Chongqing Chilli's Luoyang Laoban

1

Wang Yibo wasn't used to this. He looked fondly at the lean boy who spreaded his limbs on the floor of the living room as he deeply slept even after the sunny morning rays burnt his butt. He must be really tired after all the work he had done the previous day in the house that now he sleeps like a log. He has already told the boy not to overwork when he himself didn't care much about his own house but the younger was stubborn. It has been a long time since someone else washed his clothes. This Xiao Zhan boy did that too, even without Yibo's permission.

Wang Yibo left for the kitchen, letting the boy sleep some more. Yibo felt guilty for letting the boy do the chores, especially when he had paid to stay in his house but the boy was adamant to do so even after Yibo scolded him for doing so. It went to deaf ears. Maybe Yibo should not accept the money for next month if Xiao Zhan intended to pay him.

But what if he goes even before that? Yibo doesn't know why but that thought itself made him sad. Although noisy and talkative, Xiao Zhan isn't a troublemaker. Only if his house is bigger enough for two people, Yibo would have thought to admit Xiao Zhan there as long as he is willing to stay.

It has already been more than a week since Yibo met Xiao Zhan. From their first meeting onwards, Yibo knew Xiao Zhan was a vibrant child. It reminds him of his own teenage self. Hot blooded and impetuous. But honestly,Yibo liked his aura.

Yibo has an old home that has only one bedroom, one bathroom and one kitchen. The living room has nothing remarkable than a few things. A soft cushioned couch, a phonograph, a table and bookshelves. Yibo never cared much about that shelter of his until Xiao Zhan joined him for a roof over his head. That's when Yibo seriously considered repairing his almost damaged house.

All these years, he was there only for a few hours. Mostly to sleep. For that he only needed a single bed. So he already sold the other single cot attached to the one he is currently using to a carpenter who came there to repair the leakage on the roof. It happened two years ago and cost him much. The rafters and tie beams were almost decayed because of his negligence and he had to buy new ones. The carpenter already had an eye on that antiquity which helped Yibo to pay the bills in exchange for that cot.

It's only when he saw Xiao Zhan crumpling in the couch of the living room did Yibo regret selling that good off. Though Xiao Zhan would only be there for a few days, at least it would have been a help to the boy for the time being rather than sleeping on a spare bedding spreaded on the living room.

He quickly went to the kitchen to have breakfast, keeping Zhan's share aside. He rarely cooks at home and thus, there are only a few things left in the kitchen including food supplies and tools. Yibo usually has all of his meals outside home. Even if he ate breakfast, mostly it would be a take out from the restaurant he is working at. He only had to heat it up. Otherwise it would be instant food. Speaking of storing the food, there is no refrigerator in his home. He simply doesn't need it. But when he decided to take in Xiao Zhan, the situation changed.

The boy came into Luoyang only a few months ago. He came to Yibo's home barely a week before. Thus he wasn't familiar with the area. Also he willingly showed interest in cooking at home. Yibo should admit that the food cooked by him was damn good! He has never eaten such delicious food in a while. So Yibo readily agreed to Xiao Zhan's wish to use the kitchen everyday when the boy made dinner for the first time in his home and even bought a new pot for him to cook soup.

Yibo made a mental note to buy more vegetables, rice and flour to the kitchen and left home.

Walking on the sidewalk for two minutes, he reached the nearby bus station. Apparently he is earlier than usual. Adjusting the big round glasses on his nose bridge, Yibo waited for the bus while scrolling through his phone. He has been expecting to have at least a message from Cheng Xiao. But it seems like the latter is busy today as well.