The restroom was indeed not far away, but this area was used by staff. It was not like the spacious, well-lit public restrooms outside for visitors.
Instead, the lighting here was dim, and the lights had to be switched on to see clearly when entering and leaving.
After Lianlian led Niannian inside, she let go of her hand.
She asked, “Which stall are you using?”
All the stalls were empty, so any one would do.
But Niannian still chose the outermost one.
“Where are you going, sister?”
Lianlian replied, “I’ll go in the one next to you.”
“Okay!”
It was as if an invisible little tail was wagging behind Niannian. The little girl was visibly delighted.
Sister Lianlian wasn’t just going to the bathroom with her—she was even staying in the stall next to her!
To Niannian, this meant Sister Lianlian was finally starting to accept her.
She even wanted to finish quickly so Lianlian wouldn’t have to wait too long.
But her left hand was still in a cast, leaving only her right hand usable.
She was also wearing a Frozen-themed princess dress, with a long skirt.
Niannian was very afraid of getting it dirty, so she carefully lifted the skirt first.
But then she realized she had no hand free to pull down her pants.
She frowned slightly.
Maybe she should ask Sister Lianlian?
Sister Lianlian was older, so she must know better!
“Lianlian sis—”
Before she could finish, the bathroom lights suddenly went click—and turned off.
The entire restroom fell into darkness.
Niannian gasped.
“Lianlian sister! Why did the light go out?!”
But there was no response from outside the stall.
Panic rose instantly.
“Sister! Sister, are you still there?”
She carefully moved toward the door.
Making sure her skirt wouldn’t touch the toilet, she lowered it and reached for the door.
Strange…
She clearly hadn’t locked it.
But now the half-closed door wouldn’t open no matter how she pushed.
Her voice trembled.
“Sister… where are you? I’m scared…!”
She pushed harder with her only usable hand, but the door still wouldn’t move.
In her panic, she even instinctively tried to use her injured arm—
Pain shot through her instantly.
The doctor had told her to avoid using it.
But she really didn’t want to be locked in here.
She wanted to get out!
“Dad Wen… Mommy…!”
Her voice turned into a crying plea.
Bang!
A heavy sound slammed against the door.
Niannian jumped violently and retreated until her back hit the toilet.
What was that?!
Before she could think further, a low eerie voice came from outside:
“Ugly thing… I’m a ghost. I’m going to eat you… I’m going to eat you, ugly thing!”
Her heart pounded wildly.
A ghost?!
How could there be a ghost?!
Would ghosts eat little friends?!
But… why did this voice sound a little familiar?
“Hehehe… ugly thing, you better leave now… or I’ll crawl to your bed at night and eat you!”
Niannian trembled in fear.
But the familiarity grew stronger.
She finally asked hesitantly, “A-Are you really a ghost?”
“Of course! I’m an evil ghost! I eat ugly children like you!”
The voice continued making scary noises, trying its best to intimidate her.
Niannian sniffled.
“Is the evil ghost’s name… Qi Qi?”
Outside, the voice instantly exploded in frustration.
“What Qi Qi! I’m a ghost! I’ll eat you right now!”
Niannian cried even harder.
“Okay… Qi Qi ghost… I believe you… I believe you’re a ghost…”
Qi Qi: “……”
Damn it.
Why did that sound so wrong?!
But at least… she believed him.
He snorted proudly.
“You’d better leave right now, or I’ll eat you!”
Niannian sobbed.
“But you have cavities… you’re missing two teeth… can you still eat me?”
Qi Qi immediately covered his missing front teeth.
Even angrier now, he slammed the door again.
“I can STILL eat you! Are you scared or not?!”
Niannian sniffled.
“I’m scared…”
Only then did Qi Qi feel satisfied.
He left with a final warning:
“If you tell anyone, I’ll eat you for real tomorrow!”
After he left, the door that had been “stuck” suddenly opened on its own.
Light spilled in.
Niannian stared at the doorway and came to a conclusion:
“Qi Qi is really a ghost… a perverted ghost who can go into girls’ bathrooms…”
“So scary…”
“His magic is so strong!”
She quickly ran out of the stall and toward the filming area.
Outside, light finally returned.
Just as she stepped out, she saw Lianlian walking back.
“Niannian! Sorry, I forgot we came together. I only just remembered and came back to find you.”
She reached out to hold her hand.
But Niannian pulled her hand back.
Her eyes were still teary as she looked at Lianlian.
Lianlian seemed a little guilty.
“Did you just finish? Why did it take so long? You’re injured, let me help you walk…”
But Niannian suddenly turned and ran straight past her toward the filming area.
She didn’t believe her anymore.
She didn’t believe anything anymore.
Lianlian had said she forgot her.
Qi Qi the “ghost” wanted to eat her.
And now Lianlian had definitely tried to send her to the ghost on purpose.
She was not a three-year-old anymore.
She was four years old now—she was not that easy to fool!
Lianlian’s expression changed slightly and hurried after her.
“Niannian! Wait!”
By the time Niannian returned to the filming area, Wen Chengxi had already seen her.
And he also saw the tear tracks still on her face.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Before he could ask anything, Niannian had already rushed into his arms.
Lianlian followed behind, looking anxious.
Wen Chengxi’s heart softened instantly.
He lowered his voice.
“What happened? Did something scare you?”
As he spoke, his gaze drifted almost imperceptibly toward Lianlian.