Yang Wan poured some into her hand to eat, then picked up an unopened pack and called to me.
“Deng Ying.”
“Ah?”
“Take these to eat.”
I reached out to take them, “Have you always liked eating these?”
“Yeah, they’re good for the brain and prevent hair loss. I envy your hair volume.”
She lifted her bangs, “Look at mine, isn’t it worrying?”
I shook my head, wanting to tell her: “Wan Wan looks good no matter what.”
However, I was still afraid she’d think I was a creep.
“Deng Ying, it’s started up, take a look first. I’m going to the supermarket to buy some things, I’ll be back soon.”
These words were a dramatic foreshadowing, but I didn’t know it at the time.
I focused on helping Yang Wan restore her system, and when the repairs were complete, it was exactly four o’clock.
I stood up wanting to wash my hands, and when passing the kitchen, I saw a pot so burnt you couldn’t tell its original color, and a bowl of noodles that she probably couldn’t stomach herself, so left there uneaten.
I walked into the kitchen, took down her apron hanging behind the door and put it on, bent down to pour out that bowl of noodles, soaked the bowl in water, rolled up my sleeves, found a steel wool scrubber in the sink, and started scrubbing the pot bit by bit. Just then, the sound of the door lock rang out. I thought it was Wan Wan and went out with my hands raised, but as soon as I reached the kitchen doorway, I froze.
The people who came in were a couple who looked very much like Wan Wan.
When I came out wearing the apron, they were changing shoes in the entryway. Auntie looked up and saw me, startled with an “Aiya!” “Who are you? Why are you in our little Wan Wan’s place?”
“I…”
Before I could speak, Uncle had already sized me up, “Hired household help, eh? Our Wan Wan is getting fancy.”
I’m not good at lying, but at that moment, I inexplicably nodded.
Auntie seemed somewhat disbelieving, walking around me in a circle, saying to Uncle, “They have male housekeepers now?”
Uncle carried a big bag of vegetables inside, “Why not? It’s not like he’s her boyfriend. You know her, she doesn’t date, no one wants her.”
Hearing this, Auntie gave Uncle a light slap, “What are you saying? Our daughter has plenty of pursuers.”
Uncle took the vegetables out of the bag, “Pursuers? You could poke her with an awl and she wouldn’t jump. She’s hopeless, just leave her be.”
This conversation amused me, but I didn’t dare laugh, standing with raised hands at the kitchen doorway, not knowing what to do.
Uncle pulled me by the apron into the kitchen, “You’re the housekeeper, right?”
Walking along, I responded with an “Mm.”
Uncle pointed to the small stool by the door, “Bring the stool over, sit with me, and help prepare vegetables.”
“Okay, I’ll go get it.”
Auntie looked at the pot in the sink and asked me, “Did Wan Wan cook with this pot, or did you?”
“I cooked…”
I was going to take the blame for Wan Wan, but Uncle interrupted, “How could it possibly be him? Only your daughter is that fierce, burning even a stainless steel pot through.”
Auntie lifted the pot and laughed, “True.”
Then she said to me, “You’re quite good, polishing it so bright even after it was burnt like that.”
Uncle agreed, “These young men nowadays are really good at housework, especially professionals like you, you professionals.”
I nodded while preparing vegetables.
Auntie said, “We came today to see our daughter, and wanted to make her something to eat. Will you help us cook together later?”
“Of course, Auntie, whatever you need me to do, I’ll help.”
Auntie smiled, “Such a good boy, nowadays raising a son is better than raising a daughter.”
This was when Yang Wan returned.
As soon as she entered, before she could understand the situation, Uncle asked from the kitchen, “Xiao Wan, how much do you pay this housekeeper per month?”
Yang Wan was flustered, “What housekeeper? There’s no housekeeper!”
She ran into the kitchen.
I sat on the stool preparing vegetables, saying nothing.
“Mom, Dad, what are you making him do!”
“Just helping prepare vegetables.”
Yang Wan pulled at my apron straps, “Deng Ying, get up quick.”
I was lifted by Yang Wan, standing at the doorway.
Auntie asked, “What’s wrong? You hired household help, I can’t even ask for a little assistance?”
“He’s not household help…”
“Then who is he?”
“My brother’s friend, he came especially today to fix my computer.”
“Wearing an apron to fix computers?”
“This…”
Yang Wan finally glanced at me: “Why are you wearing an apron?”
“Wanted to help you… scrub a pot.”
“Scrub…”
Yang Wan was both annoyed and amused, but Auntie seemed to understand something, suddenly asking: “Young man, are you married?”