddenly shows up from behind.

"I finally found you.",

"Eek, it's you again! What do you want from me?!",

"You're the ghost here, why are you the one who gets scared?!", Emily Chen took a deep breath and continued, "Look, I can't trust a ghost like you. But the fact that you're protecting Shen Xiaofan means you are some kind of guardian spirit.",

Wei Xiu couldn't say that she protected Shen Xiaofan because Shen Xiaofan was hers. However, she just nodded her head out of terror. She really doesn't want to be trapped by the talisman again.

"Then, I don't mind if you get closer to her because she… Shen Xiaofan is a special kid… her spiritual fragrance is attracting evil spirits. I'm concerned about her safety…",

"Who are you?", Wei Xiu asked.

"My family runs a ghost-hunting business. You could say I'm a young ghost hunter. However, it seems like I'm still way behind professionals. Anyway, if you are Shen Xiaofan's guardian angel, please protect her from those bad spirits.",

Wei Xiu was thinking for a moment, she's a spirit and she should have been attracted by Shen Xiaofan's fragrance. However, that's not what attracts her…

"I will protect her even without you interrupting our business.",

"That's good… but if you do something--",

"Yes, yes… I won't mess around.",

Meanwhile, after taking a morning walk, Shen Xiaofan went back to the camp and spotted Hou Yang stretching his body.

"Morning, Xiaofan… where have you been?",

"Just taking a morning walk in the woods. What about you?",

"Just stretching… say, do you want to stretch together?",

"Sure.", Shen Xiaofan approached Hou Yang and began stretching together. The way she spent time with Hou Yang wiped out her worries, which is good. Shen Xiaofan didn't mean to just believe in spiritual things. But she could be easily bothered by something and ended up overthinking it. Sometimes, she hates her brain for being easily bothered by something insignificant.

"Ah-Yang, thank you.",

Hou Yang who was busy stretching his athletic body tilted his head to Shen Xiaofan, "For what?",

"For being here.",

Shen Xiaofan's words had made Hou Yang's heart beating fast. However, he thought it was due to the stretching, so he replied with his usual grin. On the other hand, Wei Xiu, who had finished her business with Emily Chen, spotted the two of them happily stretching together. She was so madly jealous of Hou Yang, she also wishes to do sports with Shen Xiaofan too!

It was 7 am when all the students had woken up, the teachers tasked the female students to clean the ingredients, while the male students looked for branches for the fire. Shen Xiaofan was tasked to clean the mushroom nearby, it was around 2 kilograms. When washing the mushroom at the river, suddenly Wei Xiu used her spiritual power to appear before Shen Xiaofan. She also changed her appearance into an outdoor outfit for exploring.

"Xiaofan, is that you?".

Shen Xiaofan heard someone calling her name and turned back. She saw Wei Xiu wearing a hiking jacket and jeans.

"Ms.Wei?",

"Yes, it's Wei Xiu… are you on a school camping trip? I think I just spotted a camp not far from here.",

"Ah, yes. We're about to cook breakfast, I was tasked to wash these mushrooms.",

"That's quite a lot… do you mind if I help you?",

Shen Xiaofan was taken aback and refused politely, "No need, I can do it alone.", however, Wei Xiu hadn't given up, "It's faster if two people washing it.", Wei Xiu had already taken several mushrooms and washed them on the river. Seeing that Wei Xiu was already taking an action before her, Shen Xiaofan had no choice but to accept Wei Xiu's help. The two began chatting as usual, asking each other's odds and news. Once the two had done washing all the mushrooms. Wei Xiu found an excuse and disappeared into the woods. Shen Xiaofan thought Wei Xiu had her own business and returned to the camp. When Shen Xiaofan arrived, she was given another task to cook the mushroom with Emily Chen.

"Let's cook these mushrooms.", Emily Chen said happily, she actually liked to befriend Shen Xiaofan.

"Yeah.", Shen Xiaofan replied with a smile.

Wei Xiu appeared behind Shen Xiaofan and surprised Emily Chen. The two communicate through hearts,

"What are you doing here?", Emily curtly.

"Accompanying Xiaofan.",

"She already had me.",

"She also had me.",

The two glared at each other behind Shen Xiaofan, there were thunder strikes between them. Shen Xiaofan felt an ominous feeling behind her, she tilted her head behind only to find Emily Chen glaring at something.

"Emily, what are you glaring at?",

"Huh? Oh, nothing… let's just cook.",

"Okay(?)",

In the end, the three(?) cook the mushroom together and make a mushroom stew. The students had a complete meal and returned to their camping activities. The teacher asked the student to find several flags that were hidden in the woods. The students were divided into 5 people per team. Shen Xiaofan and Emily Chen were once again teamed together with other 3 students. Inside the woods, Shen Xiaofan's team managed to find 3 flags. Since this is a competition, Shen Xiaofan's team were fired up to find as many flags as possible. In the end, they were divided into 3 and 2 people. Shen Xiaofan was on the 3 person team, they walked really fast and before she knew it she had been left behind.

"Oh, great… I'm lost.", Shen Xiaofan sighed. Wei Xiu who had been following her adored her courage for not getting panicked.

In the end, Shen Xiaofan searched for more flags and found another 3 flags. She didn't realize she had ventured deep inside the woods. Even at this moment, Wei Xiu still had no idea how is this kid didn't even get panicked the slightest bit? In the end, she had no choice but to use her spiritual power to appear again.

"Oh, if it isn't Xiaofan. We met again.", Wei Xiu laughed dryly as she pretended to bump into Shen Xiaofan again.

"Ah, yeah. Good afternoon, Ms.Wei… still exploring the woods?",

"Yes… actually, I'm quite lost…", Wei Xiu wanted to remind Shen Xiaofan that the two of them are lost, however, Shen Xiaofan gave determined eyes and replied, "Oh, don't worry just leave it to me.",

Shen Xiaofan held Wei Xiu's hand with her other hand. Wei Xiu was taken aback and blushed, "X-Xiaofan?",

"Don't worry, I'll lead us back to the camp.",

Wei Xiu didn't expect Shen Xiaofan knew the way back. She just let Shen Xiaofan lead her to wherever they might go. As long as she's with Shen Xiaofan, she's willing to get lost anywhere.

Surprisingly, Shen Xiaofan did lead her to the camp. Wei Xiu looked at the camp and then to Shen Xiaofan, "But, how?",

"Before the competition began, our teacher had already instructed us to follow the tree with an 'X' sign on it. As long as you kept following the instruction, no matter how deep you explore the woods, you won't get lost.",

Wei Xiu could feel something strange awaken inside her, her Xiaofan sure is smart. She liked Shen Xiaofan even more and tightened her hand that still intertwined with Shen Xiaofan's. However, soon she could hear the rest of the students returning to the camp. Wei Xiu hurriedly finds an excuse and leaves the camp in a hurry.

"Wait, won't you get lost again?",

"Don't worry, I know the way from here. See you again, Xiaofan.",

Before Shen Xiaofan responded, Wei Xiu had already run to the woods once again. Shen Xiaofan was confused, why did Wei Xiu run to the woods? Didn't she try to get out from the woods? Why is she run back inside again? When Shen Xiaofan was worrying about Wei Xiu, Emily Chen and Song Ehuang spotted her spacing out and suddenly hugged her.

"Xiaofan!!", The scream was so loud that it shocked Shen Xiaofan.

"What's wrong with you two?",

"The team said they were separated from you. So, all of us were searching the woods. Turns out you're already here!",

"...Sorry I made you guys worried.",

After apologizing to the teachers and the other students. Shen Xiaofan handed another 3 flags to her team. Her team rejoiced because thanks to Shen Xiaofan, they won first place in the competition and got a pin. However, Shen Xiaofan was still staring back towards the direction where Wei Xiu had left. She couldn't help but worry about her…

"What's wrong, Xiaofan?",

"You know, I just met with someone I know here. She was lost in the woods earlier, but now she had gone back to the woods again. I'm worried that she got lost again…",

Emily Chen didn't know who Shen Xiaofan talked about. Not until Wei Xiu appeared behind Shen Xiaofan and said, "It was me.", Emily Chen sighed and glared at Wei Xiu.

"Don't worry, she's an adult, she will be fine.",

"...Right.",

"Anyway, let's go back to the others.",

"Yeah.",

Shen Xiaofan followed behind Emily Chen. She was thinking how Emily Chen knew that the person whom she mentioned was an adult? She couldn't help but get suspicious. On the other hand, Wei Xiu had a silly smile, her Xiaofan sure is sharp and smart. Perhaps, it's not too difficult to tell her about her real identity?