Mrs. Wang Residence

Zhan is seated on a swivel chair at a study table, focused on his laptop while Yibo occupies a chair in the front, engrossed in a game on his mobile phone.

Zhan takes a brief pause, pondering what he should focus on next. Wang Yibo's attention is drawn to him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh? Oh it is nothing.” Zhan beams with a wide smile.

He set down his phone and stood up. He took a step forward and gripped the armrest of the swivel chair, turning to face Zhan, who had folded his legs.

“It’s not nothing. Tell me.”

“Oh…Um, well…” Zhan looked down, hesitant. “I was wondering if I should move into the dorms since my school’s a bit too far.” Zhan explained.

“The dorm? Then you want to have a long-distance relationship?”

“Isn’t that how things usually work?” 

That’s your only concern about this? Zhan thought.

“What about getting your own place?” Yibo suggested.

“That would be too much of a burden.”

“I am sure Mom would help.” Yibo let go of the swivel chair as he stood straight staring at Zhan.

“N-No way!” Zhan suddenly panicked. “She already paid for my tuition. I can’t ask her for more help. I guess I can commute back and forth. Don’t worry about it.” 

“Okay.” Yibo is satisfied with his idea.

“But hey! Why haven’t you mentioned which school you got into?”

“I don’t get into any.”

“WHAT?!”

.

Yibo exited the room and called someone he was acquainted with.

“Hello, it’s me. Could we meet up for a bit? I could really use a favor…DAD.”

____

On a cold morning, Zhan is done setting the table. 

"You don’t have to get up so early to make breakfast anymore, just enjoy your break.” Mrs. Wang advised Zhan while having their meal.

“But I like doing it.” he smiled.

“Aww Zhan, you are the sweetest.” 

Mrs. Wang gently tousles Zhan's hair, deeply moved by his caring nature.

“Don’t wait for Yibo to come down. Just eat. Who knows when he will wake up.

“Okay, sure. Have a nice day.” Zhan bid goodbye to Mrs. Wang, ready to leave for work.

Immediately after Mrs. Wang disappeared from his sight, he heard the creaking of the wooden stairs.

It was Yibo.

“Huh? You are up.”

“Uh-huh.” Yibo replied, scratching his nape.

“Are you hungry? Come down to eat.” Zhan walks ahead but Yibo grabs his arm.

“Wait. Let’s go out to eat.” 

“What? Like right now?”

“Yeah, get ready.”

“Uh, okay.” He shortly answered but he was wondering in his thoughts. 

W-What is going on?

Zhan is bundled up in a long coat with a feather-adorned collar to keep him warm, while Yibo opts for a turtleneck and simple jacket. 

As they wait for the train to arrive, Zhan appears unsure of their destination. 

He won’t even tell where we’re heading.

To answer his question, Zhan suddenly asked, “Yibo, where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Ugh! Now, I wanna know even more. Is it some popular restaurant? 

As they reached their destination, Zhan halted as he pondered, wait a second.

“Yibo, isn’t this-?”

“We are almost there.”

He hasn’t seemed to notice-is it just a coincidence?

They are now standing in front of a building, a condominium.

What the- it is a condo. Is it like a secret restaurant? No, it's like a normal residence.

"Are you sure we are at the right place?" Zhan finally asked. 

"Yeah, I am sure." Yibo answered as he read something on his phone.

"W-What are you doing?" Zhan asked, still no clue, watching Yibo pressing the pin code.

"To come in." Yibo answered and the door finally unlocked.

"Who"s house is this? Is it really okay to just go in?"

"It is fine." Yibo grabbed his hand as soon as the door opened. " Look around and let me know what you think."

"Look around at someone else's house? What is going on?"

"This is not someone else's house."

"What?"

"This is where you will live from now."

"WHERE I LIVE? WHO? ME?" Zhan's voice raised in confusion.

"Our school is too far from home."

"OUR? Don't tell me-" Zhan stands before Wang Yibo, shaking his arms.

"Actually, I applied to the same school as you." Wang Yibo admitted.

I knew it, he lied about not getting in anywhere.

"If you don't like this place, I can look for another one."

"No, no. It's incredible but...how'd you manage to pay for it?" Zhan cannot help feeling worried.

"I asked my Dad for a favor."

"Oh." He's never mentioned his Dad before.

"He got it for me so it's my house and I can live with whoever I want to. So you don't need to feel pressured in any way."

This place is so clean and the furniture's brand new. I don't even know what to say to such generosity, Zhan thought.

"The bathroom's that way and the bedroom's here." 

Yibo breaks Zhan's silence.

"This is your room-"

"Well, actually it's our room."

(There is only one room.)

"Did you just say OUR?" Zhan is really surprised.

"What's wrong? We always lived together."

"But never in one room and in one bed."

"If you feel uncomfortable, I'll sleep on the sofa."

"No, I'll sleep on the sofa." Zhan insisted.

"Then, we can both sleep on the sofa."

"Why would we sleep on the sofa when there is a perfectly good bed?"

"That's what I said from the start, so what's the problem?"

"Ugh!" Zhan is defeated. "But hey, does your Mom know about this?"

"No. Let's tell her that we'll live in the dorm."

"You wanna lie to her?" We'd already been lying to her about us. "Why don't we just tell her the truth?" Zhan suggested.

"Fine, let's do that. I'll do whatever you want."

Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo finally agreed.

Later that evening.

"You're home? Uh-huh. It is freezing out there today." Mrs. Wang arrived, removing her scarf as he talked to the boys.

Zhan and Yibo are already standing, waiting for her.

"Something wrong between you two?" She asked.

"We have something to tell you." Yibo answered.

Curious as she removed her gloves, she looked at them. "Go on."

"We wanna move out."

_____

"Move out? You too, Zhan?" Mrs. Wang asked.

"Well yeah, we are going to the same school." Yibo is the one who answered.

"C-Can't you just get a driver's license and. commute from here?"

"We found a place." 

Mrs. Wang shut for a while.

"What? What do you mean you found a place?"

"I asked Dad for a favor."

Mrs. Wang clenches her fists as she realises. "Wait a second. You're not even here to discuss it with me. You've already made up your mind and you are just letting me know." Mrs. Wang is upset.

Zhan, who is just listening to them, flinches, as he feels guilty and shy. He cannot say a word. Oh, no.

Both Zhan and Yibo remain quiet. Mrs. Wang noticed it. "Yibo, you come with me." Mrs. Wang ordered.

Once they left, Zhan pondered the situation. Moving out was actually my idea in the first place. I passed all the blame to Yibo.

Meanwhile, in Mrs. Wang's room.

"You should have told me from the start. Do you think I could 't help you guys? If you ask your Dad about things like that, what will he think of me?" 

"I don't see why you are so upset."

"What?"

"The reason I didn't talk to you first was....wrong and I'm sorry. But I can't understand what is going on between you and Dad. He might be a stranger to you now but he's still my Dad. I have the right to ask for his help with stuff like this." Yibo explained that made Mrs. Wang flustered.

"You're right. I said that because I was so surprised."

"Yeah, I know."

As soon as Yibo get out of Mrs. Wang's room, Zhan approached, worried.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, and I got my Mom's approval so do 't worry."

"I'm sorry." Zhan almost teary eyed, still feeling guilty.

"Don't be." Yibo cupped his cheeks, trying to relax him.

"But I take responsibility for my actions."

"Let's start packing."

______

Mrs. Wang visited their apartment as soon as they moved in and complained.

"Isn't this place too small?" She said with crossed arms and displeased facial expression.

"It' s just for while we're in college."

"What the- there's only one bed?"

Uh-oh. Zhan panicked in his thoughts watching and listening to the mother and son conversation.

"Cause it's a one-bedroom." Yibo replied.

"I still think it's small." Mrs. Wang insisted.

Zhan's heart was pounding but felt relieved. Phew!

"The house is going to feel empty without you two there. You'll come to visit during your vacations, right?"

"Yeah." 

"Yes of course." 

"Don't eat too much instant food and make proper meals."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Make sure to call me regularly and don't fight. That goes double for you, Yibo. Don't dump everything on Zhan."

Zhan suddenly smiled.

"Split the chores and help each other out."

"I got it." Yibo answered.

"Don't just write it off as me nagging and remember what I said."

"Okay "

"Alright, I'm going."

Mrs. Wang finally left and the two remained standing at the closed door.

This is really happening. Zhan gulped his saliva.