The Person You Called Is Unavailable

Chapter 3 One-time cleaner

While Li Ren was taking a shower, Terry quietly changed the bed sheets. The deep gray fabric, once spread out, not only appeared neat and clean but also exuded a sense of calm elegance—if one were to ignore the clutter surrounding the bed, of course. He tossed the soiled sheets and pillowcases into the laundry basket, placing them next to the washing machine.

Before long, Li Ren emerged from the shower, his damp hair glistening. He peered through the tiny gap of the door. "What are you doing?" Terry's voice startled him, he was folding his freshly laundered clothes in the living room. Despite his efforts to dry his hair, droplets continued to escape. "Why are you washing your hair at this hour? Can't you do it in the morning? Come out and dry your hair; don't catch a chill." Terry stood up to fetch the hairdryer.

"Is this really your smallest shirt?" Li Ren asked slowly. Terry halted his movements, turning to see how the shirt fit Li Ren, but Li Ren remained hidden behind the bathroom door. "What's wrong? Is it too big?" Terry approached the bathroom. Li Ren's eyes followed him. "It's not that it's way too big... it's just not small..." Terry reached the bathroom door, pushing it open, and Li Ren didn't resist.

Terry, who was accustomed to working out and had a muscular physique, naturally wore larger clothes. In contrast, Li Ren's irregular lifestyle had left him somewhat slender. The oversized shirt hung loosely on him, the hem reaching well past mid-thigh, and sleeves that should have ended above his elbows fell to his forearms. More importantly, he was wrapped in a towel beneath the enormous T-shirt.

"Aren't the pants too big, too?" Terry asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. 'This is supposed to be a small size. The waistband even has a drawstring. How could it be too big?'  Li Ren's gaze drifted away as he nervously rubbed his nose. "... Didn't you say not to wear your pants without underwear?" He cleared his throat to alleviate the awkwardness.

"Huh?" Terry didn't immediately register, a fleeting thought crossing his mind—'Oh, so he's not wearing underwear right now?'  He stared in surprise at Li Ren and couldn't help but burst into laughter. The bright sound made Li Ren reflexively punch at Terry's arm, though his lack of strength rendered it harmless.

Li Ren grabbed his dirty clothes and pushed past Terry as he left the bathroom. The chill in the air was unsettling, and each step felt vulnerable without anything beneath his oversized garments. Though the sensation was odd, he couldn't bear to put on his old underwear again. He then dragged his suitcase to the washing machine. 

Meanwhile, Terry stifled his laughter and quietly helped Li Ren pour laundry detergent, starting the wash cycle once Li Ren had loaded all his clothes. After closing the nearly empty suitcase, Li Ren returned to the living room, his eyes settling on the assortment of clothes Terry had folded. They were mismatched in size and unevenly stacked, resembling the work of a child just learning to fold. This sight made Li Ren frown.

"Here's the hairdryer; hurry up and dry your hair before bed." Terry handed it to Li Ren. His hair was longer than most boys, and as the warm air flowed, it dried and fell into gentle waves, the color resembling light coffee, with a subtle curl. Once dry, Li Ren ran his fingers through it and gathered the loose strands on the floor, tossing them into the kitchen trash can.

As Li Ren dried his hair, Terry finished folding the last of the clothes and placed them neatly in the wardrobe before returning to the living room to pat the pillow on the sofa. Li Ren handed Terry his phone, containing details related to work. "Just send it to your phone. This number isn't for the event person in charge; it's someone I met while doing odd jobs. Tomorrow, when you get there, the person in charge will brief you. Just follow the instructions and don't embarrass me," Li Ren instructed.