"Hey! Come back here and give me back my necklace!"
This time, Lei shouted with all his strength in the middle of the funeral home lobby. He had run after the man who, in a completely unexpected moment, vanished from Lei's sight without leaving a single trace behind.
A pair of security guards rushed toward Lei after receiving complaints from the people nearby, who were disturbed by a boy shouting in the hallway of a place meant for the rest of the dead. They demanded the boy be removed, claiming he wasn't mentally fit to be there alone.
When Lei saw the guards approaching firmly, he ran back into his mother's funeral room, opened the casket, and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead as a final goodbye. But suddenly, a pair of strong arms grabbed him by surprise and dragged him out of the funeral home.
Lei hit the ground after being thrown out by the security guards, treated as if he were nothing but garbage.
"We don't want to see you around here again!" one of the guards shouted coldly, his glare cutting deep.
All Lei could do at that moment was look the man straight in the eye and silently vow revenge. He would do whatever it took to find that mysterious man who had used some kind of magic to steal his precious quartz necklace.
"I swear I'll come back and make you pay!" Lei yelled with rage.
Even though he no longer had a home, Lei decided to return to the building where he had lived with his mother. Maybe, despite the fire destroying what he once called home, there was still something left — something that belonged to him. And with time, effort, and most importantly, patience, he believed he could rebuild some part of himself, even if he was now alone in the world.
But as he approached the apartment, he found the landlord and the security guard waiting for him outside the entrance.
"I'm sorry, Lei, but you can't be here," the landlord interrupted. His attitude had changed completely. He was no longer the kind man who always welcomed him with a smile when he came to collect rent each month.
The security guard, on the other hand, looked at Lei with sympathy. He understood what the boy was going through, because he too had been left alone in the world at a young age and had struggled for years to become the man he was now.
"What do you mean I can't be here? My mother paid two months in advance! You can't keep me from entering my own home — everything was paid before she passed," Lei protested, his blood boiling with frustration.
The landlord sighed, trying to keep his composure. He was about to argue with a seventeen-year-old boy who had just lost the only family he had ever known.
"Yes, your mother paid two months in advance. But the apartment is currently uninhabitable. I spoke with the insurance company, and it's going to take months to repair it before I can rent it out again. I'm sorry, Lei, but you need to leave. Now."
This time, the landlord was more determined than ever to evict him. Lei, devastated by the events of his mother's funeral, could hardly process it all.
Resigned, Lei turned away and obeyed.
But just as he was walking away, avoiding one last glance at what had once been his home, he suddenly turned his head when a familiar voice called out from behind.
"Lei! Wait a second!" shouted the building's security guard. A tall, slim man with dark skin, standing about 1.80 meters tall — faster than Lei — had caught up to him. Lei turned around to face him.
He stopped, locking eyes with the man who had always been a friend — to him and to his mother. Lei hoped this would be his chance to say goodbye, as he knew this might be the last time they would ever see each other.
"Lei, I know you're alone now. Your mother just passed away, and I know your father isn't around. And as you know, I'm alone in this world too. I'm not a rich man, but still, I can help you get back on your feet," the guard said, still catching his breath from the run.
Lei's eyes widened in shock at the offer. He never imagined anyone would genuinely want to help him.
"What are you trying to say, Edwin?" Lei asked, filled with disbelief.
The guard smiled kindly.
"You heard me. I want to help you. I don't want to see you out there on the streets. It's a hard place for someone your age. Will you accept my help?" he asked gently, with patience in his voice.
Lei stared at him, stunned by the offer. It sounded tempting — too tempting. But he had already experienced something similar before, when someone offered help only to ask for something in return… and it had left deep scars. He wasn't ready to suffer again.
"In exchange for what?" Lei asked, suspicious.
Edwin didn't know how to respond right away, but he could feel the fear and distrust suddenly rising in the boy. It was strange — Lei had never acted this way toward him. They had always been friends, sharing what little time they had. But now, Lei didn't feel safe talking to anyone, especially not about what he had done to pay for his mother's funeral.
"Lei, is something wrong? Do you want to talk about it?" Edwin asked, concerned.
"No, I don't want to talk. Goodbye," Lei said, then quickly walked away.
He ran through the streets with no destination in mind.
He was almost hit by a bus while crossing the street without looking.
Somehow, Lei came out unharmed.
Eventually, he found himself in a dark, dead-end alley. There was a dumpster nearby, the smell of rotten trash hanging in the air — but it didn't matter to him. He sat on the ground, pressed his body against the wall, pulled his knees up to his chest, and buried his face between them.
Lei cried uncontrollably.
"Lei…"
Suddenly, a gentle female voice echoed around him. Soft. Angelic.
Lei immediately knew whose voice it was.
His mother's.
"Mom?" he whispered through sobs, glancing around, searching for the woman who had given him life — even though he knew she was no longer there.
A peaceful, angelic presence slowly calmed the storm inside him — the one that had consumed him for hours.
"My son… Accept Edwin's help. He's a good man. Like you, he needs someone too. He's not asking for anything in return — he just wants to help you become the man he never had the chance to be."
Her voice brought back the trust he had lost.
This time, Lei was certain. He had to accept this new life that was opening before him.
"Be happy, my love. And don't worry about the necklace. Sooner or later, you'll get it back."
And just like that, Lei's mother disappeared.
Soon after, Edwin arrived, relieved to find him.
Lei smiled at him, realizing he had been wrong — and that he would accept his offer.
That night, Lei slept soundly in a small bed that had once belonged to Edwin's only son.
Lei never asked about that past, and he vowed never to do so, even though he already knew some parts of it — but not the full story. He didn't want to reopen old wounds. Now, Lei felt hopeful about his future, determined to do whatever it took to become someone in this life, and to make both his mother and his new mentor proud.
The next morning, Lei woke up at 5:00 a.m. He showered, got dressed, and felt thankful he didn't have to wear a school uniform. He grabbed an old, worn-out notebook and a pen he found on a shelf in the living room, and headed to school.
That day, some classmates mocked him for not bringing proper school supplies like they did, but that didn't stop Lei from paying close attention in class.
However, when art history class began, Lei was hit with a shocking surprise: the mysterious man who had stolen his quartz necklace using magic… was now his new teacher.
This time, Lei finally saw his eyes.
They looked just like his.
Lei froze as he recognized them.
At that precise moment, as he stared into the man's eyes, a powerful energy surged through his body. He felt the same piercing headache he'd experienced on the day everything fell apart — the day of the fire.
But instead of crying out, he closed his eyes.
And that's when he saw it all.
Random images flashed through his mind — first, a newborn baby crying, held in his father's arms. Then, a young and beautiful woman being embraced by a handsome man.
Lei immediately recognized him. It was the same man now standing before him in the classroom, watching him with eyes full of anticipation.
He was his father.