-3- My little idiot

On Saturday I went as usual after my 45 minute run through the nearby park, showered, got dressed and then went shopping. My mom had already called me on Thursday that she urgently needed a new kettle, so I also had to go to the household goods store. And who do I see there?

My little idiot!

He looked tired as he ran after his boss with his tablet and went through the order list with him. "20 of these, 16 of this one," I heard his boss say, and he entered everything into his tablet, always answering with a "Yes, boss."

His boss, who despite his age of about late forties or early fifties still looks quite respectable, apparently looks only nice. I saw him call one of his employees to him and yell in front of the customers because the loose silverware was mixed up and there were fingerprints on a few handles of forks. The boss pressed a cloth into the employee's hand and yelled: "And you're not getting out of here today until all this is sorted and fingerprint-free!"

"Zhan? Come here!" Shouted the boss, even though the little idiot stood behind him.

"Yes boss?"

"As personal assistant to the management, it's your job now, to make sure he does it properly! If not, you will be responsible for it. Do you understand?"

"Yes, boss."

"Don't you dare help him! That's his job, not yours!"

"Yes, Boss."

And then I almost had a burst of laughter. Because as soon as the Boss disappeared, I guess he went to his office. My little idiot took a good look around, squatted down next to the employee, and started cleaning and sorting the cutlery with him. Again and again I saw him put his head over the shelves, looked around and then disappeared again.

I went into the hallway where he and his colleague were working and watched him. When he raised his head and looked in my direction, he got scared and fell on his butt. So that was really funny to watch, which is why I actually started to laugh.

Embarrassed, my little idiot rubbed his head, got up, looked around hastily once more, grinned at me and said, "Hi Wang Yibo." Ahhh, that was so cute. And he still remembers my name.

"What are you doing?" I asked him, although I knew it of course.

He pointed with his index finger to his mouth and said: "Shhh, don't tell. But I am helping my colleague. If my boss sees this, I'll get in trouble."

"Mmm, I see." I said, and then I asked him, "Should I stand guard?" He laughed and shook his head.

"No, that's okay. You do your shopping. Maybe I can help you?"

"I'm looking for an electric kettle for my mother."

"Ah, let me show you where they are."

"And what about your colleague?"

"Should he come too?" I laughed again.

"No, you little fool. I mean, didn't you want to help your colleague?"

"Yes. But you're here as a customer. And the customers always come first."

"Okay. Then please show me where the kettles are." I know it myself, I just bought a new kettle for myself a few weeks ago. But why not take the chance to spend some time with him?

He walked next to me and asked me if I had slept well, I confirmed: "Yes, thank you I did." And asked him about his sleep. He yawned demonstratively and shook his head.

"No, unfortunately not. When I came home, my father woke up and there was trouble for me and my siblings at first. Then he drove up and down the corridor all night in his wheelchair outside our rooms. And one of his wheels squeaked, so it kept all three of us awake."

"Why did he do that?"

"Ah, this is his way of punishing us. Besides, it's his way of making sure that none of the three of us goes out again that night."

"I see. He's extremely worried, isn't he?"

"Mm. He was a detective for 30 years and worked mostly at night, and he has seen and experienced a lot of bad things. He can't get rid of these pictures and is afraid for us."

"And what about your mom?"

"She died a few years ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

" Mmm, thanks."

We got to the kettles and he showed me different kettles. He asked me who the kettle was for, I told him again it was for my mother. He asked me her age, I told him and then he showed me a kettle that was the most suitable for her.

"It doesn't get hot on the outside, so she can't accidentally burn her fingers. It turns off automatically, is energy-saving makes a sound when the water is ready. It also does not calcify so quickly."

"Wow, right. It really suits my mother. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Can I help you with anything else?" Sure, finish up, come with me and explain this part to my mom. She would be thrilled haha.

"I think not. On the other hand, that reminds me, my mother's rice stove isn't the most reliable anymore. Could you show me a few more?"

"I'd love to."

We went to the rice stoves, he showed me the good ones but easy to use for older people, when a handsome man came up to us and my little idiot rolled his eyes when he saw him. "That as well." He muttered.

I asked him what was going on and who that was and he said: "My fucking ex."

"Do you need help?" Do I want to know from him when I saw him nibbling nervously on his index finger.

"ZhanZhan are you okay? Did you get home safely last night? How did you get home? Sorry I couldn't come. But unfortunately, there was an emergency, and I had to go to the clinic." Said the guy as he reached us.

"I uh, I got home very well." Sure, I drove him.

"And how?" That was me, you son of a bitch.

"Um, my friend here picked me up and gave me a ride home. And he even invited me to dinner." That's right.

"Thank you very much. How much do I owe you?" He asked me and took out his wallet.

"Oh, God, he's not that kind of guy. Put that away!" Zhan said.

"So Zhan's right. I'm not that kind of guy. And I think it's really weird that as his ex-boyfriend, you want to pay for dinner and a ride." I said, feeling slightly provoked by that guy.

"Maybe I won't be his ex-boyfriend for much longer? And also I know that ZhanZhan can eat quite a lot. And I don't want him to have any debts."

"Zhan owes me nothing. I invited him." I said, and then Zhan really left me and his ex-boyfriend speechless for a moment.

"Yibo is my new boyfriend and that's why we can't get back together. Please accept this." I looked at him speechlessly and wondered if I had missed anything since last night?

"Is this true?" His ex asks me. What should I do? I nodded.

"Yes, it's true. And today I want him to meet my parents." I explained and Zhan nodded. Just wait, my little idiot, you won't get out of this number that easily. I'm doing you a favor, so you'll do me one too.

His ex looked at him confused for a moment, then nodded, wished us all the best and disappeared again. Playing nervously on his fingers, Zhan then said, "Thanks for playing along. But I wouldn't have gotten rid of him otherwise."

"Well, Zhan, maybe you can return the favor."

"Sure, what is it?"

"Later, accompany me to my parents and tell them you are my new boyfriend. You don't seem to have any problems with the lie, and my parents won't keep bugging me about having to find a new boyfriend in the future. What do you say? Deal?"

Nervously Zhan nibbled his sweet bunny teeth on his lower lip and thought about what to say. Then he nodded and said, "OK deal. I owe you that much."

I put the rice stove he showed me earlier into my shopping cart, asked him when he was off work and then promised to pick it up. He told me he would let his family know so they wouldn't worry. Now that his sister knows me and knows that I will bring him home safe and sound, should that not be a problem, he told me.

Honestly? The day is going better than I thought. And I am already curious about the expression on my mother's face. I bet the little idiot is sweet enough for me in her eyes.