Yibo's POV

For the- I also have lost count of how many times our previous maids had quit. Well, who asked them to do their work half-assed? I guess they can't stand being criticized and mad by a 15-year-old boy.

As usual, my brother Yuan told our father that the maid had quit yesterday. He's the one who will tell everything to our father since I can't hold a proper conversation with him without being sarcastic.

"Boys, listen up, I won't hire another maid since tomorrow someone will come and live here. That person will take care of you guys, so please show some respect and don't cause any trouble," Dad told us.

Since when does he care so much about the maid who will be ours? He never asked us to respect or not to cause trouble with the previous maid, so what makes this person different from the others? I guess I have to see what kind of person will come tomorrow.

The next day, I heard knocks on my door and opened it, revealing my brother's silly smile. "Yibo-ge, let's go down. Our new caretaker is here. Let's go!"

He dragged me before I could say yes. We slowly approached our dad and... another guy. "Who is this?" I asked with no emotion and an expressionless face. Dad turned to face us.

"Alright guys. This is Xiao Zhan. He will take care of you when I'm away. Xiao Zhan, let me introduce to you. This is my second son, Wang Yuan and this is my first son, Wang Yibo".

A... guy? Seriously, a guy will be our maid? He looks the same age as me. Can he even take care of us? Has my dad lost his mind? What makes him decide to pick a guy to be our maid? This Xiao Zhan guy smiles too much. I don't like it, so I keep on staring at him coldly. 

As soon as Dad excused himself to answer a call, Yuan quickly sat beside him. Well, it would look rude if I left just like that, so I would take a seat in front of them.

"So, Zhan-ge, right?" My brother starts his interrogation and this guy, didn't his muscles feel stiff? He keeps on smiling all the time.

"Zhan-ge, how old are you?" Yuan's first question.

"I'm 18," Yuan is a little bit surprised, but not only him. It was hard to believe he was three years older. Even my classmates look older than him.

"Seriously? Zhan-ge, you look like you're the same age as Yibo-ge!" He laughed it off.

It sounds... melodious to me. What the hell am I thinking? He slowly glances at me but I keep on glaring at him.

"I'm 13 and Yibo-ge is 15. Zhan-ge, where did you study and in what course?" Yuan keeps on asking.

"Ohh. I just applied to C University in Arts and Design. My class won't start until next week." So he is an art student. Well, that kind of suits him.

"What about your parents? What did they do? And how many siblings do you have?" I noticed the changes in his expression. He turned stiff suddenly.

"Hmmm.. My parents died when I was 13. They were involved in a plane crash. I'm the only child, so I'm the only one left." The air suddenly becomes heavy.

I know Yuan feels guilty for bringing up such a sad memory. "But... I have my cousins, whom I already considered my siblings. Their parents were close to mine, so we've been together since we were kids," he continues.

All this time I thought I was unlucky for losing my mom but it looks like someone's fate is unluckier than me. At least I still got my brother and my father, even though he does not care about us but at least he provided us with everything.

But this guy in front of me is living alone and supporting himself. I guess he did everything by himself. If it were me, maybe I would have taken my own life, but he... continues his life as usual and can still smile... prettily. Okay, the last part is not important.

"Hmm, Xiao Zhan. Come, I'll show you your room," Dad said after he was done with his call.

Hmmm... How do I say... Why does Dad look close to this guy? The way he treated him is seriously different. I don't want to think...but I can't help but think. Do they have... a scandal? or secret relationship??

I know Dad never had any relationship after Mom died, and he never spared a glance towards our previous maids. Did he suddenly change his preference? Well, with a beau-face like that, it's not surprising. But don't think that I'm gonna let you into our family easily.

It was around 6:30 p.m., and I was about to go out to buy some dinner for my brother and me when I heard sounds coming from the kitchen. I peeked my head over the wall and saw that the new guy was washing the veggies. It looked like he was going to cook dinner.

I watch him for another minute before returning to my room, cancelling my plan to buy dinner from outside.

Knocks on the door wake me up from my slumber. I look at my phone, and it shows 8 p.m.; no wonder it's dark outside. I lazily walk towards the door.

"Yibo-ge! Come, let's have dinner!" My brother's loud voice greets me as I open the door.

"You go down first. I need to wash my face," I said, closing the door back, not waiting for his answer.

Voices can be heard when I'm walking down the stairs. As I reach the kitchen, the view in front of my eyes is quite... surprising. My dad is eating dinner at home. Seriously? It's been years since he has eaten with us.

"Ge! What are you doing standing there?" Yuan looks happy. He didn't even mind or feel awkward with our Dad's sudden presence. I took a seat on Dad's left side since Yuan occupied the right side.

The new guy is about to leave the kitchen but Dad calls him back. "Xiao Zhan, where are you going? Aren't you going to eat?"

"Mr Yongcheng, I don't think it is appropriate for me to eat together with all of you. It's okay, I eat later."

"No, no. Come eat together with us. You're not a servant in this house, so don't think like that. Come." He is near me but seems scared. He moves further away and sits beside Yuan.

"Shooo del...shuss!" (so delicious) said Yuan with his full mouth. "Zhan-ge! How can you be so good at cooking?" He looks at Xiao Zhan with full admiration.

"Hmmm...do you remember I said I have cousins I consider my siblings? One of them is Lu-jie. She's the one who taught me how to cook."

Yuan keeps munching his food, eating messily. I guess Xiao Zhan notices it, so he takes a tissue and wipes Yuan's side mouth. "Eat slowly or you'll choke," Yuan says suddenly. He slowly turns towards Xiao Zhan and stares at him.

"Hmmm? What's wrong?" He said with a smile on his face.

"Ahh...no—nothing." Yuan takes the tissue from Xiao Zhan's hand and wipes it himself.

I know—not only Yuan but also Dad and me. We were surprised. In this house, those caring acts have been forgotten since Mom died. There was no sweetness, no joking and teasing while having dinner. And after a few years, a stranger, someone we barely knew, did it.

My father started asking Xiao Zhan questions to break the silence. Yuan didn't utter a word, and I could see his eyes getting teary.

[Next day]

Dad had already departed for Paris early in the morning. As usual, we never bid him goodbye. I woke up at 6:30 a.m. because I was jogging. Around 7 a.m., I returned from jogging, and Xiao Zhan had already started preparing breakfast. What a diligent guy. I was about to walk towards my room, but he suddenly called me.

"Mr... Yibo" I cringe at the way he calls me. I turn towards him without saying anything.

"Hmmm... how do you and Yuan usually have your breakfast? Light or heavy?" He called me Mr. Yibo and my brother, Yuan.

"Just light. No need to do much." He nods. "By the way, stop with the 'Mr'. Just call me Yibo. I'm not an old man." He nods again and smiles. I quickly make my way to the room. I hate... that smile.

I wake my brother up before getting ready for school. Our schools are next to each other, so we always walk together.

"Morning, Yuan," greeted Xiao Zhan as soon as he saw Yuan entering the kitchen. I noticed that since dinner last night, Yuan was acting weird. He stares at Xiao Zhan for a long time without saying anything.

"Yuan, are you okay?" asked Xiao Zhan when he noticed that Yuan hadn't touched the food. Xiao Zhan put his palm on Yuan's forehead, making my brother flinch.

"Are you having a fever? But your temperature feels normal." Again, Yuan stares at Xiao Zhan.

"I- I'm okay. Ju- just a bit sleepy." He diverts his eyes to the food in front of him. 

"Alright. If you feel sick, don't forget to tell me," he just nods.

As soon as we were alone, I asked my brother, "Yuan, are you okay?" As usual, he showed his silly smile.

"Of course I am. Why do you ask, ge?"

"Yuan, don't lie to me. I know there's something wrong with you...and Xiao Zhan. What's wrong? You don't like him? Or is there any other problem?"

He was silenced for a few minutes before he started to speak up. "Zhan-ge... feels... so warm. His touch, the way he cares...feels like... mom." I never knew he was missing our mom so much since he never showed his emotions and just lived happily.

"I know you must think I'm weird, but it's true. Zhan-ge's touch feels... motherly. I kind of want him to spoil me... just like a mother would. But he must feel gross doing it to a grown boy like me," Yuan laughs when he says it, but I know he means it.

"If you want him to spoil you, just tell him. I'm sure he doesn't mind. From the way I look, he already spoils you. He treats you so differently from me."

"That's because you always glare at him. Of course, he feared you." I look at my brother and roll my eyes. 

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