Since his mother went abroad at an early age, even the kindest stepmother couldn't compare to one's own mother, let alone this stepmother... To be honest, she really gave him a headache.
She always assumed the role of a mother and was strict with him, but there was no maternal care. Instead, she just kept criticizing.
So, their relationship had never been good.
"Did you hear me? What are you spacing out for, boy?"
His father's stern voice rang in his ear.
"I said I'm not going back, and that's final." Yi Pin replied coldly, forcing back all the words he wanted to say.
Most of the time, it was because of that woman fanning the flames that his relationship with his father was so up - and - down.
"You..."
Hearing his father's angry yet somewhat sad voice, he had to admit that what that woman said was not entirely wrong. Since he had been willful and naughty since childhood and lacked the gentle guidance of a mother, he couldn't be expected to be well - behaved.
After hanging up the phone, he looked at the star - filled sky. A family of three walked by on the roadside. The little boy stared straight at Yi Pin, and his pitying look was like he was looking at a vagrant.
Most of the time, people tend to take what they have for granted. Since you've never lost it, you'll never understand that there are people who envy you for having a happy family, for having a kind mother and a strict but loving father.
Money is just something external, yet many people blindly pursue material things and neglect the most beautiful things around them.
Yi Pin might have been lost in thought or just feeling lonely. He didn't even notice that Shen Yu had been sitting beside him for a long time.
It was not until Shen Yu reached out his hand, took the half - smoked cigarette from Yi Pin, and took a deep puff.
Looking at the shocked Yi Pin, who seemed about to burst out a swear word, with his eyebrows tightly knitted, Shen Yu wondered what this cute guy was thinking. Maybe no matter how bright a person seemed on the outside, there was always some inexpressible sadness deep in their heart.
"Are you crazy? Can't you just smoke your own cigarette? Does mine taste better?" Yi Pin frowned.
He turned to look at Shen Yu, who was also sitting by the roadside. A faint smile played on Shen Yu's cold and proud face.
Suddenly, Yi Pin thought that maybe Shen Yu wasn't that annoying after all. Well, except for his poker face, except for the fact that he could never figure out what was going on in Shen Yu's mind, and except for... that one thing.
"What's up? You've been looking so glum all day. Share your troubles and let me have a good laugh." Shen Yu curled the corner of his mouth. His face with the cigarette between his lips looked extremely cool.
"Are you looking for death?" Yi Pin looked at him with disdain. Shen Yu would surely get himself into trouble with his mouth one day. Every time he saw Shen Yu's cold face and then heard the words that came out of his mouth, Yi Pin sometimes even had the urge to kill him.
Seeing this, Yi Pin clearly wasn't going to share his thoughts with him.
The two sat there in the freezing cold for a long time. Neither of them spoke first, but they were so used to this kind of silence that it didn't feel awkward at all.
"Let's go. It's cold outside."
Shen Yu rubbed his hands and then came over to rub Yi Pin's hands too.
The cold wind howled and slapped their faces. Looking at Yi Pin with a slightly red nose, something soft in Shen Yu's heart twitched.
Yi Pin looked at him with disdain, but he seemed to have gradually gotten used to Shen Yu's kindness. He had gone from resistance to slow acceptance, and sometimes he even enjoyed the process.
Looking at Yi Pin's thin clothes, his red ears, his red nose, and his pale face, Shen Yu sighed helplessly.
He took off his down jacket: "Here, put this on quickly. Don't catch a cold with your weak body. I don't want to catch it from you."
Yi Pin, who originally wanted to refuse, felt a warm feeling in his heart.
Although this guy always acted so cold and his appearance was really infuriating, sometimes his unintentional actions were so heart - warming.
Seeing Shen Yu, who was pretending to be calm, sneeze, Yi Pin felt a bit guilty. So he stood up, and the two walked side by side towards the community.
They smiled at the enthusiastic security guard.
The down jacket fit Yi Pin perfectly, as if it was tailor - made for him. Only then did he realize that they were about the same height, with Yi Pin being just a bit shorter, and their body proportions were also similar.
"By the way, how's your case going? Do you want me to go with you to investigate tomorrow?" Shen Yu asked with a smile while waiting for the elevator.
"Forget it. You look like a cold - blooded killer. If the old folks see you, they'll probably be even more scared and think we're a fraud group." Yi Pin shrugged his shoulders helplessly. "I met Qi Mingyang today. He said he's very familiar with that area. I'll go with him tomorrow."
Hearing this, Shen Yu frowned: "Who's Qi Mingyang?"
"He's the police officer who took us to the police station after that fight. He talks a lot." Yi Pin replied helplessly.
"How did he get so close to you?" Shen Yu looked unhappy. Was he the cold - blooded killer while that guy was the embodiment of justice? The more he thought about it, the unhappier he felt.
Just then, the elevator dinged. Several uniformed girls inside smiled at them and whispered to each other.
"So handsome, so handsome..."
"I like the one with fewer clothes. He looks so cool..."
"I think the other one looks more positive and sunny..."
The elevator was so small, but the three girls were still chatting excitedly.
Shen Yu and Yi Pin looked at each other helplessly.
Just as they were about to get out of the elevator, a tall girl with long black hair stopped them: "Um... handsome guys, can I get your..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Yu walked out, looking annoyed. Looking at his determined back, Yi Pin, who was still in the elevator, felt a bit embarrassed.
"Your friend is so cold. Can you give me his phone number?"
The girl looked at Yi Pin with a bit of grievance.
Yi Pin shrugged helplessly. These girls were really strange. The colder and more aloof a guy was, the more they wanted to get close to him. On the contrary, those who really treated them well were taken for granted.
Back in the room, looking at Shen Yu's back, Yi Pin thought that his mood seemed off today, especially after getting into the elevator. Did his good looks hinder Shen Yu's flirting plan?
Looking at the empty kitchen and seeing no sign of Shen Yu going to cook, Yi Pin suddenly felt irritated. This guy's mood was really changeable, just like the moon.
So Yi Pin silently walked into the kitchen. Looking at those unfamiliar kitchen tools, his mind went blank. He really had never cooked before.