The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, gently waking Ye Chen. He rubbed his eyes and sat up in bed, taking a moment to remember where he was.
"Right," he murmured to himself. "I'm living here now."
He got dressed and headed downstairs. The aroma of breakfast filled the air, and his stomach growled in response.
In the kitchen, Jiayi was busy cooking. She wore an apron over a fitted blouse, her long hair tied back. She turned and smiled as Ye Chen entered.
"Good morning, Ye Chen," she said warmly. "Did you sleep well?"
"Good morning, Sister Jiayi," Ye Chen replied. "I slept great, thanks."
"Come, have a seat. Breakfast is almost ready," she said, gesturing to the dining table.
As he sat down, Meixiu strolled into the kitchen, yawning and stretching her arms above her head.
"Morning, everyone," she said sleepily. Her casual t-shirt and shorts revealed her athletic figure. She glanced at Ye Chen and grinned. "Looks like someone's up early."
"I didn't want to miss breakfast," Ye Chen said with a smile.
Meixiu laughed. "Good choice. Sister Jiayi's cooking is the best."
Just then, Lianyi entered, carrying a small stack of books. She wore a simple dress, and her hair fell softly around her shoulders.
"Good morning," she said softly, offering a shy smile.
"Good morning, Sister Lianyi," Ye Chen greeted.
Jiayi began placing dishes on the table—steamed buns, fried rice, and fresh fruit.
"Wow, this looks amazing," Ye Chen said, his eyes widening.
Jiayi sat down and poured tea for everyone. "I hope you like it."
As they started eating, Meixiu leaned forward. "So, Ye Chen, what are your plans now that you're here?"
Ye Chen swallowed his bite of food. "Well, I was thinking of finding a job nearby. I don't want to be a burden."
"Nonsense," Jiayi said firmly. "You're family. There's no rush."
Lianyi nodded in agreement. "Take your time."
Meixiu smirked. "But if you're bored, you can always help me with some errands."
Ye Chen chuckled. "Sure, I'd be happy to help."
After breakfast, Jiayi stood up. "I have to go to the store to get some groceries. Ye Chen, would you like to come with me?"
"Of course," he replied.
"Great," she said, her eyes brightening. "Let me just grab my bag."
As Jiayi left the room, Meixiu nudged Ye Chen. "You're in for a treat. Shopping with Sister Jiayi is quite the experience."
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Meixiu winked. "You'll see."
A few minutes later, Jiayi returned, carrying her purse. "Ready to go?"
"Yes," Ye Chen said, standing up.
"Have fun!" Meixiu called out, a mischievous tone in her voice.
Outside, the weather was pleasant. They walked down the street toward the market.
"How are you adjusting?" Jiayi asked gently.
"It's been great so far," Ye Chen said. "You all have been so welcoming."
Jiayi smiled. "We're happy to have you here. It's nice to have more family around."
As they reached the market, Jiayi began selecting fresh vegetables and fruits. Ye Chen helped carry the bags.
"Do you cook, Ye Chen?" she asked.
"A little," he admitted. "But I'm not very good."
"Maybe I can teach you some recipes," Jiayi offered. "It's always useful to know how to cook."
"I'd like that," he said sincerely.
As they walked past a bakery, the scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air.
"That smells wonderful," Ye Chen remarked.
"Let's get some," Jiayi suggested.
They entered the bakery, and Jiayi selected a variety of pastries. The cashier smiled at them.
"Is this your brother?" she asked Jiayi.
Jiayi hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "Yes, he is."
Ye Chen felt a warm feeling at being included.
After they finished shopping, they headed back home. Along the way, Jiayi glanced at him.
"Ye Chen, if there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask," she said kindly.
"Thank you, Sister Jiayi," he replied. "You've already done so much."
She shook her head. "It's no trouble at all."
Back at the villa, Meixiu was lounging on the couch, flipping through a magazine.
"How was the shopping trip?" she asked.
"It was nice," Ye Chen said, setting down the bags.
Jiayi began unpacking the groceries. "Ye Chen was a big help."
Meixiu grinned. "Maybe I should take him along next time I go out."
"Where would that be?" Ye Chen asked.
"Oh, you know, just around," she said vaguely.
Lianyi entered the room, carrying a small potted plant.
"Look, the flowers are blooming," she said softly, showing them the delicate blossoms.
"That's beautiful," Ye Chen said.
Lianyi smiled. "I thought it would brighten up the living room."
"Good idea," Jiayi agreed. "It adds a nice touch."
As the day went on, Ye Chen helped around the house, assisting Jiayi with meal preparations, carrying boxes for Meixiu, and listening to Lianyi talk about her favorite books.
In the evening, they all gathered in the living room to watch a movie.
"Which one should we watch?" Meixiu asked, scrolling through the options.
"How about a comedy?" Jiayi suggested.
Lianyi nodded. "Something light-hearted would be nice."
They settled on a funny film and made themselves comfortable. Ye Chen sat between Jiayi and Lianyi on the couch, while Meixiu stretched out on an armchair.
Halfway through the movie, a particularly funny scene made them all burst into laughter.
"This is great," Ye Chen said, smiling broadly.
"It's nice to relax together," Jiayi agreed.
As the movie ended, Jiayi stood up and stretched. "It's getting late. We should all get some rest."
"Agreed," Meixiu said, yawning.
Lianyi gathered the empty cups from the coffee table. "I'll wash these."
"I can help," Ye Chen offered.
"Thank you," she said softly.
In the kitchen, as they washed the dishes, Lianyi glanced at Ye Chen.
"Are you settling in okay?" she asked.
"Yes, everyone has been so kind," he replied.
She smiled gently. "We're glad you're here."
After finishing the chores, Ye Chen headed upstairs to his room. As he prepared for bed, he reflected on the day.
"It's nice to be part of a family," he thought.
Just then, there was a light knock on his door.
"Come in," he said.
Jiayi peeked in. "I just wanted to say goodnight."
"Goodnight, Sister Jiayi," he said.
She gave a small wave. "Sleep well."
As she left, Ye Chen felt content. He climbed into bed and closed his eyes, looking forward to what tomorrow would bring.
The following morning, Ye Chen woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. He stretched and got dressed, ready to start the day.
Downstairs, he found Meixiu in the kitchen, attempting to make pancakes. Flour was scattered on the counter, and she had a smudge of batter on her cheek.
"Good morning, Sister Meixiu," Ye Chen greeted with a smile.
Meixiu turned around, startled. "Oh! Morning, Ye Chen. I didn't hear you come in."
He chuckled. "Need any help?"
She sighed dramatically. "I was trying to surprise everyone with breakfast, but it's not going as planned."
"Let me give you a hand," he offered.
Together, they managed to mix the batter properly. As Ye Chen cooked the pancakes, Meixiu watched.
"You're pretty good at this," she remarked.
"I guess I picked up a few things," he said modestly.
When the pancakes were ready, they set the table. Jiayi and Lianyi joined them shortly after.
"This looks delicious," Jiayi said, taking a seat.
"All thanks to Ye Chen," Meixiu admitted. "I might have messed it up without him."
Lianyi tasted a bite. "It's perfect."
They enjoyed the meal together, chatting about their plans for the day.
"I have some errands to run," Jiayi said. "Ye Chen, would you mind helping Meixiu clean the garage?"
"Sure," he agreed.
"Do I have to?" Meixiu groaned.
Jiayi gave her a look. "Yes. It's been cluttered for weeks."
"Fine," Meixiu sighed.
After breakfast, Ye Chen and Meixiu headed to the garage. Boxes were piled everywhere.
"Wow, this is... a lot," Ye Chen observed.
Meixiu shrugged. "I may have a slight shopping habit."
They began sorting through the items, organizing them into piles.
"What's in this box?" Ye Chen asked, opening a container.
Meixiu peeked inside. "Oh, just some old clothes."
She pulled out a hat and placed it on his head. "Looks good on you."
He laughed. "I don't think so."
As they worked, they chatted about various things.
"So, why did you decide to move in with us?" Meixiu asked.
"I needed a change of scenery," Ye Chen said. "And my brother suggested it."
She gave him a sideways glance. "You can be honest, you know."
He paused. "Well, things weren't going great back home. I thought a fresh start might help."
Meixiu nodded. "I get that. Sometimes a new place can make a big difference."
They continued working until the garage was tidy.
"Not bad," Meixiu said, surveying their work.
"Team effort," Ye Chen replied.
She smiled. "Thanks for helping. It would've taken me forever alone."
Later, they joined Lianyi in the garden. She was tending to the flowers, humming softly.
"Your garden looks beautiful," Ye Chen commented.
Lianyi looked up, pleased. "Thank you. Gardening is my hobby."
"Maybe you can teach me sometime," he suggested.
She nodded eagerly. "I'd like that."
As the sun began to set, Jiayi returned home.
"How did everything go?" she asked.
"We cleaned the garage," Meixiu announced proudly.
Jiayi looked surprised. "Really? That's wonderful."
"Ye Chen did most of the work," Meixiu admitted.
Jiayi smiled at him. "You're fitting right in."
They decided to have a barbecue for dinner. Together, they prepared the food and set up the grill outside.
"This reminds me of summer nights when we were kids," Meixiu said.
"Good memories," Jiayi agreed.
As they ate, laughter filled the air. Stories were shared, and the atmosphere was warm.
"Thank you all for making me feel at home," Ye Chen said sincerely.
"You're part of the family," Jiayi replied.
Lianyi raised her glass of juice. "To new beginnings."
"To new beginnings," they echoed, clinking their glasses together.
That night, as Ye Chen got ready for bed, he felt happier than he had in a long time.