Yue Yue nodded as she took a sip of matcha latte. She didn't really expect that answer but she replied, "That's great! But why did you come here and work as a barista?"
Zhi An slightly smiled and shook his head, "It's a long story." Yue Yue understood and she stopped asking.
"Whenever you're ready, I'll wait." Yue Yue smiled and tried not to be too awkward around Zhi An. He's a really handsome hunk, she thought.
After a while, Yue Yue's phone rang. It was Director Xiu from the orphanage that the hospital sponsored. She excused herself and answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Is this Dr. Zhang?" Director Xiu asked.
"Yes." Yue Yue replied, "How is everything? Are the kids okay?"
"Yes, tomorrow is Xiao Li's birthday and he's asking you to come. All of the kids missed you." (Xiao Li was five years old when both of his parents died.)" The director replied.
Yue Yue agreed and asked the director another question, "Director Xiu, can I bring a friend of mine? If you can, please avoid firework just for tomorrow." She was concerned about Zhi An as a friend so on the safe side, firework is a no-no. Director Xiu agreed to her request and she'll also welcome her new friend.
Yue Yue hung up her phone then went back to her seat. Zhi An was sitting there quietly drinking tea. She cleared her throat and asked, "Are you available tomorrow? I want to bring you somewhere fun!"
"Fun? Where?" He replied.
"It's actually a orphanage that the hospital sponsored a while back. Tomorrow is one of the kid's birthday and I thought it would be fun since we'll be spending time with cute kids. If you don't want to, I won't force you." She answered while hoping he will agree.
"I'm not too sure if the kids will like me. What if they unwelcome me? Some of the kids I saw over here said I look too depressed and gloomy all the time." Zhi An slightly laughed at himself but Yue Yue confidently said, "They'll love you. Even though they don't live in good condition but their smile will light up anyone's world."
Zhi An took some time to think and replied, "What time should I meet you?"
"7:30 am at the Futian train station. Will that be alright for you?" She asked.
"I'll meet you there."
"Great, I'll purchase two train tickets for us." Yue Yue confirmed the location, date and time then clicked pay.
Li Zhi An was about to WeChat her the money and she immediately said, "No need to pay it back. Treat me to a meal next time. Promise me?" She smiled eagerly and Zhi An nodded without saying anything else.
__________
Yue Yue and Zhi An met at Futian train station at 7:30 AM. She got two train ticket QR codes so there was no need to send the tickets separately. After they checked in, they got onto the high-speed train and it will take them less than two hours to get to the location. The orphanage is located near the city of Shenzhen.
There were people from young to old on the train, some with their families and some students were also on the train. Yue Yue found their seat and Zhi An asked her to sit first while he placed their bags in the storage above them. She was mesmerized by his physique but she shook her head and drank water from her water bottle.
"Are you okay?" Zhi An asked and Yue Yue looked at him then nodded.
"I'm fine. Don't mind me."
She was not fine...
Her heart rate jumped and she blushed like a red tomato. She looked outside the window and tried to cool herself down. With Zhi An beside her, million of thoughts ran through her mind.
During the ride, they didn't say anything. She didn't want to force him to talk. She got out a fashion magazine in front of her and flipped through the pages.
Why am I looking at magazine when I have zero interest, she thought.
She placed the magazine to where it belongs and looked through her phone. After a while, she shuffled the songs in her playlist and without any warning, Li Zhi An was sleeping on her shoulder. Yue Yue froze for a few seconds then gently adjusted herself since she didn't want to wake him up.
I guess he didn't sleep too well, she thought to herself while adjusting the train's sunshade curtains since the sun can cause sunburn.
After Li Zhi An woke up, they were already at the location.
"Did you sleep well?" Yue Yue asked.
" Yes, thank you." He was kind of embarrassed but she didn't mind it at all. He helped her with the bags then both of them got off the train slowly because there were many people.
After getting off the train, it took another thirty minutes by bus to get to the orphanage. The orphanage was in a old rundown school building but throughout the years, most of the kids are educated in community schools.
Yue Yue and Li Zhi An got off the bus, Director Xiu greeted them while the group of kids were jumping and yelling in excitement.
"Welcome back, Dr. Zhang. It's been so long, it's good to see you again." Director Xiu hugged Yue Yue.
"Director Xiu, this is my friend. Li Zhi An." Yue Yue introduced him to Director Xiu. She smiled and shook his hand, "Welcome! All of the kids are excited to see you! But first, let me show you your room, okay?" Yue Yue nodded and followed her while Zhi An trailed behind.
Their room only have one bed, one sofa, a small table and two chairs. Yue Yue asked the director, "Do you have an extra bedroom or mattress?" Director Xiu shook her head, "The other room had a leakage few days ago and there's no extra mattress. Do you have anymore questions?" Yue Yue shook her head and looked at Zhi An.
He also shook his head.
"Okay, great. You guys settle down first. I'll be with the kids." Director left the room and Yue Yue stood there awkwardly.
"I'm sorry I said your whole name even though we are not that close yet. I was confused whether to call you by your name or add something like Officer or Commander." Yue Yue apologized but Zhi An didn't mind.
"You can call me whatever you want. I'm not a commander now. Have you decided where to sleep?" He asked.
"I can sleep on sofa, you can sleep on the bed." Yue Yue answered.
"You should sleep on the bed, I'll sleep on the sofa since it's closer to the window." Zhi An placed his belongings onto the sofa and so did Yue Yue.
"Thank you for coming with me, Zhi An." Yue Yue was grateful for him but she still wanted to understand him better and wanted to know what caused his trauma.
"Thank you for bringing me here." He replied.
"Let's go and see the kids!" Yue Yue couldn't wait to see them again.
After they went out, few kids ran over to them.
"Sister Yue Yue, we miss you a lot!" Shan Shan hugged Yue Yue. Shan Shan turned six this year and she suffered from a heart condition. Her parents didn't have the money to pay for her medical bills so they abandoned her in the streets.
Yue Yue got down and smiled at Shan Shan, "I missed you, too! I missed all of you! Everyone, this is Uncle Li. Who wants to give Uncle a hug? Uncle is very nice and he brought lots of toys for you guys."
Shan Shan raised her hand, "Sister Yue Yue, I can go!" Yue Yue nodded and reminded her to ask before hugging.
Shan Shan looked up and said, "Uncle Li, can I give you a hug?"
Li Zhi An got down on her level and he accepted the hug from the child. Shan Shan whispered to him, "Uncle Li, I have a surprise for you."
"What kind of surprise?" He asked.
"These are Sister Yue Yue's favorite candies, can you give them to her?" He nodded and said, "Then, where is my surprise?"
Shan Shan gave him a peck on the cheek and whispered, "Uncle Li, if you like Sister Yue Yue, I'll let you have her. Don't hurt her."
Zhi An promised her and he let Shan Shan go play with other kids. He felt warmth just by hugging a child and he smiled as he watched her playing games with other children.
Yue Yue watched the children playing while fixing her messy hair since it was very windy. She looked back and saw Zhi An looking at her with a gentle smile on his face.