The young boy startled Hua Shen so much that he dropped the apples in his hands. The sound made the boy look down at the apples then look at the things in the man's hands. He tilted his head out of confusion but deep down he knew what was happening. His new "master" was going to starve him for whatever reason. Which was why he only bought 2 apples, 2 peaches and a water holder. He felt pathetic but there wasn't much that he could do right now, He owed this man his life for now. He let out a small and self-deprecating chuckle.
Hua Shen heard him chuckle when he was bending down to pick up the apples that fell from his hands. He looked up at the boy who remained sitting on the bed with his head down low. He suddenly felt like he did something wrong, He felt panicked once again. He quickly stood up straight and composed his facial expressions.
He walked to the bed and sat down on the same chair as yesterday. He then handed one apple to the boy, Who simply stared at him from underneath his black bangs.
" Go on, Take it. You must be hungry since you didn't eat anything last night, So I brought you an apple, a peach and some water " Hua Shen informed the boy, But of course the boy already knew this. He felt like laughing at his pathetic ass self right now. He had fallen so far, From being someone that no dared to look down on to a slave that only has an apple, peach and some water. How absolutely pathetic he feels right now.
Seeing the boy wasn't taking the apple from his hand, Hua Shen moved the apple in front of the boy. Urging him to take it, However the boy still wouldn't take the apple from him. It made Hua Shen start to worry.
" Do you not like apples? I have a peach here too. However, you must eat something today. I will be checking your injuries today and If you are better then I will take you down to the city. I'm sure that we can find someone nice enough to take you in " Hua Shen told the boy, Who visibly flinched. He felt anger rising in his throat. This man was going to sell him to someone else. He thought this man was different from others but turns out that he's not. He only cares about money too.
" P-Please, Don't sell me. I'm not worth much and . . . . I want to stay here . . . . with you . . . . Mas . . . Master " The boy gathered his courage and abandoned his pride to call this man "Master" and beg him to let him stay here.
He heard the man sigh under his breath, " I thought that this discussion was over with. We had talked about this yesterday But i have no intention of letting you stay here. I don't know what you mean when you say I'm selling you, But I can not keep you here. Also, I am not your master. I already said that you are free and not a slave anymore " Hua Shen tried to correct the boy but The boy wasn't listening to him.
" Stop trying to act like a saint, You were there yesterday because you also wanted to buy a slave, right? I'll do whatever you want as long as you don't kill me or sell me to anyone else. " The boy stubbornly answered, Looking at Hua Shen with dead and hazy eyes that scared him. He realized that he would have to be more blunt and explain more.
" *sigh* Listen to me, Kid. I don't want a slave nor do I plan to sell you off. I was there yesterday because I was walking around the lake. I couldn't sleep that night and I have a habit of doing that. Anyway, I heard some noise coming from the house you all were in and went to check it out. I saw that it was just slave trading so I want to bother with you all. I was going to leave, step on a stick, stick snapped, I got found out, I praised the skinny guy, almost got out of it, got attacked by old baldy, got tricked, almost got found out, saved you, brought you back, healed you, and thats all of it. I can't take care of you nor do I plan to. You see what I'm having for breakfast, It's the same as you. Alright? I have no plans to violate you or rape you. Just calm down, alright. I won't hurt you " Hua Shen calmly explained to the young boy. The young boy was wavering, He didn't know If he could trust the man or not.
Hua Shen also noticed this, He got up from his seat and sat down next to The young boy. The boy flinched and scooted away from him slightly. Hua Shen didn't say anything, He just took a bite of the apple in his hand before setting down the bite-free apple next to the boy. Hua Shen ate his apple in silence and didn't bother the boy at all.
The boy was confused, He wanted to trust this man but he's been betrayed too many times. He's lost so much already. He doesn't know if he can lose much more before he finally breaks.
However, looking at the man donned in Light green robes and red ribbons, He feels like he can take the risk. Just once more. So he slowly picked up the apple from the bed and slowly bit into it. It had a sweet and juicy taste to it, It immediately brightened the boy up. He didn't pay Hua Shen anymore attention and just focused on eating the apple.
Hua Shen was watching him out of the corner of his eyes, seeing the boy happily eating the apple, Hua Shen slightly smiled as he went back to focusing on his own apple. It seems like the boy was opening up a tiny bit. However, He didn't know if he should continue with his original plan or if he should just forget it and let the boy stay here.
Seeing as how the boy thought he was another slave trader, He wasn't sure that it was a good idea to bring the boy to someone else but He also didn't know if he could keep him here. He is the worst at household chores and can barely take good care of himself, He is even worse at taking care of children.
Once Hua Shen finished his apple, He threw it into an empty basin before wiping his hands off with a white handkerchief. He turned to the boy, who was stuffing his face with the apple, and cleared his throat to get the boy's attention. The boy looked up at Hua Shen and stopped eating the apple so Hua Shen could speak to him.
" Listen to me please, I would let you stay here if I could but Its not possible " Hua Shen told him seriously, " Why? Do you live here with your wife or family? " The boy abruptly asked, almost making Hua Shen choke on his spit.
" Ha! Wife? As If I could have one of those. No, I don't have a wife or family. I live here alone but thats precisely the reason why you can't stay here " Hua Shen told him, he stood up and stood in front of the boy. He had a soft look in his eyes but the rest of his face was emotionless.
" Why? Are you a drug dealer or a human trafficker? "
" No, Just . . . . Ugh . . . How do I say this? " Hua Shen was having a hard time speaking his mind and stayed silent for a few seconds to plan out his sentences in his head. The boy waited patiently for him to start speaking again, He looked around the room in the meanwhile, He had noticed yesterday but The room was very red and had a lot of nic naks and others assorted goods scattered around everywhere.
Hua Shen finished planning out what he wanted to say and cleared his throat again to get the boys attention,
" What I am trying to say is . . . . I can't take care of you because I can't take care of myself "
" . . . . . . . What? "
The boy was thoroughly confused by that sentence. He had question marks surrounding his head as he looked up at Hua Shen with an incredulous expression on his face.
" I mean, I can't cook, clean, garden, et cetera. I am horrible at household chores and I can barely take care of myself, I am lucky that I have a special constitution but that doesn't help a lot of the time. I paint most days and barely leave my studio. So You will be better off going somewhere else than staying here " Hua Shen elaborated, He felt very ashamed just by speaking about all this. There was a slight amount of blush on his cheeks as he was speaking and it didn't leave even after he stopped talking.
The boy was also silent as he processed what the man had told him when he suddenly came up with an idea. He removed the blanket from his body and got out of the bed, He had his black robe and shorts on as he approached the man that was much taller then himself.
" If its cooking . . . . cleaning or anything like that, I can do those. I was the best at household chores at my home. So If I promise to take care of myself, May I stay here? " He inquired with an innocent look plastered onto his face, His eyes were sparkling with anticipation as he looked up at the man in front of him as he considered the boys words.
" A trial. Lets a trial run, If you really are good at household chores then as long as you can take care of yourself and don't disturb me while I'm painting then I can allow you to stay here. Your trial run will be one week, If you can keep up with the chores and cooking for a week then I'll let you stay here for as long as you'd like. I promise " Hua Shen informed the boy, Who had somehow snuck up on him, and watched the boy as joy and gratification bloomed on his face.
" Thank you, Sir!! Really, thank you very much " The boy smiled, He spun around in joy as he celebrated his trial run. Hua Shen showed a small smile too as he watched the boy jumping for joy, He then realized that He didn't know the boys name or really anything about him.
" I had forgotten to do this yesterday, I am Hua Shen De Ren. Its a pleasure to meet you, may I know your name? " Hua Shen introduced himself with a small bow, he saw the boy stop dancing and fell into deep thought.
" Hua Shen De Ren? The one who paints god? Thats a weird name " The boy mumbled, not thinking that the man could hear him, " Its not a weird name. I was born to paint the gods, thats why my mother gave me this name. Please don't insult it with the word 'weird' " Hua Shen berated him, which made him apologize.
" My name is DiuShi YiGe " The boy introduced himself, He also bowed slightly . He didn't really like his name but he didn't want to lie to the man whose house he was living in. So he tried to forget about his hatred towards his name but as soon as he said it all his har=tred towards it came rushing back all at once. He had the sudden urge to destroy something but was desperately trying to hold himself back in front of Hua Shen.
" The lost one? Its a very poetic name, Its beautiful " Hua Shen complicated the boy, who flinched and abruptly lifted his head to gaze at Hua Shen. Hearing him compliment his name, His heart felt a very new and warm feeling filling his heart.
" T-Thank you " DiuShi slightly stuttered as he smiled brightly, He stepped forward and hugged Hua Shen's waist. DiuShi barely went above Hua Shen's waist but it just made him look cuter as he tired to wrap his arms around his waist.
Hua Shen had only ever been hugged by his mother and "that person", It has been so long since he had been hugged by someone that It felt weird now. Or was it just the boy that made him feel weird. Like warm weird, don't misunderstand.
Hua Shen felt like he was frozen but somehow managed to raise his hand and pat DiuShi on the head. He opened his mouth to say something but his stomach beat him to it, He felt extremely embarrassed but didn't show any of it on his face.
" It seems one apple wasn't enough for my stomach. Looks like its your time to shine, DiuShi YiGe " Hua Shen said, which made DiuShi look up at him from his (HSDR) waist and smile brightly. He separated from Hua Shen's waist and was waiting for Hua Shen to show him the way to the kitchen.
Hua She chuckled before gently grabbing DiuShi's hand and pulling him along with him, They existed the room and started walking through the corridors for a while until they finally got to the kitchen. DiuShi was exhausted from walking through the entire house just to get to the kitchen that was literally straight down the hallway from the bedroom he was in.
" I'm sorry, I'm very bad with directions. Even in my own house. You can cook whatever you want, I don't exactly know what I have here since All I eat are apples and meat buns. I will be in my studio painting, when the food is ready just leave it outside my door, I'll eat when I finish painting. You can explore the house, go outside, visit town, I don't really care what you do. Just don't disturb me from my painting please " Hua Shen reminded DiuShi, who fiercely nodded his head. Hua Shen slightly smiled before ruffling DiuShi's hair, He told him a few more things about the kitchen before he headed back to his studio.
When DiuShi was alone, He looked at the big kitchen he was in and suddenly felt very small. He found some matches and some candles. He lit them up and spread them across the kitchen, It looked more friendly now. DiuShi began looking through the cabinets and grabbing whatever edible food he could find. After he had the food on the table, He began contemplating what to make.
" Cooking . . . . . Huh . . . . . Its been a while since I've cooked, I just hope that I haven't gotten rusty at it. " DiuShi mumbled to himself as he rolled up his sleeves and began making whatever he could.