"Aren't you a little heartless best friend?"
Those were the first words that Raelle got to hear from Hyson when she accepted his video call. Placing the phone at the side, she continued to type on her laptop and said, "Didn't you already know that I'm heartless? Why do you keep repeating it?"
"Because I want to knock your conscious a little," stated Hyson as he huffed.
"What if I don't have a conscious as well?" inquired Raelle languidly.
Hyson shook his head as he hugged his pillow and lied down on his stomach. His face came close to the camera as he said, "My best friend, there is no need to say that. What you are and what you are not, I understand it all." He took a pause to add, "What I am not able to understand is, you actually decided to take a flight to Xian Ge but I wasn't told anything about that. I feel like I'm losing my importance in your life."
"Do you really feel that way?" asked Raelle as she gave him a sideways glance.
Hyson pursed his lips and cursed, "Can't I lie a little? Why are you able to read my lies?"
"You have this talent as well," said Raelle.
"No, I don't. After all, you don't lie," reminded Hyson. "How am I suppose to check the accuracy of my talent if you won't even try to lie a little?"
"Hyson, neither you nor I ever liked to built sandcastles. Then why do you think we have the need to build anything on lies? Aren't lies also like sandcastles. The only difference is, the truth crumbles the castle of lies and in the case of sandcastles, that job is done by the waves of the ocean. But whether it's truth or the waves of the ocean, both are mighty."
"It's been a while I got to hear something like this from you," stated Hyson. "Forget it. I am not upset that you didn't tell me where you're going before leaving."
"I already know that," told Raelle.
"How?" asked Hyson. "How do you know that I am not upset with you?"
"You're not capable of that," was Raelle's response. As if that was the eternal truth. And it was actually the eternal truth. Hyson couldn't get upset with Raelle. They both were just like that.
"Fine, I really am not that capable," Hyson could only agree with her on this. He couldn't deny her words. It was no use anyway. He'd only be dragging the time if he stubbornly tried to argue over this. What was the point? He'd be the good baby and happily tell the world that he was not capable of getting mad at his best friend.
Seeing her concentrating on working, he raised his brow, "Did you go there to work?"
"No, but what's the harm in working while I'm here?"
"That's something only you'd say," said Hyson. "And where is Xian Ge? Why is he letting you work?" He took a pause and something clicked, "Don't tell me you actually forced him to go to work."
"Yes, I pushed him out," told Raelle without any hesitation. "Just because I'm here doesn't mean he should be lazy."
Hyson sighed helplessly, "And this is also something only you'd do!"
"Why do you state the obvious?" She took another glance at him when she saw him being so silent. Just one look and she understood, "What's bothering you now?"
"I'm feeling like a salted fish these days," he told her. "All I do is eat, eat, and eat some more. The ladies at home are stuffing me with food all the time. I'm going out of shape. I can't even exercise in this condition. How am I supposed to deal with this mess?"
"Just tell the ladies what you told me," advised Raelle. "It's not like they'd force you for anything."
Hyson glared at her, "Only you can heartlessly say that to them. How am I supposed to refuse their love? Do you know how much time and effort and love it takes to prepare one meal for me? When I finish everything, the satisfying look on their faces is priceless. It's so precious. How can I refuse them of anything when I am willing to even offer my life to see that smile on their faces?"
"Well, if you're not willing to speak up for your own good then continue with what's happening," said Raelle blankly. She didn't understand his logic. The only thing she understood was that the two ladies in their home were too precious. And he didn't wish to hurt them. But that didn't mean she agreed with what he was up to.
"I know what's going on in that brain of yours," said Hyson matter-of-factly. "I can almost hear your brain's voice all the way here."
"Brain doesn't have a voice."
Hyson scoffed at that, "Then how can you hear voices in your brain?"
"The voice in my head belongs to me," stated Raelle.
"Tsk. When will you understand it?"
"If you want me to agree with your logic, then sorry. It's never happening."
"It's really something to have a best friend like you," muttered Hyson in a small voice. "Anyways, I might go to visit my dorm."
"Why?" inquired Raelle. "Didn't the doctor say you have to rest properly. Stop taking your condition so lightly."
"Aiyo! I'm just going for a visit. Just to see my group mates. They had been calling me. They want to see me and check up on me."
"Then just send them your location," stated Raelle.
"No way!" argued Hyson. "If I asked them to come to Xiang Manor, it'll be troublesome. Both Yanyan and Mum are gonna start cooking a feast for them."
"We have a professional team of chefs at home," reminded Raelle.
"As if those ladies can understand that," retorted Hyson. "They feel like it's better to cook with their own hands for such close guests to show sincerity. How am I supposed to handle that?"
Raelle thought about this and agreed. On normal days, Mu Chenyan and Yue Yue would allow the chefs to arrange the meals but when it came to special guests, these ladies love doing the work.
"Then you can send them the location of Shui Villa," said Raelle. "I think that's better. You and I both know that Yanyan and Yue won't allow you to go far. But if you tell them you're just going next door, that's a different story. I'll just tell Bà, he'll arrange everything at home for your friends."
"Is that alright?" asked Hyson hesitatingly. "I don't want to impose on him."
"I think Bà would love to have your company," said Raelle feeling certain of her words. "Since both Xian and I are here, he must be lonely. If you bring your friends there, he'd feel better."
"I still don't think it's alright," said Hyson. "You're not even there. In your absence, if I go there, it doesn't sound right."
"When did you become like this?" asked Raelle.
"You know I don't like bothering people," said Hyson.
"But Bà is not some people! He is Bà," Raelle spoke so simply that Hyson was speechless.
Really, his best friend's logic was out of place as well. She just didn't know it herself. But would he tell her about that? No way!
"Oh, I was gonna tell you something," said Raelle.
"What is it?" Hyson perked up and looked like he was looking for gossips.
"Xian was talking to Zhai Yanjun this morning."
"Oh? What about it then?"
Raelle placed her laptop aside and picked up her phone to look straight at him. "He bought a book to learn sign language."
Hyson went quiet for a moment when he heard that from her.
"Do you understand what that means?" asked Raelle.
"This long-lost son is really trying hard to steal my mum," said Hyson half-jokingly.
"At least, he seems sincere enough," was Raelle's opinion.
"Yes, he is sincere," Hyson also agreed with that. "There is no falseness in the way he treats my mum. Even though they only met twice, I can see the impact they have on each other."
"Don't try to find trouble with him," Raelle said solemnly, "If I'm not wrong, he is gonna try to get close to you in the near future."
"And? How should I treat him?"
"If you find it alright, I don't see the harm in getting acquainted with him."
"You don't even make friends but ask me to find friends?"
"I have you," said Raelle.
"And I also have you," reminded Hyson.
"But you're enough for me," added Raelle. "However, I don't want to take up your whole world of friendship."
"I'm the sole player on your friendship field but you want to add more players on my field? Why? Do you want them to fight with you for space?"
Raelle gave him a look, "And you really think anyone is capable of taking what belongs to Raelle?"
"Narcissist!" remarked Hyson. "But I love that about you!"