Zhang Yiran stare at Mu Zhe's face deeply. Totally disbelief with what he just heard. Mu Zhe just reply with a wide smile reaching from ear to ear. There was absolutely no shame.
Zhang Yiran elbowing Jiang Hai while gesturing towards Mu Zhe. "What's wrong with our friend? Suddenly want to move out of the dorm? And out of so many places, he moved here." Jiang Hai shrugged his shoulders. "How would I know? If you dare, go and asked him." Zhang Yiran quickly shook his head.
As soon as the door opened, Fantuan had already there to greet them.
"Meoww..."
Fantuan rubbing his head against Mu Zhe's leg.
"Fantuan... my big boy. Daddy is back."
Mu Zhe quickly put the bag on the sofa and carries Fantuan. His smile was wide. He looked so excited. Jiang Hai and Zhang Yiran looking at each other.
"Daddy?"
Jiang Hai whispering. Zhang Yiran gesturing "Let it be... As long as he's happy."
Mu Zhe open the door to Lulu's room. Gave a signal for his two friends to put his belongings there. He really treating Lulu's house like his own. There was no awkwardness at all.
With Fantuan still in his arms, Mu Zhe walking into the kitchen. He took out three cans of soda and hand them one to Zhang Yiran and another to Jiang Hai. The other one was for himself.
"Thank you for helping me move."
He said casually while sitting on the sofa. Jiang Hai and Zhang Yiran looking at each other. Dumbfound. How could Mu Zhe move into Lulu's house without Lulu at home? And act like it's was his own house? What was their relationship? Since when did their relationship become so deep?
"Where is Lulu?"
Jiang Hai asking as he sit next to Mu Zhe. The same with Zhang Yiran.
"Hospital."
Mu Zhe replies briefly. His hands were busy playing with Fantuan.
"Err..is his mom okay?"
Zhang Yiran ask. Mu Zhe froze for a moment. His face turns gloomy. He slowly shook his head. Zhang Yiran went silent.
"But... I will make her happy."
Mu Zhe said with a warm smile. Sincerely. He look at ZhangYiran's face deeply. Hoping to put Zhang Yiran at ease. He didn't know the story between Lulu and Zhang Yiran. But he could see how worriedly his best friend was.
Zhang Yiran nodding. His heart insisted on meeting his mother. However, he didn't want to make his relationship with Lulu became more complicated. Zhang Yiran gave a weak smile.
"What else do you want us to help you with?"
Zhang Yiran ask. Trying to put his minds busy from thinking about his own problems. Mu Zhe thought for a moment.
"I'm hungry."
He said.
Zhang Yiran and Jiang Hai look at each other.
"Do you want us to order delivery or eat out?"
Jiang Hai ask. His mind was already imagining Ru Yi's face. Mu Zhe thought for a moment.
"Wait a moment."
He said as he ran to the kitchen with Fantuan still in his arms. He open the fridge. He starting to scan what was inside. Mu Zhe look at Fantuan who had made a poker face. A smile began to form on his lips and he return to the living room.
"Let's cook."
He said. His face look cheerful. Jiang Hai and Zhang Yiran look at each other.
"I don't know how to cook. Do you know?"
Jiang Hai ask Zhang Yiran.
"You work at a restaurant, right? You must been learn something, do you?"
Zhang Yiran ask.
"I... I just help them wash the dishes and clean up the table. Cooking... I... I don't have time to learn."
Jiang Hai gave an excuse. He didn't want to admit that he didn't have time to learn how to cook because all his attention was focusing on how to seduces Ru Yi.
"It's a waste for you to work at a restaurant but not learn how to cook. Next time, learn from Lulu."
Zhang Yiran said. His face look so proud.
"Eh? Working at a restaurant doesn't necessarily mean you have to know how to cook. I..."
Jiang Hai tries to defend himself but Zhang Yiran didn't want to hear all his excuses. He had already pinching Jiang Hai's lips before Jiang Hai finish his words.
"Don't worry. Let this big bro cook."
He said while looking at Mu Zhe. As if to say "Leave everything to me. I will save you from starvation. I won't let Lulu be sad." Mu Zhe just smile. Jiang Hai gave Zhang Yiran a deadly glare. "Show off." Jiang Hai pulled Zhang Yiran's hand away from his lips.
***
Zhang Yiran open the fridge. He looking at the ingredients one by one while his mind was thinking about the menu he could cook with that.
"Is it true that you can cook?"
Jiang Hai ask, looking for trouble.
"Shhh..."
Zhang Yiran was too lazy to deal with Jiang Hai's fuss. He took out a few eggplants and placed them on the table.
"Do you know how to cook rice?"
Zhang Yiran ask to Jiang Hai. Jiang Hai nodding.
"You go cook rice."
Jiang Hai gave the order. With a unwilling face, Jiang Hai complied. Zhang Yiran looks at Mu Zhe. He gestured with his eyes for Mu Zhe to put Fantuan down.
"Oh."
Mu Zhe quickly let go of Fantuan.
"Meoww."
Fantuan walking into the living room with a relieves face. He had been holding back his anger since then.
"Well. Cut this."
Zhang Yiran said as he gave Mu Zhe a few onions.
"Huh?"
"More onions?" Mu Zhe's spirits felt like they had already soared to the sky. His memory of the historic incident between him and Lulu over the onion flashed in his mind.
"Why? Don't you want to?"
Zhang Yiran ask. Mu Zhe quickly took the onion from Zhang Yiran's hand.
"Hehe... I will. I will. Let me do it."
Mu Zhe replying while grinning at Zhang Yiran. After he turn around, his grin disappear immediately and it turning into a snout like a puffer fish's mouth.
Jiang Hai smile at Mu Zhe's antics. No one dare to go against Zhang Yiran's orders. Not because he was a hot-temper or a bully, but because he had the aura of a leader.
Before Mu Zhe start cutting the onion, Zhang Yiran managed to poke an onion on the tip of the knife. Mu Zhe and Jiang Hai look at each other in surprise. What's wrong with him? Is he playing or cooking? Or trying to start a fight?
"You won't cry later."
Zhang Yiran said answering all the questions that were floating in his two friends' minds.
"Oh..."
Mu Zhe and Jiang Hai nodding slowly. Still not believing what Zhang Yiran said, but still agreed. It's nothing wrong to try.
After trying Zhang Yiran's advice, Mu Zhe no longer cried. His eyes shone as he look at Zhang Yiran. Between believing and not, Mu Zhe said cheerfully,
"Wow! It's true, it doesn't hurt. How do you know about this trick?"
Mu Zhe asked excitedly. Zhang Yiran smiled proudly.
"Because I'm a Pro."
He answer while puffing out his chest.
"Wow. Annoying."
Mu Zhe said while pretending to vomit. Jiang Hai rolled his eyes. Fed up with Zhang Yiran's behavior of asking for a kick. But he had to admit that his friend was indeed smart.
Throughout their two years of friendship, he had never seen Zhang Yiran make a mistake. He was like an angel who had no weaknesses. His movements were silent but left a deep impression on everyone.
Jiang Hai's lips slowly curved into a smile of pride for the friends he had.