The guesthouse that Terry booked was incredibly cozy. The house was a simple wooden structure, and the bed inside had no frame, with the mattress surrounded by a mosquito net to keep the bothersome bugs at bay.
The temperature at night was very low, so even without a fan, it felt as if the air conditioning was on. This forced the cold-averse Li Ren to wear a jacket, long pants, and socks, wrapping himself in a blanket to sleep.
When the window was opened, a small creek could be seen, and the sound of the babbling water soothed every tense nerve. With the large trees and little flowers surrounding it, it felt like a living painting on the wall.
The air here was fresh, lacking the smog and mixed exhaust of the city. Standing at the entrance of the guesthouse, Li Ren looked out over a vegetable garden, with mountains in the background, their large trees surrounded by a white mist, like something from a fairy tale.
'He's got a good eye for choosing guesthouses…' Li Ren thought to himself, standing by the door, admiring the view. The morning's coolness was invigorating, and a few stray hairs on Li Ren's head stood up, while some water droplets from washing his face still clung to his skin, resembling the dew on the leaves.
He watched Terry, wearing a straw hat and fully armed with gardening tools, as he busily picked small, plump cherry tomatoes in the vegetable garden, chatting with the aunties working alongside him. 'What's he doing over there…' Li Ren thought, with one hand on his hip as he observed Terry working and talking with the local women.
When Terry's basket was half full, he straightened his back, stretched, and yawned. Turning around, he spotted Li Ren standing at the door. A radiant smile spread across Terry's face, bright as the sun. "Good morning~!" he waved energetically at Li Ren, who responded with a small wave of his own.
"I'll be right over!" Terry shouted back to the aunties in the garden before walking briskly toward Li Ren. He pulled a small bunch of cherry tomatoes from his basket and handed them to Li Ren. "Look! Super fresh mini tomatoes! Try one, they're incredibly sweet!"
Li Ren took the tomatoes and said, "Why did you suddenly run off to someone else's vegetable garden?"
"It's a rare chance for me to try something like this! How often do you get to do this in Huanjia?" Terry laughed. "Hurry up and try one!" Seeing Li Ren just holding the cherry tomatoes without eating them, Terry eagerly urged.
"Ugh… still need to wash it first." Li Ren muttered impatiently.
"These don't have pesticides!" Terry reached out to grab the tomatoes from Li Ren's hand, but Li Ren quickly pulled his hand back, dodging him. "Even if they don't have pesticides, they still need to be washed! Do you know how dirty rainwater is?"
Terry froze for a moment before snatching the tomatoes from Li Ren's hand. "I'll wash them for you!" he said cheerfully, skipping back into the house to wash the tomatoes. Li Ren followed Terry into the house.
Terry quickly rinsed off the tomatoes, shook them dry, and handed one back to Li Ren. "Try it!". Li Ren glanced at Terry before taking the tomato, shaking it a couple of times to dry it off, and then popping it into his mouth.
He bit into the tomato, and the sweet juice flowed instantly in his mouth, the coolness of the fruit making it more refreshing than anything he had ever eaten. 'So sweet…' Li Ren thought in surprise, covering his mouth with his hand to hide the juice that almost dripped from the corner of his lips.
Seeing the surprised expression on Li Ren's face, Terry couldn't contain his excitement and smiled widely, bouncing on his feet. "Isn't it delicious?!" he exclaimed, practically jumping in place. Li Ren nodded and replied, "Mm."
As soon as Li Ren finished speaking, it was as though a shadow passed by, and when he realized what was happening, Terry had already run outside, shouting to the aunties in the vegetable garden, "He said the tomatoes I picked are the best!!"
"Huh?" Li Ren furrowed his brow, replaying Terry's words in his mind. After a moment, he rolled his eyes. 'What's the big deal? He just made that up!'
Terry spent a while showing off in the vegetable garden, then returned to the house with a pleasant smile. "What do you want to eat?" he asked Li Ren. Upon hearing the question, Li Ren turned to look at Terry, holding a water cup in his hand, still with a mouthful of water. After swallowing, he wiped his mouth with the knuckle of his index finger and said, "What's there to eat?"
Terry's eyes shifted as he thought for a moment. "Hmm... there's not much to eat here, we'll have to go into town." After a brief pause, he added, "Or, you can take me to eat the must-try foods here, and then accompany me to walk around!" He excitedly invited Li Ren.
Li Ren calmly replied, "I'll be going to withdraw money with you after breakfast, then I'm leaving. You can wander around by yourself, I'm busy." He waved his hand dismissively. 'As expected…' Terry's smile faded. "You have work, right?" He looked at Li Ren with understanding, realizing that, in contrast to his own carefree life, Li Ren must be someone with pressing financial needs. Then, he asked, "When is it? Where is it?"
'Tch... here he goes again... what does it matter to you? Why do you want to know?' Li Ren thought, though he was clearly displeased. Despite his irritation, he still chose to answer truthfully. "The day after tomorrow at 9AM, at Huanjia Mona Sa Hotel."
This time, it was Terry who seemed uncertain about how to respond. "Wow, you're so honest, not like you at all," his voice lowered slightly.
Li Ren sighed in frustration and said, "You have no sense of boundaries, you'll still dig for answers even if I don't tell you, won't you?" Li Ren's work the day after tomorrow was with Zhang Lin An, and the details of his schedule were no secret to the man standing in front of him. 'If the pay wasn't that high, I wouldn't work for Zhang Lin An again…' Li Ren thought.
Terry looked helplessly at Li Ren, feeling the same old indifference, wariness, and emotional distance from him. 'I know I'm pushing too much, but I really want to understand what's going on with you…' Terry thought for a moment before suddenly straightening up, crossing his arms, and saying, "40 bucks an hour."
"Huh?" Li Ren had spent the past few days getting used to Terry's quirky, unpredictable behaviour, but still, he found himself unable to immediately react to this proposal. He looked at Terry, perplexed.
"40 bucks an hour. You'll be my tour guide, travel companion, and personal assistant. For 48 hours, until your next work shift. I'll make sure to take you to your job. Sleeping hours still count, but according to my sleep schedule—if I'm not sleeping, you're not allowed to sleep. But I promise you'll get a full 8 hours of rest." Terry said, his expression serious as he looked at Li Ren.
Li Ren scoffed with a laugh, "Heh... What are you joking about?" Terry's usual playful grin faded, and he became more serious. "I'm just buying your services and time. From 9 today until 9 the day after tomorrow." He glanced at the clock on the wall. "You've got three minutes to decide. It's not a simple job—yes or no?" He raised an eyebrow and tilted his chin slightly, his expression almost challenging.
'Same old tactic... but 40 bucks an hour... If sleeping time counts, that's over 1900 in two days, more than what I'd earn in a week doing a big event... Since I've got free time, eating costs money, and this is easy money... just two days of being a handyman…' Li Ren exhaled, staring directly into Terry's eyes. "What's the exact work requirement?"
Terry's lips curled up slightly. "Follow me, listen to my instructions, no refusal unless I allow it, no slacking off. For every rule you break, one hour will be deducted from your pay. And most importantly, enjoy yourself."
Li Ren narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Enjoy myself??" But Terry wasn't planning to explain further. After glancing at the clock, he said sternly, "One and a half minutes."
Li Ren quickly checked the time. 'This guy...!' He pressed his lips together, took a deep breath, and said, "Deal!"
Terry smiled in satisfaction. "Good! Go grab your stuff, let's get in the car!" Then, he turned and walked out the door. Li Ren didn't hesitate, grabbing his wallet and phone before hopping into the passenger seat. Terry slammed the gas pedal, and their delightful journey began.
They arrived at an old, worn-out restaurant, with a long line of people waiting outside.
"Is this the must-try fried rice?" Terry asked, his chest pressed against the steering wheel, watching as the queue continued to grow longer.
"I'm just saying that everyone here has definitely tried the fried rice from this place," Li Ren said nonchalantly. 'I didn't say it's definitely good…'
"Let's queue up then."
"This line will take at least an hour before it's your turn."
"It's fine, you queue. Call me when it's your turn," Terry gestured as if making a phone call, wagging his finger near his ear.
So, Li Ren stood at the very end of the line, beginning to wait. Terry, being somewhat considerate, handed him two slices of bread left over from yesterday to fill his stomach while waiting. However, Li Ren was still holding a large bag in one hand, stuffed with all sorts of things: bottled water, a small fan, a hat, an umbrella, sunscreen—everything one might need.
"Now, let's start walking!" Terry said, the last thing he said before Li Ren got out of the car.
As the day went on, Li Ren carried his large bag, trying his best to keep up with Terry's pace. They had the local's famous fried rice, and after that, Li Ren had to stand in line for over an hour to try coconut milk smoothies. Before eating, Li Ren had to wipe down the utensils.
After they finished eating, they took photos in front of beautiful street art that told the stories of Lousheng Town. Li Ren mechanically explained the buildings with special achievements while Terry, when thirsty, would need Li Ren to open a water bottle for him and hand him a tissue to wipe his mouth, which Li Ren would dispose of afterward. Through it all, Li Ren didn't utter a single complaint. Every task completed made a crisp sound in his mind, like a coin dropping, and he was quite satisfied.
By 2PM, they were back in the car, but this time, there were no calming songs playing.
"If you want to listen to a song, just grab my phone and pick one," Terry said as he placed his phone on the phone holder.
"Mm," Li Ren replied.
Terry glanced at him and said, "Let's head to that temple!"
They were lucky enough to arrive on a special day at the temple, where both the interior and exterior had been beautifully decorated. Many people had come just to admire the scenery. In addition to the crowds, there were food stalls, handmade goods, and even game booths. Of course, among the people, there were many who had come to pray for good relationships. They stood at the entrance, looking out at the sea of people, stretching all the way from the entrance to the top of the temple.
"Wow... there are so many people!" Terry couldn't help but exclaim.
"Are we backing out?"
"Nope. Let's go!"
After their brief exchange, they confirmed their destination—the Yue Lao Pavilion located at the top of the temple. On their way there, Terry's attention was drawn to a stall selling wax hand moulds. His eyes lit up with excitement as he called out to Li Ren, "I want to try that!"
Terry rushed over to the stall, looking at the metal containers filled with liquid. The melted wax gave off a faint, pleasant scent from being heated. A hand mould wasn't expensive—just 15 dollars. Without hesitation, Terry reached out to Li Ren for his wallet, ready to pay and make a wax hand mould.
Making the wax hand mould wasn't difficult. All Terry had to do was position his hand in the desired gesture and then hand it over to the stall owner.
Terry made a peace sign, and the owner grabbed his wrist, dipping his hand into cold water. The cold sensation seeped into his skin, and after a few seconds, it was quickly dipped into the wax before being returned to the cold water again. The wax hadn't even warmed up enough to touch his hand before the cold water hardened it. This process was repeated a few times until the wax hand mould was complete.
Terry stood with his hands on his hips, looking at the owner carefully handling the wax hand mould just removed from his hand. Throughout the process, Li Ren said nothing, quietly standing by the side with his belongings in hand. Terry glanced over at Li Ren, thinking to himself, 'He's been so obedient since earlier—doing whatever I tell him. The high-paying offer really works wonders.'
"Hey," Terry nudged Li Ren with his elbow.
Li Ren looked over at him.
"Go ahead and make one too." Terry suggested.
Li Ren glanced at the things he was holding, then silently put the small fan and bottled water back into his bag, before walking up to the stall and offering his hand to the owner. However, as soon as he raised his eyes, he locked eyes with someone standing not far behind the owner. The moment the owner's hand touched Li Ren's wrist, Li Ren jerked his hand away in panic, turned, and ran.
Terry grabbed Li Ren's arm tightly. "What's wrong?"
Their eyes met briefly, but Li Ren looked away and then at the hand gripping his arm. "Let go..." he tried to pull free, but just as he did, the voice of the person he had just seen called out, "Li Ren!"
The voice came from a girl, followed by a boy. They were anxiously pushing their way through the crowd, trying to get to Li Ren.
Li Ren became even more frantic, pulling on Terry to shield himself. Terry had never seen Li Ren this panicked. Without a second thought, he turned Li Ren's back to himself, wrapped his arm around Li Ren's waist, and easily lifted his smaller frame off the ground, running through the crowd and up the stairs. The people around them were startled by the sudden rush. When they reached the top, Terry set Li Ren down, then immediately grabbed his hand and pulled him into the men's restroom, locking them in a cubicle.
Breathing heavily, Li Ren gently smoothed down his clothes, his stomach still aching from being squeezed.
"What's the rush?" Terry asked.
Li Ren took a deep breath and replied, "I don't want to see her."
He lowered his gaze, thinking, 'Rather than not wanting to see her, I don't want her to know I've come back…'
"Who is she?" Terry asked next.
"My sister," Li Ren answered coldly.
Terry fell silent. 'So, that's his sister... But she seemed really eager to see him?' He thought to himself. He then said, "Stay here for a while. I'll grab my hand mould and check if she's still around. We can leave soon."
Li Ren gave a small nod, still seemingly shaken from the earlier panic.
Terry left the restroom, returned to the wax hand stall, took back his completed hand mould, thanked the owner, and left. He looked around the area, scanning the floor and the people, but he didn't spot the girl. He then turned and headed back to the restroom. When he arrived, he found Li Ren sitting on a bench near the restroom door. Terry approached and said, "Let's go. They're gone now."
He took his things from Li Ren, who immediately felt a sense of relief as the weight was lifted. The two left the restroom and walked out of the temple, heading toward the parking lot.
"Wait!"
Just as they reached the entrance to the parking lot, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them, causing both of them to jump. Terry instinctively pulled Li Ren behind him with a lot of force. The sudden movement was so strong that Li Ren almost lost his balance, clutching Terry's shirt tightly.
"It's really you..." The girl in front of them had tears welling up in her eyes. "How have you lost so much weight...?"
The girl was looking at Li Ren, who was half hidden behind Terry. His hair was half-tied, his eyes dull and lifeless, his clothes, backpack, and shoes faded, just like they had been three years ago. The sight made the girl's heart ache. Seeing the sorrow in her expression, Li Ren felt a pang of guilt. Slowly, he stepped out from behind Terry.
"I heard from the breakfast shop owner that you came back," the girl continued. "I didn't believe it at first, thought she must've been seeing things, but it turns out you really are back. How could you not contact us for all these years?"
'So the owner really did see me…' Li Ren thought to himself.
Seeing that Li Ren remained silent, Terry stepped aside to give them some space. However, Li Ren unexpectedly reached out and grabbed Terry.
'What's going on here? Is he grabbing me??' Terry was surprised by Li Ren's gesture. 'Is this the first time he's turned to me for help?' he wondered, feeling a strange sense of excitement. He subtly adjusted himself, straightened his posture, and stood proudly next to Li Ren.
"Come home. Come see Mom. She hasn't—"
"She won't want to see me."
Li Ren interrupted his sister, cutting off her words decisively. She sighed deeply before speaking again.
"Even though she has a terrible personality, she's mentioned you a lot these years. Just recently, Dad was sick. She's been under a lot of pressure, and she's been looking much more haggard. Please, just come home and see her. Okay?"
Her words triggered Terry's curiosity. 'Wait, isn't it a single-parent family? So, Dad is back?' he thought.
Li Ren felt conflicted. He had often wondered over the years what would happen if he never came back, never contacted anyone again. What would his mother become? What would happen to this family? Hearing his sister say that Mom occasionally mentions him, Li Ren couldn't help but feel a little shaken.
"What if she acts like she did before...?" Li Ren didn't finish his sentence and sighed again.
"At least have one meal with us, okay?" His sister pressed.
"Can I go too?"
Li Ren looked at Terry in surprise, his brow furrowed. 'You again!' he thought, just about to stop him when his sister said, "Of course you can!" A smile finally appeared on her face, and Terry responded with an even brighter grin.
"What are you doing?" Li Ren hissed under his breath at Terry.
Terry leaned in, whispering in Li Ren's ear, "I'm just keeping you company. Isn't that what you need?" He tugged at his clothes and pointed at Li Ren. "You asked for help earlier."
He then looked at Li Ren, who was clearly confused. "I just don't think you need to avoid it!"
Ignoring Li Ren's protest, Terry turned to the sister and said, "I'm Terry, nice to meet you." He extended his hand, which she shook with a gentle nod.
"I'm Zheng Yi Xin. It's nice to meet you. He's my boyfriend."
Terry raised an eyebrow. "You have different last names?" he asked, looking at Li Ren.
Li Ren avoided his gaze.
"Mm, Li Ren is my half-brother from my mother's side. So he followed mom's last name." Zheng Yi Xin explained slowly.
'Ah~ no wonder there's a dad in the family. She looks about the same age as me, and that explains why Li Ren feels so distant from his family...' Terry thought.
"How about we come over for dinner tonight? Is that okay? We've got something else to do later, so we can't stay too long," Terry said.
Zheng Yi Xin smiled brightly. "Of course!"
TO BE CONTINUE...