Chapter 5: When the Sun Sets, Don’t Trust Grandma
"Don't leave your room tonight."
"Don't drink the milk Grandma gives you after dark."
"Don't believe a single word she says once the sun goes down."
Three warnings—one after another.
Before I could ask anything, the call was cut off.
I stared at the screen, stunned, my frustration boiling over.
I tried calling back—Mom's phone was already switched off.
I called Dad. Same thing.
What the hell is going on with them?
Still unwilling to give up, I opened WeChat to message them—
But just as I raised my phone, something out on the balcony caught my eye.
The cacti looked withered.
Some of them had even turned slightly black.
I picked up the most shriveled one and inspected it closely.
That’s when I heard something moving in the soil.
Then, right before my eyes, a blue mushroom broke through the dirt.
I froze.
It was vibrant—almost glowing with a faint neon hue.
The note flashed through my mind again:
Rule #2: There are only cacti on the balcony. If a mushroom grows on one, eat it immediately.
Eat it?
This suspiciously fluorescent, radioactive-looking fungus?!
I stared at it, calculating how to handle it—when suddenly—
"That’s a pretty mushroom!"
My heart jumped.
Grandma was standing right behind me.
Before I could react, she snatched the mushroom from my hands.
"Mmm, just what I needed. Perfect for some fried mushrooms," she mumbled, already heading to the kitchen.
I opened my mouth to stop her, but... I hesitated.
I’d already broken one rule. I knew what that cost me.
Maybe it’s safer to just follow them.
And if the mushroom’s really poisonous... well, hospitals do stomach pumping.
A little while later, she brought out a plate.
I was speechless.
The mushrooms had turned into a kaleidoscope of colors—blue, purple, red—like something out of a fantasy game.
And weirdly... they smelled good.
"Eat up!" Grandma urged, already devouring one piece after another.
It was like she was under a spell—she couldn’t stop.
I picked up a tiny piece and took a bite.
...Why does this taste like hospital disinfectant?
"Come on, eat more. It’s getting dark."
"It’s noon, Grandma."
I was still gnawing on a pork rib, not paying much attention—until I glanced up.
Grandma was still munching mushrooms, her mouth stuffed full.
But I swear, I just heard her voice again...
I slowly turned toward the window.
The sky was golden. The sun was setting.
No. No no no.
"Grandma, I’m stuffed. I’m super sleepy too—gonna go lie down."
I bolted back to my room, slammed the door, locked it, and dove into bed.
Smooth execution. No wasted motion.
Thud thud thud.
A knock.
"Nuannuan, you didn’t eat much, how will you grow? Grandma made you a glass of warm milk. Drink it before bed."
I had just started to calm down when her voice came from outside the door.
A chill crept through my body.
Never drink the milk Grandma gives you after dark.
Never believe anything she says after dark.
"I'm sorry Grandma, I can't drink milk. I’ve had a bad stomach these past few days. The doctor said no dairy."
She didn’t argue. Just told me to rest well.
But though time was passing unnaturally fast… my body couldn’t keep up.
I tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.
Eventually, I reached for my phone again.
It said 9:00 p.m.
But outside my window—
With all my years of late-night experience—I knew…
This silence?
This stillness?
It was more like 2 or 3 in the morning.