Chapter 5 (2/2)

“Yo, I’m the one fresh outta the slammer! Why you the one stuffin’ yourself?”

I looked up at him with a mouthful of cha siu. He was sitting there looking all angry with puffed-up cheeks.

I think that was the moment when everything started to change.

I don’t know why but I had never liked anyone in all those years. Even though I liked men, I had never taken a liking to any.

I thought it was out of sympathy and pity at that time.

But someone once said that love stemming from sympathy and pity is actually more down-to-earth. I think it was Zheng Zhihua talking about his wife.

Seeing his fuming face, I quickly gulped down the meat and asked, “Any plans for the future?”

“Me? How ‘bout watching the shop for you?”

“Huh?” My old lady would freak the s.h.i.+t out. Although we knew what had really happened, everyone else around here knew him as a killer. No one would borrow stuff from my shop anymore. I mean, even as I was eating with him, we were getting attention from several pairs of eyes.

“What? Afraid I’d tear your lil’ shop down?” He turned away.

Did I hurt his ego?

“Well, no, see, the pay is kind of, you know, low.” I was treading carefully.

“Hah! You really thought I would wanna work in that s.h.i.+thole of yours? As if!” He was snickering when he turned back around—not unhappy at all. “I got a place to go. Don’t gotta worry ‘bout me!” Then he reached over, his hand pausing for a second in midair before landing on my shoulder. I was about to scold him again when he retracted it. “Heh, I’ll keep my hands to myself.”

I wondered where he originally wanted to put his hand.

I finally replied after a while, “I wasn’t worried.”

He dropped his head and then raised it again. “Thank you, ge.”

He sounded very serious.

Actually, I doubt I had ever told him that it wasn’t my idea to put him in the same room with that sc.u.mbag. It was not my idea, but it still had something to do with me.

I wondered why he never seemed to hate me, to take revenge on me or on the Qians.

I never did him much kindness either.

He would still be munching on prison food if he had not put out the fire and rescued a bunch of people.

“Wh-what are you thanking me for?” I bit my lips.

My old lady says I only bite my lips when I am sad.

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