Chapter 159 - I've always wanted a younger sibling

The next morning, Han Ye got up before the sun was even out and went for a short 10-km run. When he got back from his run, he was about to enter his own apartment unit when he saw Xiao Zhihao walking out of his house with a huge box that seemed to be quite heavy. 

"Oh, morning, Brother Han Ye." Xiao Zhihao looked at Han Ye's sweaty shirt and his running pants before asking, "Did you go for a run?" 

"Morning, Zhihao, and yes, I just came back from one. Where are you going?" Han Ye asked while looking at the box in the boy's hands. 

"I'm getting this delivered to an old friend. I'm supposed to pay her a visit, but since Mum hadn't been feeling too great, I decided to stay home for now." 

"Oh, let me help you," Han Ye said as he walked over and picked up the box. "Damn, this is quite heavy. Did you buy out an entire store?" 

Xiao Zhihao smiled and scratched the back of his head awkwardly as he said, "There are some snacks and clothes."

He had also put some money in it for Yun Qi to spend. It was not much, but he just wanted to give it to her. Now that his mother was somewhat loaded, he did not need to save so much. As for Yun Qi, she got sick lately but did not have money to see the doctor, so Xiao Zhihao wanted to send her some money in case she got sick again in the future. 

As they waited for the lift, Han Ye pretended to ask nonchalantly, "Zhihao, you mentioned that your mother is unwell?"

"She's not really sick or anything. Those are just side effects from the injections she had been getting lately. But still... She's really moody and suffering from a constant headache. Since she got her HcG shot last night, she had been feeling nausea as well."

Xiao Zhihao suddenly clapped his hands together and said, "That reminds me! I've got to go and buy some salted eggs and vegetables later."

He put his hands into his pockets and took the money out. After counting them, he nodded. "Yup, that should be enough."

"Are you cooking porridge for her?" 

Xiao Zhihao nodded. "Yeah. She's been up whole night throwing up, and she just fell asleep. I don't think she'd wake up so fast. I should have enough time to go to the market."

"I'll go with you."

"Erm... It's unnecessary. I think this is quite a safe neighborhood, no?" 

"Still, you're just a young boy. And there has been a rise in kidnapping cases lately. Better be careful than sorry." 

Xiao Zhihao was about to say something when he shrugged. "Fine. Up to you." 

As they walked toward the post office, Han Ye asked nonchalantly, "So, your mother has received the HcG shot?" 

Xiao Zhihao nodded. 

"That's fast." 

Xiao Zhihao smiled slightly. "I think by the time I come back next week, she'd be pregnant with my younger sibling." 

Han Ye looked at him with a curious glance before asking in a teasing manner, "Are you excited? Can't wait to be a big brother?" 

The boy stopped walking and looked up at Han Ye. With a wide adorable smile that was befitting of his age, he nodded excitedly. "I've always wanted a younger sibling."

As they continued walking, Xiao Zhihao added, "But raising a child is expensive. My parents didn't want to divert the resources. They said that it wouldn't be fair to me or my imaginary sibling if they were to do it while knowing the state of their own savings account." 

"That's a wise decision." 

Having been raised poor, Han Ye knew just how much his mother had sacrificed to raise him. If he had a younger sibling, Han Ye's mother might not last as long as she did.

Xiao Zhihao shrugged and replied, "It's a decision forced by circ.u.mstances. My parents both love kids, and I know that if we have more money, they would definitely go for another baby."

Han Ye nodded and placed an arm around Xiao Zhihao's shoulders. When the boy looked up at him, Han Ye grinned and continued to drag the boy along. 

"Maybe this time... when your dad returns, you can ask for another baby. I'm sure they'd be happy to give you a baby brother or sister," he said jokingly. Han Ye felt that the boy's expression was too serious for a 13-year-old kid.  

Xiao Zhihao looked up at Han Ye slightly. He then looked back down and muttered under his breath, "If he returns..."

"What? Did you say something?" Han Ye asked while looking down at the boy. 

Xiao Zhihao shook his head. "No, nothing."

Since they were at this topic, Xiao Zhihao asked, "Oh, Brother Han Ye, do you have any siblings? Other than Brother Tian Le. I know that he's your foster brother, but do you have any other siblings?"

"Erm..." Han Ye thought for a moment before nodding. "I guess you can say so. When I was a kid, I had a friend who was like a younger sister to me..."

"Where is she now?" Xiao Zhihao asked while looking up at Han Ye with his big, bright eyes. 

"When we were still kids, she moved away and went missing during a trip with her family..."

"I... I'm sorry." Xiao Zhihao looked away awkwardly. He knew what it was like to have a family member who went missing all of a sudden. 

"Don't tell anyone this, but," Han Ye winked and placed his hand on Xiao Zhihao's head as he said, "she's back. I found her recently."

"Oh, that's great!" Xiao Zhihao said even though he found it weird that Han Ye wanted to keep this a secret.   

After walking for a while more, Xiao Zhihao suddenly looked toward a direction and said with a slight smile, "Oh, we are here. Please wait for a moment. I can take it from here."

He took the box from Han Ye's hands and said cheerily, "I'll be right back."

He then ran into the post office, all the while thinking about Yun Qi's expression upon knowing that he sent her a gift. He had included another special gift for her. It was something that he got her for her birthday. 

Fifteen minutes later, he came back out without the box. "I'm done! Thank God they are open on Saturday." 

They then walked over to a wet market that was about a mile away from their apartment building. Han Ye was impressed with Xiao Zhihao's ability to negotiate with the stall owners as well as his ability to recognize the vegetables, some of which Han Ye had not seen before. 

"You used to shop with your mum?" Han Ye asked while they were walking back to their apartment building. He was holding a big bag filled with various vegetables while Xiao Zhihao was carrying the bag with salted eggs and chicken eggs.

"Mostly with dad. Well, until he went away."

"I thought there'd be someone to refill the fridge weekly. Should I talk to Guangying about it?" 

Xiao Zhihao shook his head. "It's fine. It's just that my mum doesn't like some of the vegetables that they stocked up weekly. I know she eats everything and hates waste, but since she's feeling moody, I want her to eat the things that she likes instead." 

Han Ye nodded. He thought for a while before saying, "Zhihao, can you send me a list of things that your mum likes and dislikes? I'll send it to Guangying so that he can talk to the person responsible."

"Would it be too troublesome?" Xiao Zhihao asked with a small voice. 

"Don't worry. It's not troublesome."  

Xiao Zhihao nodded and smiled up at Han Ye. "In that case, I'll send it to you later..." 

When they got back to their floor at the apartment building, Xiao Zhihao asked before keying in the password to his house, "Brother Han Ye, is everything alright with you and my mum?" 

Han Ye was startled by the question, and it took him a few seconds to recollect himself before he said, "Yeah... Why? Did your mum say anything?"

"No. I'm just wondering. She didn't talk about you lately."

"Did she talk about me before?" 

"Sometimes. Mostly about what you guys did at work, and what you guys ate..."

Han Ye thought for a while before smiling at the boy. Patting the boy's head, Han Ye said, "Don't worry. There's nothing wrong here. It's just that I was busy the whole of last week and I was at Singapore until yesterday."

"I see..." 

Han Ye glanced at the boy for a second before asking in an awkward manner, "Zhihao, do you dislike me?" 

Xiao Zhihao shrugged. "No. I just don't like that you made fun and raised your voice at my mum." 

Han Ye smiled slightly while showing him an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry... I was only joking with her. You know that, right?" 

"Maybe... But I still don't like it..."

Han Ye smiled as he looked at the boy's stern expression. "I won't do it anymore." 

Xiao Zhihao nodded slightly. He then keyed in the password, and once he took the bag of vegetables from Han Ye, Xiao Zhihao said, "Anyway, I don't dislike you. I actually like that my mum has a friend like you. She doesn't have many friends before, and I'm hoping you can help me look after her on weekdays." 

Han Ye's eyes went wide at that info about Xiao Lei not having that many friends. He then waved his hand nonchalantly and said kindly, "Go home now. Don't worry about your mum. When you're not here, I'll make sure that she takes good care of herself. As for you, you have to take good care of yourself."

...