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.
Terry took Li Ren's phone, and before long, his own phone chimed with a notification, revealing Li Ren's number. Seeing that Terry had acquired the work details, Li Ren attempted to retrieve his phone, but Terry kept it, continuing to type on Li Ren's device. "What are you doing?" Li Ren frowned, and after a brief pause, Terry returned the phone to him. Li Ren took it back, "That's my number. If I call you, make sure you answer!" Terry grinned.
Li Ren shot Terry a glance, noticing "Terry the Handsome" on the screen, and grimaced. 'Ugh, what a cringe nickname!' He quickly edited it, removing "the Handsome," and change it to "Terry-ble." The look of disbelief on Li Ren's face was amusing to Terry, who chuckled again. "What are you laughing at?" Li Ren glared at him, as if he could knock Terry's jaw out of place with his stare.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Get some rest. I'll leave in the morning; you should try to sleep in. As for breakfast, there are plenty of places downstairs. If you don't want to go out, we have bread and biscuits, and you can cook noodles if you feel like it—just treat it like home," Terry advised, to which Li Ren simply nodded in agreement.
Just as Terry was about to turn off the lights, he looked back at Li Ren, hesitating as if he had something to say. "Spit it out!" Li Ren snapped, feeling his irritation flare. "Your towel is wet..." Terry remarked softly. Li Ren glanced down at the damp towel he was wrapped in. "Are you gonna sleep in this?" Terry cautiously confirmed. Li Ren knew well that sleeping wrapped in a wet towel was as intolerable as wearing dirty underwear. 'But with him here, I can't exactly take it off! Why does this have to be a SOHO?!' Li Ren cursed inwardly.
"Just turn off the light. I promise I won't mess up your bed," Li Ren rolled his eyes and sighed. Terry complied, turning off the light, and then the bathroom light as well, before lying down on the sofa that seemed too small for him. Li Ren tried to make as little noise as possible, hanging the damp towel on the bedpost before settling into the soft covers. Exhaustion overtook him, and before long, he slipped into a deep slumber.
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As the sun slowly ascended, its golden rays began to spill into the room. Li Ren blinked awake and glanced around to catch sight of the bothersome figure, but found nothing. Lifting the covers, he placed his feet gently on the floor. 'Has he left already?' Li Ren pondered, running a hand through his hair as he picked up his toothbrush and toothpaste and made his way to the bathroom.
Soon, he came to the kitchen, his stomach growling after a long spell of emptiness. A conflict brewed within him—should he go downstairs for breakfast? After all, it felt a tad awkward to rummage through someone else's kitchen. Ultimately, he decided to step out and sort his breakfast elsewhere.
He retrieved his freshly dried clothes from the washing machine, tossing them onto the bed, and selected a comfortable outfit to wear. Just as he reached for his phone and wallet on the table, something caught his eye—a sticky note, weighed down by two fifty-dollar bills, next to the house keys.
—Remember to eat! Meals are covered while you're working at my place!—
Li Ren eyed the note with a sideways glance before picking up a pen and jotting down a few lines on the same paper. He then grabbed the keys and stepped out the door.
Downstairs, the myriad of breakfast options seemed to blur into one another. After much deliberation, he settled on two sandwiches—one for breakfast, the other for lunch. He hastily consumed the breakfast sandwich, then exited the shop, ready to tackle the day's tasks.
Upon returning home, Li Ren stood at the center of the room, surveying the mess that awaited his attention. He fetched his suitcase, setting it by the bed, and meticulously folded his clothes into it. Next, he stripped the bed of its linens, tossing them into the washing machine alongside the dirty sheets Terry had changed out last night.
Though Terry's belongings were a bit scattered, they weren't overwhelming. Li Ren efficiently sorted through the CDs, books, and simple exercise equipment, organizing everything neatly into the cabinets. Even the shoes in the entryway met with Li Ren's decisive hand, shoved into the shoe cupboard with a certain finality. He then cut up all the empty boxes, binding them together and setting them aside.
With the clutter cleared, he dusted the cabinets, then moved on to vacuuming and mopping the floors...
This entire routine was second nature to Li Ren, flowing seamlessly from one task to the next. Hours slipped by, and before he knew it, it was already three in the afternoon. Sitting on the sofa, he surveyed the fruits of his labor with a satisfied smile. 'Next comes the finishing touch,' he thought to himself.
After neatly re-dressing the bed with the fresh linens, Li Ren picked up the sticky note and labeled each cabinet for easy reference, ensuring that Terry could find his belongings without hassle. Confirming that he had completed all his tasks, he switched off the lights and fans, picked up his suitcase, and prepared to leave.
Just as he sat down to put on his shoes, his phone buzzed beside him. Li Ren stared at the screen, hesitating for a moment before finally answering the call. "Hey! How's it going? Did you sleep well? I need a favor—could you run down to the bakery and grab a small slice of marble cake? I'll take you somewhere special tonight when I'm back!"
The moment he picked up the call, Terry's voice bombarded him like a rapid-fire barrage. 'Marble cake? What's that for? I'm about to leave', Li Ren thought, rolling his eyes internally.
"Hey? Are you alright?" Terry's voice took on a note of urgency when he didn't respond. "Mm," Li Ren finally muttered. "You scared me! Did you eat anything yet?" Terry continued, his tone turning maternal. Li Ren offered curt responses. "Eat well while you're recovering. Avoid fried foods. Drink plenty of water," Terry instructed, launching into another series of reminders before Li Ren could interject. "My break is over; I have to go. Don't forget the marble cake! Bye!"
Before Li Ren could reply, the call ended abruptly.
'What just happened?' He sat there in the entryway, staring at his phone for a long while, utterly speechless. In frustration, he snatched his shoes and flung them to the ground, then hoisted his suitcase back into the living room...
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Time slipped away like sand through fingers as Li Ren slumped on the sofa, impatience etched on his face while he awaited Terry's return. The small clock on the tv cabinet ticked loudly, each movement of the second hand sending a wave of irritation coursing through him. 'Why am I still here?' he thought, the question echoing in his mind. Just then, a noise came from the front door, followed by the sound of it swinging open.
"Oh my God, what kind of expression is that? You look like you've seen a ghost!" Terry's familiar voice pierced through the air. "Wow—" he continued, oblivious to Li Ren's mood as he dove headfirst into his own excitement. His eyes widened in disbelief at the transformation of his home, and he began flinging open drawers, like a child uncovering hidden treasures.
"Could you help me manage the house? I'll pay you triple, quadruple! I'll give you everything!" Terry exclaimed, bubbling with enthusiasm. He had spent a week trying to organize his chaotic space, yet it was Li Ren who, in a single day, had made it shine. But Li Ren wasn't swayed. While the promise of money was tempting, it felt strangely akin to gaining some bizarre privilege. "No way," he replied.
"Just think about it for a second!" Terry pressed, his hands clasped together in a mock pleading gesture. But Li Ren remained resolute.
"Aren't we going out? Where are we off to? What's with the cake?" Li Ren asked, finally breaking the tension. Terry paused, his playful demeanor fading as he followed Li Ren's gaze to the marble cake sitting on the dining table.
"For someone's birthday," he answered, a hint of sincerity replacing his earlier levity.
TO BE CONTINUE...