"Just then, we heard a strange sound coming from inside the house."
"It sounded like someone screaming."
"Someone screaming?"
Yu Yanyan couldn't help lowering her voice.
"Yes, someone screaming."
"And... it sounded just like A Yun."
The old woman's expression grew even stranger.
"A Yun?!"
Yu Yanyan covered her mouth again.
Her eyes widened in astonishment.
"How could that be?"
she murmured.
"Grandma, are you sure?"
she asked hurriedly.
But the old woman shook her head. "I'm not sure."
Yu Yanyan froze. "...Huh?"
The old woman gave a rueful smile. "It only sounded a little like him."
"I was so startled that I didn't notice what A Yun's mother was doing."
"I just heard a loud bang, and the door slammed shut."
"One of the children even fell backward and sat down on the floor."
"The children were all stunned."
"So was I."
"I regretted getting distracted. I didn't even see the expression on A Yun's mother's face."
"I didn't know whether she'd suddenly snapped because she'd reached her limit, or—"
"Because of that strange scream?"
"You didn't find out?"
Yu Yanyan clasped her hands tightly together.
Her heart was beating inexplicably faster.
She held her breath, waiting for the old woman's answer.
"No."
The old woman shook her head, looking helpless. "How could I find out?"
"After that, A Yun's mother became even more guarded."
"As for those children..."
The old woman paused to choose her words. "A Yun's father went to their homes."
"I heard he was very stern with them."
Their families all scolded them.
"They didn't dare go looking for A Yun again."
"After what happened to those children, everyone put their thoughts aside."
"Whether it was concern or curiosity..."
"After all, we were only neighbors."
The old woman smiled. "Since they