His stomach betrayed him.
Mr. Zhou looked at him with amazement. He watched this kid grow up until his old man died. He knew for sure how prideful and arrogant the kid was that even his grandpa couldn't make him laugh back then. He was sharp and smart for his age unlike the kid old man Zhou was seeing today.
Tsk. The passage of time showed no mercy. Old man Zhou took his time before he paused, "You've grown up." That's what all he could say. That sharp kid turned dull, though a familiar spark in his eyes was still there. He was glad that his friend's grandchild can still be saved.
With a sigh, Mr. Zhou turned around and went inside the restaurant, not forgetting to leave behind some words he wished he offered years ago.
"Come to me when you're hungry. Just treat it as me owing that old man."
Leng Mo trembled at the sudden invitation. For years, no one in his family, not even his blood parents, invited him to eat. Tears welled up in his eyes as Leng Mo tried his best not to show his weakness. Cool guys never cry. He couldn't bring shame to his grandpa by crying, especially not to an acquaintance… no, they were friends.
Friends...
The image of a girl flashed through his mind and another person's face appeared, overlapping.
Gu Chen Ri.' He repeated the name until he seated himself across Old man Zhou.
Perhaps it's just a coincidence? Leng Mo thought. He doubted the possibility of the two people being the same. Rather, he denied its possibility before it even took its roots. They are polar opposites.
"It shouldn't be," Leng Mo muttered.
"Shouldn't be what?" The voice of the old man snapped Leng Mo back from his daze.
He looked at the old man who had walked quite a distance. Leng Mo snapped out of his daze and scurried over to Old Zhou. Call him shameless, but it's been a month since he last tasted meat. He couldn't afford to let go of this opportunity because of his measly pride.
A few minutes of waiting and finally, a foods Leng Mo used to hate were spread on the table. Taking a spoonful, Leng Mo pigged out as he savored the meat that brought about the old times. Tears started welling up again but he held back his emotions like he always did.
Setting down his utensil, Leng Mo looked at the old man. His hairs turned silverfish white, accentuating his age.
"Thank you, Mr. Zhou."
A looked of shock washed Mr. Zhou's face upon hearing the sudden change in attitude from the kid. He usually scoffed at him when he served their food before. Taking a deep breath, Old Zhou gazed at the leftover barbeque on Song Leng Mo's plate.
"Aren't you eating those?"
Leng Mo stared down his plate and a sheepish smile flashed across his lips.
"C-can I take it out?"
Mr. Zhou almost chuckled at his words but forced himself against it as the kid looked serious. The expression he has now was vastly different from his old self when the kid told his grandfather that he'd rather spend his birthday in his bedroom than stay in this smokey restaurant.
"Uh… Yes, su—"
"I want Xiaomu to taste it," Leng Mo cut the old man, mid-sentence. After all, his grandfather taught him that it was rude to take out free food offered by others.
"Xiaomu?" A bout of confusion painted on Mr. Zhou's face. The name did not ring a bell.
"My baby brother," Leng Mo added, answering the questions Mr. Zhou was meaning to ask.
"Holy shit—"
Leng Mo almost chuckled at the old man's cuss. It must've been a shock to him as to how he never knew his good friend had a new grandson.
"How… how old is he?"
"Four. His full name is Song Muchen. He's about the size of a child around three to four years old. He's a cute and bright child…(unlike me)," Leng Mo muttered the rest of his words under his breath.
Mr. Zhou noticed the light in Leng Mo's eyes when he talked about his younger brother. It was a new world for him that was undiscovered not until now. And the more he thought about it… the more sad the old man became. Who knew how much hardship the kid in front of him endured to make him undergo drastic changes. He's a teenager now, but in the eyes of Old Zhou, Leng Mo was still a child, a helpless one at that.
"You should really bring over your baby brother here once in a while. Tell him Old Man Zhou wants to see him."
Leng Mo's emotions felt at ease at the thought of Xiaomu experiencing the warmth he's feeling now. He wanted to nod his head but shook it.
"My parents do not want me to have anything to do with him," Leng Mo lowered his eyes, avoiding the Old Zhou's eyes. He couldn't bring himself to look straight at those clear and warm eyes. He refused to do so as he was afraid that his built-up feelings would make him cry.
Old Zhou understood right away that he crossed a line unwittingly, "I—"
"They thought I was a curse," Leng Mo added, interrupting Old Zhou again. The atmosphere turned heavy as Leng Mo released the breath he never knew he was holding.
"They thought that every people I get close to dies. I thought so too. Even grandpa and Elder Brother were no exemp—"
"Shh…" This time, it was Old Zhou's turn to stop Leng Mo midway. Just as he thought, the youth before him was still a kid no matter how tough he acted.
A bout of silence engulfed them. It was not until Leng Mo's phone vibrated that Old Zhou spoke again.
"How about… you live with me?"